World Vegetarian Day: how it started and easy ways to try it
October 1 is World Vegetarian Day and the start of Vegetarian Awareness Month. Here is the history and a simple way to take part.
It is just past midnight, which makes it October 1, World Vegetarian Day. If you are planning tomorrow's meals or are still up thinking about breakfast, this is a gentle invitation to try a meat-free day.
The observance was started by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977, and the International Vegetarian Union endorsed it the following year. The organizers describe it as a celebration of "the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism." October 1 also kicks off Vegetarian Awareness Month, with potlucks, food tastings and community events that can happen any time during October.
The day is meant to include people who are curious as well as those who have eaten vegetarian for years. You do not need a new cookbook to take part. Many familiar meals are already vegetarian or close to it: bean and cheese burritos, pasta with marinara and vegetables, vegetable fried rice with egg, lentil soup, or peanut butter on whole-grain toast. Beans, lentils, tofu, eggs, dairy, nuts and whole grains can all bring protein to a plate.
If you or someone in your household has specific nutrition needs, such as during pregnancy, for a growing child, or with a health condition, a registered dietitian or your doctor can help you plan a vegetarian diet that covers everything you need.
An easy way to join in is to choose one meal tomorrow that is already meatless and enjoy it on purpose. If you like it, try adding one more vegetarian dinner a week through October.
Sources
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