On the occasion of World Vegetarian Day, three Dubai residents tell us why they decided to eat green

As someone who has experimented on and off with vegetarianism over the years, ‘going green’ is a phrase that has always appealed to my ecological sense.

Along with the belief that we are what we eat. My irregular forays into the herbivorous sphere have always been accompanied by a feeling of well-being. The only downside being the ‘Are you on a diet?’ refrain from ‘well-meaning’ friends and family who fail to comprehend that vegetables are more than just ‘diet food’.

Eating has become more of a habit for most of us today than an act of consciousness. Do we really know or care what we are putting into our body?

I remember when the newly formed Middle East Veg Group, meveg, celebrated the National Vegetarian Week last June by encouraging people in Dubai to eat green, light and healthy, I was more than happy to sign on for the 7-day meat free week.

To emphasise the need to understand the relevance of vegetarianism in Dubai meveg has proposed a paradigm shift in the perception of a vegetarian by coining a new term, ‘Halal Vegetarian’. The term stands for "a person or product complying with the generally accepted definitions of both Halal and Vegetarian."

Sandhya Prakash, Director, meveg says: “The world needs to respect and understand Middle Eastern views and be inclusive of the practices. A Halal vegetarian product is one where no alcohol has been used in flavouring the dish.” The new definition has been accepted by the International Veg. Union.

Though the main aim of meveg is to spread awareness of the benefits of increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, Sandhya stresses that being vegetarian is a personal choice. “All we are asking is for people to opt for this healthy diet even if only for a few days a week. This would be a definite step towards reducing diseases, greenhouse gases and conserving our water and land.”

Here we talk to three such people who have chosen to eat green the rest of their life and are the better for it. All three might have opted for a meat free diet for reasons of their own, but they all empasise that it is a personal choice they have never tried to impose on others.

Tony Rose, 56, Operations Manager, Lals, Dubai

I have been in Dubai for 18 months now. Before this I was in the UK.

I have never ever been a lover of meat. But I have been a total vegetarian for the past 25 years. It all started when I went to the dentist in 1983. While waiting for my fillings I casually asked him, ‘Are we, humans, carnivores?’ The dentist then said to me: ‘When you start dentistry school, the first thing you learn is the name of every tooth in the human head’. ‘But,’ he said, ‘these two teeth here are described as canine. But if you look at canine in the animal world, a canine is a tooth that is used for the kill, but nothing more. All it does is sever the jugular. So I said to him, ‘We are not carnivorous, then?’ He said, ‘let me give you this, The nearest animal on earth that has the same construction of teeth in the human head is a deer.’ And there I got my answer!

And that really was the deciding factor.

I find the options available here in Dubai for vegetarians to be exactly the same as in the UK. In actual fact I’ve got to be honest, McDonalds do a salad option, which is far superior to what you get in the UK. I have to also admit it is slightly easier for a vegetarian here than in the UK.

Since my mid-thirties I have also had a problem with my weight. I have tried numerous diets over the years. But right now, over the last 12 years I adopt a strict policy that I can have an X amount of calories per day. I really find that if you abstain from animal fat, it is a lot easier to control your weight.

My family is not vegetarian. But that is not a problem. I usually have blanched vegetables and salad for dinner. Though I am a staunch vegetarian I’ve got to be honest that I am not a vegan. It would be hypocritical if I didn’t tell you I have got a leather belt on because a vegan will carry it to that extent.

Fazal Shah, 44, Pilot, Dubai

I have been in the Middle East for nearly 20 years now and in Dubai for the past five and a half years. About three years ago, I found myself suffering from a lot of stress related health issues.

Then someone suggested I try out the Art of Living course. During the sessions we were told how food is a great source of energy. So I started looking into it seriously since in my job we are exposed to so many different rhythms - meals at different times, your sleep patters are constantly getting affected, you are eating food from all over the world. As part of the detox diet that they put you through during the course, I tried eating vegetarian.

And I was someone who used to love my food – bacon and all that!

Soon I found that as my lifestyle changed I began to feel different. After the detox programme there is a suggestion to stay on it for a bit longer. So I gave that a shot as well. And I felt really good. Then I went back to eating non-vegetarian.

I started paying attention to the food prepared on the ground, so many hours before we actually fly. As passengers if you eat that kind of food once in a way it is fine, but we crew don’t know how long ago it has been prepared. So I started eating vegetarian food and salads onboard the aircraft. I felt that helped my energy level last longer, and I had more clarity of mind and less fatigue.

I am a total vegetarian for nearly three years now. Around the time I also started paying attention to how different kinds of food affected my mind.

Now I do my yoga, go for regular walks and watch what I eat. And I sleep like a baby everyday! And I find I recover from my jetlag very quickly.

I really don’t miss non-vegetarian food now. It doesn’t bother me even when my wife cooks non-veg at home.

My wife, Sarah, by the way is an amazing Ayurveda cook.

She makes these fantastic vegetarian dishes for me though she is a non-vegetarian herself. I guess that is love!

During my travels I have found most chefs in good restaurants will go out of their way to create a vegetarian dish for you.

I don’t try to convert people. I provide information and awareness and it is up to them to make choices.

One of the biggest mistakes we make here is eating food that is not in season in the country we live in. There are signs all over to show that if we impose food that is in season in other parts of the world we fall sick in our part of the world. I think we need to encourage local consumption more.

In those days when I became a vegetarian, it was mainly based on how I felt. Today it is more about how it is affecting the environment and the world – about leaving your ecological footprint.

Alia Al Nahawi, 22, HR Administrator

Raz al Khaima

I have been a vegetarian for almost six years now.

To begin with I was never much of a meat eater anyway. I was especially never into red meat.

I have actually seen animals being killed, and have found it extremely painful.

A friend of mine was a vegetarian and I thought why not try it out. He never actually asked me to become one, but I wanted to.

Though I am the only vegetarian in my family, I have to say they are not much of meat eaters anyhow. One of my sisters is almost a vegetarian- she just eats fish.

Yeah, sometimes my dad keeps forcing me to eat. He’s like: ‘When are you going to eat meat?’

But to be honest I have never been tempted.

Funnily enough I have a problem with my bones now that I am a vegetarian! They keep telling me I need proteins. But I know I can have soya beans and I do drink milk. I am not a vegan.

Not many of my friends are vegetarians so it is a bit weird sometimes.

If we are invited out, I am always the odd one out. I have no problems. Even if I just eat a banana, it is fine with me. But they are like, you have to eat meat!

Why is it that when you opt for vegetarian food, people immediately think you are being fussy or dieting when I am not. I find it all a bit awkward, to be honest.

I do find choices limiting when we eat out especially if the restaurant is Arabic, or Italian or Iranian. There is veg pizza or pasta, of course. But that is it. There is not much of a variety. It does get boring at times, but that is fine.

I don’t like having products that have beef gelatin in it. I don’t usually check chocolates, though I know certain brands contain animal fat.

My dad is a good cook. He makes mixed vegetables and noodles along with different salads like fatoush, or pasta for me.

I don’t ever attempt to convert anyone else to eat vegetarian since I believe it should come from within. It is not something you should force someone to do.

Being a vegetarian does clear your mind. I feel I am more focused now. I know what I want, regarding food at least!

ambica@khaleejtimes.com