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    INSTITUTE OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT

    AURANGABAD, INDIA

    Gastronomy and Vegetarianism

    Sankar Ramasubramaniyan (C1240)

    Submitted in fulfilment of the requirement for the

    B.A. (Hons.) in Culinary Arts

    THE UNIVERSITY OF HUDDERSFIELD,

    UNITED KINGDOM

    Module Name: - Module Leader:-

    Gastronomy Chef Gerard DSouza

    January 2011

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    DECLARATION

    I herein declare that this exhibition/assignment is completely a result of my own individual

    efforts and that it confirms to the university, departmental and course regulations regarding

    cheating and plagiarism. No material contained within this project has been used in any other

    submission by any other author for an academic record.

    January 8, 2011 Sankar Ramasubramaniyan (C-1240)

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    ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

    I, Sankar Ramasubramaniyan, would like to thank each and every person who helped me in

    providing valuable information on this assignment, without which this assignment would not

    have been possible.

    I would specially like to thank my Mentor and Module Tutor Chef Gerard DSouza of the

    Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad for providing me with the opportunity to

    undertake this assignment and the guidance to complete it by showing me the right directions.

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    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    WHAT IS VEGETARIANISM...???................................................................................................... 5

    VEGETARIANISM, A BRIEF HISTORY ........................................................................................ 6

    VEGETARIANISM AND RELIGION ............................................................................................... 8

    HINDUISM ...................................................................................................................... 9

    JAINISM .......................................................................................................................... 9

    BUDDHISM ................................................................................................................... 10

    TAOISM ........................................................................................................................ 10

    JUDAISM ....................................................................................................................... 11

    CHRISTIANITY .............................................................................................................12

    DISADVANTAGES OF BEING A VEGETARIAN ........................................................................ 12

    VEGETARIANISM IN TODAYS WORLD ...13

    VEGETARIAN GASTRONOMY ..................................................................................................... 14

    VEGETARIAN GASTRONOMY IN INDIA .................................................................................. 14

    WHO SAYS VEGETARIAN FOOD CANT BE TASTY?? ............................................ 14

    CRITIQUE .......................................................................................................................................... 14

    CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................... 15

    BIBLIOGRAPHY15

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    Gastronomy and Vegetarianism

    WHAT IS VEGETARIANISM....???

    Vegetarianism is a conscious way of eating, and involves the practice of following a diet

    which includes fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, nuts, and seeds, with or without dairy

    products or eggs. A vegetarian does not eat meat, including game, poultry, fish, crustaceans

    and shellfish, and may also abstain from by-products ofanimal slaughter such as animal-

    derived rennet and gelatine. Various foods or treats, such as cake, chocolate, chips, gum,

    marshmallows and gummy candies, often contain unfamiliar animal ingredients, and may

    especially be a concern for vegetarians due to the likelihood of such additions. While some

    vegetarians are unaware of animal-derived rennet's role in the usual production of cheese and

    may therefore unknowingly consume the ingredient, others of the diet are not bothered by its

    consumption. Often, however, animal-derived products, such as certain cheeses, gelatine or

    other animal-derived ingredients, are scrutinized by vegetarians prior to purchase or

    consumption.

    Vegetarianism can be adopted for different reasons: In addition to ethical reasons, some

    reasons for vegetarianism include health, religious, political, cultural, aesthetic or economic,

    and there are varieties of the diet: An ovo-vegetarian diet includes eggs but not dairy

    products, a lacto-vegetarian diet includes dairy products but not eggs, and an ovo-lacto

    vegetarian diet includes both eggs and dairy products. A vegan diet excludes all animal

    products, such as eggs, dairy products, and honey.

