What can you tell me about being a vegetarian? What are the benefits? Any advice for beginners?

Answer 1

Here are tips:

1. Take your time - my journey from meat eater took about a year.
2. Start out using some basic substitutes for the meat you are used to in foods where you won't even notice - ground meat replacements are available in the frozen food sections.
3. Leave meat off things that don't need it - pizza, salad, spag, etc.
4. Get some good cookbooks when you are ready to branch into more interesting foods - Moosewood books and New Farm Vegetarian are two of my favorites.
5. If you are worried about what to eat check out the book "Diet for a New America" it will cover many of the health questions.

A good start is to pick one or two nights a week as "veggie" night. Then work your way from there stopping wherever you feel most comfortable which might be 2 nights a week or 7 nights a week up to you.

Answer 2

Some of the benefits I've experienced from being a veggie are the following: increased engergy, weight loss, restroom trips are more regular, I rearely fall ill, my allergies have all but disappeared (and I used to have HORRIBLE allergies to pets, grass, pollen, dust, etc.), my blood pressure is low (not that it was high before, but it's super low now).
My advice is to research as much as possible. Don't believe everything you see on the 'net. Go to your local library and grab some books on the subject. You might even pick up some good cookbooks - they often contain a lot of valuable information about how to structure a solid, veggie diet. Not only that, but you can get an example of the veggie dishes that you can make. They will also give tips on how to prepare tofu, temph, and other meat substitiutes that are common in the veggie diet. Based on what you see, you can also determine if it is something you can reasonably do as far as cost is concerned. (i.e. the availabillity of products and produce in your area). You also might want to visit a health food store for resources as well.
After you research, make sure you transition into the veggie world in a manner that is right for you. I went cold turkey, but that is not for everyone. Some people have to gradually cut out red meat, then chicken, then fish...and on down the line.
Make sure you eat a good variety of healthy foods...the more colors you eat, the better. Include fruit and veggies, beans and legumes. You don't want to stick to pasta and breads all the time. You will not feel well in turn.
Don't panic if you backslide. Many people get discouraged if they break their veggie diet and give up all together. It's normal for us to have a weakness to our favorite meat products. Don't let one slip-up make you think that it's impossible. Just stick with it and try harder. (We live in a meat-based society, so it might be difficult at the start).
Other than that, I think that's about all I have. Good luck!
:-D

Answer 3

Well when i began my vegetarianism i was 13 and my parents and friends kept trying to force me to eat meat...but i never gave in...being a vegetarian is better for you because you arent taking the risk of getting any diseases from the meat...i say dont give in AT ALL...also if you get pregnant you may crave meat..my mom is pregnant now and is also a veg. and she craving meat like no other...and when you start of you might crave meat too...but you have to resist! for the animals !for your health! good luck!

Answer 4

Lot of great benefits, there are lots of people living longer by cutting out meats. They keep proteins in their diet by using soy and other things. Have you noticed that you keep hearing bad things about meats, how dangerous they are if not kept at correct temps, diseases and if prepared wrong can make you sick and kill you, etc. I am more vegetarian than meat eater, and would prefer to be 100% vegetarian.

Answer 5

The benefits are numerous. From a health perspective you don't have to worry about hormones in your food. From a moral perspective you aren't directly contributing to the deaths of other conscious beings.

The important thing for beginners is to figure out how to get enough protein in your diet (nuts or tofu).

Answer 6

I have been veg for over ten years.
Reasons to become veg.
You step less on the environment. Large heards of farmed beast create huge amounts of greenhouse gas from their farts.
The grain required to feed animals is enough to feed the world yet it creates only enough meat for the rich.
If you eat vegetables you will be much healthier.
It's cheaper than meat.
You learn to cook well.
You don't contribute to the cruelty of animals.
You become more intune with spirituality.

Beginners, get a cookbook. Go to a hare krshna restruarant and buy their book. I started with their book while eating meat and learnt I didn't need meat anymore.

Answer 7

You are headed for a life of health and well being.There are numerous benefits.For one,no animal has to die to feed you.You will get sick less often,you will have unbounded energy,beautiful skin,hair and nails.There are tons of choices for vegetarians.All the supermarkets carry soy protein in many forms.It will force you to be more creative with food.Anyone can pick up a hunk of meat and chow down.It takes a creative person to fix an interesting meal without using meat.there are literally thousands of vegetarian recipes on the net.Good luck,you are making a wise choice.

Answer 8

i went veg 5 months ago and i'm 15. make sure you keep on top of your vitamin intake. as for food, try boca products and smart dogs. :] they're delicious. also, try the lean pockets three cheese ones. make sure to watch for ingredients, and watch for hidden meats and fish oils. also, no jello! gelatin is a no no. it can be found in food and lip gloss! yuck! anyways, i really hope this helped! good luck and way to go! you're getting closer to having a healthy body, inside and out! check out goveg.com and vegtv.com. :]!

Answer 9

specific protein is mandatory. however the solid information is, you will get each and all the protein your physique desires from a plant-based weight loss software in case you do it suitable. Vegetarianism isn't risky in any respect. the advantages are: much less demanding to be healthful and preserve a healthful weight, you at the instant are not killing as many animals as you do in case you consume meat, that is a few distance greater suitable for the ecosystem, and you at the instant are not consuming corpses!

Answer 10

Make sure you do a lot of research to make sure that you continue to get enough of the nutrients you need.

However, being a vegetarian is not worth it to me, why always have to worry about if something with hidden meat in it is going to make you sick? I think it makes more sense to cut down on meat versus stopping completely.

And the cruelty to animals thing......why is it any different then being cruel to plants? give me a break.