For vegetarians: I am interested in becoming a vegetarian; any tips?

Question

I'm not a vegetarian, but I am interested in becoming a vegetarian (for health reasons & to lose weight). Is there any tips to help me get started? Any delicious vegetarian recipes would also be appreicated...thanks :-)

Answer 1

there are a lot of tips here:

http://www.goveg.com

or just sign up for a vegetarian starter kit that you can even dowload yourself:

http://www.goveg.com/order.asp

it was the best thing to helping me get started!

good luck :-)

Answer 2

congratulations on your decision, I hope it works out for you! I have been a vegetarian for about 7 months now. When you first make the transaction, there are numerous "meat" type foods that are great to start with. Try Boca brand burgers, chili, chikin' nuggets, itallian sausages.........these can be found in the frozen section of most supermarkets. The best thing to do is get rid of any meat that is in your home so you are not tempted to eat any!!! As far as recipes, go to www.goveg.com and sign up for there free vegetarian starter kit (usually takes 3 weeks or so to recieve in the mail). I do have a recipe that is great to get you started though. Its quick, cheap, and taste wonderful. Just a recipe I kinda threw together.

2 bannana's
handful of strawberries
handful of blueberries
handfull of bing cherries (pitted)
1 cup of silk vanilla soymilk
1/8 cup sugar (probably less, alot less lol)
handfull or two of ice

Throw it all in the blender. Blend until smooth. Drink. ENJOY!! Experiment with different fruits/veggies, you will be surprised at what you can come up with!!

Answer 3

Buy the idiots guide to vegetarianism. It is a great resource. I used it when I became a vegetarian, and I have been one for two years. I still refer back to it. It covers every topic you can think of. It was put together by a vegetarian whos husband is a meat eater so she covers differnt points of view.

Answer 4

Eat a variety of "whole foods," with plenty of beans, nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid unhealthy foods like trans fats, which are usually listed as partially hydrogenated oils. Deep-fried foods often contain trans fats. Choose margarines that use nonhydrogenated oil, like Earth Balance or Smart Balance. Although a diet consisting of Coke and French fries is technically vegan, you can't be healthy if you eat nothing but junk food. Vitamin B12: Vitamin B12 is produced by bacteria, and some experts believe that vegetarians used to get plenty of this vitamin from bacteria in drinking water. Since drinking water is now treated with chemicals that kill the bacteria, it's important to make sure that you get enough vitamin B12 from fortified foods (like most brands of soy or rice milks, some breakfast cereals, and many brands of nutritional yeast,vegetarians can get b-12 from milk and eggs) on a daily basis or by taking a sublingual B12 tablet of 10 mcg per day


Iron-beans, dark green leafy vegetables (like spinach),whole grain breads, Also eat something with vitamin c when you eat something with iron, it increases absorption

Calcium-dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, broccoli, soymilk)

Protein-Isn't really hard to get, just eat a variety of foods, good sources are beans, brown rice, nuts, whole grain breads, soy foods

Omega-3 fatty acids-flax seeds/oil,walnuts,canola oil

Zinc-pumpkin seeds (best source), beans and lentils, yeast, nuts, seeds and whole grain cereals

Selenium-Brazil nuts are a particularly good source of selenium, so try to eat a couple every day. Eating a small bag of mixed unsalted nuts can be a convenient way to get your daily selenium intake, but make sure it contains Brazils. Bread and eggs also provide some selenium.

Vitamin D- Vitamin D, often called the sunshine vitamin, is another common deficiency in those not drinking vitamin D fortified milk. Synthetic vitamin D is added to both cow’s milk and most brands of soy milk today.

Vitamins A (beta carotene),C, K, E and Folate-variety of fruits and veggies

Iodine-Iodine is a trace mineral that's important for healthy thyroid function. Table salt is the most common and reliable source of iodine in Americans' diets. (However, sodium in processed foods usually does not contain iodine.) If you don't consume table salt, you can get iodine from a multivitamin or from kelp tablets.

Answer 5

yea,. i have a tip, dont' tell people you're one
or you'll have to answer a stream of questions and it'll get bore and it will never stop, i regret telling anyone ever.

oh and tips, er go eat out in vegetarian resturants, it's the best, when you see the list of delioucis things you can eat for free, you'll be all happy and junk

Answer 6

There are as many reasons for becoming vegetarian as there are vegetarians; it's a highly personal and individual decision to make. But in a survey conducted on behalf of The Vegetarian Society the majority of people said that they gave up meat and fish because they did not morally approve of killing animals, or because they objected to the ways in which animals are kept, treated and killed for food.

