ive just become a vegetarian, any tips or advice?

Question

i dont eat meat, but i still consume dairy products.

Answer 1

Here are some great sites:

www.vegweb.com--recipes, links, and an all-around great resource for veg*ans (that's shorthand for "vegetarians and vegans")
www.vegdining.com and www.happycow.net--to help you find vegetarian and veg-friendly restaurants all over the world
www.veganstore.com, www.veganessentials.com, www.mooshoes.com, and www.alternativeoutfitters.com--
shopping!

The first two shopping websites sell vegan vitamins and supplements.

Don't worry too much about the protein--as long as you eat a balanced diet, you should be fine. And don't consume too much dairy, as it's high in fat, and the excess protein may cause you to lose calcium. You might want to buy soy (or rice, nut, or oat) milk, soy yogurt, soy (or rice) ice cream, etc., instead of dairy, and just have cheese on your pizza or sandwich.

Answer 2

A few points -

1. Your source of nutrients have changed, so make sure that you get all the essentials. I would recommend making a list of your dietary requirements and ensuring that you meet them. For instance, this could include protein content, vitamins, minerals etc. and how much of it is met through your food. Usually, people switching to vegetarianism have problems with their protein intake.

2. Make sure that you eat supplements, at least for a short while. Vitamin supplements are good for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Once you get used to your diet and what your body needs (usually through cravings), you will adapt to your new diet.

3. Like I mentioned earlier, as a vegetarian, you should increase your protein intake. I would recommend eating beans, legumes, grains and several other fruits and vegetables that have proteins in them.

4. Since you consume dairy products, several cheeses and other milk products are good sources of several key nutrients, including protein. So, you should make sure that you consume a good quantity of dairy based food.

5. Eat more flavoured foods. Being vegetarian need not mean eating salads. Vegetables can be fried, sauteed, boiled, steamed and cooked in several ways, just like everything else. So, adding a little spice and increasing your flavouring usually makes vegetarian food quite likable. Also, exploring alternate cuisines is a good way to go. Several cuisines (Indian, Thai, Chinese etc.) are very vegetarian-friendly.

5. Go out and find fake meat. There are several kinds of meat-like foods made entirely out of soy and vegetables. They are quite tasty and these days, they have come close enough to having the same texture, feel and taste as the real thing. So, that it is worth looking at that as a food source. Soy meat also tends to be quite rich in a lot of protein and other nutrients, so that is also a good thing.

Finally, vegetarianism is a way of life. Welcome to it!

Answer 3

Get aquainted with Tofu, and some of the meat substitutes. There are some really good meat substitutes out now, that are very tasty. Make sure you eat lots of green leaved vegetables especially spinach so your iron levels don't drop to low and you get anemia. And eat some protein rich foods also, those are easier to find, so you don't feel tired and weak.

Answer 4

Never make an issue of your eating habits at parties or family holidays. Let people approach you about it. I always hear about how annoying meat eaters think vegetarians are and would love to see that stereotype broken.

Answer 5

start simple at first, then start experimenting with more complex dishes/recipies.

one of my favorite quick dishes:
beans + rice + salsa + tortilla

and if you want a little more flavor, add any combo of:
avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, bell papers, cheese, sour cream, etc

and salads don't have to be just lettuce and dressing! i like to go all out with mine:

lettuce (of course) + tomato + avocado + mushrooms + diced zucchini and yellow squash + black or navy beans + pumpkin seeds + carrots + feta cheese + broccoli or cauliflower

and almost ALL veggies go great with hummus! make sure you're getting enough vitamin B6 and B12, too. way to go for making the switch!

Answer 6

Make sure you are consuming low fat or fat free dairy and it's organic.

Also, make sure you are getting plenty of protein; legumes, nuts, seeds, and mushrooms are the best sources of protein. Mix it up and eat a variety of that stuff.

Other then that all I would suggest is to be sure you are eating plenty of greens: broccoli, green beans, peas, spinach, kale, etc.

Answer 7

me too, im vegetarian and i eat dairy products including eggs, i've been vegeratian my whole life

Answer 8

CONGRATULATIONS on tht lol sorry i really like QUORN it is a really good substitute for meat go to www.quorn.com foor recipie ideas

Answer 9

Try some delicious veg salads...

Answer 10

Go back to being an omnivore, like you were intended to be.