4 Grains All Vegetarians Need to Have In Their Pantry And Cook For Dinner At Least Five Times A Week
Contrary to popular belief, vegetarians are not just restricted to eating fruits and vegetables. In fact, vegetarians should make sure they integrate a diverse range of food that include beans, dairy (if you are a lacto-ovo vegetarian) pasta, meat alternatives, and of course, the beloved grains.
To be the healthiest and strongest vegetarian that you can be, you want to make sure that you’re eating at least four servings of whole grains, breads, pasta, & cereal each day to support the healthy functioning of your brain and provide your body with unstoppable amounts of energy. Refer to a vegetarian food plan to get recommended serving amounts of the meatless foods you need to fuel your system and bodily functions.
Quinoa
Quinoa is actually a whole protein that’s high in amino acids. It includes all 8 of the vital amino acids needed by the body. It is high in iron, magnesium, phosphorus and fiber. It has the added benefit that it is also gluten-free, making it available to a wide selection of vegans and vegetarians that may be opting to live a gluten-free lifestyle as well. Try Quinoa as a “hot” cereal or add it to your salad. It only requires about 15 minutes to cook (a much shorter preparation time than rice) and it really is extremely easy to create tasty recipes with.
When cooked, Quinoa becomes fluffy in appearance and nutty in taste. When it’s cooked, it is 4 times its dry measurement. Quinoa needs to be completely rinsed before preparation. When cooking quinoa, you double the amount of water to the amount of quinoa you are going to use. You then boil the quinoa, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. It should be al dente to the bite. It can be used instead of couscous or rice in meatless cooking.
Brown Rice
Brown rice is rice that has been partly milled. It will be chewier than white rice and will have a nutty flavor. It is an excellent alternative to pasta or white rice for Vegetarian, Italian or Indian dishes. Brown rice isn’t a complete protein but chickpeas and vegetables can be added to brown rice to make a complete protein meal.
Couscous
Couscous is a grain based product, ideal for wholesome meatless and vegan meals. It is low in saturated fat which is fundamental for healthy eating. It has high levels of selenium. Couscous is fine granules of semolina flour. When cooked it should be light and fluffy. It’s an effortless option to rice or pasta. It could be used as a porridge or oatmeal substitute as a hot cereal for breakfast. The vegetarian food pyramid suggests at least 4 servings of grains like couscous a day.
Barley
Barley is suitable for vegans or vegetarians because it is a healthy grain based product. It is high in fiber and very filling. It is chewy in texture and similar to quinoa and brown rice in flavor. It is not just for soup, it can be used as a substitute for rice or quinoa.
Meat-Free cooking can be a great solution to lead a healthy lifestyle. A meatless or vegan diet plan that consists of a good mix of vegetables and grains is high in fiber and other nutritional elements. A wholesome, well-rounded, meat-free diet helps your whole body combat and win against diseases such as diabetes, colon cancer and high cholesterol.
Struggling with your vegetarian or vegan diet? Help is on the way an in the form of your very own vegetarian food plan. Visit www.vegetarianfoodplan.com today to grab your meal plan and get free video recipes and a free vegetarian cookbook.
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