Vegetarian cuisine: a few good sites: the Internet is full of sites promoting healthy and not-so-healthy lifestyles. Here are some good places to learn more about meatless eating

Vibrant Life, March-April, 2003 by Yvona Fast

No bones about it: Vegetarianism is on the rise. Products such as tofu, soy burgers, and soy milk, which once were found only in specialty or health-food stores, now line supermarket shelves around the world.

Nutritionists tout the benefits of a diet higher in vegetable fiber and lower in animal fats--such as cholesterol, which have been linked to heart disease and cancer. Research suggests that antioxidants found in many fruits and vegetables are linked to a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease. The Food Pyramid guides us to a lower-calorie diet rich in fiber and low in saturated fat and cholesterol. This fits well with the meatless diet. Studies have shown that rates of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes are lower among vegetarians (Harvard Health Letter, August 1999). Vegetarianism is a growing trend in the youth culture. Encouraged by celebrities such as Alicia Silverstone, Annie Lennox, and Shania Twain, and promoted by sites such as FamousVeggie.com, teens today think vegetarianism is hip. All of this has made vegetarianism the country's fastest--growing food trend.

The International Vegetarian Union (www.ivu.org) has been dedicated to promoting vegetarianism worldwide since 1908 when this nonprofit organization replaced the Vegetarian Federal Union originally established in 1889. The group brings together vegetarian societies from all over the world. The site features articles, a searchable recipe database of more than 1,750 recipes, famous vegetarians, vegetarian phrases in many languages, and international events. There are many discussion and news forums.

One of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in the United States, the Moosewood Restaurant, has a Web presence at www.moosewoodrestaurant.com. They feature free vegetarian recipes, online ordering for their cookbooks, and information about their consulting work and cooking lessons. To find other vegetarian restaurants in major U.S. cities, check out www.cuisinenet.com. And when making travel plans, stop first at www.vegetariansabroad.com. Although currently their inventory is limited, they list vegetarian establishments in North America and Western Europe.

In a Vegetarian Kitchen by Nava Atlas (www.vegkitchen.com) is another artsy, witty, and informative vegetarian cooking site. Nava offers kitchen wisdom as well as discussions of current topics relevant to vegetarian cooking.

Of the pages listed on the upper left, the first and main is "Recipes Galore." The page that opens is divided into four sections: Everyday Fare, Wholesome Season's Eatings, and Special Occasions. Each of these is further subdivided; under Season's Eatings I found "Salad Days," which led me to five great salad recipes. All of Nava's recipes are simple, fast, and easy.

The "Vegetarian Tips" page contains Tips for New Vegetarians, Creating a Vegetarian Pantry, and The Protein Hoopla. The pantry page is a complete, well-organized, annotated list of staples to keep on hand in a vegetarian kitchen.

Nava includes a bookstore section for selling her many cookbooks, a large list of links to other vegetarian and cooking sites, and a short bio. July's Seasonal Spotlight is an informative article on the different varieties of lettuce, including recipes. July's "Menu of the Month" is a simple portable picnic meal. Included are three recipes, none of which require standing over the stove in scorching summer heat. I give Nava high marks for an excellent site.

Debbie Meadows shares "favorite recipes collected from various cookbooks, relatives, and friends" on her site, Great Vegetarian Recipes, found at http://webvalue.net/recipes. These are divided into four main categories: Chinese Dishes, American Dishes, Dessert Dishes, and Spinach Recipes. There are also bread and low-fat sections. Debbie includes a message board, a Food and Recipe Chat, and links to her favorite sites. Although I found the large leaf motif a bit distracting, there are some good recipes here.

The above list is by no means complete, but it should help you find good recipes and quality vegetarian information.

Yvona Fast is a writer and researcher in Lake Clear, New York.