I am strongly thinking of becoming a vegetarian-any tips?!
I am strongly thinking of becoming a vegetarian-any tips?
People think i am crazy but i have thought about this for a long time. I have only had fish and shrimp over the last three days and that was not much. Giving up meat other then sea food will not be a problem. For those of you choosing this lifestlye, does your family except your choice?
Answers:
Here's my best one. I live in the South, and there are a lot of carnivores around here. A lot of people react with hostility when you tell them you don't eat meat. So I try not to make a big deal out of it. When you go to a cookout, rather than drag in a veggie burger, which can be embarrassing, I just make a sandwich like everyone else with lettuce, tomato, etc, and don't get a hamburger patty. You'd be surprised, hardly anyone ever notices.
Also, don't worry about protein. You don't say how old you are, but as long as you are fully grown, the RDA for protein is way too high. Concentrate on eating a balanced diet and getting all the nutrition you need, but don't obesess about protein. Of course there are many veggie sources of protein as well - eat them. Just don't worry overly about it. Remember that the protein you get doesn't have to be all complete protein either.
Add some nutritional yeast to your diet to make sure you're getting you B12. This is good stuff, and adds a kind of cheesy flavor to dips and spreads, like hummus.
My family hasn't been particularly supportive, but now that I've been doing this for 9 years, they have to admit that I'm not wasting away to nothing or any of those other silly stereotypes.
Good luck.
Simple...stop eating meat!
Different families accept differently. I don't know your situation, does your family think veg's are stupid or do they respect it? Will you become the kind of veg. that requires lots of special meals, or will you join in the regular meals and just substitute something for the meat that everyone else enjoys?
If you're going to be a veg, you need to pay a little attention to nutrients, especially protein and folic acid. You can get both in generous amounts from a vegetarian diet, but you must learn how. Read "Diet for a Small Planet", at least the introduction (recent research suggests that you don't have to consume all types of amino acid at one time, as the book suggests, but otherwise it's good information) and then use Google or Wiki to learn about sources and amounts of folic acid.
Note that Hindus and Buddhists consider themselves vegetarian but many of them consume fish; they consider them "vegetables of the sea". (I used to joke with my veg friends that we could also eat birds--'vegetables of the air'--and pigs, 'vegetables of the mud').
I am an ovo-vegetarian, in that the only animal product I eat is free-range organic eggs. My family eats meat, but they don’t think my diet is strange or unacceptable; they accept me for who I am―I doubt they care what I eat, as long as I am healthy. I don't understand why people would tell you being humane and not eating animals for unnecessary pleasure is "crazy", in costal California people don't act like that, at least not towards me. If someone is telling you being a more moral person is crazy, I would really question if they are crazy themselves. Even if you don't become vegetarian for moral reasons or for your health, according to the Food and Agricultural Organization "Livestock are responsible for 18 per cent of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, more than cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together."
I am very happy I have a girlfriend who goes out to eat at vegan friendly restaurants with me, even though she eats dairy and fish; as long as you have someone like that who will eat at places you want to, it isn't a hamper on your social life; however, if you live in the mid-west or south, you will have hard time finding a good selection of vegan friendly restaurants and it could hurt your social life when all your friends go out to eat. Vegetarian friendly restaurants are really popular though; even chain restaurants have vegetarian menus.
For me giving up seafood (I'm Russian, and we eat a lot of seafood) was the hardest thing. When you choose to become a vegetarian, you must first identify why you want this lifestyle. Is it due to animal cruelty (such as myself), or because you want to get healthy. If your reasoning is for health, than eating seafood is your own preference, however that would not make you a vegetarian, it would make you someone who doesn't eat meat, or eats less meat. However if your becoming a veggie because of animal cruelty reasons, you will have to give up seafood!!
I was misinformed when I first became a veggie, and thought that eating fish was okay, however some of the nice people on here smacked some sense into me (can't say they did it very nicely, but they got their point across).
Good luck, my tip would be to research, and gradualy become a veggie, not all at once, thats too much stress on the body in my opinion.
First off, free range does not assure that they are being treated any better. They could come from the same old industrial farms since there is no legal definition of "free range".
My parents didn't accept it at first, but I was persistent about it and they eventually accepted it. Now I am vegan and they are yet again having some problems with such a small change.
if you have itunes check out vegetarian food for thought, she talks about this topic and soooo much more
and check out her website too
compassionatecooks.com
im not sure if htats the right address but it should be close, her name is Colleen.
Well. First off-Don't eat the seafood. Obviously.
My family really doesn't care. =)
And do your research on what nutrients you need. Find out what vegetables and non-dead animals you'll need to eat to -get- those nutrients. It's not particularly difficult but it can be dangerous if you go into without a clue in hell.
Good luck. And be willing to accept the idiots who will jump down your throat for not eating rotting carcass. There's lots of those.
Ok you may have soem great ideas to go vegetarian right...tust me For people who are good for you but i wouldnt go meat is a important part of your diet thats ow god
wanted it to be just read the bible...Without the vitamins in fish and chicken you could drop dead!
Your bones will weaken and if you ignore this and do go vegitarian then...dont go like vegan you can still drink milk eat eggs and enjoy them...i hope you make the rihgt disecion...for yourself but your family might not except the choice...But dont try to make them go vegetarian if you do!
well i could tell u from my own experiences. My wife is a vegetarian and i'm a meat eater. Her mother would go to the temple and scold them for brainwashing her daughter. Over few years, she finally accepted it. I tried to be a vegetarian like her but it lasted only 2 weeks. it's is now 7 years into the relationship and i can adapt vegetarian lifestyle much better. There are so many great vegetarian dishes and substitutes. for examples:
vegetarian fish made of soy subtitute
drinking soy for source of proteins and calcium
vege chicken substitute
vege kidney
a buffet all u can eat vegetarian restaurant near my house has over 100 dishes
I say compleatly give up meat/seafood and only eat high fiber fruits and vegetables and see how fast your toilet clogs up. Then decide if you want to be a vegetarian.
My family took a little while. I stopped eating meat completely when I was 13. Im now 23.
Its a great decision. Youre saving lives and being healthy. Be sure to do your research and take vitamins!
Your family may accept it better if you know all about the environmental and health reasons behind it. And they will resppect that you took the time to look all of that up.
Even after 10 years, some of my other family (aunts, cousins) still pick on me about my choice but I dont care. Its my body, Ill put in it what I choose.
My dad had a REALLY hard time with it because he was a super steak hunting guy. Now, after the 10 years, he doesnt care. he will grill me up a veg burger without even saying anything.
if your family loves you they will show concern for your choice, but they will also learn to accept you.
well dont you luv hamburgers....steak....chicken... i am not a vegetarian....but you could eat it less.....cause lots of meal are consintrated around meats....!!
The best advice that can be given to you is to keep on eating limited amounts of seafood, and forget that totally vegetarian nonsense.
Well, if you're thinking of giving it up, good for you! Other than the seafood, you're on the right track! My family was half and half. I went passed vegetarianism straight to veganism.
My mom freaked out, my father kept talking about steak, and my brother laughed at me. My boyfriend at the time actually mocked me for it, and told me I couldn't do it.
Now, my parents accept it a little more. My mom is proud of me, but my dad still jokes about the taste of a hamburger. Thankfully, I have a new boyfriend, who supports me fully through it! And, my brother has just stopped talking about it.
Every family is different, hopefulle people will stop thinking you're "crazy," because that means the whole vegetarian (and vegan) nation are ALL crazy, which we're not.
Good luck!
:D
Becoming a vegetarian is your own choice, I don't think it should be anyones' choice but yours.