I am in a transistion to become a vegetarian.And well I just need help.anyone?

Question

I know it's a healthier life style.But I dont exactly know how to actully eat,and things like that.I'm confused.

Answer 1

It gets easier as you go along - when I first started I couldn't even get bland ol' tofu at the grocery store, now there are veggie substitutes for just about everything. For the first few weeks/months be easy on yourself and instead of buying meats, buy the meat substitutes (like veggie/soy dogs, hamburgers and cheeses etc.) and try different kinds if you don't like some of them b/c they're not all the same. Then after you feel used to a meat-free lifestyle, you should look into the nuts, beans and grains recipes and try experimenting with different things that are high in protein. I think the most daunting thing to ppl who want to be vegetarians is that they believe they all of a suddent have to learn 50 different ways to cook couscous and lentils LOL You can eat a "normal" meat free diet, by just eliminating and substituting - but eventually it's good to branch out and reduce your soy intake. Too much of anything isn't good and most vegetarian meat and dairy subsitutes are soy based.

Answer 2

Well, I turned vegetarian in June of last year and it was moderately hard. Here's some examples of what I eat:

Fruits
Veggies
Nuts
Light yogurt
Rice
Wheat bread (NOT WHITE!!)
Granola
Salads minus the dressing unless organic
Organic things

Try to limit or cut off processed foods, fatty foods, things containing bleached flour, cola's, energy drinks, etc.

But from time to time, you can have a cup of coffee or a Redbull. Just don't make it a habit or you'll regret it.

Ever sine becoming a veg, I feel lighter, more flexible and not weighed down by meat and carbs.


I live in Newton, Ks and theres this little market/deli that sells all-organic food. It so good! It's called The Prairie Harvest. Try their vanilla granola. To die for!!

And right now I'm eating a packet of Back To Nature mini creme cookies. They have no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors, 0g Trans fat, and no hydrogenated oils. I got them at Dillons in the organic section but they should be available just about anywhere I presume.




PS: Help spread the word about vegetarian/veganism!! Join PETA2 http://www.peta2.com Street Team or PETA
http://www.peta.com !!

And if you go here http://www.goveg.com/order.asp you can get a free vegetarian starter kit.


Hope it helps.


By the way, why such a decision? I do it for health and PETA.

Answer 3

Try going to Google and finding Vegetarian recipes.
Print them out, buy the ingredients and make the dish.
Then check out veggie cookbooks at the library and bookstores near you.
Copy the recipes that you like & repeat the following week. Soon you will have a collection of recipes that you rotate just the way meat eaters do.
Make sure that you are eating plenty of FRESH,GREEN veggies. So many vegetarians make the mistake of using all mixes in boxes or frozen veg meals, and your body has a super need for the fresh stuff.
Eat salads at least 1-2 times every day.
Eat whole grains like rice, oats, whole wheat, quinoa and amaranth.
If you include eggs, milk and cheese in your diet, do so sparingly. Enjoy things like egg salad, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, etc, but supplement those with more veggies.
Eat a variety of fruits every day,
and DRINK WATER!
Take a good supplement tablet that's specifically designed for Vegetarians.
Enjoy sugar/desserts very seldom, but when you do have them, get the very best.
I promise if you do these things, you will so great in 6 weeks, you'll never go back to eating meat.
Good luck.

Answer 4

When I first became a vegetarian, I thought that you should substitute something for meat. So I did a lot of casseroles and other recipes with a lot of cheese. It took me a while to realize that you don't have to substitute anything for meat. (Cheese is high in calories and cholesterol.) You can eat a varied, delicious, and healthy diet using vegetables, whole grains, fruit, and, in mycase, of course Chardonnay. I also eat some dairy (although I use soy milk instead of cow milk).
While you're making the transition, try meat substitutes like Boca Burgers, the whole line by Morningstar Farms, and mock duck, which is a gluten product that you can purchase in Asian grocery stores.

Answer 5

I am a vegetarian, so I definitly have some tips for you.

Talk to your Docter or a Diet Planner. They can give you some meal ideas that will include all the vitiamins you need. Going to a Diet Planner is optional, you can always find this information online. However you need to let your Docter know, especially if you want to go to a Diet Planner because in some place you need a Docter's note/form to go to one.

You should decided if you are planning to be just vegetarian or full out vegan. If you are just going to be vegetarian are you still going to eat fish (some still do)?

Talk to your parents. Find out if they support you on this and if they will cook you meat-free meals. Unfortunatly some parents do not approve and make you buy and cook your own food. If that is the case, try to make a deal. Such as you'll cook it if they buy it or you give them a bit off money to buy and cook it.

If you have vegan or vegetarian neighbours or friends, talk to them. They will have tips and ideas.