    Semi-vegetarian diets consist largely of vegetarian foods, but may include fish or poultry, or

    other meats on an infrequent basis. Those with diets containing fish or poultry may define

    "meat" only as mammalian flesh and may identify with vegetarianism. A pescetarian diet, for

    example, includes "fish but no meat". The common use association between such diets and

    vegetarianism has led vegetarian groups such as the Vegetarian Society to state diets

    containing these ingredients are not vegetarian, due to fish and birds being animals.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_slaughterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rennethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics_of_eating_meathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism_and_religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovo_vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacto_vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovo-lacto_vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovo-lacto_vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_producthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_producthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescetarianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquialismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarian_Societyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarian_Societyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquialismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pescetarianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_producthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_producthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veganhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovo-lacto_vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovo-lacto_vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacto_vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovo_vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_vegetarianismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism_and_religionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics_of_eating_meathttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rennethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_slaughter
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    VEGETARIANISM, A BRIEF HISTORY:-

    It may surprise many people to hear that our early ancestors lived on a semi-vegetarian diet

    for several million years. Some anthropologists have fostered the stereotype of "man the

    hunter," but studies of contemporary "hunter-gatherers" suggest that early humans lived

    primarily on a diet of plant foods, with supplementation from animal flesh. Studies of tribal

    Australian aborigines and the Kung-San of South Africa-groups that live under conditions

    similar to those of our ancestors show that only about one fourth of their caloric intake

    derives from animal products. Nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables are the staple foods of these

    groups. A view of early humans as gatherers rather than hunters is a more accurate portrayal.

    Like most good ideas in the West, vegetarianism was developed by the ancient Greeks.Pythagoras and Porphyry were the best-known practicing vegetarians, but the list of those

    who advocated a vegetarian diet includes Diogenes, Plato, Epicurus, and Plutarch. The

    Greeks favoured vegetarianism for a variety of reasons. Pythagoras and his followers

    believed that animals as well as humans have souls, and that after death, an animal may be

    reincarnated as a human and vice versa. According to this view, animals should not be killed

    and eaten because all souls have equal worth. Plato, in The Republic, described a vegetarian

    diet as being best suited for his ideal society. Plant foods were preferred, according to Plato,

    because they promote health and because they require less land to produce than do animal

    foods. Other Greek thinkers felt that eating animal flesh was naturally repugnant and should

    be rejected on aesthetic grounds.

    The Romans borrowed many ideas from the Greeks, including vegetarianism, and in spite of

    their penchant for feeding undesirables to the lions, vegetarian ideas survived throughout

    Roman times. The poet Ovid and the philosopher Seneca are examples of Romans who

    expounded the cause of vegetarianism.

    The fall of Rome and the spread of Christianity across Europe led to a "dark ages" in

    vegetarian thought. During this time, Christian thinkers such as Saint Augustine and Saint

    Thomas Aquinas provided intellectual rationalizations for the killing, eating, and general

    exploitation of animals by humans. They argued that only people have free will, rationality,

    and souls, and that animals were placed on earth for the convenience and use of humans-

    views that are still accepted by the majority of Christians today.

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    However, the tradition of vegetarianism was kept alive in dark and dingy Christian abbeys

    where monks abstained from meat to suppress their animal passions. (The belief that meat

    consumption is associated with base urges that hinder one's spiritual progress lingers on in

    the minds of some contemporary vegetarians, as we will see later.) The Benedictines,

    Trappists, and Cistercians are all examples of monastic orders that practiced vegetarianism

    for a period of time.

    During the 15th century, Europe discovered classical philosophy, art, and science. But it took

    the Europeans a little longer to rediscover vegetarianism.

    The vegetarian "Renaissance" can be said to have occurred during the late 18th and 19th

    centuries. During this period, Darwin's theory of evolution destroyed the notion that animalsare fundamentally different from humans, and in so doing, challenged the religious and

    philosophical justification for eating them. The new view was that of a continuum of life,

    with humans and other animals separated in degree, but not in kind.

    The implications of the theory of evolution so upset Darwin that he stopped believing in God.

    He did not, however, give up eating meat.

    The new view of animals as distantly related kin was incorporated into the general

    humanitarian reform movements that occurred at this time. Indeed, many prominent

    vegetarians and animal welfare promoters were simultaneously involved in other struggles,

    such as the child welfare and antislavery movements. It was during this period that the first

    written works on vegetarianism by Europeans appeared. Leo Tolstoy and Percy Bysshe

    Shelley are examples of 19th-century writers who advocated a meatless lifestyle. For a while,

    people who abstained from eating flesh were said to be following the "Pythagorean diet."

    Later, the term "vegetarian" was coined from the Latin word "vegetus," meaning active orvigorous. (The term has mis-led many into thinking that vegetarians survive only on

    vegetables-an inaccurate view of vegetarian cuisine.)

