When hearing about vegetarians, images of tofu-eating hippies may come to mind. However, with the increasing availability of meatless foods in supermarkets and restaurants, a vegetarian diet is possible without having to sacrifice taste.

With the current Atkins craze sweeping the nation, a commonly asked question is “where do vegetarians get their protein from?” Albert Brown, a dietary consultant and vegetarian for 20 years, spoke at the final Wellness Wednesdays lecture sponsored by the Weigel Health Center at Buffalo State College. He said that the common misconception is that protein is only found in meat.

“Protein is the building blocks of all life on this planet,” he said. Vegetables and plant based foods are no exception.

Brown said that Americans consume 20 percent more protein that they need, which can cause illness.

“You can live without meat,” said Brown, “Asia, India, China and Japan have a long history of vegetarianism.”

Vegetarians are 40 percent less likely to get cancer and are generally healthier , according to Brown.

“Meat is not the preferred food of your body,” he said. The digestive system of humans is closer to that of herbivorous animals that digest plant food.

Besides being better for your body, vegetarianism is also better for the environment.

“One of the most destructive things we do is clear land for cattle,” said Brown. “In order to bring 250 pounds of meat to market, it takes four to five years and three to four acres of land. In that same amount of time and space, we could produce 40,000 pounds of potatoes.”

There are several different types of vegetarianism that people can choose from to meet their health needs and lifestyle:

• ovo-lacto: the most popular form of vegetarianism that excludes meat, but allows egg and dairy consumption.
• ovo: consume eggs, but not dairy.
• lacto: consume dairy, but not eggs.
• vegan: consume plant foods only.

Brown warned of junk food vegetarians . “There's no meat in a Snickers bar,” he said. A vegetarian still has to make smart choices in order to be healthy.

When making food choices, Brown said that fresher is better .

“Food producers are not making food for people, they're making food for profit,” he said, referring to the extensive processing that goes into packaged foods. He suggested supporting local businesses such as the Lexington co-op on Elmwood Avenue, which provides fresh produce and organic foods.

While a vegetarian diet has many benefits, some people may find the transition somewhat difficult at first. The “Let's Talk About Vegetarianism” Web site addresses problems new vegetarians may face, such as:

• the temptation to go back to eating meat.
• questions family and friends may have.
• going out to eat with non-vegetarians.

However, today's vegetarian diet goes far beyond the bean curd. There are several companies dedicated to providing quick and easy vegetarian meals that make the change to meat-free eating easier.

• Amy's Kitchen makes organic frozen foods such as meatless pot pies and pizza.
• Tofutti provides dairy-free products like ice cream and cheese.

Both of these product lines are available in most health food stores and large supermarkets.

Email: ickosl85@mail.buffalostate.edu