Vegetarian Star

Celina Jaitley and several other actors and actresses in Bollywood are helping to kick off India’s version of the 21-day Kickstart program designed to help people go vegan.

The program is sponsored by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), an organization of doctors and laypersons that advocates a plant-based diet for better human health and also pushes for non-animal methods for medical research.

The event kicked off September 1st and offers both meat-free and dairy-free versions of traditional Indian dishes that contain meat and cheese like paneer.

India is traditionally known for its plant-based cuisine, but like many places around the world, indigenous eating patterns have been replaced by Americanized fast food and other unhealthy choices.

“India faces a health crisis like never before,” said Dr. Neal Barnard, president of the PCRM. “Traditional plant-based diets are being swamped by meat and processed foods, dairy product consumption is rising, and these unhealthy foods are driving obesity and diabetes rates through the roof.”

“It’s easy to eliminate milk, ghee and yogurt from an Indian diet,”said Nandita Shah, a Mumbai-based physician who has developed some of the recipes for the program. “The Kickstart offers healthy, dairy-free versions of traditional favourites like Carrot Halwa, Palak Paneer, and Navratan Kurma. There’s no deprivation involved, just sensible eating.”

For more information, visit 21 Day Kickstart India.

Photo: Bollywood Hungama/Creative Commons

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