How To Become A Vegetarian

Vegetarianism is a diet in which no meat is consumed. The diet consists of vegetables, fruits, grains, nuts, and legumes. Some people consider themselves vegetarian if they include fish in their otherwise vegetarian diet. These people are called "pesco vegetarians." Most vegetarians are considered "lacto ovo" vegetarians, which means they consume dairy and eggs. A strict vegetarian, called a "vegan" does not consume dairy, eggs, or honey.

When making the transition from a meat-based diet to a vegetarian diet, it's best to start slowly, to allow your body, brain, and taste buds to slowly adjust to your new diet. If you go from eating steak and sausage for years to suddenly trying to eat nothing but salads and beans within a day's time, your body and taste buds will most likely rebel, resulting in a failed attempt at vegetarianism. Instead of diving in head-first, try these five simple tips to make your transition from meat eater to vegetarian easier.

Increase Your Vegetable Consumption

Before you cut meat out of your diet, begin getting used to the staples of a vegetarian diet. If you seldom eat fresh vegetables, start by adding in one or two servings per day for a few days. Within a couple of weeks, you should be consuming at least six servings of vegetables per day.

Arm Yourself with Vegetarian Recipes

Before you give up meat, you need to find vegetarian recipes that appeal to you. You don't want to stop eating meat, then find yourself hungry every night because you don't know what to eat. Invest in a good vegetarian cook book, or find healthy recipes online (Soon we will have more vegetarian recipes so be sure to subscribe to our newsletter!).

Taper Down Your Meat Consumption

Instead of quitting meat cold turkey, give yourself and your body some time to get used to functioning with less meat. Do this progressively over the course of a few weeks. Do this in a way that will cause you the least amount of stress. Some people find it easier to cut out red meat, opting to eat only chicken or fish for a few weeks, then tapering down their consumption of these meats. Others prefer to taper down all meat at once. For example, instead of having some form of flesh with each meal, you could cut back to having meat only twice a day for a week, then cutting that down to only once per day, eventually dwindling down to once or twice a week, and eventually absolutely no meat.

Have Protein Sources Ready and Waiting

When you switch from a meat based diet to a vegetarian diet, your body will crave protein for the first several weeks. This is because it is used to the high-protein content of meat. Be ready to combat these cravings with healthy nuts and legumes. Carry a packet of raw almonds in your purse or brief case so that you won't succumb to the call of a burger when your body starts screaming for protein in the first few weeks of your vegetarian diet.

Timing is Everything

The transition from a meat-based diet to a vegetarian diet is a major life change. Make sure to make the change during a time when you are not experiencing too much stress. This stress coupled with the major diet change may cause you to abandon your new vegetarian diet (which may make you feel as though you failed, which causes more stress). For best results, don't embark on a vegetarian diet when you're planning a move, planning a wedding, or around the Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays. A perfect time to start a vegetarian diet might be New Years, when most people feel a sense of renewal and promise.

Relax

Because the switch to a vegetarian diet is such a major life change, you need to find ways to relax while your body and mind make this new transition. Find relaxing distractions, like walking, yoga, or gardening. A relaxed body and mind will be more open to the changes that a vegetarian diet requires.

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