    Many Christian groups were at the forefront of the burgeoning vegetarian movement. The

    Bible Christian Church, founded by William Cowherd in 1809 in Manchester, England,

    played a major role in advocating and furthering the cause of vegetarianism. Members

    believed that Christ's teachings of mercy should be extended to animals as well as to people.

    They also believed that a vegetarian diet was healthier than one based on meat and that

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    Christians have a duty to maintain good health in order to do God's work. Members of this

    group later formed the Vegetarian Society in 1847-the first secular vegetarian organization in

    the West. They disseminated information in the form of essays and lectures and taught that

    the adoption of vegetarianism would lead to universal brotherhood, an increase in happiness,

    and a more civilized society. This group still exists and is presently known as the Vegetarian

    Society of the United Kingdom.

    The movement was carried on into the 20th century by vegetarian societies working at the

    grass-roots level, religious groups such as the Seventh-Day Adventists, and prominent figures

    such as George Bernard Shaw and Mohandas Gandhi. Vegetarian organizations formed in

    most Western countries, and newsletters, books, and other publications promoting the diet

    became common. In 1908 the International Vegetarian Union was formed, with its main

    function being to organize conferences at which vegetarians from around the world meet and

    share information. The union continues to be active today.

    This orderly but gradual progression might have continued indefinitely had it not been for the

    social upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s. At this point in time, a variety of influences

    converged that had major implications for the course of vegetarianism: a new awareness of

    the importance of diet in maintaining health, an interest in Eastern philosophy and religion, a

    concern over the degradation of the environment through human "progress," a politically

    active stance in support of the rights of oppressed groups, the emergence of the peace

    movement, and a utopian belief in a perfectible society. All of these social trends provided

    pathways for new converts to the vegetarian cause. Out of this melange, the modern era of

    vegetarianism emerged.

    VEGETARIANISM AND RELIGION:-

    Vegetarianism and religion are strongly linked in a number of religions that originated in

    ancient India (Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism). In Jainism vegetarianism is mandatory for

    everyone, in Hinduism and Buddhism it is advocated by some influential scriptures and

    religion authorities. Comparatively, within the Abraham religions (Judaism, Christianity and

    Islam) vegetarian diet is not promoted by mainstream authorities. In Christianity, however,

    there are minority groups promoting vegetarianism on religious grounds.

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    Vegetarianism has been a common thread among the major world religions, even if only a

    minority have adopted the diet as an expression of their faith. Christians have always striven

    to minister to poor and hungry people. However, today the inefficiency of meat eating works

    against that ministry. In the United States 66% of the grains are fed to animals being raised

    for slaughter, wasting most grains calories and proteins.

    Hinduism

    Hinduisms encourages a vegetarian diet, though not all Hindus are vegetarian. Hindus

    almost universally avoid beef since they consider the cow sacred. Hinduisms vast scriptures

    contain thousands of passages recommending vegetarianism based on the profound link

    between ahimsa (nonviolence) and spirituality. For example, the Yajur Veda says, Youmust not use your God-given body for killing Gods creatures, whether they are human,

    animals, or whatever. Mahatma Gandhi, however, took Hindu vegetarian observance one

    step further by declaring, The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be measured

    by the way in which its animals are treated.

    While the violence of slaughter wrongs animals, it also harms those who consume animals.

    Causing unnecessary pain and death produces bad karma (ill-effects on oneself as a

    consequence of ill-treatment of others). Belief in the sacredness of life, reincarnation,

    nonviolence, and the law of karma are central, inter-related features of the Hinduisms

    spiritual ecology. While Hinduisms basis for vegetarianism is deeply spiritual, its practical

    merit has also been confirmed by science. For example, the prohibition against harming or

    killing cows frequently benefits nutrition in India. Cattle contribute milk and dairy foods,

    labour, transportation, and dung fuel.

    Jainism

    Vegetarianism is expected practice among Jains. Jain traditions

    respect ahimsa (nonviolence), aparigraha (non-acquision), asteya (respect for others rights)

    and satya (truth). While Jains comprise less than 1% of Indias population, they contribute

    more than half of all the money donated in India to provide medical and other social

    assistance to Indias poor people.

