Are You Considering Becoming a Vegetarian?

11 Sep Are You Considering Becoming a Vegetarian?

There are many reasons why people decide to forgo meats and poultry for a vegetarian diet.  Some religions require followers to abstain from eating meats.  Some people use vegetarianism as a means of becoming healthier.  And some people just prefer the taste of fruits and vegetables to that of meats and other animal products.  Whatever your reason for becoming a vegetarian, you will want to make sure you are doing it the healthy way.  Your body needs to have certain nutrients that cannot be found in strictly an all-fruit or vegetable diet.  Variety is the key to maintaining a proper healthy diet.  Here are some tips for you if you are considering a vegetarian lifestyle:

• Make sure you have enough protein in your diet.  If meats were your main source of protein before, you will need to find a new source.  Some of the best plant-based protein sources are:
  • Lentils
  • Beans
  • Quinoa
  • Nutritional yeast
  • Nuts
  • Seeds
  • Tempeh
  • Tofu
• Don’t get discouraged if you do not take to the new lifestyle right away.  It may take a few tries to completely eliminate animal based products from your diet.  Take it slow and give yourself some time to adjust.
• Use this as an opportunity to try new foods.  Never had Indian curry before?  You may find it is your new favorite flavor.
• Talking with your doctor about your decision to transition to a vegetarian lifestyle is a great idea.  Your doctor can make recommendations to make your decision much easier.  You can also use your health insurance carrier as a great resource for nutritional information.

Taking a stand to make your life healthier is always a good thing.  If becoming a vegetarian is what you need to do in order to start yourself on a healthier path, we wish you the best of luck.  Let us know how it’s going and please share any tips you have for newbie vegetarians!

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