thinking about becoming a vegetarian again...?

Question

i was one once but i had to stop because my family was so confused at what to feed me and they are also very meat obsessed. i'm thinking about being a vegetarian again mostly for the animals. whats the pros and cons of being a vegetarian? and what's good healthy foods i can have for protein so i can tell my parents to make it? thanks! =]

Answer 1

Protein. Here we bleeping go again. If your parents are worried about protein, you might want to ask them if they have ever, EVER heard of ANYONE in an industrialized nation suffering from protein deficiency. As long as you eat enough calories, and you don't get them from junk food, you'll be fine.

If your parents are worried about what to feed you, the answer is FOOD. Really, as long as they use veggie stock instead of meat stock and don't put gelatin in anything, it's pretty easy to make the sides vegetarian. Then they make a meat main dish and you can have tofu, tempeh, seitan, or one of the umpteen analogues out there that are available in some conventional stores but almost every natural foods store (including Whole Foods).

Good luck!

Answer 2

Vegetarians tend to be healthier in general. It is vital to really pay attention to what you are eating in order to maintain a BALANCED diet. Make sure you are getting enough protein and iron so you do not become anemic. I find that black beans are a great substitue for meat and can be used in almost any recipe that calls for meat. If you are going to restrict cheese and milk from your diet too I would recommend a daily multi-vitamin to make sure you get enough calcium. I decided to "go veggie" when I was 12. I am 32 and am very healthy. I don't care for meat and find it hard to digest. When people ask why I don't like meat I just usually reply that "some people don't like onions, some don't like broccoli, I don't like meat." Good luck, I think if you can stick with a veggie diet for at least 6 months you will find that you feel really good, just make sure you do it right.

Answer 3

It's always good to stick to your morals despite what someone else may say or think about it. As far as the pro/con of the whole thing, you'll have to be more careful to eat the right kinds of foods to stay healthy than someone who eats meat. But if it makes you feel like a better person it's got to be worth it, right?

My advise is that even though it may seem like a small decision that you can go back on whenever you feel like it, think it over for awhile. Going back on your convictions can become habitual.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Answer 4

Try taking the transition slowly, eliminate meat gradually and you

should have a better chance of succeeding. Have special last

dinners of your favorite meat meals, it makes it easier to let go that

way. The library is a great resource for cookbooks! Keep in mind

that by going vegetarian you will in no way have to compromise

nutrition. Foods for you to pay particular attention to are:

Legumes(beans), green leafy vegetables, lentils, nuts, rice (brown) and seeds.
Good websites for you to visit are: vegetarianteen.com,

veganwolf.com, vrg.org, vegcooking.com


Pros:http://www.britishmeat.com/49.htm
Cons: People may feel a little uncomfortable around vegetarians.

Good luck, hope all goes well for you!

Answer 5

I don't understand why you stopped in the first place! It was a good thing and no one else should have a say in it. But at least you are going to become one again. I love morningstar products like Chick'n and Veggie Burgers (made with soy). Peanut butter and apples is a good dessert. And if you drink tons of milk and take a multivitamin you should be just fine. My parents didn't make anything special for me!

Answer 6

okay pros of being vegetarian:
you're generally getting unprocessed foods which are very rich in nutrients, its a good lifestyle change if its one you're up for, and if you're "animal conscience" then you won't have to worry about animals

Cons:
can also lead to weight gain if you bulk up on carbs in place of meat, you might need to take vitamin supplements for the proteins, because you do need amino acids

just generally you make sure your bodies getting all the nutrients it needs if you choose to become vegetarian again

Answer 7

being a vegetarian is very beneficial to your body; it gives your stomach a very clean feeling; its hard to describe unless you are one. i rarely get stomach aches after i eat a meal because meat is the main food group that gives you gas and stomach aches. one food brand that i highly recommend is "morning star" and it can be found at any grocery store in the frozen foods; they have soy meats. the parmesean ranch chicken patties are amazing, but they have hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, and small appetizer-like-meals. they're very high in protein and very easy to make; you can make them in the microwave or in the oven. peanut butter is also very good for you, high in protein but also very high in calories. a negative about being a vegetarian is it can literally kill you if you don't get enough protein; so you need to be extremely careful about that. here is a website i found very helpful for finding out how much protein YOU specifically need per day:

http://www.indiadiets.com/foods/food_nutrients/Proteins.htm

hope this helped !

Answer 8

You know why you're addicted to cheese? Casomorphins. Mother cows, before birth, release casomorphin into their milk so that their calf is basically hooked to their milk and they stay close. That's why people are so addicted to dairy; they've got to have their daily fix of "morphine"! "Dairy withdrawal" as I like to call it, requires some effort. It's tough for a lot of people. It was VERY tough for me! I was HOOKED on cheese for the longest time. But if you just stay away for 1-2 weeks, it will get much easier. I'd recommend trying to replace it with something else. I love almond milk! It's a great milk repalcement since I love milk with my cereal. Daiya cheese is also good for people who want some sort of cheese-flavor. Next time you're at your grocery store, try looking around the vegan section (there's bound to be some sort of "veg" area), you'll never know what you'll find!

Answer 9

Try to have more willpower this time.

Pros: better for animals, better health for you

Cons: annoying for family members

Don't worry about protein. Most Americans get more protein than they need. Beans and nuts are good sources.

Answer 10

yah me to put my family made me stop if i where u just cut down on meat don't quit!!:))