I am becoming a vegetarian but need some help?!

I had been thinking about giving up meat for a while but never really was able to stop eating it completely. Then I decided, it's better for me and for the animals. I used to LOVE bacon and turkey and pork but I gave it up and I feel so much better. (I was also worried that I would give up too but it's easier than it looks)

I'm ovo-lacto, which means I do eat eggs, milk and cheese. Just being vegetarian is fine! and I'm pretty sure vegans don't look down on vegetarians because we have similar interests: to stay healthy while keeping animals alive and well.

Being vegetarian is very healthy. You do lose weight after a while, but don't be surprised if you gain a few before you lose. Your body has to get used to the fact that there's no more meat. You might also feel a little sick during the first stages. Again, that's because your body isn't used to it.

Getting protein is pretty easy. You can eat tofu, soy patties or "fake meat", take vitamins or even protein supplements. Beans and nuts have tons of protein. There's a lot more you can eat to get your protein.

At first I was kind of scared to give up meat. It's sooooo much easier than it seems. It's pretty hard at first, though. Whenever I wanted to eat meat I thought: Meat= dead animals. That helps because then you think about how animals are like people,with lives and families, and you wouldn't eat people, would you? It's also hard because when you tell friends they are usually like "What? How can you live without meat??" And when I was asked that question by one of my friends I used my dog as an example and said, "If my dog were a wild animal, and you didn't know her for being good and nice and caring, would you eat her?" And of course, she kind of freaked and said noo way. There are also times when you don't want to tell certain people (like at school) but you have a hard time covering up. Especially when they offer you meat of some sort. Just hang in there and you should find it's pretty easy living without meat. Good luck and hope that helps :)

Vegetarian! :)

I am vegetarian for ethical reasons since 1998. I gave up meat over a 6 month period. I also take vitamins or use a vitamin patch. In my eyes, vegans do look down on vegetarians which I think is real shame because we are working towards some of the same goals. Check out my website I have a ton of resources that may help you. Good Luck.

http://awarenesshelps.info

Okay... watch these videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABLQB38gM…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP7hguS4h…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdaq-q55x…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT4Ff0CzO…

You'll never want to eat meat again?

youtube.com

I went to www.meat.org. I didn't even plan to become a vegetarian until I went there. I NEVER ate meat again! And its been 3 years. Anytime I felt weakened by urges to eat meat, I just went back to www.meat.org. It works every time!

Good job on being a vegetarian I am one too but I do it because I think that killing innocent animals for out pleasure is wrong. I would start by eating few meats cut off the less valuable and work on cutting off the valuable.

There are many books on being a vegetarian at your local library.

1. I saw a peta2 video and I just couldn't eat meat anymore.
2. I am concerned for animals too. They are lovely creatures that don't deserve to be killed to satisfy us. I am a vegan and sometimes I tend to look down on vegetarians, but whatever you can do to save the lives of countless animals is great.
3. I am in great health. You will only loose weight if you take in less calories that you burn. Being vegan is the best health choice I ever made.
4. There is protein in almost every thing. Look on the back of the foods you are eating or look it up. there is a good chance you are getting plenty of protein. you should make sure you get about 50 grams of protein a day.
5. go to the peta or peta2 websites.

http://www.peta2.com/ http://www.peta.org/

1) After I turned 30, I had trouble digesting meat. Let's just say my digestive system put up a ruckus. One day I was eating chicken wings and I was so disgusted I decided to try vegetarianism. If you like meat, as I used to, check out the many analogues that are on the market. A company called Gardein makes some excellent foods. Go at a pace that feels right for you. Some people do well going cold tofu, while others need to work toward it.

2) It's a nice start, but sadly, cows kept for their milk and hens kept for eggs sometimes endure worse treatment than animals raised for their flesh. When I learned that the sons of dairy cows wind up in veal crates, that got me to give up dairy.

3) It can be. If you eat a balanced diet and don't rely too much on dairy and eggs, you should be fine. Sadly, I haven't lost weight simply because (blush) there's a heck of a lot of vegan junk food out there.

4) From food. Eat a balanced diet. Beans, nuts, legumes, whole grains are all good. Check out the Vegetarian Resource Group (www.vrg.org) for nutritional information.

5) I've been vegetarian almost nine years and vegan most of that time. Best decision I ever made.

You might want to order a vegetarian starter guide for more information.

