I need some suggestions in how to transition to a vegetarian lifestyle. Any good suggestions?

Question

I need help on how to start cooking differently and making sure to get a balanced diet at the same time.

Answer 1

Try to research as many different grains, seeds, nuts, and legumes as you can. Learn as much about each of them as you can. You can simply plug in each food to a search engine and read up on them. Things like millet, buckwheat, triticale, teff, amaranth, quinoa, almonds, "Brazil" nuts (don't remember their new name), wild rice, all kinds of beans, etc.

Concentrate on WHOLE foods. Consult an "RDA" (recommended daily allowances) chart like this one:

http://www.netrition.com/rdi_page.html

and compare the amounts needed with the amounts found in the foods you are "switching" to.

Subscribe to an email service that will provide you with information and tips for people who are vegetarians such as this one:

http://www.vegetarianorganiclife.com/subscribe.htm

Many people find the transition easier if they begin with a cleansing "fast" and then eat as a vegetarian. It helps to shift your metabolism. Look into a cleanse called the "Master Boughs Cleanse." You can probably find something about it on the Internet. It's not packaged or expensive. You simply use distilled water, lemon juice, Grade-B maple syrup and Cayenne pepper.

And get yourself good vegetarian cook books. Check them out at the library and look through them thoroughly to see if they contain recipes that sound good to you. Then buy the few that really appeal to you.

I wish you well!

Answer 2

Check the ingredients on everything at first. Very innocent-looking things like ceasar salad and Lucky Charms have things like anchovies and gelatin in them. Gelatin comes from the bone marrow of cows, so it's not exactly vegetarian.

Veggie burgers are always a good crutch. The chicken flavored ones taste the closest to meat. Check out the vegetarian restaurants in your area. Make some vegetarian friends. They can give you recipes and advice on how to deal with specific situations.

If you need some guilt to help you out, "Diet for a New America" is very effective. PETA's website also has a few video clips worth watching.

Answer 3

Becoming a vegetarian shouldn't be a rushed transition. Start out one week going days of the seven in the week eating all vegetarian, and then the next week go 4 days vegetarian. Then during week three go vegetarian 6 or 7 days vegetarian. After that vegetarian should be the only way you eat.

Answer 4

While I'm not a vegetarian, I've made an effort to reduce the amount of meat that I eat. The USDA Food Pyramid website has a good section on eating vegetarian and finding different protein sources.

Generally, you'll want to build your meals around grains and legumes (rice and beans, soy) and you can also throw in some dairy and eggs. And, of course, our friends: vegetables!

If being vegetarian is new to you, my advice is: soy and other products are not meat. Don't bother trying to find actual "substitutes." Enjoy the veggie burger for what it is: it's a veggie burger. Vegetarian eating doesn't have to be dull--it's delicious. Enjoy it.

There are many wonderful receipes for meatless versions of traditionally "meat-ed" dishes: chili, stew, lasagne. You may want to start by trying dishes like these. Stir-frys are wonderful and there are many meatless pasta dishes.

If you are open to trying foods from different cultures, look to Indian, Mexican and Japanese cuisine. They have many delicious dishes that are based around legumes and vegetables.

Moosewood cookbooks can be great, but I have also found that Molly Katzen expects people to have ALL DAY to cook, i.e., "start soaking the beans when the sun rises". I think that she has some versions that are less time consuming--I'd look for those.

Otherwise, there are many great vegetarian cookbooks. One of my favorites is "The 15-Minute Vegetarian Gourmet" by Paulette Mitchell. (You can get a used copy on Amazon for $.75!)

Bon appetite!

Answer 5

I became a veggie just over 2 years ago. I started reading allot of books, but the best thing that I ever did was choosing days where i didn't eat meat.

So, the first week I would try 3 days, next week 4, and so on. Then I cut out fish and replaced my omegas with flax. It's not as bad as it sounds :)

As for getting a balanced diet try not to eat alot of pre packaged foods. Like cookies and crackers. Although I do like the Kashi brand very tasty and not to pricey.

Good luck to you and congrats!!!

Answer 6

don't worry, i know a couple of people who are/have done the same thing and find it quite easy. i would start with eliminating one type of meat at a time from your food and finding an alternative to replace it. eventually you won't eat any more meat and you will still have a balanced diet. there are plenty of helpful websites such as www.goveg.com and www.peta.com to get you started on vegetarianism. thank you for making such a caring, compassionate decision and good luck! don't give up, even eliminating only one kind of meat is a step in the right direction.

Answer 7

Try the books "The new Farm Vegetarian cookbook" and "The new Becoming Vegetarian" available through Amazon, Abe etc. There's a link to the publisher's site below although thy're 'fiddling' with the site and not all their titles show right now. The cookbook is the *best* I've ever found on the topic of veggie cooking! I've not read the other but I've read (and owned) almost all their books and haven't hit a loser yet.
I've also given you my 'standard' new veghead link ;-)

Answer 8

Well It really is very easy find a good vegetarian cookbook and try the fantastic recipes now available.For instance Boca burgers found in any freezer section are very tasty and agood alternative to start with.Morning star bacon is great and very tasty as well I tell all my non vegetarian friends as well and they also love it.Vegetarian chili another great food dish healthy and tasty.The list goes on and on enjoy this new adventure which will last a lifetime

Answer 9

The thing about being a vegetarian is that it is more complex
than just not eating meat. You have to eat certain combinations
of vegetables, grains, etc. so that you are not shortchanging
yourself on nutrients and proteins.

Answer 10

u need to eat meat otherwise you will waste away and vanish.
EAT MEAT
or you can find heaps of good recipies on the net just replace the meat with chick peas or lintils or other things like that