Bollywood actor Sonu Sood recently opened up about being the only vegetarian in his family, which is full of meat lovers. Despite being surrounded by non-vegetarian dishes at home, he has stuck to his plant-based choice since childhood.
Choosing Vegetarianism as a Child
Sonu Sood shared that he made the decision to go vegetarian when he was just a child. Speaking to Kamiya Jani on Curly Tales, he said, “I had told my parents that I will never eat non-veg, and they supported me, saying ‘do what you like.’”
While Sonu stayed committed to his choice, his family took a different path. “I wanted my younger sister to be vegetarian,” he laughed, “but she ended up loving non-veg food after I introduced her to it. Toh woh toh nikal gayi haath se (So I lost control over that).” He also hoped his kids would follow his footsteps, but his wife encouraged them to eat meat, and eventually, “woh bhi non-vegetarian ban gaye (they also became non-vegetarian).”
Is It Hard to Be Vegetarian in a Non-Veg Household?
Yes, it can be. According to CV Aishwarya, a clinical nutritionist from Sri Ramachandra Institute in Chennai, making the shift to vegetarianism in a meat-eating home can be tough. Removing meat suddenly can create health issues like lack of iron, vitamin B12, omega-3s, and good-quality protein.
Smart Substitutes for a Healthy Veg Diet
To stay healthy, Aishwarya suggests replacing meat with nutritious plant foods like:
- Legumes (beans, lentils, chickpeas)
- Tofu and tempeh
- Paneer and quinoa
To keep your iron levels up, she advises eating green leafy vegetables with vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits, bell peppers, or amla. This helps the body absorb iron better.
For vitamin B12, which is mostly found in animal products, vegetarians can go for fortified cereals, dairy products, or nutritional yeast.
Make Familiar Food in a Veg Way
Switching to vegetarian food doesn’t mean giving up on your favorite dishes. Aishwarya says keeping the same flavors and textures makes the change easier. For example:
- Use soya chunks instead of mutton in biryani
- Replace chicken with paneer or mushrooms in curry
- Try jackfruit or banana stem in traditional recipes
These smart swaps keep your meals tasty while making them meat-free and healthy.
Common Struggles While Going Veg
Changing your diet isn’t always easy. Many people miss the taste and texture of meat. That rich, “umami” flavor can be hard to replace. Emotional stress can also make people return to meat if they used it as comfort food.
Other challenges include:
- Social pressure from family and friends
- Boring meals that lack variety
