What do pro-cyclist Christine Vardaros, tennis champion Martina Navratilova, and Olympic Gold Medalist Carl Lewis all have in common? They follow a meat-free diet. And as vegetarians, they were still able to reap the rewards of a 
successful athletic career.
There are many reasons why people would choose to exclude meat and other animal products from their diets. From the health benefits to ethical concerns and economic reasons to religious beliefs, whatever the motivation, those who exclude meat from their diets should be better prepared to meet their protein needs with a well-balanced diet. Therefore, it is important to have a good understanding of protein sources and how to fuel properly without relying on supplementation.
