Rates of veganism and vegetarianism are exponentially rising across the globe. This change in diet is influenced by environmental, ethical and health reasons. A study conducted in 2018 found that over 2 million people are now meat-free, and this number is only going to keep growing.
We have much to thank the vegetarian and vegan community for in terms of increased awareness about some of the abhorrent practices which exist in the service of humans. Our affluent, western society has become used to an abundance of food, readily available in packaged form in supermarkets and it is easy to avoid thinking about the practices involved in the supply chain involving domestic livestock and the egg and dairy industries. In addition animals can be hunted and sacrificed for clothing (furs and skins), used in animal experimentation and even entertainment (well depicted in the movie ‘Blackfish’ based on killer whales captured and effectively tortured to entertain us while perpetrators mislead the public and the genuinely caring trainers into thinking the orcas do better in captivity). This increased awareness will hopefully lead to people making more informed choices, more rigorous protection policies around the treatment of animals and clear labeling to support individual choices.
Something that is very important to note is that vegetarian is not synonymous with healthy. So, whether you have been following a vegetarian diet for decades or you are new to this way of eating, it is helpful to have some inspiration on ways to get creative in the kitchen and ensure you are consuming adequate nutrients i.e. lots of veg, not lots of pasta! There are so many online platforms and apps that offer easy healthy vegetarian recipes, as well as a number of faux meat products hitting supermarket shelves. Again note that faux meats are not always healthy, in fact, often they are not healthy at all!
One of the best resources for delicious, quick vegetarian recipes is Healthy Luxe. Healthy Luxe has a number of recipes on their website that showcase creativity, spice and flavor, and nutrient-dense ingredients. They also have a recipe app, Healthy Luxe, which has over 350 delicious and healthy recipes. Almost all recipes are vegetarian with the exception of a few seafood options. Upon opening Healthy Luxe app for the first time, you will be asked to add your dietary requirements/preferences e.g. gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, nut-free etc so if you select vegetarian, you will only see recipes that match these criteria.
The app has everything from classic Italian inspired dishes such as tomato garlic pasta and kale and ricotta pizza to Asian flavors such as spicy tofu laksa and Sri Lankan style dahl. If you’re looking to impress guests the Healthy Luxe app also has Middle Eastern style quinoa stuffed capsicums (restaurant standard) or homemade vegetarian gyozas. Each recipe also includes nutritional information on a key ingredient so you can learn about the unique benefits of particular foods. Soon, each recipe will also have a nutrition panel detailing micro and macronutrients (a feature due to launch in November 2019).
As well as all recipes on Healthy Luxe app being nutrient-dense and delicious, they are also quick and easy to prepare. When adopting a vegetarian diet, people often have the perception that this lifestyle will require a lot more time in the kitchen. You’ll find a number of quick vegetarian recipes on the app that contain minimal ingredients and take less than 30 minutes to prepare. It’s vegetarian made easy, healthy and next-level tasty.
Other meals you can look for in the delicious snacks & sides recipes collection on Healthy Luxe app include flavourful salads that are the perfect accompaniment to your main dish. Some favorites include the super green salad with Tuscan kale, truffle oil, and parmesan cheese (or a vegan cheese alternative), the fennel and orange salad with pine nuts, as well as the peanut satay roast pumpkin which can be served as either a salad or aside. Other classics (made healthy) include sweet potato wedges, vegan cheese, and Italian style Caprese salad.
