This bright chlorophyll green tartan was newly inspired by symbols associated with Vegetarianism, just suited for the end of the traditional harvest season.

Whether one is a committed vegetarian, an enthusiastic carnivore, or simply someone who has discovered that a good plate of roasted potatoes requires no philosophical justification whatsoever, today is a day to look at the enormous variety of dishes built around vegetables, grains, fruits, nuts, pulses, herbs and depending on the type of vegetarian diet and custom, possibly dairy, eggs, or honey.


Ancient peoples around the world developed food sources from whatever grew nearby. Lentils and chickpeas have ancient histories around the Mediterranean and Middle East; beans, squash and maize became important foods in the Americas; and rice, vegetables, tofu and other plant foods have centuries-old traditions across Asia.

But the geography of vegetarian eating is interesting in itself. In South Asia, deliberate vegetarianism developed particularly strong roots through religious and philosophical traditions, including Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Elsewhere, eating relatively little meat often had less to do with philosophy than with economics and environment. European peasants might live largely on bread, grains, beans, vegetables and pottage while Christian fast days regularly removed meat from the table. At the other extreme, pastoral, Arctic and steppe peoples living in places poorly suited to growing crops naturally depended much more heavily upon animals.

And, of course, spirited debate continues over the healthiest diet. Vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, low-carbohydrate, ketogenic, Paleo, carnivore and omnivorous diets all have advocates, particularly regarding metabolic health, longevity and various disease states.

But for Vegetarian Day, it might be time to enjoy a tour through one's garden and cookbooks for veggie inspriration! There are several thousand years' worth of recipes to enjoy! 💚 🤍 🖤 💛 🥕 🥔 🥬 🍲