Thinking really seriously of becoming a vegetarian....?!
Plus I'm from the UK. So what brand is the best and any ways to help me get started?
Answers: ... any tips or helpful advice?
Plus I'm from the UK. So what brand is the best and any ways to help me get started?
Make sure you get complete proteins and that you get your B vitamins and iron. These are the things you need to particularly look out for. I suggest a multivitamin, at least while you're getting a handle on the veggie diet. I'll let someone else give shopping suggestions since I'm not in the UK.
Also, remember to warn people that you're a vegetarian ahead of time if they invite you over for a meal. Even if you don't mind just eating the veggies and leaving the meat, this seems to distress hosts. If they aren't immediately sure what to make that's vegetarian, offer to bring something to contribute to the meal.
Finally, there are some rude people in this world who seem to think it's clever to go on about how wonderful meat is as soon as they find out you don't eat it. Just shrug it off with a 'whatever' or they will go on and on. Likewise, don't bug people about their carnivorous ways; it's a total waste of time and just annoys people, in my experience.
buy a book. it is best to get plenty of info you can before you make any major decisions. i recommend "idiots guide to being vegetarian"
it has heaps of cool stuff like recipes and quizzes, and offers advice from eating at restaurants, having a barbeque and finding hidden animal ingredients in everyday food. It also tells about the cruel practises involved in many parts of the animal industry, so whether youre going veggie because of ethnical reasons, dieting or for your health you'll find some kind of advice on it.
good luck!
Well, if you watch http://www.meetyourmeat.com it'll totally change your mind. Also, sign up for all peta's flyers and such. They'll help you. I really like morningstar farms burgers and boca burgers are pretty good too. I can tell you that morningstar has some pretty kick butt sausage and hot dogs also. As for milk, getting adjusted to soy milk takes some time. I drank SIlk soy milk but I started out with the vanilla. Straight up soy is funny to begin with. Also, be sure to take supplements because you'll start losing protein pretty rapidly if youre not eating meat. Always eat extra fruits and veggies because they will help you fill up. My word of advice is don't do what I see alot of people doing..pretty much starving themselves just because they aren't eating meat anymore. Make sure you eat extra fruits and grains and such to keep your weight normal and your body strong. Good luck to you!
Don't eat meat.
im actually thinking of becoming vegetarian myself. i have a friend and first he gave up red meat and slowly u give up other meats. i dont know about the brands because i'm not from the uk, but i hope this helps. by the way, really good choice.
I use vegetarian Quorn. http://www.quorn.co.uk/ They make meat free, Burgers, sausage, mince, bacon, pies, chicken etc etc nice
I'm not a vegetarian i just don't like the gristle and rubbish they put in real meat sausages , burgers and processed foods like chicken nuggets etc.... it's gross.
do research. figure out why you want to do it. Make a commitment to try it for a week, see how you do. if you hate it and think it doesn't work, eat meat. if its okay, and it feels right because its what you belive in, continue.
lindy McCartney! - she was the god mother of veggie meals. You can buy them fom tesco. I use to live london, It is so much easier to be a veggie in England then it is in the US! England, people are so much more educated about being veggie! and all the greaty benefits it has!
good luck!
Just do it! Cold turkey. Trust me. It's the best thing you can do for your body and health. You will feel better, look better. I have been a vegetarian for 1 year now and I would never go back again. I have lost weight. People constantly tell me how healthy I look. And, interestingly, I don't miss meat at all. There are many products out there...things that look like meat ('sausages', 'mince', 'bacon'). I don't live in the UK so I can't mention any brands, but look around. You can use these just like you would normal meat. So you can still eat burgers and go to bbq's and so on, nothing in your life has to change. You wouldn't be missing anything by not eating meat anymore. Also check out 'vegweb' ( http://vegweb.com/ )...it's a website with vegetarian and vegan receipes.
Good luck!
You may feel like it is a really daunting task to get started, but it really is a great way to explore different sorts of food you may have never tried or thought about trying before.
First things first, you are going to need your protein.
Here are some good substitutes for meat:
Tofu
Soy Burgers (Boca is a good brand)
Seitan
Falafel
Also, if you aren't going Vegan you'll want to make sure you get healthy amounts of eggs, cheese, and assorted beans to maintain healthy protein levels.
Look up vegetarian recipes to explore the possibilities with fresh vegetables.
Once you get started you'll realize it isn't so hard!
http://www.goveg.com
http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vsk/p...
http://www.vegetarianlunchbox.com
http://www.veganlunchbox.com
http://www.fatfreevegan.com
http://www.theppk.com
http://www.vegcooking.com
To get started, read up as much as you can. Decide what you're okay with eating and doing, and what you want to stop eating/doing. Then learn to ingredient panels and identifying what ingredients aren't vegetarian.
You don't have to be interested in PETA to take advantage of their resources and compilations.
i know your not into peta but you can go to goveg.com it's sponsered by peta, i believe.. but they have a lot of helpful tips
its really cool you're doing that. my friend is a vegetarian... and she loves animals so much she would never even think about eating one. it's a good thing, if you really want to do it, go right along! do it! have fun, it's cool you're thinking about that! (again!)
