mike Vegetarianism is on the rise in North American culture, as is what’s known as the paleo diet – opting to eliminate pre-packaged or refined foods and starches in favour of consuming whole foods exclusively.
A paleo diet by comparison allows for the consumption of meat and other monounsaturated and omega-3 fats, but will avoid dairy, various grains, refined sugars, and alcohol. The premise is to take your body back to the Paleolithic era – where humans consumed only what was naturally found in their environments. Paleo-vegetarians follow this diet while also eliminating meat.
Regardless of which diet you follow, many vegetarians or persons adhering to the Paleolithic diet consider eggs to be a main source of protein and fat intake. Eggs also provide you with important nutrients such as vitamin D, vitamin B, and choline which is essential for liver function.
For a time, people were afraid to eat too many eggs because they were worried about their cholesterol consumption, it is now widely known however that dietary cholesterol has little impact on cholesterol levels in the blood.
If you strictly follow one or both diets, or if you are contemplating switching to one or the other, consider this simple, delicious, egg-centric dish from www.getcracking.ca that is complete in nutrients.
The cherry tomato and basil quiche can be made using tomatoes and herbs from your own backyard, taking only 15 minutes to prep, and 20 minutes to cook. First, preheat your oven to 350°F.In a bowl, beat the eggs, almond cheese, and fresh basil. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste then pour the eggs into a small baking dish. Next, cut the cherry tomatoes and place them side-up in the egg mixture. Bake in the oven for about twenty minutes, serving with extra basil as a garnish, or for flavour.
Furthermore, sweet potatoes are often used as a substitute for pastry or breads in a paleo diet and are a favorite of vegetarians as well. You can make a simple egg and sweet potato scramble for the whole family using 8 eggs, 2 cups of cut up sweet potato, ½ cup of coconut or almond milk, a batch of green onion, chili powder, healthy ground oregano, fresh salsa, sea salt and ground pepper.
Finally, the most important aspect of leading either a paleo or vegetarian diet is sourcing your food, ensuring the animal products you consume, namely eggs and other forms of poultry and red meat are local and farmed sustainably. Visit www.getcracking.ca today for more recipes and ideas, and to get to know the farmers who bring the eggs that feature in your meals.