With the growing awareness of the importance of healthy food, many people are also becoming vegetarian because it matches the kind of low fat, high fibre diet recommended by dieticians and doctors. Concern about the environment is another factor as people become more aware of the effect raising animals for their meat is having on the environment. Or you may be concerned about wasting world food resources by using land to raise animals for meat instead of growing crops that can feed more people directly.

See the Information Sheet on Statistics for further details of surveys.
Common Questions about Vegetarianism
Use these answers to some of the most common questions asked about vegetarianism to put at rest your own mind, or to respond to any queries from meat-eating friends.
What is a Vegetarian?

A vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat, fish, poultry or any slaughterhouse by-product such as gelatine. Vegetarians live on a diet of grains, pulses, nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit, with or without free-range eggs, milk and milk products. Vegetarians not eating anything containing dairy products or eggs are called vegans.

See the Information Sheet on Definitions for further details.
Isn't it hard being a vegetarian?
Not at all. Vegetarian food is widely available in shops and restaurants, it's easy to cook and you're probably already eating many vegetarian meals such as beans on toast or jacket potato and cheese without even putting your mind to it. It's no sacrifice to give up meat when there are so many delicious recipes and so many tasty foods to experiment with. Plus you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that you're eating a healthy diet that doesn't involve the killing of animals or the abuse of the world's resources.
Where will I buy all this new food for my vegetarian diet?
Exactly the same place you used to buy food - in markets, supermarkets, corner shops. Vegetarian food, both in its 'raw state' as grains, pulses and vegetables, and as pre-cooked meals, is widely available nowadays.
What do I say to my family/friends?
Don't get caught up in arguments, just gather all the information about vegetarianism so you can calmly explain your decision. Then try introducing them to some of the delicious meat-free meals you're enjoying and see if you can win them over by setting a good example.
Aren't vegetarians being hypocritical because they still wear leather or exploit cows for their milk?
There is a very valid argument for becoming vegan - for giving up all dairy products, eggs and any other animal by-products. But realistically speaking, few people can go from being a meat eater to a vegan overnight. Vegetarianism is a very important halfway house. And even if you never go on to being vegan, you've already made an impact and saved the lives of many animals simply by giving up meat. Far from being hypocritical, you're making an effort to change the way you live for the better. How far you go with vegetarianism is up to you, but however small the step you take, it's not wasted. And don't feel that you have to become a perfect vegetarian overnight. If you forget to check the ingredients list and realise that you've just eaten something containing gelatine, don't feel that you've failed. Take it one step at a time and enjoy learning more about the vegetarian lifestyle. The important thing is that you're doing something!

See also the Information Sheet on Clothing
Aren't all vegetarians pale and unhealthy?
This old stereotype has taken a long time to die out. In fact, people who follow a varied, well-balanced vegetarian diet are in line with the current nutritional recommendations for a low fat, high fibre diet. That's why medical studies are proving that vegetarians are less likely to suffer from such illnesses as heart disease, cancer, diet-related diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. So, if for no other reason, go vegetarian as a favour to your body!

See also the Health and Nutrition Index.
What happens if I have to try to get a vegetarian meal in a restaurant?
There are very few restaurants now that don't offer at least one vegetarian option. Vegetarianism is such a growing movement, restaurateurs can't afford to ignore it. In the unlikely event that a restaurant doesn't have anything for you, don't be put fobbed off, especially with the offer of a fish or chicken dish which are 'practically vegetarian' - they're not!! Simply ask politely if they can make something specially for you. if they can't be bothered, why give them the benefit of your custom when there are plenty of other places all too willing to help.

See Eating Out Index for restaurants in your area.
Isn't vegetarian food boring?
Vegetarians don't eke out a miserable existence on a few limp lettuce leaves and some boiled rice. And a proper vegetarian meal doesn't mean taking the meat away and leaving the side vegetables. With the hundreds of different vegetables, grains, fruit, pulses and nuts and seeds that exist, you could live to be 100 without exhausting all the possibilities for imaginative, nutritious meals! And as vegetarian food tends to be cheaper than a meat-based diet, you can afford to treat yourself to more expensive delicacies such as asparagus.

See the Recipes Index for ideas.
Won't it take a long time to prepare the food?
Just because there are so many wonderful vegetarian dishes to try, doesn't mean you have to become an expert cook and spend hours in the kitchen. You can easily cook good, wholesome vegetarian meals in under half an hour, and don't forget that most manufacturers now also offer a wide range of ready-made vegetarian dishes.

by

http://www.dhaarvi.blogspot.com

Answer 7

Since evryone before me has answered this question .......... my tip .......... DON"T BET ON THE HORSES..........

Answer 8

don't eat meat is agood start i would guess