So You Think You Can Be a Vegetarian?

Telling someone I'm a vegetarian always leads to three types of conversations--the fascinating conversation, the bonding conversation or the frustrating conversation. The frustration happens when someone chooses to accuse a vegetarian (or a vegan) of being unhealthy, needing meat in their lives and the indifferent attitude about slaughterhouses. The fascinating conversations are the ones I have with people who are interested in eating healthier or trying the vegetarian or vegan lifestyle but really just don't know where to start and ask for advice. The bonding conversations are the ones I have with people who act like a Chicago south sider would if he (or she) went to another state and saw someone rocking an entire outfit of the Chicago White Sox. You just want to walk up and hug the person for rooting for your team.

When I first became a vegetarian, I was hit with questions left and right about how and what do I eat, and I really didn't know what I was doing. I just knew I didn't want to eat meat or fish anymore. I went from gaining about fifteen pounds because I was eating fatty foods all day long to having to go see a doctor because of dizzy spells when I calmed down on the fat.

If you don't have someone who can give you advice on how to transition from an omnivore to a vegetarian or a vegan, it can be tiresome. You may just decide to give up. But don't. Here are a list of articles and blogs I've written over the years since becoming a pescatarian in 2004 to a lacto vegetarian in 2005. Read on to check out the links that include healthy eating, news, radio and print interviews, recipes, restaurants, vegan shopping advice and Web site networking.

HEALTHY EATING TIPS:

"Feeding a Vegan Thanksgiving Guest: Six Vegan Recipes"

"Healthy Eating Tips for Business Travelers"

"How to Be a Soul Food Vegetarian"

"How to Become a Soul Vegetarian"

"How to Feed a Vegetarian in a Family of Meat Eaters"

"How to Find Vegetarian Substitutes"

"Parents Packing Healthy Back-to-School Lunches"

NEWS:

"African-Americans could fare well with vegetarianism"

"Chicago Soul Vegetarian East and Eternity Juice Bar Restaurants shut down for 1,000 mice droppings"

"Chicago's VeganMania celebrates all things vegan on Oct. 10"

"Chipotle restaurant supports humane farming and 'Food, Inc.' film, not factory farming"

"Hundreds of veggie friendly Chicagoans celebrated Chicago VeganMania"

"KMT Health Food Store on Chicago's south side holds its first health fair in 2009"

"L'Union Fait La Force benefit concert at the Shrine, Chicago vegan cookout for Feeding Haiti on Jan. 25"

"Movie Review: 'Food, Inc.' screening at ICE Theaters gives food education"

"Music group The Myriad partners with HSUS to promote animal rights"

"Soul Vegetarian and Eternity Juice Bar restaurants re-open after passing city inspection"

"Soul Vegetarian Restaurant and Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti accepting donations to help Haiti"

"Soul Vegetarian restaurant creates Feed the People Program campaign for 350's Oct. 24 International Day of Climate Action"

"Vegetarians Receive Discount Healthcare in the Netherlands"

RADIO INTERVIEW:

EarthSaveRadio interview with Earth Save International's Executive Director Caryn Hartglass

RECIPES:

"Feeding a Vegan Thanksgiving Guest: Six Vegan Recipes"

"How to Cook Jerk BBQ Tofu"

"How to Make Vegetarian Black Eyed Peas"

"How to Make Vegetarian Collard Greens"

"How to Prepare Hot Water Cornbread"

Recommended, not written by Shamontiel: "The Ethnic Vegetarian"

Recommended, not written by Shamontiel: "The Tofu Cookbook: Over 150 Quick and Easy Recipes"

Recommended, not written by Shamontiel: "The Vegetarian Alternative: A Guide to a Helpful and Humane Diet"

"Vegetarian Soul Food and Vegetarian Quick Meals"

RESTAURANTS:

"Alice & Friends is now Loving Hut, Chicago vegans check out restaurant changes"

"Alice & Friends' Vegetarian Café Has Great Food"

"Chicago Protein Bar restaurant owner embraces healthy eating lifestyle and protein diet"

"Chicago Restaurant Review: 5 Loaves Breakfast Café"

"Chicago Restaurant Review: Quench!"

"Chicago Restaurant Review: Vegetarian Life Makes Life Easier"

"Chipotle Restaurants Support 'Food, Inc.' Film and Humane Farming"

"Chicago Vegan Restaurant Alice & Friends is Now Loving Hut"

"Loving Hut vegan restaurant replaces Alice & Friends on north side of Chicago"

"Noodles & Company: Great for Vegetarians and Meat Eaters Alike"

"Protein Bar makes healthy eating in Chicago that much easier"

"Soul Food Vegetarian East Restaurant"

"South Side Chicago vegetarian restaurants like Quench and Vegetarian Life bring healthy dishes"

"Yah's Cuisine brings vegan food to South Shore neighborhood"

SHOPPING:

"Holiday Shopping for the Eco-Friendly, Vegan or Vegetarian Friend"

"How to Find Animal Friendly Clothes and Vegan Shop"

"How to find animal friendly, cruelty-free perfumes and colognes"

"How to Get Positive Results When Contacting the Media About Vegan Interests"

"How to Shop for a Vegan"

WEB SITES (NETWORKING):

Recommended as a member, not an owner of site SoulVegFolk.com