A Day In The Life Of A Vegetarian

A vegetarian diet can seem limiting in many ways, but once you start doing some research and experimenting in the kitchen, you’ll find that it’s actually a whole lot more enjoyable than you’d think. TLL caught up with Chareen who gives us some insight into her day as a vegetarian.

Since becoming vegetarian almost two years ago, I’m constantly asked what I eat or how I ensure that I’m getting all those important nutrients, like iron, for example. Truth is, going vegetarian and eliminating meat from my diet was the easiest decision I’ve ever made, and I’ve even started enjoying cooking now that I have no choice but to focus on eating as many nutritious meals as possible.

When I still ate meat, I found that I’d often get lazy, opting for a quick spaghetti Bolognese with nothing more than beef, tomatoes, an onion and some pasta. These days, my vegetarian Bolognese is a far healthier and more nutritious option, with plenty of carrots, tomatoes, some red peppers, lentils and a handful of kale for extra iron. I feel healthier, lighter and far less bloated than I ever did when I ate meat.

Here’s a look at my diet on any given day, from breakfast to dinner and all my snacks in between:

7am: Breakfast

Since going vegetarian, I always have a tub of hummus in the fridge. I usually have a slice or two of wholewheat toast with some hummus for breakfast, otherwise I’ll have some peanut butter on toast. Both hummus and peanut butter are packed full of good fats for healthy skin and nails. I’ll follow this up with a naartjie or a banana and a cup of black coffee.

10am: Snack

My favourite time of the day: time for a smoothie! I usually pop some strawberries or a handful of berries into a blender along with some almond milk and a banana for a quick and easy smoothie. I like to play around with different combinations depending on what I have in my fridge, but I always have the above-mentioned fruits in the house so this berry and banana smoothie is my go to.

1pm: Lunch

Lunch is usually a handful of greens, some cherry tomatoes, chopped cucumber and avocado topped with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar and a handful of nuts. I also try to down a glass of water at the same time, as I’m not very good at drinking water – but I’m trying to change that!
4pm: Snack

I always have a bag of nuts in my handbag to tide me over until dinner time – and to ward off that dreaded mid-afternoon slump, when chocolate seems inevitable!

6pm: Dinner

Dinner is my favourite meal of the day, and it’s also the most varied. I really enjoy vegetable curries and have fun experimenting with spices and cooking my own curries, but soups and veggie casseroles are also a regular on my menu. I enjoy making a hearty lentil Bolognese, as mentioned above, and I also make a delicious veggie lasagna fairly often.

Switching to a vegetarian diet really doesn’t have to be as complicated as it seems: simply look for meat substitutes, like beans and lentils, and have fun testing new recipes. Another important tip is to ensure that you take a really good supplement to ensure that you aren’t missing out on any nutrients – even on those days when creativity is lacking and you can’t come up with any interesting meal ideas and opt for good old pasta and a basic tomato sauce instead (don’t worry – we’ve all done it!)