Help me please... i'm new to this?

Question

im 15 and a few days ago, i decided to become a vegiterian. i want to do this because i think its cruel to eat something that was once living. but anyways, i need some tips and advice on how to go about this and what types of foods i should eat and what i should stay away from. plase help me and thanx in advance.

Answer 1

First: learn how to spell it.

Second, get some good books on the subject.

Answer 2

Learn what you can about your choice.  While you can do many things online - I really support people going to their family doctor and talking to them about their choice.

They can help put you on the right track and get you with a good dietitian/nutritionist that is going to make sure that you are getting everything that you need within your diet - showing you how much and how to prepare things that you prefer to eat.

If you have any medical conditions - they are going to be able to help you make the correct choices so that there are no negative reactions with any medications that you might have to take.

They can and will help you to make choices of the best vegetables and fruits in season to not only keep you healthy, but to also help to keep the cost to eat reasonable.

The best basic information is that to be a vegetarian is not to eat animal products.  You eat grains, vegetables, fruit.  Some eat dairy products.  Some eat eggs.  It is a choice.

You will find that many of the things that you eat now, you can continue to eat with small modifications in preparation.  At first, your going to find that you have to literally read every label of everything that you purchase.  After you get into the swing of things - it gets easier.

Don't get discouraged if you make mistakes along the way.  No one is perfect and you more than likely will make mistakes.  No matter what any one might say - everyone makes mistakes.  It's ok.  Just learn from it.

Just don't see it as a chore.  You will find that it is easier than you think.  :)

Answer 3

i know in the beginning becoming vegetarian seems daunting because you feel like you will be cutting so much food out of your diet and because people will inundate you with claims about malnutrition and vitamins and such, but i promise in a week or two you will not even notice it.

don't worry about people being shocked and asking where you get your protein from. there are plenty of ways to get protein besides meat, such as beans and nuts. as long as you make sure to get some legume-derived food in your diet, it will not be an issue. peanut butter is an easy way to go.

also, be aware that many foods are fried in animal fat. stuff like refried beans, chips, french fries, hash browns, etc. may seem ok at a passing glance but they are often cooked in lard or in stuff like beef/chicken stock. when in doubt, always check/ask.  also be wary of soups and pasta sauces that might have animal stock. always read the label before you eat or buy something. a lot of foods are tricky.

these days there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan alternatives for traditionally meat-based foods. any average supermarket should carry meatless alternatives such as boca, morning star, quorn, etc. boca chik'n patties are my personal favorite. and there are obviously veggie burgers and  even veggie hot dogs for barbeque/cookout type events. you can even get vegetarian ground beef to make stuff like meatballs. it's not necessary to get these types of things by any means, but they are comforting and help you fill the gaps in your meals.

the most important thing is to maintain a balanced diet. try to avoid just relying on soy-based substitutes, although they are very helpful to a meatless lifestyle. like overindulging on anything, this can make you sick and malnourished. include lots of fruits, veggies, beans, rice, grains, and nuts. cutting meat out of your diet actually opens up a lot of interesting opportunities to try new things, so don't worry too much about it! try and have fun with it!

Answer 4

hey ok well stay away from meat lol and you migh want to get some like centrum or whatever with all the vitamins that you will be missing. i would be vegetarian but i want protien from meat

Answer 5

congrats on your decision! it's always exciting to find out someone new has become vegetarian. =]

for what to eat just make sure to get lots of fruits and veggies. tofu is great for protein, and if you're craving some meat try a veggie burger or "chicken" nuggets. also, get buy vitamins, especially B12 and calcium.

for what not to eat.. umm well obviously not meat haha. but another thing is gelatin which is in jello, marshmallows and some candies.

good luck <3