Tips on how to become a vegetarian?

Question

i have been comtemplating being a vegetarian and after years and years, i realized i hardley eat meat or milk and egg products. i would like to try to go totally vegetarian but i first want to learn the right way and how to balance everything. any information given will be appreciated greatly.

Answer 1

I haven't eaten any meat in 8+ years and yet I still gave birth to two 10lb babies and keep losing weight without even trying. PLUS it's great for the animals and better for the environment. It can easily be done, but you have to be committed.
That said, the major issues people have with vegetarianism is that you can become deficient in Vitamin B12 and can lack in protein and iron if you're not careful. Vitamin B12 is added to cereals and flour and things, so if you eat Cheerios every morning you'll probably be fine. Peanut butter, tofu, beans= fantastic sources of protein. Certain proteins are only find in meat, true, but if you eat combos like black beans and brown rice you will make the proteins that your body needs. Iron is a little trickier... raisins and spinach have iron... or you can take an iron pill. But generally as long as you eat a healthy, balanced diet you will get everything you need. And you don't have to stick to nothing but salads when you are out, either. Lots of restaurants have veggie options, though salad IS good for you :)
Good luck!

Answer 2

Good luck!!

If you are looking to be a vegan, which I am assuming you are seeing as you mentioned not eating dairy products much, try fasting teas! Tea will not balance your diet completely, but it does help to curb your appetite for very filling foods such as meat and dairy products. Try veggie meat. It doesn't sound great, but it isn't that bad. I actually enjoy it more than real meat. (Use Morningstar Farms, it's the best brand).

Make sure you get all your amino acids. Mixed nuts are a great vegan snack because legumes like peanuts give you all the amino acids in one. Do some research to find what foods should be paired with what to get full proteins. Amino acids make proteins when paired with their counterparts. Without all the amino acids to make a full protein, you don't have a balanced diet.

Try the magazine The Vegetarian Times. It has great Vegan and Vegetarian recipes to make quickly, as well as organic products, tips, advice, and articles about how to tell which foods are animal-friendly. Always check labels on soup, etc. before you buy! Some vegetable soups are not vegetarian. Usually the label will say "Vegetarian", "Non-Vegetarian", or "Vegan" (especially on Progresso soups).

GOOD LUCK!!!! STAY STRONG!!!! You're not alone!!!!

Hope I helped,
E

Answer 3

It's important to really have commitment. Do you really believe in being a vegetarian? If so, go for it.

Make sure you read up on how to get some of your vitamins from other sources. Your doctor can help you, along with simply searching on the internet.

Make sure you know what you're actually going to give up. Realize your limits and realize that by changing your diet you're going to have to do a lot more work to keep healthy (eg, milk is dairy, so get your calcium somewhere else).

Realize that going to restaurants is going to be harder with your special dietary needs.

Good luck!

Answer 4

You're making it way too complicated. If you're hardly eating any meat anyway, all you have to do is cut out whatever little you are eating. Make sure you eat a balance of all the other food groups. That's all there is to it.

Answer 5

Check out www.cok.net to get a starter guide. Since you hardly eat meat, dairy, or eggs, it shouldn't be too hard to stop eating them altogether. As long as you eat a variety of foods, you should be fine. Don't worry about combining your proteins. As long as you eat a variety of foods during the day, you should be fine.

Answer 6

get a book. the one i got is called A Complete Idiot's Guide to Becoming Vegetarian. it covers eevveerryytthhiinngg. really good book. (and easy to read, too.)

Answer 7

Go to http:// vegsoc.org/ this is the site for the UK Vegetarian Society. There are lots of usefull tips to get you started.

Answer 8

Sorry, can't help you. I am a total carnivore, but wish you the best of luck in your endeavour!