Since 1977, World Vegetarian Day has been observed on October 1.
World Vegetarian Day, the annual kick-off of Vegetarian
Awareness Month, was established by the North American
Vegetarian Society and observes and celebrates vegetarian
lifestyles. Vegetarian lifestyles are often practiced for a
number of reasons. Some include religious, ethical and health
reasons. Whatever the cause, celebrate this day by eating
delicious meat-free meals and educating yourself about the
reasons why people live vegetarian lifestyles. The Vegetarian
Times identifies a number of reasons why you should give
vegetarianism a try. Here are just a few. Benefits of Being
Vegetarian • A lower body mass index. A study conducted from
1986 to 1992 discovered that overweight people who followed a
low-fat, vegetarian diet lost an average of 24 pounds in the
first year and kept off that weight 5 years later. • Decreased
cholesterol levels. Balanced vegetarian diets are naturally free
of cholesterol-laden, artery-clogging animal products that p