I'm thinking about going vegetarian...?!
Answers: Lately I've been thinking about going vegetarian. I'm looking for any advice, tips, info, support I can get. Thanks in advance. Much love to you all!!!
Excellent! First, be ready to face lots of angry people. People will start asking you questions or being rude. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions you will get and some of the best answers I have used:
Why did you become vegetarian? *Why not?
How do you get your protien? *From food. There are lots of other foods that have great amounts of protien. Animal protien is not good for your body anyway.
Then what do you eat? *FOOD! I don't eat just veggies [people are retarded] I eat whatever I want (fake meats are AMAZING!)
Don't you miss meat? *After knowing how it gets to me and what is in it, NO WAY.
Also, a common misconception:
Meat has nutriets in it that you can't get anywhere else. This is true, but those nutrients are not needed and have no benefits to the body.
And that a vegetarian diet is not balance. That is a MYTH.
Be ready to defend yourself.
I have been a vegetarian for a long time. Just make sure you take a vitamin every morning. Also, make sure you drink a lot of milk, and eat a lot of beans and yogurt. You need to make sure you get enough protein. When you first start being a vegetarian, try to keep track of how much protein you get. It will help you make sure you are healthy. If you decide to go vegan, make sure to eat a lot of soy and bean products. Good luck, and remember being a vegetarian can be really healthy if you do it right.
try to find good protein alternatives. beans, mushrooms, tofu, and soy milk are good sources. vitamins and antioxidants will not be a problem if you eat lots of colorful fruits and vegetables. amy's makes a whole line of frozen vegetarian foods that even the strictest vegan can eat. they taste good too
Congrats on the decision! The best advice I can give you, is to take it easy. Vegetarianism is a lifestyle...not just a diet. Sometimes it takes some getting used to. Don't start by categorizing yourself, or limiting yourself. listen to what your body craves. If your craving protein, try some tofu, or tempeh. Nuts are great too. Make sure to take a good multivitamin, until you get accustomed to working out your nutritional values. Read lots of labels in the market. (You might be surprised what you find!) Try a new recipe weekly, it really helps to find new and interesting meals to make. Here are a few links to help you out. Good luck!
http://www.vrg.org/
http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Everyday-C...
It is a great idea.
First off, get a decent book on vegetarian nutrition. Since you can't have dairy I would get one on veganism. I suggest Becoming Vegan by Davis and Mesina. I've been vegetarian for about 7 years and can't have dairy either. I use soy products. Eat lots of fruits, veggies, whole grains and legumes. If you want to be super healthy, stay away from processed junk food that just happens to be vegetarian. I've known people who've lived off pizza and chips. You could also get a good cook book (Vegan Planet is the best out there and you can adjust the recipes to make them vegetarian or just use them vegan). There are also good websites out there.. VeganOutreach.org and FarmSanctuary.com both have links to nutrition stuff and you can download or send away for a free packet on making the switch. I wouldn't worry about side effects. You might be a little gassy the first few weeks from eating more vegetables and fiber. Don't listen to all those people saying you'll never get enough protein as a veg. I've had blood work and it says I'm well within the healthy range. People don't need nearly as much as they're told by the beef industry. PLus I'm an endurance athlete so if I get enough, anyone would. Good luck!
Here's my advice, don't
If you are smart about it and do your research, then there shouldn't be many health risks.
Just do your research...the best vegan is a smart vegan/
The best advice i can think of is to get as much variety in your diet as you can. You are choosing to reduce variety in your diet so it becomes more important to put effort into eating different kinds of things and trying new things. Make sure you are getting grains, beans and legumes, fruits and vegtables. As much variety as you can! good luck!
Good, dairy isn't good for you :) It's breast milk for a calf.
I think these'll help a lot:
http://www.goveg.com
http://www.vegetarianlunchbox.com
Recipes:
http://www.fatfreevegan.com
http://www.veganlunchbox.com
http://www.theppk.com
http://www.vegcooking.com
Regarding your "how could I do it wrong?" question, many, if not most omnivores (nonvegetarians) do it wrong all the time. They don't drink enough water, they go months without eating so much as a banana, they eat way too many animal proteins (that includes lacto-ovo vegetarians and their dairy/eggs)...
Just focus on eating mostly whole foods, less processed, and the more produce (greens, especially) the better. Good luck :)
I wish you good luck.
There may be a few slip ups at first, but don't let that lessen your resolution.