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As an Indian it always amuses me to see folks in western nations tying themselves in knots over the vegeterianism debates. The possibility of eating a 100 percent veg diet never raises the kind of reaction that I see around here since its a way of life for a huge number of people in India. There are a wealth of lentil protiens, plants and fruits supplemented by milk based side items like yoghurt and cottage cheese which provide for the possibility of having a vegan only lifestyle. This is more driven by meat centric recipes and food culture prevalent here and the subsequent lack of vegeterian food culture. There are bazillion recipes involving yellow, green, black lentils of all kinds, chickpeas, beans, dried peas, okra, eggplants, multiple gourds, there are tons of veggies I barely remember the english names of and then the whole gamut of wheat breads. naans, rotis, flaky fried pan breads coupled with all kinds of rice preps, basmati rice, biryanis, the pilafs and pulaos, coconut, maize etc etc. So not only there are tons of vegeterian options, there are all great tasting options. Here eating vegan is like "meh tastimg food". In my home backnin Delhi, cooking chicken was reserved for special occasions once or twice a month and the daily diet was all Vegan. It was only after I moved abroad was the need to have a "meat protien" daily became part of the conversation. Everytime I hear this debate I go like, "you guys have no idea how good tasting vegeterian food can be outside your country". I see that its driven historically by availability of meat recipes only and meat has played a central part in western cuisines. For me, I can easily glide into full Steak and Pork chops chowing mode from pure vegan recipes for a full month without skipping a beat just because I have exposure to a larger set of cuisines and recipes. or it may just be an Asian thing. |