Vegetarian cuisine refers to food that meets vegetarian standards by excluding meat and animal tissue products. For lacto-ovo vegetarianism (the most common type of vegetarianism in the Western world), eggs, and dairy products such as milk, and cheese are permitted. The strictest form of vegetarianism is veganism, which excludes all animal products, including dairy products as well as honey, and even some refined sugars if filtered and whitened with bone char.Vegetarian foods can be classified into several different types:Traditional foods that have always been vegetarian (Cereals/grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc.)Soy products including Tofu and Tempeh are common protein sources.Textured vegetable protein (TVP), made from defatted soy flour, is often included in chili and burger recipes in place of ground meat.Meat analogues, which mimic the taste, texture, and appearance of meat and are often used in recipes that traditionally contained meat. Vegans may also use analogues for eggs and dairy products.

So, to sum it all up, make sure that you eat a variety of foods from the vegetarian sources of protein list and your body will take care of the rest! So look better, feel better, and possibly even live longer. Live the Vegetarian Diet Lifestyle!

(PETA) has named a Richmond, B.C., business as its company of the year for developing food that looks, tastes and feels like meat, but isn't. Garden Protein International manufactures Gardein, a trademarked meat substitute made entirely from vegetable sources that it sells as an ingredient to vegetarian food producers around the world.

Looks like vegetarians should be eating their greens as well as their tofu.

Combining of vegetarian foods isn’t necessary to get more than enough protein. Eating an adequate number of calories per day made up of any normal variety of plant foods gives us all the protein our bodies need.

December 2006 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a low-protein, low-calorie diet and exercise lower hormones and growth factors that increase a person’s risk of developing and dying from cancer.