Over the years, concerns regarding health and wellbeing have increased; thus, people have constantly been looking for new ways of improving their lifestyles.

Exercising, sleeping well, avoiding tobacco and alcohol are just some activities people do to keep the body in good condition. But these guidelines are not enough, since food still remains the main factor to consider when talking about wellness.

A balanced diet is fundamental for the organism to work properly. There are countless ways to achieve this goal, for example, the various types of diet regimes existing from the beginning of human life.

Your food choice identifies you as a meat-eater, vegetarian or vegan. In recent years, veganism and vegetarianism have gained millions of followers.

But besides their popularity, some cannot recognize the difference between these two types of food diets.

What are veganism and vegetarianism?

The main idea of both diets is to exclude any meat from their menu. However, vegetarians are less restrictive than vegans in food choices.

Vegetarianism is generally a planned diet refusing to eat fish, poultry, and beef meat; and allowing the ingestion of dairy products, eggs, and honey. Various forms of vegetarianism differ in their limitations of food.

To name a few: Lacto-ovo-vegetarian, Lacto-vegetarian, Ovo-vegetarian, Pescetarian, and Flexitarian. Each of them has its peculiarities and limits to certain food from their daily menu.

Veganism is a diet plan more restrictive in allowing some kind of food. Like vegetarians, vegans do not eat any type of meat, but they abstain from any animal-derived products such as eggs, dairy products, and honey. Their alimentation consists of plant-based food only.

Veganism as a lifestyle

Most people consider veganism as a lifestyle because their philosophy not only applies to food but their behavior towards life. Vegans worry about animal rights and avoid the use of products tested on animals, like makeup or medicines. They preferred unprocessed and uncooked food.

In recent years, this lifestyle has gained popularity. The reasons are based on new information about the connection between some diseases and meat consumption; as well as the evidence of cruel animal treatment in food processing.

Following a vegan diet can be challenging at the beginning, but with the right information and knowing how to replace some ingredients, veganism can be a successful change in your life.

A point of departure is to use well-known ingredients as your base diet, like rice or beans, and then include more to have a balanced diet.

You may already know how to cook rice; you only need to learn how to combine it to end up with a vegan meal.

Let's see how to cook white rice to prepare some vegan dishes.

Vegan fried rice

Servings: 4 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of extra-firm tofu.

• 1 cup of short-grain white rice.

• 5 minced cloves garlic.

• 1 cup of chopped green onion.

• 1/2 cup of peas.

• 1/2 cup of finely diced carrots.

• 1 tablespoon of peanut butter.

• 3 tablespoons of soy sauce.

• 3 tablespoons of organic brown sugar.

• 2 teaspoons of chili garlic sauce.

• 1 teaspoon of toasted sesame oil.

Preparation:

1. Use an absorbent towel to take all the liquid out of tofu. Cut it into small cubes.

2. Place tofu in a baking sheet previously greased, and bake at around 400 degrees F (200 C) for half an hour, or until tofu gets brown. Reserve.

3. In a pot, pour water and rice, and cook until rice is tender, or about 30 min. Reserve.

4. In a bowl, prepare a sauce by combining say sauce, peanut butter, brown sugar, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil and 1 clove of garlic. Stir very well.

5. Add tofu to the sauce and let it marinate for 5 minutes.

6. In a skillet, incorporate tofu and fry for 4 minutes. Set aside.

7. In the same skillet, add garlic, green onion, carrots, and peas. Cook for 5 minutes.

8. Add rice and tofu, and stir.

9. Serve immediately.

Vegan red rice

Servings: 4 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups of long-grain white rice.

• 1/4 cup of vegetable oil.

• 1 teaspoon of minced garlic.

• 1/4 diced medium onion.

• 1/4 cup of tomato sauce.

• 2 teaspoons of tomato bouillon.

• 1/4 teaspoon of salt.

• 1 diced carrot.

• 1/2 cup of peas.

• 3 cups of water.

Preparation:

1. Rinse rice until water runs clear.

2. In a saucepan, add oil and cook until medium-high heat.

3. Incorporate rice and combine very well.

4. Pour tomato sauce, garlic, onion, tomato bullion, carrots, peas, salt, and water.

5. Bring this mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and cover.

6. Rice will be tender in about 20 minutes.

7. Serve.