WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
KitchenMate’s lacto-ovo vegetarian dishes consist of vegetables, fruit, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes (dried beans, peas and lentils). The only animal products included in a lacto-ovo diet (dairy - lacto - and eggs - ovo), are not products of animal slaughter. This means no meat, poultry, fish, and shellfish, or animal by-products including shortening, gelatin, rennet, whey, lipase, and other animal-derived enzymes.
There are a multitude of reasons why an individual may opt to follow a vegetarian style of eating. Some of the most common reasons include concerns about health, animal rights, environmental responsibility, and religious considerations.
WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
Like any other style of eating, the nutrients you consume are dependent on the choices you make. If planned correctly, a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet provides an abundance of fibre, vitamins and minerals needed for a healthy body. It can help protect against a variety of chronic diseases including heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, obesity, some cancers, and high cholesterol(1). A lacto-ovo vegetarian diet also produces less greenhouse gases than an omnivorous diet.
NUTRIENT HIGHLIGHTS
A well-planned lacto-ovo vegetarian diet can offer distinct advantages compared to non-vegetarian diets due to high intakes of complex carbohydrates, dietary fibre, magnesium, folic acid, vitamin C and E, carotenoids and other phytochemicals(2).
Protein, B12, iron, omega 3s, vitamin D, calcium and zinc are nutrients that may require some planning and attention when following a vegetarian diet, but recommended daily amounts can be met(3).
HOW DO I KNOW WHICH KITCHENMATE MEALS ARE VEGETARIAN?
Whether you are a strict follower of the lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, or you simply want to incorporate more plant-based foods into your life, KitchenMate’s lacto-ovo vegetarian meals have been carefully designed to be delicious!
Meals containing only Vegetarian ingredients are indicated in 3 places, so that you can't miss them!
Look for the following logo on the:
Aluminum pod label (for hot meals only)
App menu and dish details
** The above information applies MOSTLY to KitchenMate's hot meals. You may see the Vegetarian logo on some Grab n' Go (sandwiches, salads, snacks, drinks) items which are produced by external vendors, but ONLY if the manufacturer has specified this on their label. We display the product information (ingredients, allergens, and nutrition information) provided to us by the manufacturers of these Grab n' Go items, but are not responsible for its accuracy.
Disclaimer: We are fully committed to preparing food safely and thoughtfully. We try our best to minimize cross-contamination so that only the ingredients that are supposed to be in a hot meal make their way in.
Read more about our Food Allergies and Intolerance Handling Procedures here.
(1) What you need to know about a healthy vegetarian eating plan, EatRight Ontario, 2005https://www.unlockfood.ca/en/Articles/Vegetarian-and-Vegan-Diets/What-you-need-to-know-about-a-healthy-vegetarian-e.aspx
(2) Vegetarian diets: what are the advantages? Forum Nutrition, 2005 ttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15702597
(3) Healthy Vegetarian Eating https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/nutrition/if-nfs-healthy-vegetarian-eating.pdf