An oriental, fine-dining restaurant, avid eaters lining up to go in and feast and the convivial ambience is totally complimenting its elegant appeal; this is what the picture communicates, right? Well, in reality this place is a ‘Vegan restaurant’ in USA that serves fresh, farm-supplied food sans animal products.

Although Veganism may appear a trend/lifestyle native to animal lovers, but it can actually be an interesting way to keep your calorie count in check and reduce your carbon footprints.

Here’s how: just as there are political and religious divisions, there are diverse groups in the world of sustainability. There are Vegetarians, who renounce meat consumption, and then there are Vegans, who along with being vegetarians, endeavor to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. With vegans, the saying “less is more” comes into play (less consumption, more health). It is a choice an increasing amount of people across the globe are making to live a lifestyle that does not support animal exploitation, and encourages sustainable living.

While switching completely from being a meat-lover to an all healthy, no-meat-no-dairy diet can be tricky, but you can experiment with it on your next vacation. Just dash into an exquisite vegan restaurant (there are plenty, just look for them) and order a meal full of fresh vegetable and herbs. In the bargain, you save money, cut calories and are being nice to the environment, a three-way benefit!!

Once a vegan or a vegetarian you can actually try out those tempting dishes under the “VEGETARIAN” section of the menu that you would usually give a pass to. When in Philadelphia, you can head to their famous Horizons restaurant and slurp up the patented saffron cauliflower soup or munch on Pacific Rim grilled tofu (sumptuous juices trickling down your fingers…mouth watering isn’t it?).

Animals are an essential part of the food chain (remember the flow chart we learnt in school?). When less or no animals are killed for meals, the food chain is balanced. And when more and more people consume animal meat, the balance goes for a toss and changes in the environment start becoming prominent.

If studies are to be believed, a Vegan lifestyle can bring down cholesterol levels, reduce sickness and disease dramatically, supplies more energy to the body and helps maintain a balanced weight.

When on travel, you need not stay a veggie all throughout, you could go ‘meatless’ on some of the days, or may be have a ‘meatless Monday’ or an ‘organic Sunday’, remember every bit counts!

Do you know any cool vegan restaurants in India, or anyone who is a vegan? We love your comments, keep them coming!