Can you be a vegetarian if you eat gluten?

Question

I've been doing some research on the killing of animals for fashion and food, and find the practices absolutely awful! I also want to lead a healthier lifestyle so have been looking into vegetarianism.

However, when i looked up the definition of a vegetarian it says that they don't eat gluten. I later questioned this because i went onto some of my favourite food sites to check out their vegetarian section, and the things they say are vegetarian don't all have the gluten free symbol.

I just want to clear this up and make an informed decision.

Answer 1

Vegetarians can & do eat gluten - it's how you make seitan (a meat substitute).  Products that are "gluten free" supply the information for prople who have food allergies - ie. an allergy to wheat  & wheat products.

Answer 2

I think you may have misread the information. Vegetarians don't eat meat, and many don't wear leather or sheepskin either. Gluten is not alive in the sense that an animal is, so it can definitely be included in a vegetarian diet. In fact, if you read some vegetarian cook books, you will find a lot of emphasis on whole grains, including wheat and barley. Some vegetarians may choose to eat gluten free, but this would be an additional thing, not part of vegetarianism per se.

To be a successful vegetarian, you need to learn a lot about how to combine foods in order to create a "whole" protein. The main way is to combine grains (members of the grass family, eg. wheat, rye, barley, oats, millet, etc.) and pulses/legumes (beans, peas, lentils etc.) at the same meal. Sesame seeds or cashews also combine with grains to make a full protein and there are other options, as well.

Because they want the protein, veggies generally eat brown rice, not white. Many newbie vegetarians eat a lot of cheese to start off with, but this isn't necessary. But if you do decide to go vegetarian, invest in some books like Rose Elliot's "Not just a load of old lentils" and "Simply delicious" which are both great, also "Diet for a Small Planet" (which has a lot of information on food combination) by Frances Moore Lappe. These are just a few from my bookshelf that I have had for years, I don't know if they are still in print, but I hope so!

Answer 3

Gluten is just a protien in wheat and other grains, it has nothing to do with meat.  If you are not alergic to it there is no reason not to eat it.

Answer 4

Gluten is not an animal product.  Some people have an allergy to it, but vegetarians can eat gluten.

Answer 5

I am not sure why any vegetarian would not eat gluten. Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in rye, wheat, and barley. I am a vegetarian and I have never heard of that. All the vegetarians I know eat it unless it is for allergic reasons not too.  

Answer 6

Yes gluten is found in wheat products,barley,rye and oats, not in meat or fish

Answer 7

Gluten, also called seitan, is the protein part of wheat. I think your confusing gluten with gelatin. Gelatin is not vegetarian since it is made by boiling down cow hoofs.  

Answer 8

I think you misunderstood what the Vegetarian Society website was saying. Gluten comes from grains like wheat, so it's fine to include it in a vegetarian diet.

The website talks about a gluten-free vegetarian diet, but that is for people with celiac disease and gluten intolerance. They can't eat gluten, not at all, which means no bread, flour products and so on FOR THEM. (They can have rice and products made from rice and corn flour.)

So they're already on a restricted diet and vegetarianism restricts it even more. But the website is saying that it IS okay, that they can still get all their nutrients on a veg diet.

SOME vegetarians eat imitation meat products like vegetarian chicken nuggets, and these are usually made from gluten. But even if you're just eating bread, you're eating gluten.  

Answer 9

Gluten is a vegetable product. It is part of certain grains like wheat.

Gluten free markings are used because gluten is highly allergenic- lots of people have reactions or digestive problems when they eat it. It has nothing to do with veg/non veg. Gluten is vegetarian.

Answer 10

Gluten is what makes up the wonderful vegetarian (actually vegan) meat substitute, seitan.  Gluten comes from wheat.  Vegetarians do eat gluten.  Some people avoid gluten, simply because they are either allergic or intolerant of it, but eating gluten does NOT mean you're not a veg*n.  Gluten is found in bread :o)

Answer 11

If you are a vegetarian, you don't eat meat. That's it. Gluten is contained in wheat, rye, barley, and kamut, and since they are all plants, they are perfectly fine. I don't know why they would put that there. Anyway. I hope that helped.

Answer 12

The definition on the site you provided says the following:

"We define a vegetarian as someone living on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruits, with or without the use of dairy products and eggs. A vegetarian does not eat any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacea, or slaughter by-products."

It doesn't mention gluten. Don't worry, gluten is vegetarian, it usually comes from wheat.

Answer 13

Gluten is the protein found in wheat.  Wheat is a plant.  Vegetarians can and usually do eat gluten.  Some people don't because they are allergic to it or have a condition called celiac disease and CAN'T eat it.

There is nothing in the Vegetarian Society's definition of vegetarianism that says anything at all about gluten.  Perhaps you are confusing it with gelatin?  Gelatin is a TOTALLY different thing; it's made by boiling the bones, hides and connective tissue of slaughtered animals and it should be very clear why eating parts of dead animals is not vegetarian...