WORLD VEGETARIAN DAY
The whole world celebrates world vegetarian day on October 1st. Let’s see what Italy has to offer its non-meat eaters.
15-20 years ago, while the vegetarian community was significant, it was nowhere near the size it is today. Many still wondered how vegetarians could survive without meat!
World Vegetarian Day was created by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 with the goal “to promote the joy and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism.” With articles which address the topic, and many events featuring music and speakers, the society seeks to bring awareness to the ethical and health benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle.
According to a 2015 study, there are more than 375 million vegetarians around the world. There are many reasons to stop eating meat, be they health-related, religious, or ethical. In India, for example, both Hinduism and Buddhism encourage vegetarianism, so the country boasts the highest percentage of vegetarians in its population, almost 40%.
ON INSTAGRAM, VEGETARIANS ARE VERY POPULAR
Year after year, vegetarian restaurants and vegetarian recipes grow in popularity. This is especially true on Instagram, as viral challenges such as the “vegetarian challenge” bolster the representation of vegetable-based meals: every month, different chefs from around the world compete by uploading pictures of their creations to a voting platform online. July saw massive participation, featuring 217 chefs with a multitude of recipes.
OUR CULINARY TRADITION OFFERS MANY VEGETARIAN DISHES
Italy’s culinary tradition favors the country’s large vegetarian community. We have many dishes that can be made without meat. Think of pastas, for example: cheese ravioli; spaghetti with a simple, and always tasty, tomato sauce; or, for pescatarians, pasta with seafood. If you like lasagna, instead of using bolognese sauce, opt for the veggie version, with béchamel sauce, mushrooms, and zucchini. Potato gnocchi are also amazing, especially if they are handmade.
We also have a vast tradition of rice cultivation and preparation. Our risotto is famous around the world: saffron risotto, seafood risotto, mushroom risotto, or asparagus risotto are just a few of the many ways Italians prepare rice.
CHECK MAGNIFICOFOOD.COM TO FIND THE BEST SAUCES AND PASTAS
If reading this article made you hungry, go check magnificofood.com's vegetarian options and celebrate World Vegetarian Day. From tomato sauces by Agromonte, to Agricola Piano and Pasta Cuomo’s delicious pastas, we are sure you will find something to fit your tastes!
