|
|
|
| Specialized information for vegetarians and vegans |
|
|
|
| Vegetarian Resource Group |
This is a substantive, well-organized, and balanced site that appears to promote and explain vegetarianism without appearing strident or overly political. Easy to read and navigate, it provides news, recipes, nutrition information, links, and ideas for those interested in becoming or remaining vegetarians. Articles in the “Journal” section are informative and appropriately referenced; archives date back for several years. Admittedly, the entire journal is not online, but the section is by no means a “teaser”–complete text is provided for the articles and recipes excerpted.
The “Vegan Information” and “Vegetarian Nutrition” sections cover veganism, vegetarianism, animal rights, and vegetarian diets for teens, seniors, and pregnant women. Three of the guides are written in Spanish. “Vegetarian Nutrition” also addresses dietary concerns of vegetarians with articles on iron, calcium, vitamin B-12, and other important nutrients. Most of these guides are outlined at the beginning, allowing the user to jump to sections of interest. This site is an excellent resource for consumers and may also have some appeal for professionals.
|
| Meatless Monday |
Most health professionals agree that eating a plant-based diet may reduce the risk of some diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Meatless Monday is a campaign launched in association with Johns Hopkins School of Public Health that encourages people to incorporate at least one meat-free meal a week into their eating pattern. (Their definition of “meatless” means no red meat, poultry, or pork. Fish is okay and encouraged.)
Experiment with the recipes for meatless breakfasts, lunches, and dinners offered here. They change weekly, often include seasonal ingredients, and are varied enough so that it should be easy to find something that appeals to a variety of tastes.
“Healthy Living” links to evidence supporting the importance of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy foods, and exercise in a healthful lifestyle; however, some of the articles are from scientific journals and might not appeal to consumers. Also, what the site bills as the “New Food Pyramid” is not new at all, but rather it is the Mediterranean Food Guide Pyramid. The official, government-sanctioned pyramid is still the original one created by the USDA.
|
| The Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom |
The “Lifestyle” and “Food” sections of this British vegetarian site highlight the health advantages of adapting a meatless diet. We like that they make the point of emphasizing that a diet does not become healthful by simply excluding animal products. Instead, they focus on the importance of consuming plenty of whole grains, lots of fruits and vegetables, and less saturated fat.
Check out the “Information Sheets” to read about vegetarian nutrition as well as how it can meet the special needs of pregnant women, infants, children, teens, and those trying to gain weight. Keep in mind that this is a British site, so the nutrient intake guidelines are slightly different than those used in the United States.
There is evidence that a healthful, vegetarian diet can offer protection against some chronic diseases such as heart disease and some cancers. But, the site also claims a decreased risk in conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis, which has not been established.
|
| Nutrition and Food - Finding the Right Stuff |
Jean Fremont is a faculty member of Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada. She has assembled a collection of well-selected links on a variety of food and nutrition topics. While some of the links are Canadian-specific, most would interest anyone. The “Art and Science of Food” is an eclectic collection of links to food magazines, cooking schools, and wine and recipe sites. Links to information on food safety and food law are also posted here.
Dozens of links in the “Nutrition, Exercise, and Education Pros” sections connect readers with sites divided by category. “Health, Medicine, and Special Dietary Needs” offers many more links to both disease-specific and general wellness sites. These pages are updated frequently and will make “finding the right nutrition stuff” easier for web surfers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|