Embracing The Veggies

To get a firsthand experience and gather takeaways on what being vegetarian is like, the CATCH Team goes vegetarian for a week

Story by: Raymond Quek | Photos by: Charlene Peh

Individuals swear by a vegetarian diet for many reasons. Our print team went on a meatless diet for seven days to find out the effects of vegetarianism on our bodies, with the exception of dairy and egg products.

ADAPTING TO THE NEW DIET

The sudden absence of meat was a tough forfeit for avid meat-eaters like us. Going vegetarian meant that we had to hunt for alternatives. Despite the similarities, mock meat felt DIFFERENT.  

In contrast, some team members enjoyed vegetables to begin with, and had no difficulty going on a meatless diet.

MAKING THE SWITCH

I discovered that potatoes are a great meat substitute. Imagine your favourite mala stir-fry accompanied by pieces of chicken and crunchy potatoes! But this time, take away the chicken. Can potatoes still shine all by themselves? 

They do.

While I simply removed meat from regular dishes, some of the team members went ahead to replace common staples with healthier vegetables, like replacing sweet potatoes with white rice.

REALITY

While we had our own challenges, this was a unique experience. It made us realise that some dishes can taste good even without meat, and we learnt to appreciate vegetables a lot more.  

Trying out vegetarian twists on common foods can be an amazing experience. Aside from mock meat, we discovered that konnyaku prawns are replacements for real prawns. Through this experience, we also felt healthier, which is something positive.

TIPS 

• We recommend taking small steps. Start with meatless Fridays or weekends to appreciate the vegetarian world without deviating too much from your original lifestyle. 

• It’s important to identify the cause that you are going for. Whether it is to do a body detox, save the environment or be less cruel to animals, there is a goal to work towards.

• Why not invite your family and friends to take up the challenge too? You can bond with them while being healthier. With that being said, we encourage you to try out a vegetarian diet.

Learn more about vegetarian recommendations through this video!