what about the meat?

Hi guys,
I heard from a friend who has been to India several times, that I should avoid eating meat in India. He said that the risk of falling ill drops with a vegetarian nutrition. Is that true ? What about seafood in coastal areas? I'm afraid of not getting enough protein there...

I was told to avoid meat too....but that was after my trip! oops

I didnt have any reservations with eating chicken or mutton..I cant go w/out meat too long I didnt have any stomach problems though. But I could just be lucky.

Although you may want to avoid meat in Rajasthan, out of respect for the locals.

You won't miss out on proteins if you are on a good, balanced and varied vegetarian diet, which is what you'll get eating vegetarian food in India. Very-long-term expats might want to look into certain minerals and vitamins maybe, it's no concern for a traveller though. Seafood should be fresh, just like anywhere. You'll often pay by the weight so take note of this before ordering a sumptuous fish course. Fish will often be served anywhere near a river too, esp. in the south.

Having a look at the average butcher's and the way meat is handled will tell you why your friend advised against eating it probably. Think lots of flies what with the climate mostly, it's not that they're not professional butchers. And this is not to say you can't eat meat of course, just go with the regular precautions, i.e. does the place look clean, is it popular (also ensures a higher rotation rate of the food), does the staff look healthy, etc. If meat is served in a given locale you won't offend anyone by eating it I don't think. In general you may find that meat is harder to find than vegetarian food, it depends a little on where you go.

Seafood in the costal areas, esp. Goa, is a must (imho).
And I need the occasional chicken for my mental health

No it's not true!! You stand just as much chance of getting sick from veggie food as from meat!!

just returned from my second trip and we ate meat most of the time, we returned from Jaipur on the Ajmer Shatabi and I got sick from something in the meals, which happened to be vege, 3 days later I'm still recovering, my pants fit me better though and I look a bit thinner in the face. Use your noggin and you can eat meat I agree with GOA the fish and seafood is unbelievable especially at Anjuna Beach best meals we had in the all of India and the best seafood we have ever eaten and we live in OZ

The leafy veggies are the lethal stuff. I pig out on the delicious meat dishes (don't even excite me with the mention of seafood) as does my extended family (the exception my sister in law)..

ate hardly any meat for a month and still managed to get sick. just be careful and accept that you probably will get some sort of stomach upset. it's all part of the experience i reckon!
one of the most alluring sights for me was an open air fish market in agra - truly a sight to put you off fish for life. and that was before i saw the river...

I think meat in India is healthier than most of Western World.. Why? Because its always cooked "well done" (cooked throughly), unlike the pink stuff. However, I have gotten food poisoning (Salmonella). Which I think is more related to hygine -- cook touched cooked food after touching uncooked meat. etc.

indeed, food poisoning is usually a hygiene issue rather than a food quality issue.
can't say that i really missed meat, you just didn't notice because the food was usually so good.
although we did kind of rush off to mcdonalds in ahmedabad because we heard they sold chicken. still, holidays are for doing the things that you wouldn't do at home.

I think lentil dishes are a good source of protein

i had intended to go vege, but ended up eating chicken and a little mutton. i think you take chances whatever you eat

Beans in general are yes for vegetarians, as are eggs, nuts and milk products (the latter may pose their own risks however; cheese and yoghurt products are generally safe, as is boiled milk). Combined with whole grains it's easier for your body to get the proteins out of beans. Leafy green vegetables are good for certain vitamin defecits thay you may develop after years of veganism, again, it's no concern for a traveller. India is a vegetarian's paradise that's for sure, and a lamb curry lover won't have to feel bypassed either. OK let me restate that: India is a food lover's paradise, period.

The chicken is probably the freshest you will ever eat: it was probably alive a few hours before you ate it!

Edwardseco; why is green leafy veg dangerous?

Gardia springs to mind!!