When I first went Vegetarian, I had no one to help me. It took a lot of homework and a few failures before I finally went veggie for good! Since this is a new blog, I figured I'd just give a few tips that I wished I had gotten from someone while I was starting out. Enjoy!
1.) Make a grocery list/ pre-plan your meals.
I'm not talking about every single meal, and I'm not saying you'll need to spend two hours planning everything you will eat. But, since you are no longer eating meat, you'll need a list of foods you think you'll eat for the week, and make a grocery list based on it. If you aren't sure what to eat, check out my first post (at the bottom of the page) where I have a long list of vegetarian meal options. I suggest you make a list of veggie foods you already like (or just copy and print the list from my first post) and keep it on the fridge. Pick out a few things from the list each week, and buy the supplies needed to make them.
2.) Have Veggie-friendly Snacks!
I can't tell you how many times I've come close to eating meat (as a new veggie) when I came home from school starving and searching for anything I could possibly eat. Keep some of your favorite snacks in you're purse, car, locker, backpack, and home so that when hunger strikes, you're ready. These snacks can include fruits, crackers, granola bars or cereal bars, veggies, pretzels, or your favorite cereals.
3.) Know you're favorite restaurants.
Google works wonders for this! Google vegetarian options at your favorite restaurants, so that when you go out, you know exactly what you'll want to order. If it helps to, keep a printed list of options in your purse or wallet. Worst comes the worst, you can always ask your server about vegetarian options.
4.) Know your sources.
As a new vegetarian, a lot of people will be asking "Where do you get protein?" And you know you can get it from eggs, dairy, (if you eat them) as well as tofu, (if you can eat it) beans, legumes, and nuts, as well as a few other sources. But what about things like B-vitamins, iron, and fats (yes, it is healthy to get SOME fats.) Know foods like dark leafy greens are rich in iron, and the most fortified cereals (check the nutrition label!) are enriched with B-vitamins. Also know you can get fats from nuts and nut-butters, dairy, and fruits like avocados.
5.) 'Play' with your food!
This one may seem strange, but playing with you food is the best way to find new flavor combinations. I'm not talking about playing with your food like you did when you were a child, but more or less have fun cooking. Once you have fun cooking, and start enjoying it, you can start trying new foods and dishes in a positive sense of mind and will be more likely to be open to the new food.
6.) Know why and stick with it!
WHY are you a vegetarian now? For ethical reasons? For your health? For the Environment? Know why, and know the facts. This way, when your friends or family ask you why, you can answer calmly, coolly, and be very collected about the situation, and you can answer their questions. Know your reasons and know them well.
7.) Find vegetarian versions of your favorite foods.
Write out a list of your favorite foods, and go online and search for a vegetarian version. For example, my favorite food was (and still is) burritos. I searched vegetarian burrito recipes, and picked one that had a lot good reviews off of allrecipies.com. By having a veggie friendly version of just 5, maybe 10 of your favorite dishes, you will have a familiar dish that you love- without the guilt!
8.) DON'T BE OBNOXIOUS!
It's ok to be excited about your new diet, but please, please, please, do not try to shove it down anyone's throat. Be a polite vegetarian. If you wouldn't like someone saying something to you, don't say anything to them. People are less likely to try something that is shoved in there face while they aren't ready for it. My philosophy is this: "I don't eat animals. You do. No biggie." Just because your friend eats meat, doesn't make you any better than them. Vegetarianism is a diet, and it is very rude to point out flaws in another persons diet. (would you walk up to some random man and tell him to put down his lunch because you have a problem with what he is eating? Of course not!) By being open to questions, answering calmly, and being level headed and not consistently mentioning your diet, people who know you will come to you for help should they decide to try it.
9.) It's ok to share!
In tip 8, don't think you can never mention your choice and keep it secret. Let people know if you get on the topic, just don't rub it in their face. When you tell people, they will usually ask a lot of questions, so be ready, and keep in mind that they are simply curious and have patients with them. When you go to events with friends or family, volunteer to bring veggie friendly options like a nice potato salad, pasta salad, corn salsa, hummus, veggie kabobs for the grill, stuffed mushrooms or something fresh and new. Salads are great, but these events are a good way to surprise your friends and family, and show them that you do eat more than lettuce- and ensures you will have something to eat! (a side tip: When I go to an event with family and friends, I ask what other people are bringing. If there isn't going to be a lot of vegetarian options, I'll bring more than one thing so that I have something to eat.)
10.) Be Ready!
Vegetarianism can be hard at first, but if you stick with it, it gets easier and easier, until it becomes the norm! Choosing to go Veggie will open you up to a lot of new dishes, foods, as well as improve your health, save animal lives, and help the environment.
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