Melissa, I too am a converted carnivore and for similar reasons. Just not real fond of factory farming practices. For us, the answer to protein needs comes in the humble bean. Dry beans, almost every kind from pintos to red beans to black beans, when eaten with a grain such as rice, corn (think corn tortillas!) or wheat make a complete protein.
On our website, I share my story as a converted vegetarian. I'm afraid I just can't quite go to the vegan position, but we do get our eggs from a neighbor who has the healthiest and happiest chickens around. (free range eggs, perhaps, if you live in a city.
Anyway, good luck with your switch. Good for your body and good for the planet.

www.grow-cook-eat-beans.com

Hello :)

1. I just kind of stopped eating meat. I've never really like much meat besides chicken and the occasional steak, so it was pretty easy for me.

2. I'm vegan, and I'm fine with people being vegetarian. Not so sure about other people....

3. It's healthier as long as you eat right and get vitamins and minerals. The main things that I think you get from meat is iron and protein, but most foods have that and you don't need a load anyways. I haven't really lost much weight, but I don't really worry about my weight or try to loose any. I've felt healthier, and I've been a lot less tired and have had more energy. I've also been a lot less grumpy.

4. Protein is in most things, and I don't think you need a ton.

5. Not really. The best I have is that some people tell me I'm going to die or get terribly sick or whatever. Not too motivational, but you know... I think they're just jelous because I'm the only 6th grader they know that can give up anything. :)


Hope I helped!

Me!

1)I'm a vegetarian and I gave up meat because ever science I was little I didn't really like it to much and my diet was pretty much meatless so I just made it official. If your top 20 favorite foods have meat in them I don't suggest going the vegan/vegetarian route because you are going to miss meat and are going to want to go back. So why torture your body and deprive it of nutrients when you like meat.

2) Just being a vegetarian is 100% fine! It dosent really matter what anyone thinks as long as your happy.

3) It really all depends on what you eat. If you don't get your daily nutrients and eat crap then no. If you eat healthy ( no pizza for every meal with junk food constantly) then yes, but the same can be done while eating meat.

4) You can get vitimans, tofu, protein drinks, wheat protien powder, protein bars.

5) Don't become a vegetarian if you honestly like meat but just want to loose weight. If you want to loose weight do cardio(like Zumba), eat non fat foods, eat breakfast in the morning( it gets your metabolism going in the morning), cut out the sugars( like soda and drink water).

Well good luck!

I'm 17 and a vegetarian

I'm 13 and I've been veg since I was 11 and trust me it's fairly easy

1 when I was in 5th grade I became a part time vegetarian eating meat only sometimes till December of the 6th grade when I gave it up entirely. Whenever you look at meat think about the fact that it's a animal carces,the cute animal it use to be and someone killing it and that it came from a factory farm where animals are tortured (mercy for animals and PETA have some vids to watch also food Inc and earthlings) do all theese and you'll be discusted

2 I have met many nice vegans who don't do that but I'm sure some do but free range organic is ok

3 YES it's much healthier. Your risk of heart disease,cancer,achne,diobeties,food poisinig and obesity are much less and yes vegitarians loose weight were 33 percent less likly to be obeese

4 don't worry beans,nuts,seeds,greens,wholegrains,soy, and eggs all have protein and your probably eating hummus w/whole grain bread, pb sandwiches,tofu and eggs you'll be fine

5 a two year old died in 2002 from eating meat and you should research factory farming and the enviormental dammage and the way the workers and animals are treated

Veg for two years

Okay sweetie I am a vegan and here are you answers
1) I gave up meat because I got grossed out how the meats were being processed and every time I ate meat i saw little bits of pieces of bones and cartilage. It grosses me out..EW
2) Yes vegetarian is okay. No vegans like me do not look down on vegetarians
3) Yes it's healthy because your getting more vitamins from veges in your body, no because your not getting enough protein. No i did not lose weight, yes i feel healthier and cleaner
4) take protein pills or eat these foods that have protein in them:
Milk
Soy Milk
Eggs
Cheese
Yogurt
Peanut Butter
Fish, and Poultry
Beans, Tofu, Lentils, and other Legumes
Grains, including bread and pasta
Nuts and Seeds
5) I will hope you will be happy doing this, and don't get down if you give up, just keep trying and put yourself back up, i fail all the time, but I try my hardest to stay away from meats(except chicken..mmm)

While I appreciate your concern for animals, I don't think you should give up on meat just yet.

Meat as part of a well-balanced diet is very good for you. I'm no dietitian, but I just can't imagine how a life without meat can be nearly as healthy.. We are carnivores, made to eat meat. (Well I guess technically we're omnivores, but you know what I mean)

And to that point, that's what animals are for -- to eat. God provided them to us for a food source, not to be treated with equal human rights. Now don't get me wrong - I'm disturbed by animal cruelty as much as the next person, but that doesn't mean I don't like to eat some cow. That's the purpose they serve.. As such, they should be treated well.

