What are the Health Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet?

Individuals who are on a vegetarian diet may eat cheese, eggs, and milk, but they do not eat meat, such as; chicken, pork, and beef. Instead of meat, they lean on plant-based protein.

There are many benefits to a vegetarian diet, including;

1. Good Heart Health: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables is high in fiber and low in fat, which is good for heart health.
2. Reduced Type 2 diabetes risk: Following a healthy vegetarian diet may help prevent and treat type 2 diabetes and associated complications. This could be due to choosing low-glycemic foods that keep blood sugar levels steady, such as whole grains, legumes, and nuts.
3. Lower Blood Pressure: Plant foods tend to be lower in fat, sodium, and cholesterol, which can have a positive effect on your blood pressure. Fruits and vegetables also have good concentrations of potassium, which helps to lower blood pressure.
4. Reduced Disease Risk: On a healthy vegetarian diet, you are encouraged to consume whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds— These plant-based foods provide your body with important vitamins and minerals that boost your health and reduce your risk of many chronic diseases.
5. Weight Loss : A veggie diet is consistently lower in calories and saturated fats than a meat-based diet. Even cutting out meat once or twice a week can significantly help to lower weight, but remember, it’s still about moderation.

Vegetarian Recipes at Tops

At Tops Day Nurseries, we understand a healthy, balanced diet is essential for children’s health and well-being, in turn, we want to ensure our menu is as sustainable and nutritional as possible. We have to consider the health of the child eating it, but also the health of the planet. Considering this and the benefits of a vegetarian diet, Peter, our Catering Manager at Tops, has been looking into adding more vegetarian recipes to our menu, with the end goal to have a completely vegetarian menu available for our children.

You can view some of our recipes for a vegetarian diet here!