how can i be a healthy vegetarian?!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

You're an omnivore. Eat meat or wither away!

When I first became vegetarian I didn't really like vegetables that much either. I just realized that food shouldn't really be about enjoyment, it should be about nutrition. I realized that I really didn't have to like everything I ate, the important thing was that it was healthy fuel for my body. So I made myself eat them even when I didn't want to, and now I really do like them. Your tastes change when you change what you allow yourself to eat, but it takes time.

Vegetables aren't the only vegetarian food. You can eat fruit, grains, beans, nuts, seeds, pasta, bread, cereal, granola, tofu. Of course, eating vegetables will make you much healthier, so don't give up on the possibility that you might eventually like some of them. Just be sure to keep trying things, especially when you think you are not going to like it, because the more you things you try the more you will realize that you like a lot more things than you thought you did.

One of the most important lessons in life when it comes to health is that you don't eat what you like, you like what you eat.

Almost without limits, whatever it is that you eat on a regular basis you will tend to learn to enjoy. Things that are new to you will frequently seem a little wrong or off, but you can learn to like them.

It does vary a bit. Some people are much more sensitive to bitter tastes than others, and that will make the most bitter vegetables hard to get around, but there are ways to work around it. (Like consuming those vegetables occasionally in juice form mixed with other juices to blunt the effect a bit)

One bit of advice about changing your diet, it's a good idea to change it a little at a time. Try to find things that you can add to your diet that are healthy for you and as you add more and more of those they'll begin to naturally crowd out the things that aren't so healthy.

well, if you don't like vegetables, you're not going to succeed as a vegetarian. However, vegetarians also eat fruits, nuts, and beans. you can also include eggs and dairy unless you want to follow a vegan diet (vegans exclude all meat, poultry, fish, eggs, gelatin, honey, and dairy)

It is extremely important that you eat a variety of foods that will give you all the nutrients needed. for example, if you go vegan, you'll need to add broccoli to give you calcium.

Personally, I'm a vegetarian but don't follow the vegan diet. I do include eggs, honey, gelatin, and dairy. I will also occasionally add fish or chicken (makes it easier to eat at friend's homes).

Follow this link for info on a healthy vegetarian diet:
http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/vegetar…

Dont smoke or drink lol. Seriously , how many have you tried ? There are many many vegetables and a TON of different ways to experiment with ways to make them. Ever tried eggplant parmesan ? probably not . See ? Start out slow with mac n cheese with broccoli , sounds like you like vegetables well cooked and mushy . cook the brocc for 8 minutes then smother with cheese.Try a new veg every few days , you'll find ones you like , also, Try the V-8 drinks tomato and the juice ones that arent tomato with vegetables in it , you dont even taste the veges.

Just eat beans, nuts (some seeds, too!), and false meats and maybe tofu for protein.

You're gonna need leafy greans! They have iron in them, I didn't eat leafy greens for a while and was starting to show anemic signs! (hard to let happen if you at least get them in once a day... I was still pretty young and completely didn't eat veggies and was vegan. I fixed it easily, though)
If you don't eat greens, I suggest butter nut squash through the day if you REALLY can't stand them...

Try making a green smoothie, like your mom does! Or you can just add them into a blender with a fruit smoothie... they are pretty tasteless when mixed in such blends.
To get enough, eat high iron veggies, like asperagus (7 mg of iron per cup, chopped, you need 10-12 mg of iron a day), brussel sprouts (forgot their level... but they where pretty good!), and broccoli (0.50 mg).

If you really think about it and look at what you are eating, everything you eat that is not animal is vegetable and plant derived., so YOU ALREADY EAT MOSTLY VEGETABLES. Beans, rice, corn, wheat etc.

There are thousands of books to help you at your local library or bookstore.

Also, the first answer CLIFF, is just a creep trolling around the Vegan forums trying to piss folks off if you look at his history. Poor fella got some issues. Cliff, there are thousands of books to help you too:)

Why not? You need to educate yourself on how to substitute your favorite meats with their vegan counterparts. You will be surprised with all the amazing options there are!

Here is a great place to start:

http://www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/miss-meat-not-a-problem-a-quick-guide-to-vegan-meat-substitutes/

http://www.onegreenplanet.org

Try recipes like these:
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition…

They're so flavorful that you won't notice that they're meatless. The lasagna is one of my favorites.

You need to get to like vegetables , They are the most important food for your health.

It's not easy.... depriving your body of such a healthful, nutritious food isn't necessarily good.

Read this. I know the vegetarian and vegan activists aren't going to want you to read it, but you should:
http://www.listen2yourgut.com/blog/dange…