Comment on the Daily Mail article dated 29 June 2009

Source: Being veggie makes you porky

I completely agree with everything that Lowri Turner says in this article about weight and a vegetarian diet. Being a vegetarian can be very healthy but it takes some knowledge and a reasonable amount of effort to get enough of the right nutrients especially protein. Many of the vegetarian clients that I see are overweight, do not eat a wide variety of vegetables and definitely rely heavily on dairy for their protein.  They often eat a diet high in carbohydrates and sugar which piles on the pounds. Of course this does not mean that all meat eaters are healthy and all vegetarians are fat as Lowri rightly points out. 

Despite this I do think that avoiding meat for one day a week could be managed easily in a healthy way. If all animal products have to be avoided then Tempeh (fermented soya) is a good option as it is high in protein. Other foods that could be substituted for animal produce on this day are lentils, beans, brown rice, tofu, wholegrains, nuts and seeds. A stir fry including tempeh and a variety of vegetables on wholegrain rice is a healthy and quick option for a Monday night. As long as the portion sizes are reasonable, avoiding meat for one day a week will not put fat on your thighs.

Expert: Cathy Castle (BSc, Dip ION, MBANT) www.nutritionimpact.co.uk