Billy & Jack’s Vegetarian BBQ Recipes: Better for Your Health, Your Pocket, and the Planet HD

To celebrate National Vegetarian Week, This World Can: challenged Masterchef runners-up Billy and Jack to serve up a mouth-watering vegetarian BBQ. These two self-confessed food-geeks teamed up after the show in an unlikely bromance, and now share their unique style of cooking through their popular supper clubs at the London Cooking Project. Best known for quirky dishes like chicory, octopus and coriander cheesecake, this week they share their culinary expertise to show you how to throw together a super tasty, super easy, meatless BBQ feast. Whether you are starting out on your vegetarian journey, trying to reduce meat, or are simply veggie-curious, their easy, tasty recipes are sure to inspire you. So, weather permitting, what better way to celebrate National Vegetarian Week than by donning your apron, grabbing those tongs, and inviting your friends over for a veggie extravaganza? Eating meat is linked with a host of health risks. Cancer, heart disease, obesity and Type 2 diabetes are all associated with the consumption of red and processed meat. This is due to the high content of saturated fat, as well as the salt, colours and preservatives added to many processed meat products. On the other hand, a vegetarian diet is associated with better health and longevity. Now, that doesn’t mean living exclusively on potato chips and cheese, or vegan junk foods like oreos, but rather including more plant-based whole-foods into your diet. Fresh vegetables, fruits, whole-grains, beans, nuts and seeds are all packed with vitamins and minerals that support your health. Their high fibre content keeps your digestive system healthy and reduces your risk of colon cancer. Their antioxidants protect your cells from free-radicals and strengthen your immune system. Hundreds of studies show that a vegetarian diet can lower your risk of chronic illness, obesity, and heart disease. If you’re watching your weight, eating a diet that consists mostly of plant-based foods will help you shed those pounds—in fact a study by Imperial College London found that reducing the amount of meat you eat can prevent long-term weight gain. Forget the low-calorie lasagne, just go meatless a few days a week. In our protein-obsessed culture, one of the biggest concerns for people looking into vegetarianism is the potential lack of protein. Well, worry not. Plant-based foods are packed with protein. Quinoa, beans and peas are some of the best sources, as well as tofu, nuts and seeds, and even leafy greens. What’s more, these foods are cheaper. In fact, a vegetarian diet costs about half the price of a meaty diet! But it’s more than just about our health and our budget. Going vegetarian, or at least reducing your meat consumption, is one of the best ways you can reduce your carbon footprint and help the planet. The meat industry packs a hefty punch when it comes to the environment—and demand for meat is growing. According to the World Health Organization, industrial animal farming gener