Five Ways to Become a Vegetarian

Becoming a vegetarian can be challenging because changing eating habits is not easy. However, transitioning into a vegetarian diet is not as hard as you may think. Here are some tips to help you with becoming a vegetarian:

1. Don't stop eating meat overnight.

While this may work for some people, stopping cold turkey (no pun intended), could end up being a recipe for disaster. This is hard to do because you probably have been eating meat everyday for most of your life. Work your way into a vegetarian diet by setting mini goals for yourself. For example, do not eat meat for one day and see how you do. If you could handle it, try aiming for 2 days, then a week...etc. By gradually becoming a vegetarian, you are insuring that your making a real lifestyle change.

2. Research, research, research!

Research about vegetarianism so you know your options. There are different levels of a vegetarian diet from lacto-ovo (people who eat milk and eggs), all the way to vegan (no animal products), to raw (only eats raw food). By knowing the various types of diets, you can choose the best one for you. Also, its good to find out other ways to get nutrients into your diet that you normally get from meat, like protein and iron. There are plenty of websites that provide valuable information.

3. Experiment with different foods.

If you plan on only eating apples and rice, your going to get bored very quickly. Exploring different foods is the fun part! Couscous is delicious with mixed vegetables. A hearty portabella mushroom is very tasty when you eat it like a burger. I found this out by experimenting. Besides, its easier than ever to be a vegetarian since they have all kinds of veggie burgers, mock chicken patties, pizza, "corn dogs" and other various foods at your local supermarket. You can also create new recipes of your own or find recipes online.

4. Get support through online forums.

Having support from other vegetarians is an important part of helping your transition because they can share their invaluable experience. Many vegetarians love to answer questions from people who want to become one themselves. You can ask them questions like how they became a vegetarian, how long did it take, how to handle comments from meat-eaters, their favorite "alternative foods" etc. No question is too dumb, ignorant or ridiculous. We have all been there! In addition, you can find other people who are trying to become a vegetarian.

5. Have a positive attitude.

This is one of the most essential points because there are a lot of people who are interested in becoming a vegetarian but think they cant. For some, it might be family pressures, lack of information or not enough resources. A negative attitude will prevent you from seeing all of your options. But, if you have the right attitude and an open mind to new possibilities, your transition to becoming a vegetarian will be very successful.