Go to the library and get a book on Vegetarian Diets. There is a lot to learn about combining your proteins from veg. foods so that your body is healthy and adequately nourished.
For example, there are 20 amino acids required by the human body. 11 of them can be made by the body from foods you eat, if eaten in proper combos. The other 9 must be obtained from food and canno tbe manufactured in the body.
One other word for you: Quinoa.. (keen-wa) This is the only grain known on Earth that is a complete protein source, equivalent in nutrition (protein-wise) to meat.
You will also need to be aware of how you choose yoru foods to get adequte iron, calcium, and B-12. B-12 is destroyed by the microwave, so you may need a supplement weekly for that. I'd suggest a multi-vitamin-mineral supplement (look for one makred "Complete", in the US anyway, not sure about UK) daily just to be sure.
I totally agree. If u go cold turkey and make the decision you can do it. I've been veg for just over 1 yr, n luv the food so much I've just decided to go vegan. The food is soooo much tastier, and better for you. Make sure u get plenty of variety so u dont get bored. I'm not too keen on the fake meats, they're usually full of preservatives, try falafel with salad, hummus and leb bread for lunch/dinner. N a yummy soy, banana, oat & date smoothie 4 breakfast. Plenty of seeds, nuts n fruit throughout the day. Your body, the environment and all the animals will thank you.
Good luck =0)
I recommend you purchase a copy of "Skinny B*tch" which I feel is not only very interested to read, but it's one of the best, well-researched guides to going veg I've ever come across. They also have a companion cookbook, "Skinny B*tch in the Kitch" with some fantastic recipes. Other than that, I would recommend going to your local health food store and setting up an appointment with their nutritionist - most stores in the US have a nutritionist on hand and they are free, so hopefully the UK has the same set up. They can give you the low down on what to buy and help you figure out what you will like. They can also help you pick out the right multi-vitamin, which is a must! And since you're from the UK, I HIGHLY recommend Whizzers candy - they are vegan and they use natural colors, they have the vegan equivalent of M&M's, Hershey's Kisses, and Cadbury Eggs - mmmm!
i did the overnight switch. a lot of books/etc. dont recommend it, but its what worked for me. before you make the switch, make it easy on yourself. if you can, hide or throw out all the meat products in your house. luckily the canned food drive was going on when i did it. i gave all my canned meat foods away. now buy the foods that you WILL eat. i stocked up on beans and rice. be prepared with lots of new recipes. write them down, print them out, try them! i borrowed a few books from the library and i bought 2. i bought "Being Vegetarian for Dummies by Suzanne Havala, and Students Vegetarian Cookbook by Carole Raymond" they are both very helpful. i also like the website http://www.goveg.web
just inform yourself as much as you can, so you dont get frustrated and give up :) but be careful of the sources that tell you "youll be malnurished, no protien bla bla bla" ive been veg for 2 months now, i went to the doc this week, i am perfectly healthy. they asked how i lost weight so quickly! i just shrugged. its my litlte secret i guess!
Sorry to mention abt PETA, and you may skip my answer.
PETA is non-religious & non-profitable organization, managed by the ordinary people like you and me. You're welcome to contribute ideas, articles, make refinements, real-life footages and any other supports at your level best possible.
PETA is merely more unpopular among the meaters rather than vegetarians-and it is a good news. Majority meaters still voting for their "rights"! At least now they come to the "battlefield" (slaughterhouse) to reveal the truth. You and me alone incapable to license an activism to educate our family and friends. Deluded societal norm will disregard us. Whether you like it or not, PETA had already provoked the real “sentiments” ...and many of "them" could not sleep well at night!
Many vegetarian organizations are being formed in many countries as subsidiaries. At least, it would create a "platform" for anyone to enter into the forum now! Though I hate PETA in the past, on the other hand I appreciate It made me admire the way the stupid animals’ scream.
Today, without realizing - I'm a stupid VEGAN on smart diet!
(My wife and 2 kids are vegan as well).
I went vegetarian more than a year ago, because every time I ate meat I felt really guilty. Anyway, I never regret my choice, and further more I never once missed meat. There are so many great meat substitutes out there too. Like Quorn and tofu, which can be purchased in most grocery stores throughout the UK. You'll also benefit greatly from being a vegetarian. Since I stopped eating meat I've lost a bit of weight and I'm never ill. I'm glad to know your thinking about going vegetarian. I recommend it 100%.
Not eat meat? O come on... God put the animals on the planet 4 us 2 use... This is nature... or otherwise the cycle of life... And we r not killing the poor creatures out of pure enjoyment... This is 4 the good of the health of our ppl and the economy...
It's how nature works...
But if this is really your choice... I suggest u stay away from meat, read vegetarian books, indulge urself in the finest veggies, try new dishes on veggies, and yah...
Well, I'm a free range farmer in Cornwall and I'm the unofficial moderator of the V&V forum here. I'm also a top contributor, suck free range eggs as an ovo-vegetarian, support my local slaughter house by selling hay to them, and shag my free range sheep in my spare time to keep them happy.
You are in luck because I am the bum-boy for the http://www.vegsoc.org/ which is in the UK and the world's greatest offical authoritarian repository of all the vegetarian wisdom you will ever need to know.
Don't eat meat and snack on wholesome carrots.