How can I transition myself to a vegetarian? It is so hard for me to give up the meat completely! Any pointers

Question

I have gone to peta.com and got the free starter kit, but how can I change my tastebuds! Oh, what about eating out? There isn't alot around for vegeterians where I live~

Answer 1

Do it gradually...first have meats every other day, then just twice a week, then just once a week...etc...untill you get used to it.

Each time...incorporate a substitute for one item that you are eliminating. Instead of sausage...try the soy sausage... instead of regular burger have a "Boca Burger" or a "Veggie Burger" from a dry mix. They are super tasty. Decide how far you want to go. Do you still want dairy products and eggs?
If so, keep these in your diet, otherwise, plan on keeping track of your food intake and see a dietitian every other week so they can tell you if you are deficient in Calcium intake or iron. Find good sources for these, as well as B12...After a couple of meetings you will know what to do.

It is not as bad as people make it out to be!

Answer 2

Try reading The Food Revolution by John Robbins, or if you can swing it, get the book and DVD set at www.ravediet.com.
www.vegsource.com has health info that you can watch on streaming video if you want free stuff. Also, Jack LaLane (94 year old fitness freak who is STILL working out 2 hours a day at that age) recommends that you "develop an aversion" to things that aren't good for you. Basically, learn to hate the stuff that's you want to avoid. Next time you eat chicken, eat it from the bones and see the tendons etc. and relate it to your own body. Ethnic restaurants have the most veggie options. Eat Chinese, Indian or even Italian food- pasta with veggies. Most of you love of food is conditioning. You may love meat, but the best selling baby foods in Japan are eel, squid and other seafood. Things that wouldn't ever sell here because we are trained from and early age to eat birds and mammals. Best of luck.

Answer 3

Well, try looking for vegetarian recipes you love. Then you should only have meat a couple times a week, then smallenise it each week. Soon you will have no meat at all! If you are turning vegetarian because you don't like eating animals, think about the cows, chickens and pigs that are dying. Good Luck Nooby!

Answer 4

I'm so proud of you for considering a vegetarian diet. Whatever you do, do NOT be hard on yourself, if you head out for a bigmac don't scold yourself. Just try to cut it out a little at a time. Even if you get your consumption down it will help you to be more healthy. There are meat substitutes out there made by morning star farms that aren't bad, but that's a matter of personal taste. Lots more restraunts are catering to us vegetarians now, just ask them what they recommend. You can make almost any dish vegetarian, lasagne, chili, etc. visit a lot of veggie sites. Lots of people to chat with and share ideas with. Good luck, and remember even if you cave you can have a veggie day tomorrow:)

Answer 5

Lisa Tracy's "The Gradual Vegetarian" is a great book to start with. And depending on what your taste buds are craving, Boca and Morningstar provide lots of beef and chicken alternatives. I like grilled tasting burgers and Boca's flame grilled burgers are awesome! So much less grease, too. Check the frozen section at your grocery store, you should find a small section of these things. Good luck, it is a great way to be!

Answer 6

allow yourself to eat one(or whatever works for you) meat product a week... thats what I have done. I started with 2 a week, to 1 a week, and then 1 a month... im almost to 1 every couple of months. If you allow yourself to do it, then eat meat only when you go out, but get some great recipes for vegetarian foods you like so you know its good. good luck!

Answer 7

Think about the Animal killed. Those cows are not given water
and are pulled behing a truck and slaughtered slowly and
ruthlessly. The chickens have their heads cut off while tweaking
for mercy and pigs just inhamanly butchered. What did those creatures do? If I were ruler of earth all those terrible people should be slaughtered 10 fold.

Answer 8

Absolutely your taste buds will change.

Start trying out vegetarian substitutes to common foods. Soy burgers especially!

It helps to do some intestinal cleaning (natural fiber, herbs etc) while you are transitioning as well to clear the system.

Along with compassion for animal suffering on feed lots etc, remember that only one in one hundred thousand animals is ever tested for contamination from disease (produced by feed lots).....

Answer 9

well, there has to be a few favorite non-meat dishes you love...start by eating a lot of those(i.e. pastas, rice, potatoes, etc.).
i also used to eat A LOT of soy meat when i was a vegetarian...i needed to get protein somehow, and the best way i found out was soy. i really like the frozen soy burgers, especially the one with wild rice and portabello mushrooms. YUM. oh yeah, that's a great point too--portabellas taste a lot like meat when you grill or sautee them, rather they have a meaty/juicy texture.
good luck! just remember not to totally cut protein out of your daily intake. eat your beans! :-)

Answer 10

There is a book called "The Gradual Vegetarian" Can't remembere the author.