| Transition
Tips
What is
the best way to transition to vegetarianism? This is one of our
most frequently asked questions. While becoming a vegetarian can
be quite easy, there is no ”right way” to do it. It
depends in large part on your goal. Do you want to become a vegan,
lose weight, address a chronic disease or are you making this choice
for ethical or environmental reasons? Here are a few transition
tips to help you get started. See which ones work best for you.
- Take animals and animal products out of your diet all at once.
People who choose this option often decide to eat analogs (vegetarian
products that look and taste like meat and dairy foods). These
are widely available at local health food stores, natural food
stores, supermarkets and online.
- Gradually eliminate the animals and animal products from your
diet, perhaps over a 3-6 month period. Add more fresh fruits,
vegetables and whole grains to your current diet, building meals
around these foods.
- Join a local vegetarian
group. This will give you a chance to talk to other people
transitioning to vegetarianism.
- Take food preparation classes.
- Experiment with recipes from vegetarian cookbooks. Be adventurous
and try vegetarian recipes from various countries.
- Visit vegetarian restaurants. Learn how to prepare the dishes
that you like most. For a list of vegetarian restaurants worldwide, go
to http://www.vegdining.com.
- Purchase locally grown organic food at a food co-op or farmers
market. Try fruits and vegetables that you’ve never eaten
before to expand your food options. For a list of farmers markets
near you, go to http://www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm.
- To handle a sweet tooth, eat more green leafy vegetables and
substitute fruit and fruit smoothies for processed sweets.
- Read about vegetarianism. Numerous books, magazines and websites
are widely available. Check your local library, bookstores, health
food stores and our resources
page.
Most importantly,
enjoy the transition. See it not as a chore, but as a positive step
toward reaching your goal.
Read
new transition story.
|
