World Vegetarian Week kicks off this week, so why not throw aside those outdated ideas about vegetarian food and jump aboard the vegie bandwagon. Not only could it improve your health, but it may just help the planet too.

Check out some delicious meat-free recipes here.

Vegetarians are often thought to be generally less healthy than their carnivorous counterparts, but a recent study of 78,000 vegetarians and non-vegetarians published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the vegetarian diet is just as healthy as a meaty one. Vegetarians also have less problems with being overweight and obesity compared to meat eaters.

Other benefits of vegetarianism include:

• Reducing the risk of major killers like heart disease, stroke and cancers
• Conserving vital, but limited freshwater, fertile topsoil and other precious resources
• Preserving ecosystems, such as rainforests and other wildlife habitats
• Mitigating environmental pollution of animal agriculture
• Offering a viable answer to feeding the world's hungry, through more efficient use of grains and other crops

Ideas for vegie diets:

• Don't forget cheese in your vegetarian diet — it's a good source of calcium. Buy low-fat types and keep the portions small. Ricotta, tasty and fetta are lower in fat than creamy cheeses
• Vegetarian chicken slices, bacon, sausages and mince are great for vegie versions of classic meat-based dishes such as spag bol, bangers and mash, and bacon and eggs
• Tofu and tempeh are great vegetarian protein sources commonly used in Asian cooking. Both are soy products — tofu is made from coagulated soy milk, and tempeh is made from whole soy beans

World Vegetarian Week runs from October 1 - 7, worldwide. For more information and ideas, check out www.vegetarianweek.org.

YOUR SAY: What do you think about vegetarianism? Tell us below!