Easy Ways to Become Vegetarian

Going vegetarian may seem a bit extreme for a lot of folks. For myself, it seemed to come rather natural. Then from there I dove in a bit further to become an 80% rawist. It's not that easy for everyone though. Especially those that are considering this lifestyle in mid-life. After so many years of eating the standard American diet, this sort of change seems a bit drastic. In the latest, issue of Body and Soul, a great outline for those trying to implement this sort of diet was laid down, and as manageable as they made it sound, I thought I'd share the info.

Don't Be Radical

Giving up meat cold turkey is probably not a good idea, especially if you've always been a meat lover. Try eliminating a meal with meat for a week or two, then increase the veggie dishes one at a time. You'll give yourself ample time to get used to the idea, as well as find some recipes that you think would be helpful in assisting you to get used to this lifestyle.

Make "Stick To Your Ribs" Types of Meals

This is actually quite easy to do with a vegetarian diet. With hearty foods like beans and whole grains, you'll be able to fill yourself up very well and stay satisfied for a good while. Doing a majority of veggies ts as a new vegetarian probably won't go very far and you'll find yourself frequently hungry, making it difficult to stick to being vegetarian.

Eat Out At Ethnic Restaurants

There's a plethora of tasty vegetarian recipes throughout ethnic restaurants everywhere. Spend some time eating out at a few that strike you as something you'd like. Between Mexican, Chinese, Thai, and Indian food, you're sure to find something that you'll enjoy.

Use Meat Substitutes For Transitioning

You will have better luck easing your family into this lifestyle by preparing meals that are known for being meat meals originally, but rather than using real meat, use a meat substitute. You can find meat substitutes in many grocery stores as well as health food stores. Tofu (soybean curd) is a great chicken substitute that's got great protein content, and Tempeh (fermented soybean and grains), is great as a pork substitute.

Becoming a vegetarian may be intimidating at first, however I'm convinced after you give a few vegetarian dishes a try, the satisfying taste and heartiness of this lifestyle should help to make a vegetarian diet something you'll begin to look forward to.

Eat well, live well, enjoy!

Source:

Body and Soul Magazine April 2010 Issue