People are going vegetarian at accelerating rates, and for a multitude of reasons… the environment, animal rights, health, or even just a challenge. It's a beautiful adventure, for sure. But before you get started, it's so important to do your research so you can take care of yourself and continue having a fantastic relationship and experience with food. So here are a few pointers… but keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive- it's always a good idea to keep learning more and consider talking with a dietitian.
1. You need protein!
My first big mistake as a new vegetarian was forgetting to pay close attention to my protein and nutrient intakes. This can lead to a multitude of health concerns. Food should be selected with love of the self and the body in mind- that means watching nutrients! Peanut butter is not enough of a protein source. There are lots of wonderful plant-based protein sources, like chickpeas, nuts, lentils, eggs, quinoa, and more. Speaking of which…
2. Plant-based cuisine is amazing!
All you have to do is give your veggies as much love as people give their meat. When we prepare meat, we baste, marinate, spice, rub, cut, and heat in innumerable different ways. Veggies can be treated the same way! Vegetarian dishes are rich, exciting, delicious, and various- we don't spend our meals chewing on leaves!
3. Be a healthy vegetarian.
There are supposedly two kinds of vegetarians. One is the vegetarian who takes the no-meat commitment as an invitation to eat loads of potato chips, sugary sweets, pastries, and packaged treats. The other is the vegetarian who pays attention to all of their nutrition needs, and all of their food groups. Of course, balance is necessary- I'm certainly not telling you not to indulge in healthy doses!
4. You are not the morality royalty.
You are not better than other people for going vegetarian, even if you made the choice for ethical reasons. There are lots of ways to be a good person, lots of consumer choices that are troubling, and lots of degrees to which we can decrease our meat intakes. Nobody should be put down for choosing to continue eating meat, especially in a culture where meat is a meaningful part of many traditions.
5. You have so many options for approaches.
Whether your motivation for vegetarianism is ethical or health-based, you don't necessarily have to become the classic no-meat-no-fish vegetarian. For example, you could be a flexitarian (avoiding meat but with flexibility) or a pescatarian (eating fish but not meat). You could simply decrease your meat intake. It's certainly not an either/or choice.
6. Reach out to a network.
How do you figure out the balances here, get help taking care of your nutrition, discover great recipes, and learn how to live in a way that differs from the dominant culture? Befriend other vegetarians! I promise, we're a friendly group that would love to help or chat. Welcome to the community!
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