im thinking of being a vegetarian?

Question

what are the ups and downs
or any tips please.

Answer 1

I think it's a great idea you are thinking of becoming vegetarian. But before you make the decision, you need to be sure you will be able to spend time on eating right because being vegetarian means that you may not be able to get certain nutrients directly from your diet. You may need to take supplements/take extra efforts to get all the nutrients.

I have been vegetarian for 3 years now and it's not so bad. I feel much better about myself and much healthier. Here's a list of the nutrients that are harder to get in a veggie diet:

1. Protein - make up for that with beans, tofu, milk, yogurt, etc.
2. Vitamin B complex - try to take supplements to ensure you get enough. Also focus on wholegrains.
3. Iron - Green vegetables and spinach.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

Answer 2

See if you can find the book "the Gradual Vegetarian". It helps you to understand the nutritional challenges of being vegetarian (in all its forms) and provides a plan for "weaning" off meat.

The main thing about being a veg VS. meat eater is that you need to stop and think about what you are going to eat. If you eat anything and everything that is offered to you (like an omnivore/meat eater), things are pretty easy. Depending on how far veg you go, you will have to ready labels and ask questions about foods offered to you (or the ones you buy). It can be challenging but the health benefits, if done right, are totally worth it!

Answer 3

The downside is having to explain yourself to everyone; some people are just interested and some seem to want to challenge your choice (because they don't understand it and think it is an indictment of their own choice.) That and restaurant menus... sometimes you'll find you have to talk with the server about getting something that's not on the menu.

The up side is that it's a healthy choice. I think everyone needs to know the basics of nutrition so that they make healthy choices and get a balanced diet and vegetarians are no different. But once you know what your nutritional needs are and what foods fulfill them, you'll find that it's not at all hard to do an a veg diet.

Answer 4

The ups(for me):

I feel like I'm doing something by eating (im not killing an animal for me just to eat)
Only 2% of vegans are overweight (ya thats right mcdonalds eating lards)
I get to piss off the people who are like CARNIVORES RULE

Downs:

It's hard to start, but once you get it you get it dont be discouraged the first month.
It's hard to go out with friends and you get a salad at the fast food joint while theyre getting that carcass on a bun
All the onivores that think they are better than you(which theyre not)

Tips: Make sure you eat nutrients!! Everyday you need calcium, iron and protein which you normally get from meat but you can get it from soy milk, brocolli, and soy products! Also alot of vegans take viatmans.

Good luck and stick to it, It's a really good lifestyle!

Answer 5

You either are or you aren't. You can't just say..ok I'm mostly vegetarian but sometime I eat chicken, and well...once in a while I eat beef. Doesn't work that way. Why do you all of a sudden want to.? Vegetarians if done right have to eat "complete proteins" so they can get the right protein compound for their body. And they follow a strict diet so their body can get adequate amount of nutrients.

Answer 6

Just watch your diet, & lables. Diet: Make sure you read up on it and balance the proteins you take in. There's lots of books out there that give great recepies and tips, another good source is the Vegetarian Times Magazine.
Lables, read carefully any item you purchase, if you're going full out on this then the label can be your best friend, lots of hidden animal products, and you wouldn't believe what they still put LARD in.

Answer 7

Well, it depends. Are you planning on going completely Vegan (no cheese, milk or eggs either)? Or are you just cutting out red meat or just beef, chicken and pork? There are many variations. Some Vegans eat only fish, cheese and eggs, and others just cut out the red meat and others cut out any product that comes from and animal. In this last case, you still need a source of protien. You will need to increase your intake of beans, peanut butter, nuts and, if you can stand it, soy. You will also need to use soy milk because you will need the calcium. Make sure you are getting enough iron (spinach and broccoli) and protien (beans and nuts). Eating out or going to a friends for dinner or a party can kind of suck, because most people will bring meat dishes for the main entree. That's about the only downside that I can see.

Answer 8

ups= u are saving the lives of many innocent animals, u might be eating healthier(more fruits and veggies).

downs= u will need to make sure u have enough protein each day( this website will help) http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/proteins/1126.

i have been a vegetarian for some time now and i like it b/c it makes u feel like your helping the enviorment. Go to the Peta website and that will help you decide. Good luck!

Answer 9

If you become a vegetarian you have to bring your own food to parties if you think there's going to be mostly meat. You also have to check the ingredients in soup to make sure they didn't use beef stalk. But after a while you develop a pattern and it's easier.

Answer 10

A meat deprved diet can be very unhelathy, not enough of the types of protein and minerals that are needed for a healthy body or a balanced diet.

Yes, supplements help, but your body is designed to get those things from meats, not tablets.

And yes, there are plenty of healthy veggies, but to say that therefore a veggie diet is healthier is genetic fallacy.

Answer 11

You---and everyone else who is human--are an omnivore. We humans need a balanced diet that consists of vegetables, fruits, grains, and meat. There is nothing wrong with eating meat.
But, if you still have fallen for the whole "Meat is bad, Umkay" thing, then make sure you talk to your doctor first. Some people--myself included--must eat meat for health reasons(I have been chronically Anemic my whole life).

P.S.--Before you fall for the PETA crap, check out this site http://media.putfile.com/petaBS