How to be " Vegetarian"?!
Where can i find infos about a healthy nutrition for vegetarians ?
Or any personal suggestion ?
Answers: I am planning to stop eating meat ... and start consuming more vegetables and fish ,
Where can i find infos about a healthy nutrition for vegetarians ?
Or any personal suggestion ?
Consider the reasons why you want to go vegetarian, these might include moral or ethical reasons, religious reasons, health reasons, environmental reasons or a combination of any of these.
Do some research - read up on vegetarian nutrition and vegetarianism in general. There is plenty of information on the internet and in books. If you need to tell parents or a significant other about your choice, make sure you have some solid research to back you up, as some people are very resistant to the idea of vegetarianism.
Get some vegetarian cookbooks and find some vegetarian recipes that interest you.
Take a look around supermarkets, food stores and health food shops and see the variety of vegetarian food that is available.
Start by eliminating red (more fatty) meat. Eat one last meal with beef, etc. in it and then stick to your promise to not eat red meat anymore.
Wait a week and eliminate pork from your diet, again repeating the 'one last meal.'
Wait two to three weeks and eliminate chicken from your diet.
After a month to two months, eliminate any fish products (crab, fish, shrimp, lobster.)
Be sure to substitute plenty of cheese (rennet-less obviously), dairy, legumes, nuts, and seeds into your diet to make sure you get enough protein. Experiment with tofu, hummus, and different kinds of cheeses (with or without rennet, depending on how committed you are to no meat). Also, many familiar foods such as peanut butter are chock-full of protein.
Change your cooking habits slowly from meat filled dishes to vegetarian ones.
Find good meat substitutes. Some are not very realistic tasting so are better for the long time veggies who have forgotten the exact way meat tastes. Others tend to be much more realistic tasting, which is good for newer veggies.
Tips
Consult your doctor before becoming a vegetarian, especially if you have digestive or stomach problems.
Try Indian vegetarian foods. India has the largest population of completely vegetarian people in the world, so they know. The majority of Indian dishes are not spicy or strong and there are literally hundreds of vegetarian dishes which are a much better alternative to salads.
Soy is an excellent source of protein. Try products such as chocolate soy milk and soy pudding to ensure that you're getting sufficient protein in your diet.
Start going to more Indian, Thai, Chinese, or Japanese resturants, as they tend to have more selections available for vegetarians.
Most restaurants will prepare food without meat when requested.
Salad becomes your best friend, but remember to try new things! Don't stray away because it's foreign or "weird" looking, you never know what might be really good!
Be sure to exercise and balance your diet with plenty of carbs, vitamins, protein, etc.
There is are many good meat-free soy subsitutes. One is a product called Quorn, which makes chicken patties, nuggets, and beef products. It tastes very similar to meat. Another very popular brand is Morningstar. However, their sausages and riblets do not taste very similar to meat for new vegetarians, so you may want to stick to their "Meal Starters Crumbles" which are extremely good, and their "hamburger" patties. Another good veggie alternative is Boca. They taste quite similar to meat, especially the "ground beef". Great for newer veggies. A final veggie product is a fairly new one called Veat. Their products taste very similar to meats, so it is good for those who are having difficulty giving up meat.
Join a vegetarian message board for support
If in the early days of going vegetarian you have a lapse and eat meat, don't panic! Just remind yourself of the reasons why you decided to go vegetarian in the first place and carry on as before.
Check labels for food that may not be "suitable for vegetarians", and have hidden animal ingredients such as gelatin, animal fats and rennet. The main ones to check are cheeses, yogurts, desserts and some sweets and biscuits.
If you don't eat red meat but still eat chicken, fish etc. don't call yourself a vegetarian; the term is semi-vegetarian.
Calling yourself a vegetarian but still eating some types of meat may offend other vegetarians.
Stay calm and polite when informing your family that you've decided to go vegetarian, and be sure to give reasons why. Some people react defensively or simply don't understand your reasons, but try to be patient with them.
You can make some recipes such as lasagna, chili, and spaghetti without the meat or with fake meat and soy dairy if you want. You don't have to do without these family favorites.
Swear on your most prize item that you will never eat meat again.
Warnings
Avoid meat after a few months of being a vegetarian, because it might make you ill!
Beware of animal by-products, such as gelatin and rennet. Check labels when shopping - especially yogurts, desserts and products containing cheese.
Don't try to force or guilt people you know to go vegetarian. It's a personal choice, and people are free to eat whatever diet they decide on.
Don't try to substitute meat in cooking when trying to cook vegetarian. Get new sets of vegetarian recipes from Indian, Arab, Chinese, Thai and Japanese websites.
Vegetarian doesn't always mean healthier if you don't change your habits. Eat plenty of vegetables, and fruits.
Don't assume a product doesn't have animal products in it just because it is something like french fries or jello. Read EVERY label. There are certain brands of fries and other food products that contain beef or chicken stock even though you wouldn't think so.
If you find yourself craving meat think about the animal it was made from. Imagine it's alive. You will quickly lose your meat appetite in favor of something better.
If you are concerned about health, keep away from GMOs(Genetically Modified Organisms)
Soy is not as good as one might think Do not overuse soy in your diet. Tofu however is still safe.
Wow!! How can I top that answer? Good for you (and the answerer!) I am seriously considering it myself. They say if you visit an abbatoir once you will not eat meat again....and I am back on a spiritual path which is not linked to having an animal in your system... Good Luck to you both!!!
You can eat vegetarian dishes but until you cut out the fish, you aren't a vegetarian. No animal flesh.
Try this web page, it helped me when I wanted to become vegetarian. But I couldn't resist the temptation to eat meat, because I live with my parents and my mom cook great meals with meat. Start to live alone and then you will be the master of your stomach :)