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Step 1
Substitute vegetarian meat alternatives into a recipe you already make. For example, Boca and Morningstar farms both make a "crumble" that can be substituted for ground beef in most recipes. There are vegetarian burgers and hot dogs available at most major grocers.
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Step 2
Start with just one meal a day. For examply, try making lunch meat-free for a couple of weeks. Once that becomes second nature, add another meal until meat is not a part of you meal choices.
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Step 3
Try to watch you food choices to be sure you are getting the irin, protein, and B-vitamins your body needs. If you are having difficulty meeting your nutitional needs, consider taking supplements.
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Step 4
Remember, there are different kinds of vegetarians. Vegans have no meat or meat by-products. I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian, which means I eat dairy and egg products. This allows for a very non-restrictive vegetarian diet that almost anyone can follow.
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Step 5
Develop a support system. One of the biggest obstacles to overcome is a non supportive group of family and friends. This usually comes from a lack of education on the topic. They think that if you don't eat meat you may require a lot of special meals or aren't able to eat out with them anymore. Let them know that it won't change much. Most places have vegetarian items on the menu, you just have to look. And, if there's a family event, usually side items or appetizers are vegetarian. Family events are great places to share a recipe and debunk the idea that vegetarians only eat salads.
Comments
meganisenberg said
on 10/20/2009 When deciding to become a vegetarian, it's important to think about your reasons for wishing to do so- Animal welfare, the environment, your health? The answers to these questions will help guide your own personal decisions about what to include in your diet.
To learn about one woman's journey in defining and re-defining her thoughts on vegetarianism, food, and ethics, check out my blog at http://ethivore.blogspot.com/.