I wouldn’t call myself a “meat lover,” but I wouldn’t call myself a meat hater either. I eat my fruits, I eat my vegetables, but let’s be real, we all love to indulge ourselves in a big, juicy burger from time to time. While crispy chicken tenders and fresh, greasy bacon will always be enticing, I can’t help but wonder what exactly I’m doing to my body each time I fall victim to their savory goodness.

The media is infiltrated with news each day about the latest diet fad that’ll have you shedding fat within days. But vegetarianism is the classic that has been around for ages. While the nutritional factors of vegetarian diets have been up in the air, recent evidence argues that “appropriately planned out vegetarian diets [...] are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases” ("Journal of the American Dietetic Association," July 2009).

Curious about other claimed benefits of a vegetarian diet such as higher energy levels, cleansing your system, and eating a dinner plate full of colors (shameless foodie hoping for Insta-worthy meals), I decided to take on a vegetarian diet myself for a week.

Here’s what I learned:

1. It is harder to find protein when meat is no longer an option.

My first two days as a temporary vegetarian all I could think about was that the idea that vegetarians have more energy is a load of BS. I was exhausted. Desperately turning to my best friend Google to discover the origin of my fatigue, I realized that by eliminating meat from my diet I was eliminating my go-to source of protein. Without sufficient protein our muscles are not able to recover, our blood sugar is not as stable, and we often crave carbs and sugar, leading us to depend on sugar for energy. This results in seriously low energy and moodiness.

Not fun.

Determined to make my experiment successful, I began researching the best protein options for vegetarians. Turns out a lot of food has protein besides just meat. Some personal favorites are the classics: nuts, nut butters, and beans. Dry roasted almonds are an awesome vegetarian-friendly snack to keep on hand in your dorm room.

Other protein sources were more of a surprise like quinoa, chickpeas, and chia seeds. When I still felt concerned about not getting enough protein, mixing some protein powder into my Greek yogurt or oatmeal in the morning was a perfect solution.

2. I thought a lot more about the food I was eating.

Since pretty much the first day of college, my go-to lunch and dinner have included some sort of meat. Now, I was faced with the challenge of getting the proper nutrition without just falling back on my default meal of grilled chicken. Fixing each meal became something I had to put thought and effort into. As a result, I found myself eating healthier foods and more creative meals.

Next time you find yourself aimlessly wandering around the Pit, try mixing some steamed broccoli, chickpeas, onions, and any other vegetables into a bowl of brown rice, add a little bit of salsa or soy sauce, and pop two fried eggs on top- an easy, deliciously healthy meal that will keep you full for hours.

3. I ate a lot more fruits and vegetables (duh), and I loved it.

Veggies have developed a bad rep for their lack of sugary goodness and salty crunch. But from just one week of a heavily veggie-based diet I found that my cravings for chocolate cake or Cheetos started to fade away. By reducing the amount of junk food I ate, I also reduced my need for it.

Now when I find myself craving a crunch I’ll reach for the carrot sticks instead of the bag of greasy chips. Fruit is the newest remedy for my relentless sweet-tooth. I’m not saying I never crave crispy chips or decadent dessert, nor am I saying I never indulge in them. All I’m saying is that by practicing healthy eating for only a week, it became a habit. Furthermore, it became a habit that made me feel happier, have more energy (eventually), and gain self-confidence.

While I don’t plan on remaining vegetarian for life, I do plan on implementing the good habits and lessons I learned over my week as a vegetarian into my diet.