Becoming Vegetarian: "Life" Without Meat
Turning Over A New Leaf With A Vegetarian Diet
"Becoming vegetarian" is oftentimes more than a diet change. If you are feeling drawn to a life without meat because of ethical, moral or spiritual reasons, your desire to embrace vegetarianism is no doubt part of a larger spiritual quest or renewal. Congratulations!
One of the most delightful surprises you will enjoy when you embrace the lifestyle of a vegetarian will be the number of others who will join you in your quest for a cleaner and more spiritual way to treat your body. The vegetarian community is a large one and it will welcome you warmly with all the help they can provide. But even from the community of those who are not vegetarians, you will often find friends and loved ones very supportive of the change of life you are going through and they will seek to help you all they can.
Becoming Vegetarian and Meal Prep
What to Expect
Life without meat will mean a new approach to meal preparation, which means new recipes and new ways to shop for the foods you need. This becomes additionally complex if you are living with those who have not made the choice to become vegetarians.
For example, if you are charged with meal preparation, that means two menus per night. If someone else is the primary cook of the house, that means you will need some accommodation so you can have a vegetarian meal while others are eating meat. As you can see, this will take some relationship building and some tolerances by you and by the meat lovers in your home.
Getting Use To Life Without Meat
During The Transition
Being a vegetarian in a world of meat eaters may be one of the biggest adjustments you'll be making. But also be prepared for some meat cravings as well. Especially if you've been a heavy meat-eater.
Some say, that it might be wise, at first, to ease into vegetarianism so you still get some meat protein while your body gets used to a lowered intake of that food group. I'm not quite certain how true that is but it is important to note that it will take a few weeks or longer to find a diet that has adequate nutrients and vitamins your body needs. By leaving meat in your eating schedule for a short time, you are less prone to feel run down or endure vitamin deficiencies during the transition to a full vegetarian eating regimen.
Becoming A Vegetarian Can Be As Fun As You Make It . . .
A Transition To Vegetarianism Doesn't Have To Be Boring
Becoming a vegetarian or vegan can be as simple, easy and as fun as you choose to make it. Whether you enjoy taking the time to prepare mouth-watering meals or . . . you choose quick-fix ones, vegetarian meals can be very satisfying.
Get into the habit of keeping the following items on-hand and meal prep can become a snap:
- A variety of
- fresh fruits and vegetables
- , which should be the core of any diet by the way
- Canned
- beans
- (e.g., pinto beans, black beans, garbanzo beans)
- Vegetarian
- soups
- (e.g., lentil or minestrone)
- Rice
- (e.g., brown, basmati, wild, etc.)
- Pastas
- (e.g., whole wheat, spinach or other flavor combinations)
- Tomato sauce
- A variety of
- frozen vegetables
- Quick cooking or ready-to-eat
- whole-grain cereals
- (e.g., oatmeal)
- Whole-grain breads and crackers
- (e.g., whole wheat, rye, mixed grain)
- Soymilks and soy cheeses
- , if you decide to not eat dairy
- Herbs and spices
You'll learn to experiment with different foods as you go along. Soon you will discover that a meatless diet can be fun to make and best of all . . . doesn't have to lack variety.
An Essential Guide To Becoming Vegetarian
