我印象中，吃素好像會比較健康，而過往許多研究都證實，吃素能降低心血管疾病、癌症等風險，而我有些女生朋友，是靠吃素來控制體重的，據她們分享，吃素頭幾個月，可以發現體重明顯的下降，為了不復胖，所以就持續吃素，她們午餐多吃自己準備餐點，如吐司、沙拉及水果等，真的吃得蠻健康的。
但是我之前有分享過去去一間知名蔬食餐廳，果然匯的用餐經驗，首先，它的沙拉吧真的很讓非素食者驚艷，朋友們都覺得素食，怎麼可以做得那麼精緻及好吃，很多素食美食的外觀看起來就像葷食一樣，不過，我個人還是覺得素食還是比不上葷食好吃，我雖然不是無肉不歡，偶爾吃素還可以，不過，要我吃全素食應該是沒辦法。
然而也不妨礙我和朋友去素食展逛逛，這裡一年來也有好幾場素食展，通常會和其它相關產業聯合展出，而我個人覺得，很多人是衝著一些知名素食餐廳的免費試吃來的，因為那些素食餐廳的攤位前，常排著一排人龍領取試吃品，而我試喝了一些健康飲品，如人蔘飲和薏仁飲等，談不上好喝，也說不上有效，感覺健康飲品目標客群都是中、老年人，雖然越來越多人都開始注重養生了。
人最多的地方，都是素食餐廳攤位，這些攤位除了在現場販售料理包及餐劵等，還有豆干料理、素雞、素火腿、牛蒡排等試吃，現場現煎的蘿蔔糕傳來陣陣的香味，也提供一小塊的試吃，而有一家專賣素肉干的店家，我常常在各大展覽上看到，店家的店員每次都很大方讓路人們試吃，但我幾乎每次都快快離開，因為我很怕一旦試吃後，店員就會纏著我消費，我對於這種太主動的店員，都是下意識的啟動保護機制，說實話，吃素是否較健康，我聽說，好像還是取決於飲食的均衡程度和營養攝取是否充足，像之前去世的藝人大S，也是常年吃素，沒想到，居然還那麼年輕，就不幸過世。
I have the impression that eating vegetarian is supposed to be healthier. Many studies have shown that it can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Some of my female friends actually use a vegetarian diet to control their weight. According to them, in the first few months of going vegetarian, they saw a noticeable drop in their weight. To avoid gaining it back, they just stuck with it. For lunch, they usually prepare their own meals, like toast, salad, and fruit. Honestly, they eat really healthy.
But I remember sharing my experience dining at 果然匯 (Guo Ran Hui), a well-known vegetarian buffet. First of all, their salad bar was surprisingly impressive, even for non-vegetarians. My friends were amazed at how good vegetarian food could look and taste. Some dishes even looked just like regular meat dishes! That said, I still feel that vegetarian food isn’t as tasty as meat-based dishes. I wouldn’t say I need meat all the time, and I don’t mind eating vegetarian once in a while, but going fully vegetarian? That’s not for me.
Still, that doesn’t stop me from checking out vegetarian expos with my friends. There are several of these events throughout the year, often held alongside other related industry exhibitions. From what I’ve seen, a lot of people go mainly for the free food samples from well-known vegetarian restaurants. Their booths always have long lines of people waiting to try their food. I sampled a few "health drinks" like ginseng tea and barley milk, but honestly, they weren’t exactly delicious—or particularly effective, either. It seems like these drinks are mostly marketed toward middle-aged and older people, though more and more people are getting into health-conscious lifestyles these days.
The busiest spots at these expos are always the vegetarian restaurant booths. They sell ready-to-cook meal packs, dining vouchers, and offer samples like marinated tofu, vegetarian "chicken," veggie ham, and burdock patties. The smell of freshly pan-fried turnip cakes was everywhere, and they were giving out small samples too. There’s also this one brand that sells vegetarian jerky, and I see their booth at almost every major expo. Their staff is always super generous with samples, but I tend to walk away quickly because I know they’ll start pushing me to buy something. When vendors are too aggressive, my natural reaction is to just avoid them.
So, is vegetarian food really healthier? From what I’ve heard, it all depends on how balanced your diet is and whether you're getting enough nutrients. For example, Big S (Barbie Hsu), the actress who passed away recently, had been a strict vegetarian for years. But despite her healthy diet, she still passed away at a young age, which really makes you think.
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