Try a Non-Non Veg. Day!

Why prefer vegetarian?

-By Hameeta Kaur Malhotra (24), M.A. English, An avid reader, Writer, Foodie, Lover of Literature, Linguistics and Sarcasm

“If butcher shops/slaughter houses had glass walls, nobody would crave and consume it,’ Dimpy Verma (23) student of Department of English and Cultural studies,.

“I prefer vegetarian food because everyone has the right to live and there is no point of killing someone just for a matter of taste,” Kajal Barmotta (17) student of Department of Chemistry, PU, Chandigarh.  

“Vegetarian food is more tasty, healthy and above all it has more variety and cultural preference. Also, Veg. food has close substitutes of non-veg food. So, why go with non-vegetarian,” Jyoti Sharma (22) student of Department of Social Work

Why people are vegetarian? Being vegetarian has many reasons including concern for personal health and the environment, economic and world hunger concerns, compassion for animals, belief in nonviolence, food preferences, or spiritual reasons. People may become vegetarians for one reason, and then later on adopt some of the other reasons as well. One day of following a vegetarian diet does not make a difference or engender a free change but every little bit helps. Going vegetarian undoubtedly has health gains like it is an attempt to save animals from lives of misery and pain and in a way helps us in preserving earth and save food chains and ecosystem.

The affluence of a culture is recognized by the food and nourishment they contain. A wedding is considered lavish only if it has non- vegetarian dishes and sea food. A party is incomplete without chicken, mutton and sea food. People are seen casting aspersions on gatherings without non-vegetarian bragging ‘sher ghaas nhi khata’(Lion doesn’t eat grass) ‘Veg hi khilaana tha to ghar hi kha lete’ (If we were to be served veg, we would had it at home ) , ‘Swaad hi kharaab kr diya’ ( they spoiled taste) , ‘Veg khila ke bimar hi kr diya’ (They made us sick by serving vegetarian).

Vegetarian have always been the object of ridicule by meat lovers and get labelled as “Ghaas phoos Khaane wale” , “You are missing out the best thing”.  “How can you stay without meat”  “Vegetarian ho to egg bhi nhi Khaate kya?” (You don’t even eat egg !)  “Murge bahut hain is duniya mein thode bht Kha lenge to voh km thoda ho Jaega” . (There are sufficient chicken earth, A few consumed would not make any difference).

I wonder if people can come out of this presumptions and inferences of always keeping non-vegetarian food on a pedestal. With a very few of them with a clear cut definition of what a non- vegetarian food actually has in its province. There are different patterns by which they are distinguished. Vegans (do not eat meat, poultry or fish and any products derived from them, Lacto–ovo ( do not eat meat, poultry or fish but eat eggs dairy products), Lacto vegetarians eat no meat, fish or poultry, eggs but do consume dairy products, Ovo vegetarians eat no meat, poultry, fish or dairy products but consume eggs and partial vegetarians avoid meat but eat fish or poultry. So, terminate censuring the veggies and give a thought.

Try and keep a non- non veg  day. Organize and in a way celebrate this day with our friends, neighbours, colleagues and at our home. Try going vegetarian and organize a meatless celebration. Try a toothsome new dish and savour it with your loved ones. Invite non vegetarian braggarts; call the people who don’t turn up with your invitations with a predisposition that you will serve them vegetarian food or non vegetarian substitutes like soya chap etc. Make them come out of their stereotypes that taste and flavour lies in the non veg. section only. Make them feel the aroma of veg. food and relish the delicacies.