If you're really that set on being a vegetarian, I guess I can't dissuade you. But I just think you shouldn't ditch meat so quickly. You said yourself that your favorite meals include meat.. why give it up? Do something better, like joining some kind of animal rights group that supports good treatment of the animals we eat or fight the abuse that takes place in puppy mills. There's a lot more animal abuse going on with the animals that we DON'T eat, like dogs and cats.

1. I guess it was gradual for me because I never liked meat in the first place but I still ate it because I was too young to eat whatever I wanted and be healthy. I stopped eating pork and steak first because I didn't like it all. Then I stopped eating all meat except chicken. Now I eat no meat. I suggest stopping eating fast food, then red meat, then all meat.

2. I don't know much about being vegan but you are making a difference! I read today online that one person being a vegetarian (not even vegan) saves 100 animals a year! Yay! I also don't eat any fast food and only cheese made from milk (so not Velveeta, Kraft Easy Mac powder cheese stuff) and cage-free eggs. I also don't like milk so I only drink it in coffee and when its cooked in food.

3. Yes, it is so healthy! I highly recommend watching the documentary movie Food, Inc. You will learn so much and have so many other reasons to be a vegetarian. But is is very important to get enough protein, iron, and other nutrients mainly found in meat. I suggest talking to your doctor. I had a blood test checking for anemia, and other vitamin levels and I was all healthy, so yes, it is very possible to get enough protein and iron. Also, if your school has a Nutrition class, take that class or talk to the teacher. I'm taking Nutrition & Wellness and I learned a lot and I'm being more careful about getting a healthy, balanced diet.

4. Beans, nuts, soy, dairy, tofu, and eggs are good sources of protein. Eat nuts as a snack, eat eggs or yogurt for breakfast, have cheese and sunflower seeds in salad. Also, veggie burgers and other "meat" made of vegetables have protein. I love veggie burgers and veggie chicken nuggets! They're so good! If your grocery store has the brand "Morning Star" (in green boxes in the freezer section) those are the kind I get and they are SO good! Also, Tofu is not as gross as it seems haha. And protein bars are good too. I get a kind that is chocolate mint flavor and its like a candy bar. And like I said, I had a blood test and I had enough protein!

5. I'm also 16, so I'm happy to give you advice and encourage you. I suggest getting books from the library, looking up vegetarian recipes online, and don't be afraid to try stuff! Also, if anyone you know at school who is vegetarian, ask them for suggestions. And watch that movie I mentioned, Food, Inc.
Hope this was helpful!!

1. I had to dissect a pig in 8th grade--after that I couldn't eat meat again. I just went cold turkey (no pun intended) :) I stopped eating meat and fish. I LOVED meat before, and I ate it everyday. I honestly don't miss it now. I have been vegetarian for almost 6 years and don't regret it. It is hard though, since my whole family eats meat. But it's a personal preference.

2. JUST being vegetarian is okay. I am JUST vegetarian, and I eat dairy products. Honestly, vegans probably appreciate that we do not eat meat, but vegans just take it a step farther. I don't think that there is a sense of competition.

3. It can be healthy because you aren't consuming other types of bacteria that lives on badly prepared meats. I am very healthy and don't miss meat. If you get your daily intake of protein then it doesn't matter if you eat meat or not.

4. there are many sources of protein that you can get. I eat egg whites, protein bars, vegetarian "meats" like veggie chicken, burgers, etc. Morning Star makes DELICIOUS "veggie meats" and include bacon, sausage, ground beef, burgers, chicken, turkey burgers, etc.--and it's all meat-free and high in protein. (and they taste like the "real" thing too!!!!) Google will help as well.

5. I feel so much better knowing that I do not contribute to the slaughter houses and buying/eating things that were running around living life a couple days before. I don't have to worry about eating badly-prepared meats that could make me sick with things like E-Coli and other bad bacterias that live on raw meats.

Good luck, and if you have any questions, let me know!! :)

Hello, it's great you're becoming a vegetarian. I was at your age when I became veg, and there has been no problem so far, for 4 years.

1.I just gave up on meat. Simply. I think you do not need to do it gradually, which will make it harder for you. Just think what you're eating.

2. Being a vegetarian is a great step, but not enough, imho. I gave up on cheese, too, because I learnt an enzyme called 'rennet' is used in production of cheese which is derived from calf's digestive organs. Not in all types, but it is very common. And chickens and cows that are forced to produce eggs and milk have no better conditions than the ones that are slaughtered.

