Be a Vegetarian
For many people, being a vegetarian is more than just a preference; it is a way of life. People who give up eating animal products usually do so for religious, ethical, environmental or health reasons, or a combination of the above, and try to incorporate their beliefs into their daily life.
Instructions
1. Eat a wide variety of foods. Include legumes, fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet. This is the best way to ensure that you are getting all the nutrients you need.
2. Add soy products to your diet, unless you are allergic to soy. Soy is a very good source of protein; plus, it has other health benefits and may even help protect against some cancers.
3. Eat as much fresh food as possible. Minimal processing helps keep nutrients intact.
4. Buy grains and beans in bulk. It's usually cheaper and cuts down on excess packaging.
5. Look for organically grown foods. If you make the commitment to be a vegetarian or vegan, then go for the best produce. Organically grown foods are grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers, so there is no worry about toxic residues. They are also better for the environment.
6. Use organically grown eggs and dairy products if you include them in your diet. The cows and chickens are usually treated more humanely on organic farms, and you won't have to worry about unwanted residues in your food.
7. Buy a vegetarian cookbook. Impress your skeptical friends with how great veggie food can be.
8. Dabble in ethnic cooking. Many cultures, including Indian, Chinese, Thai, Italian and Mexican, have wonderful meatless cuisines.
9. Visit vegetarian restaurants in your city. Support their effort.
10. Consider your reasons for becoming a vegetarian. If it's for ethical reasons, then you may want to consider other ways to remove animal products from your life. One way is to buy cruelty-free products from companies that do not test on animals. Another is to use leather substitutes.
11. Join vegetarian groups. Surf the Web. There are many veggie resources online.
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