How to become a Vegetarian as a precursor to improving our spiritual progress

As I was teaching principles of spirituality, one of my students asked me today why we should not eat meat. I went on an exciting journey and gave a inspired talk. The video is posted here

Some key points are transcribed below.

Look for tasty meat substitutes:

Tofu, Pea Proteins, ?submicron crystalline cellulose, a zero-calorie derivative of plant fiber, as a self-assembling binder in place of starch, egg whites, gluten or gelatin., various Indian lentils (chickpeas, Toor dal, Urad Dal, Chana dal, etc.), dehydrated soy protein (Soya vadi), etc. Also Israelis are eating Veggie burgers made out of Whole grain millet, sweet potato and leafy greens [1]

A recipe for a Veggie Burger: Soak Chickpeas overnight. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spread the chickpeas in a single layer on a plate and place in oven. In a large bowl, combine the chickpeas, wheat berries, dehydrated soya chunks, drained carrots and a bit of Kale. Add the avocado, olive oil and combine well with your hands. The resulting mixture should be uniform in texture and a little wet. Sample the mixture, then season with salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste.[2] Adapted.

Using a scoop, portion the mixture into consistently sized balls and place them on a baking sheet. Cover with wax paper and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours, or ideally overnight.

Start by pressing one ball between two small plates to form a patty that is roughly ? inch thick and 4 inches across. Lightly season one side of the patty with salt and pepper.

Heat the oil or butter in a cast-iron skillet over high heat and add the patty. Cook the patty for three minutes on each side, or until it forms a consistent crust.

Will becoming Vegetarian deprive me of some key vitamins?

When becoming vegetarian supplement deficiency in the following way

• Vitamin B12?– Compensate by eating soy substitutes, oats, yogurt, cottage cheese,
• Omega 3?fats – Compensate by eating walnuts, rapeseed oil, chia seeds, flaxseed oil
• Proteins?– Compensate by eating plain Greek yogurt, cooked beans or lentils(Toor dal, Urad dal, Chana dal, etc.), whole grain pasta, quinoa, nuts (especially small amounts of almonds, walnuts and sparingly cashews)

Many medical professionals have documented the carcinogens in meats. My focus will be on the general health and spiritual health benefits of staying away from meat, fish and eggs.

Off the shelf meat alternatives like Beyond Burger and Impossible burger in USA are changing people's eating habits.

References:

1. https://hilaryseatwell.com/products/world-s-best-veggie-burger
2. https://tastecooking.com/recipes/veggie-burger/
3. https://www.redefinemeat.com/company/