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    Buddhism

    Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, was a Hindu who accepted many of Hinduisms core

    doctrines, such as karma. His life and teachings offered special insights into how to address

    problems of human existence, and he explicitly taught vegetarianism as a component of his

    general instruction to be mindful and compassionate.

    The Buddha in certain Mahayana sutras strongly denounces the eating of meat. In the

    Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra, the Buddha states that "the eating of meat extinguishes the

    seed of great compassion", adding that all and every kind of meat and fish consumption (even

    of animals already found dead) is prohibited by him. The Buddha also predicts in this sutra

    that later monks will "hold spurious writings to be the authentic Dharma" and will concoct inthe Lankavatara Sutra their own sutras and mendaciously claim that the Buddha allows the

    eating of meat, whereas in fact (he says) he does not. A long passage shows the Buddha

    weighing strongly in favor of vegetarianism, since the eating of the flesh of fellow sentient

    beings is said by him to be incompatible with the compassion a Bodhisattva should strive to

    cultivate. Several other Mahayana sutras also emphatically prohibit the consumption of meat.

    Taoism

    The Chinese religion of Taoism holds nature as sacred, and this view also favours

    vegetarianism. Taoism teaches that yin and yang are the two fundamental energies in the

    world, and Taoists have always taken the accomplishments of yin [the non-violent, non-

    aggressive approach] and rescue of creatures as their priority. (Journal of the Academy of

    Religion, 54: no. 1, 1987) For example, the famous Taoist Master Li Han-Kung explicitly

    prohibited those who consume meat from his holy mountain.

    Taoism is distinctive in stressing simplicity. As early as the 6th

    century BCE, the Taoist

    scripture called Tao Te Ching warned against waste (80 TTC). The Tao Te Ching teaches that

    simplicity allows the individual to live a peaceful life and it protects nature from overuse and

    pollution. Modern studies of ecology and factory farming have demonstrated that meat

    production today is extremely complicated and inefficient. The U.S. Department of

    Agriculture reports that meat consumption is far less efficient in producing protein than

    consumption of beans and grains. Because it requires far more grain, modern meat

    production requires more pesticides, more water, and more fossil fuel to run tractors to farm

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    the extra fields of grain. Burning more fossil fuel wastes natural resources and pollutes the

    planet. Taoist simplicity encourages eating vegetables, grains, and fruits instead of meat.

    According to the Tao, the process of meat production tends to be too yangtoo aggressive; it

    involves extreme and unnecessary impact on the environment.

    Judaism

    The Torah (Hebrew Scriptures) describes vegetarianism as an ideal. In the Garden of Eden,

    Adam, Eve, and all creatures were instructed to eat plant foods. (Genesis 1:29-30) The

    prophet Isaiah had a utopian vision in which everyone will once again be vegetarian: The

    wolf shall dwell with the lamb the lion shall eat straw like the ox They shall not hurt or

    destroy in all my holy mountain.

    Judaism forbids tsaar baalei chayim, inflicting unnecessary pain on animals. For example,

    Exodus 23:5 requires that one relieve the burden of an overloaded animal, and the Fourth

    Commandment includes the instruction that Jews must allow livestock to rest on the

    Sabbath. The parameters of such laws are discussed in the Talmud and codified in

    the Shulchan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). The revered medieval legal

    authority/philosopher Moses Maimonides wrote that we should show mercy to all living

    creatures. The 16th Century mystic Rabbi Moses Cordovero and 19th Century thinker Rabbi

    Samson Raphael Hirsch expressed similar sentiments. By contrast, factory farms routinely

    confine animals in cramped spaces; often drug and mutilate animals; and deny them fresh air,

    sunlight, exercise, and any opportunity to satisfy their natural instincts. In response to this,

    former Chief Rabbi of Ireland Rabbi David Rosen has written, The current treatment of

    animals in the livestock trade definitely renders the consumption of meat as unacceptable [not

    kosher]. Other rabbis, while agreeing that animals should be raised and slaughtered in

    humane ways, do not agree that such meat is forbidden.

    Other Jewish values favour vegetarianism. Judaism advocates treating the environment

    respectfully, while animal agriculture squanders water, energy, land, and other resources.

