One of the most frequently asked questions at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga Vegetarian Cooking Classes is “Am I going to get enough protein?”
This is easy to answer as all foods for the exception of fruits, fats and alcohol provide protein in varying degrees. I am sure that very few people live on a diet of only fruits, fats and alcohol. The highest source of protein for vegetarians comes from dairy products, legumes, breads, cereals, nuts, tofu and soy products. I once read an article written by a doctor in the U.S. which said that he had never come across a person in a western country who lacked protein, but it was a daily occurrence for him to treat patients who consumed too much protein.
The secret to a healthy vegetarian diet is to get a wide variety of whole foods. Make sure that you eat a good selection of vegetables, whole grain breads, nuts, cereals and of course legumes. There are so many delicious lentil dishes to choose from. Moroccan, Indian and African to name but a few, but probably one of the most popular ways to consume legumes is in the form of tofu. Tofu comes in so many varieties, soft, firm, regular soft, regular firm, fried, puffed, silken, nuggets, seasoned, the list goes on and on and on. Tofu is a great substitute for meat in many dishes and is a delicious, rich source of protein. You can find some great legume and tofu recipes at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga website asm.org.au
Gayatri
