Tofu Cooking

If you're currently not a vegetarian and haven’t been one in the past, you've probably never eaten tofu. Often times people only hear about tofu in vegetarian jokes.

So why do many vegetarians eat tofu all the time? Is is it simply because they have no other choice?

Both yes and no are correct answers.

Being a vegetarian doesn’t mean you have to eat tofu. In fact, there are many vegetarians who never eat tofu or any popular meat-replacement dishes--such as "veggie burgers" or "tofurkey"--for that matter.

As long as they use properly created meal plans, vegetarians can maintain a healthy diet eating traditional meals and ethnic dishes.

Tofu is often cited as something exclusively vegetarian because it is versatile, highly-nutritional, and is often used to replace meat dishes.

It can be created in textures, consistencies, and flavors that simulate a range of meats--from turkey to hamburg--and can replace and far exceed the nutritional value of similar meat dishes.

While vegetarians don't need to consume tofu, doing so is often a wise dietary choice--and many times the next best thing to eating similar meat products (for those who enjoyed meat dishes before they became vegetarians).

Tofu is a low-cholesterol, low-fat, low-calorie food made out of steamed and compressed soy beans. Not only is it a great source of protein--which many vegetarians lack--but it is also heart-healthy and has been linked to a decreased risk in cancer.

As a meat alternative, tofu is also served in a number of spicy and ethnic dishes, which never contain meat. Many ethnic Indian dishes contain amounts of tofu cooked and spiced in different ways.

Don't let tofu get in you way if you want to become a vegetarian. A healthy vegetarian diet can be maintained without ever eating tofu. If you're a vegetarian, but haven’t tried tofu, what a great idea. It is both nutritional and versatile - and it may taste better that you think.