    Judaism holds that human life is sacred, and we should diligently care for our health. Since

    animal-based foods can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, we

    should move towards a plant-based diet. Judaism encourages us to share our bread with

    hungry people. Yet, the inefficiencies of animal agriculture waste grains and lands that could

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    be used for staple crops, thereby depriving hungry people of food. In summary, although

    Judaism does not mandate vegetarianism, many Jewish teachings support the diet.

    Christianity

    Christianity, based on Judaism, prohibits cruelty to animals. Jesus central teachings involved

    love, compassion, and mercy, and it is hard to imagine Jesus looking upon contemporary

    factory farms and slaughterhouses and then happily consuming flesh.

    Christians have always striven to minister to poor and hungry people. However, today the

    inefficiency of meat eating works against that ministry. In the United States 66% of the

    grains are fed to animals being raised for slaughter, wasting most grains calories and

    proteins. Ron Sider of Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary has observed, It is because of

    the high level of meat consumption that the rich minority of the world devours such an unfair

    share of the worlds available food. Knowing the deleterious effects of animal-based foods

    on human health, Christian principles favour a plant-based diet.

    DISASDVANTAGES OF BEING A VEGETARIAN:-

    1) Decreased protein - Meat provides us with adequate store of protein which our body

    needs to use for activities related to the repair, growth and maintenance of cells in our body.

    Protein gives us energy and helps our body fight against infections. There are other foods

    that give us protein such as eggs, milk, spinach, soybean, fish, whole grains, rice, beans, corn,

    oats, nuts, peas and peanut butter.

    2) Lack of food choicesSome restaurants and grocery stores abroad and to a lesser extent

    even in India still do not offer a wide selection of vegetarian entrees to choose from. Also,

    when someone who is a vegetarian goes out to eat over at a friends house, more often than

    not there are not always vegetarian options available.

    3) Decreased Creatinine Creatinine, which comes from meat, helps our body build

    muscle mass, an essential function for every movement we make.

    4) Decreased vitamins and minerals Strict vegetarians who do not partake in the

    consumption of any animal products of any kind, have to be more conscious of getting

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    Vitamins B12 vitamin, Iron and Calcium. Fortunately, these deficits can be made up for and

    supplements can be taken.

    Whether one is a vegetarian for religious, health or moral reasons or if one is considering

    becoming a vegetarian, one should look at the list of disadvantages of becoming a vegetarianand think of ways to combat or anticipate each one. Also, people with a need for a larger

    body mass such as weight lifters may need to rethink their desire for a vegetarian diet as

    supplements may not give them adequate protein stores needed.

    5) Disturbing the Natures Cycle - The increasing number of vegetarians will result in

    major disturbance of the food pyramid with animals and humans having to co-exist

    peacefully (hopefully) under one roof.

    VEGETARIANISM IN TODAYS MODERN WORLD:-

    In a recent poll conducted for American Health magazine found that nearly nine million

    Americans call themselves vegetarians. In addition, another 40 million adults are eating less

    meat and more plant foods than in the past. Similarly, a recent consumer study carried out by

    the National Restaurant Association found that customers are ordering fewer meat dishes and

    more salads, fresh fruits, and fruit juices than they used to. The number of vegetarianrestaurants is also increasing.

    The growing mainstream status of vegetarianism is reflected in recent articles in popular

    magazines. For example, Newsweek, referred to Americas healthier eating habits as

    "vegetarian chic," and Time, praised the new vegetarian preferences of health-conscious

    young adults. Indeed, many individuals have stopped eating meat for health reasons, although

    some have also been influenced by the animal liberation movement, religious beliefs,

    concerns about world hunger, or an awareness of the environmental damage caused by

    livestock production. But whatever their motives, one thing is clear: Vegetarianism can no

    longer be viewed as a fringe phenomenon.