3.Yes, it is much healthier, because animal products include saturated fat and they are hard to digest by humans. In the nature, animals eating flesh have strong bodies and sharp teeth and claws and very strong digestive systems, none of which we have. Our structure is more like herbivore animals, say deers.

I did not lose any weight since I eat monstrously:),but I haven't gained any, either, for 4 years.

4.Tofu, soy milk, grains,legume are great sources for protein.But you should be careful about the intake of B12. You can take it from enriched bread and tofu, or yeast flake.Iron is important, too.
Dried beans and dark green leafy vegetables are especially good sources of iron, even better on a per calorie basis than meat. Iron absorption is increased markedly by eating foods containing vitamin C along with foods containing iron. Vegetarians do not have a higher incidence of iron deficiency than do meat eaters.

I haven't eaten cheese and eggs for about one week(it's a great step on the way of being vegan!). Everything is going well, and I'm doing hard workout four times a week. So do not worry! Welcome aboard!


Btw, not eating animal products is not enough. You should not use any product that is produced by killing an animal, such as shoes made of leathers, or soap including sodium tallowate. You can find whole list of animal friendly brands on peta's website.

Some websites that may be useful:

http://www.vrg.org/index.htm
paulmccartney.com (You know, he's a vegetarian, too<3)
peta.org
meat.org(esp.when you crave for meat)

When I first became vegetarian, I had feasted on pork the night before. I knew my plan was to drop it, and that was my breaking point. I wanted to become a vegetarian when I feasted. There just comes a point where you have to lay down your goals and stick to them.

There are a couple different types of vegetarians. You can check some out here: https://www.msu.edu/user/daenzerr/rd491/… Along with setting goals, define what vegetarian means to you and decide which type will be easy for you to maintain. I'm a lacto ovo vegetarian, though I may become an ovo soon. I decided to become that before I, too, have a concern for the animals, but what keeps me going strong is the fact I may fail if I touch meat. It sounds odd, but it does keep me clear of any and all meat. Failure is not fun, therefore it's best to stick to your goals.

My friend is a vegan and I've never heard her say anything negative about my personal definition of vegetarian. I admire her strength of being a vegan, and would one day prefer to contribute to the vegan society. However, it's hard from what I've heard and also somewhat pricey. But overall, I don't think they look down on us veggies.

Vegetarianism can be healthy if you eat the right things. Add more vegetables to your diet and take more vitamin supplements. You may looking to the following:

* iron
* calcium
* protein
* vitamin D
* vitamin B12
* zinc

Taking extra of these is a good way to start.

There are veggie burgers and nuggets, corn dogs, anything you can imagine! that is loaded with protein. They are frozen meals, though, so be careful with the sodium. Personally, they are too good to pass up. Brands include Veggie Patch, Boca, and Morning Star.

I wish you well. If you need any help with anything, just email be at but.its.possible@live.com. Good luck!

Personal experience
http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/…
https://www.msu.edu/user/daenzerr/rd491/…

1. You give it up cold turkey. Eventually, your palate will adjust and soon, meat will sound/smell/look disgusting to you.

2. You can choose whatever limitation you would like. There are all sorts in the world. Don't do it because of what others might think, do it because of your own beliefs. And, as you start doing this, you will naturally start learning more about the subject and if your beliefs or habits change or evolve, that is ok too.

3. It can be very very healty to be vegetarian, just has it can be if you aren't. The key is variety and keeping your unhealthy fats and processed foods down. If you are doing that, you will feel healthier regardless.

4. Protein can come from eggs if you continue to eat them. Else, you will learn to rely on beans as a major source of food. There are many many different varieties of beans and all sorts of ways to cook them!

5. I would highly suggest you do a lot of googling on the subject and make sure to take a multivitamin. Also, open your mind and experiment. Things may sound gross but cook them and taste them. You might be pleasantly surprised! Incorporate your family. As you find a delicious recipe, offer to cook it for your family. Maybe it starts as one night a month, you cook your recipe. That can grow adn your whole family can be eating healthier as a result!

1. I kind of gradually did it- first fish, then red meat, then poultry/all other meat.
All that was done over a month.

2. To be honest- it is SO much healthier, better for the environment, better for you,
and DEFINITELY better for the animals to go all the way and go vegan.
By drinking cow's milk you're supporting baby cows being killed for veal,
and egg-laying chickens are kept in very bad conditions usually.

3. Yes, it's very healthy.

4. Nuts, legumes, beans, tofu, tvp, etc.

5. Here you go, I guess haha...
http://caloriecount.about.com/motivation…

Went vegetarian at 13, ultimately went vegan (and still is vegan) at 14.