PETA.com and PETA2.com rock! They really do. They have alot of information and tips. PETA2.com has a really good message board where you can ask questions like this.

Google, google, google! (I love Google!) Google vegetarian recipies. Google what you should eat to get your proper vitamins. Google a vegetarian food pyramid. Google vegetarian websites (they will have good tips and recipies etc).

Hope this helps!

Answer 6

The key (at least for me) is balance. First, cut down on your junk food intake. That's one huge step towards total health.

Second, recognize that this is a process. It will take time for you to find the balance you need, so don't give up!

Third, be sure you drink a lot of water. Vegetarian or not, your body is made up of about 80% water. (Soft drinks and coffee deplete the body of water, so they don't count towards your daily intake.) Water helps you feel full and will help the body make better use of the healthy food it gets.

Don't be afraid of carbs, protein or fat. These are all basic nutrients your body needs, in proper proportions. About 60% of your intake should be complex carbohydrates (not simple sugars), things like brown rice, oatmeal, millet, quinoa, wild rice (which technically, isn't rice by the way). Also, fruits and vegetables fall under the heading of "carbs". You cannot get enough of vegetables, I am convinced. Five servings of fruits and five servings of vegetables a day is the goal. (A serving is about what you could fit in the palm of your hand.)

About 10% or so (these are rough numbers, mind you) should be protein. This is easily accomplished if you drink soy milk, eat tofu, peanuts, peanut butter, beans of any description, etc. The body's need for protein diminishes significantly when it becomes adjusted to the vegetarian lifestyle, so when people freak out about protein intake, don't let it bug you.

About 30% of your calories should come from fat sources. Fats from healthy food sources include olives, olive oil, corn oil, almonds, cashews, chestnuts, other nuts, etc. Avocados are also great way to get fat into your diet. (Did someone say Mexican?) Don't be afraid of fat. It is good for your body. It helps the brain send and receive messages to your body; and is crucial for the brain's thought processes. It is good for your hair, skin, and nails. It also helps your body retain fat-soluble vitamins like A,D,E & K.

People fear fat because the typical western diet is full of things like beef fat, chicken fat, lard, eggs, milk fat, and palm kernal oil which are poor nutritional sources. These fats lead to hardening of the arteries, over time. Also, when paired with sugar (and most of the time, that's the junk food we often crave, as a society) it leads to diabetes and heart disease, two leading causes of death in the U.S.

You should be proud of yourself for taking your health seriously and embarking on this very new journey! :-)

Answer 7

Its simple, no skills required. Don't eat meat or poulty or fish. Eat protien sources such as beans, legumes, pulses, lentils, etc. Replace meats with mushrooms and other vegetables. Consume plenty of leafy vegetables, and fresh extracted juices for vitamins. Simply enjoy all of the other things you are used to eating. Educate yourself about whats in food (most fast food french fries contain beef tallow) Enjoy your new lifestyle

Answer 8

Hi. I tend to be very detailed (long) in my writing, so I put my answer here http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-GXLd3H0hc6klMFe3HeGqSDn7SVlgijZ53gHnrrlGNoFgNut5?p=1

I have included some great books, tips and websites that could help you out. Fake meats might be good while you are transitioning. Make foods you are used to, but take out the dead animal and put in a supplement. Tofu can be your best friend if you let it... great for Chinese dishes because it absorbs the flavor well.
:)

So yes, please check it out; I enjoy helping people because it was not very easy for me to become veg, but I had to stick to my morals.

Answer 9

Why do you say it's healthier? Meat does have its pluses--protein, for one. If you want a healthier lifestyle, then you might want to perhaps limit how much meat you have (Americans eat way too much--only 2 servings a day is enough--and one serving of meat is only about 3 ounces), and also make sure that what you're eating is low in fat. For example, make sure it's the extra lean and grill it--never fry. (Ifyou want healthy.) Overall, we eat too much meat and not enough breads and grains, vegetables, and fruits. (And many of us aren't doing that great in the dairy section either--too many soft drinks!) However, breads, fruits and vegetables won't give all of your daily nutrients from them--you'll have to supplement your diet with vitamins if you're going pure vegetarian. If you're going vegetarian due to a problem with eating it for your beliefs, then try supplementing your diet with vitamins and substitute the hamburgers with veggie burgers. (Some of them are quite tasty.) If you're going vegetarian for being healthier, then I suggest you just limit how much and what kind. Good luck.
P.S. I know four vegetarians, and two are overweight.

Answer 10

You can go on line and search out vegetarian sites and read a lot. There are lots of sites but I would caution you that some of them are fairly manic. Veganism seems to almost be a religion rather than a diet.