    The poll also revealed that nearly three fourths of Americans reject the notion that

    vegetarianism is merely a passing fad. A look at the historical record reveals that these people

    are correct. In fact, vegetarianism has a long, although not always illustrious, history in the

    West.

    http://www.methodsofhealing.com/becoming-a-vegetarian/http://www.methodsofhealing.com/becoming-a-vegetarian/
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    VEGETARIAN GASTRONOMY:-

    Keeping in mind the rising number of vegetarians and their peculiar demands for food, a

    large number of chefs are now spending a considerable amount of time coming up with new

    vegetarian dishes to cater to these finicky consumers. It is always a challenge for the chef to

    create something unusual using limited ingredients and coming up with entrees using

    vegetables. It is not uncommon nowadays to come across vegetarian fine-dine restaurants in

    the West or reading about chefs specializing in vegetarian cooking in food and wine

    magazines. Although, there are vegetarian restaurants by the tons in India, the concept of

    vegetarianism is relatively new to the west who are predominantly meat-eating nations.

    Chefs such as Eddie Shepherd and Gavin Kaysen are among the new breed of young chefswho are embracing the world of vegetarian cooking.

    VEGETARIAN GATRONOMY IN INDIA:-

    Who says vegetarian food cant be tasty..???-

    A lot of people tend to be of the opinion that vegetarian food fails to be tasty when compared

    to their livestock counterparts. Any person who thinks on these lines should be sent packing

    on a trip to India. One can safely call India as the hub of vegetarian gastronomy. In a land so

    vast and diverse in terms of language, religion, culture and food you are not expected to find

    a lot of similarities in the numerous cuisines. Predominantly vegetarian, Indian cuisine has

    the power to tingle taste buds in a very unique and inexplicable way without the use of meat

    and meat products that has to experienced to be believed. Western States such as Gujarat and

    Rajasthan and Southern States like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are dominated by vegetarians

    and posses a cuisine that is so delectable and appreciated worldwide.

    CRITIQUE:-

    Vegetarians may be many things, but they are not lonely. Whether they are vegetarians due to

    religious boundaries or by choice is a different issue altogether. Everyone is entitled to their

    opinion and if a person chooses to abstain from eating meat because of certain reasons it is

    completely his loss or gain (Vegetarians vs. Meat-eaters is a never ending debate).

    Vegetarians tend to think that Meat-eaters are carnivores who kill their way to feed

    themselves whereas meat eaters pity vegetarians for missing out on the what according is the

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    best tasting ingredient...MEAT!! While the vegetarian lobby today is perhaps not as overtly

    ridiculed as it once was, vegetarians are still tainted with the image of the morally earnest and

    the downright cranky. But the issues that vegetarianism includes are profound and all-

    embracing, and this invites the scorn of the nervous and insecure.

    CONCLUSION:-

    The nature of our diet in the last decade of the twentieth century became headline news. For

    many months at a time mad cow disease, and later in the decade Frankenstein foods, were

    issues of enormous dramatic power which involved the consumer in a debate on the nature of

    the food upon our plates. Parents began to enquire anxiously what it they were feeding their

    kids, and in an age when these same children were struck down suddenly with allergies or

    made terminally ill by a farm visit, parents were made vividly aware that the diet they were

    on could no longer be trusted. Consumers began to ask questions demanding information and

    when they received answers they often found them inadequate and failed to be reassured.

    In this uncertain climate there was an upsurge of interest in vegetarianism, or what it is

    increasingly called in nutritional and scientific circles the plant diet, allied with a

    knowledge that even this diet was only safe if it was wholly organic.

    BIBLIOGRAPHY:-

    Amato, P. (n.d.). Origins of Modern Vegetarianism. Retrieved January 6, 2011, from Eat

    Veg: http://www.newveg.av.org/veghistory.htm

    Disadvantages of Being a Vegetarian. (n.d.). Retrieved January 4, 2011, from Methods of

    Healing: http://www.methodsofhealing.com/disadvantages-of-being-a-vegetarian/

    Eddie Shepherd. (n.d.). Retrieved January 3, 2011, from Veggiechef:

    http://www.veggiechef.co.uk/info/index.html

    Snowfield, G. (n.d.). Behind Gavin Kaysen. Retrieved January 6, 2011, from Eat Drink

    Beteer: http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2008/12/03/behind-gavin-kaysen-award-winning-chef-and-

    vegetarian-virtuoso/

    Spencer, C. (2000). Vegetarianism. London: Grub Street.

    Vegetarianism and Religion. (n.d.). Retrieved January 2, 2011, from Drexel Pages:

    http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~soa29/Religious%20Issues.htm

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    Ramasubramaniyan S (C-1240)