IM trying to go vegitarian but it's really hard! any advise??

Question

but everwhere i got theres allways meat around! and like for lunch in school they allways serve meat! so what should i do if im surrounded my meat????

Answer 1

If you have already consumed meat products before, than its quite hard switching to become a vegetarian. The main problem most people in your situation have would be that after seeing all the meat around them they just cannot help start eating again. The main key to stay away from eating meat would be will power. Whenever you see meat say to yourself "I Will Not Eat Any Meat." Also, you could remind yourself of the positive things of becoming a vegetarian are. For example, healthier lifestyle, living longer, less risk of cancer, heart attack or stroke etc. Just hand in there and before you will know it, you will be a strong vegetarian and will be able to control yourself of meat. Good Luck!

Answer 2

Date a vegetarian that likes to cook.

For lunch, just brown bag it. I wasn't a vegetarian through school, but all of my meals were, because I didn't have any way to refrigerate my lunch. My meals were almost always a peanutbutter sandwich with strawberry preserves on it and a side or two...chips, fruit, pudding, Little Debbies, etc. It's not fantastic, but it worked. Now I take salads and stuff to work.

My favorite lunches:

Romaine lettuce with a chopped up avacodo and apple on top of it, as well as, sea salt, sunflower seeds, and some sprouts. It's awesome!

You can also try a salad with walnuts, crasins, grated parmesan, and rasberry vinegarette on romaine lettuce.

If you're on your own, I'd get a vegetarian cookbook. Until you figure out your diet, just cook the dishes that you normal cook, but substitute Morningstar products for the real thing. That way you don't "freeze-up" or become discouraged right off. I had the "freeze-up" problem, which means that I didn't eat much, because I just didn't know what to eat, and so I was really tired all of the time. I found that Boca products are kind of blah, but Morningstar has a wide variety of meat substitutes that are easy to use and taste great. You're not going to loose much weight from eating them though.

The tofu that you want to eat is not the stuff on the non-refrigerated shelves next to the canned goods, but the stuff that they sell in the produce section that has to be refrigerated. You can eat it cooked or not cooked, but remember to store the unused portion in water in the fridge. Don't forget to change the water.

Other sources of protein...

Nuts, seeds, eggs, dairy, and whole grains give you more than you'd think....also, you can get stuff that's made to have protein in it. Oh, and wheat gluten is a common meat substitute, as well as textured vegetable protein.

Also, see if there are any vegetarian restaurants around, or places that have a vegetarian menu. This will give you a good impression of what the food is supposed to taste like when you make it. See if there are any "hippie food stores" around too. The people that work in those stores are usually vegetarians and quite willing to shower you with answers. "Hippie food stores" are the natural foods types of stores that sell organic stuff and all that.

One more thing...you might find in a few months that your tastes start to change, and certain things that you didn't like before, you end up liking and vise-versa.

Good Luck!

PS-Vegan is the next step, if you end up wanting to go further, and there are steps after that too, but most people just stick with vegetarianism. Of course, some people just cut out certain meats, and still eat other meats, and still call themselves vegetarians. The word is up to interpretation, and I think that vegans are "true" vegetarians, but I'm too lazy to be one right now.

Answer 3

First of all I must mention I'm a meat lover. Fully remove meat from my diet is not an option. Secondly, within the last year i was forced to change my diet (minimal red meat). Going straight to gardens salads did not work. I needed that 'weighty' feeling that meat use to do. So, I ate alot of chicken (not fried) to give me that 'full' feeling. Of course, mixed it in with a salad. Depending upon your determination, your craving for large amounts of meat will dip in about a week. Week 2, 50/50 amounts of chicken and salad. About week 3, 75/25 percent ration of greens to chicken. Mix in some beans and peanuts to get the protein you need.

Also, those veggie patties are pretty darn good (I still can't stomach some of the tofu stuff). We're only human, toss in a burger/steak if you have the craving. Just make it alot smaller portion than normal (or else your back to step 1). 'Once you cheat, you gotta repeat'. Hopefully, you'll reach your goal. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Our natural instinct tells us to eat meat. Most people grow up eating meat too. You alone need to decide for yourself if its a bad habit. Do some research & decide for yourself.
Respect one anothers choices for food meat VS veggies or meat & veggies VS veggies alone.
Share you personal eating experiences with others.
Just don't try to force your diet/eating habits on anyone else.
Purchase a very good nutrition guide for ALL foods then decide what to do.
I personally do not believe in a perfect diet or perfect foods I believe in nutrition that comes from all foods sources in general.
Each person should choose what foods what are best for their individual needs.
Most people I know do great on a vegitarion diet, a few people do not.
I personally had to listen to my Doctor. I had some health issues that would not allow a 100% vegitarion diet in my life.
I personally tried working out at the gym as a "vegitarian" & lost too much weight despite eating properly I became very sick.

Answer 5

Make sure that what you do eat appeals to you - don't just eat pale imitations of meat products or plain vegetables or something. Get a good vegetarian cookbook. I was at a banquet last month and the woman next to me requested the vegetarian meal. They served her huge platefuls of things like steamed green beans and carrots! Meanwhile, she was looking over at our plates with great envy. On the other hand, I've been to dinners before when the "regular" meal was a pathetic chicken breast or piece of old fish, and the vegetarian meal looked delicious, and the rest of us envied the vegetarian.

Answer 6

Carry your own vegetarian food from home and ignore the idiots that taunt you! You will be healthier, stronger, and live longer if you don't eat meat. The smell of meat may upset your stomach after a while, so try to eat with other people who don't eat much or any meat.

Answer 7

i used to feel that way...but whenever i craved meat i sat down and reminded myself that meat was and animal, with a soul. that was tortured and slauthered mercilessly. This put me off meat really fast...its awesome that your a vegitarian...i no its hard but its worth it...think about it, your saving innocent animals, helping the planet (factories distrbute alot of pollution!), and making yourself healthier! i felt and feel so much better being a vegitarian. And after two years i still am. Also at lunch look for food like sandwitched, french fries, etc... or bring your own luch. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 8

make your own lunch and bring it to school. focus on your goal not to eat meat. if you truly want to become a vegetarian, then i'm sure you will be able to reach your goal. if you happen to be tempted by all the meat that surrounds you, then think about other things. pretend that the meat around you is something you don't like. set yourself some limits.

I hope I have helped. ☺

Answer 9

bring a packed lunch to school until u get used to being veggie. it takes a lot of commitment to give up anything. i managed to do it for 10 years.....and im the worlds biggest red meat lover!

also, keep away from the butchers and the meat isle at the supermarket.also places like mcdonalds and other meat filled food places.

Answer 10

well start off small dont do a dematic change start having more veg and gradually youll get there but you need meats still i know theres vegitarian meat but natural meat is the best so i would personally stay on a blanaced diet or just have a bit of meat every so often