Old habits, new beginnings

Vegetarian Times, March, 2004 by Carla Davis

Vegetarian Times encourages you, your friends and your loved ones to welcome spring this month by "kicking the meat habit" on March 20th. The grassroots diet education campaign called the Great American Meatout promotes a wholesome, nonviolent diet of grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits--and has been doing so for 19 years. Actress Mary Tyler Moore and talk show host Bill Maher will be among the celebrities asking everyone to circle March 20th on their calendars and to spend the day enjoying only meatless meals.

Meatout 2004 reflects several recent dietary developments:

* The US surgeon general has warned that 300,000 Americans die each year from illnesses caused by or worsened by obesity;,

* Mad cow disease is spreading globally, most recently to the United States;

* California and Hawaii state legislatures have recommended vegetarian options for school-children, and other states are following suit;

* Mainstream health advocacy groups are encouraging the broad consumption of fruits and vegetables;

* Mainstream food manufacturers are marketing meat and dairy replacements, and supermarkets are carrying a growing variety of these items;

* Burger King launched a veggie burger in all US restaurants, and fast casual restaurants are following suit with more healthful vegetarian options on their menus.

Most of you reading this issue of Vegetarian Times already know the health benefits of meatless eating. On March 20th--well, on any day--we ask you to spread the news that vegetarian food is both healthful and great-tasting. Just look at this month's mouth-watering feature recipes: Jose Andres wants you, too, to be "Seduced by Tapas" (p. 66); Marion Cunningham urges parents to get their kids in the kitchen and their families to the dinner table in "Supper's Ready!" (p. 52) and Sarah Belk King hopes you'll never look at asparagus the same way again "after reading "Spring Fling" (p. 60).

As a treat for our readers watching their intake of carbohydrates, we've expanded our "Lifestyle" department this month to include four low-carb recipes. Let us know if you'd like to see more low-carb recipes in future issues of WT.

Whether for a slimmer physique, better overall health or any number of compelling reasons, the Great American Meatout inspires thousands each year to go veg. To help you or a loved one make the transition to a vegetarian diet, log on to www.vegetariantimes.com to order a copy of Vegetarian Times' Vegetarian Beginner's Guide: Everything You Need to Know to be a Healthy Vegetarian.

Here's to spring--and to new beginnings.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, VT!

November 2004 marks our 30th anniversary month and will kick off a year-long celebration. Readers, here are two ways you can help us make this anniversary unforgettable: 1) Send us your old issues of VT from 1974 to 1980 for our permanent archives, and we'll send you a VT cookbook. 2) Send us a brief essay (up to 200 words) telling us what VT has meant to you over the years, and if we select, yours, we'll publish it in the November 2004 issue.