|
Ten tips for new vegetarians
Thinking of switching to a meat-free
diet? These tips will help you get started.
| 1 |
The
best way to make the switch to a vegetarian diet is to take it
gradually. Start by eating a veggie meal just one or two times a
week, and build up from there. If you find the change difficult,
do it slowly - there's no deadline. |
| 2 |
If
you are unsure what to eat, opt for meat-free versions of your
favorite dishes - pasta with lentil sauce instead of with a meat
sauce, for instance. |
| 3 |
Get
a couple of basic vegetarian recipe books. Peruse your local
bookstore or check the reviews on our books
page. |
| 4 |
If
an ingredient sounds weird, ignore it. Tofu, seitan, tempeh -
these are great products when used properly, but they can be
puzzling to the uninitiated. Don't worry. There are plenty of more
familiar products available to get started with. |
| 5 |
Invite
some vegetarian friends for dinner. It'll give you a great
incentive to produce an appetizing veggie meal. |
| 6 |
Read
up on nutrition. Most vegetarians have a healthier diet than most
meat eaters, but you do need to keep an eye on what you're eating.
You won't have to become an expert, but a passing knowledge of
vitamins, minerals and the like will help ensure that you are
getting a balanced diet. |
| 7 |
Stop
by your local health food store. You'll get some good ideas for
interesting ingredients. |
| 8 |
Join
a local veggie society or chapter of your national vegetarian
organization (see our links page). It's a great way of meeting people who share your
outlook and ideals. Plus, you'll get advice and support to help
you in your new life style. |
| 9 |
Get
into the habit of reading the ingredients when you buy food. You'd
be surprised how many seemingly innocuous products contains things
that you would rather not eat. |
| 10 |
Above
all, don't get hung up on eliminating meat and fish entirely.
Sooner or later, you might reach a stage where you never want to
eat animal products again. Until then, nobody's going to give you
an argument over an occasional tuna sandwich or chicken salad. The
important thing is to get started. |
See also:
March 2003
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TOP COOKBOOKS FOR NEW VEGETARIANS:
Click the title to read our
review.
 The Vegetarian Gourmet's Easy Low-Fat Favorites
 The Vegetarian Bible: The Complete Illustrated Guide to Vegetarian Food & Cooking
The New
Moosewood Cookbook
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