How to become Vegetarian?

Question

I'm 16 going on 17 prettty soon and i want to become a vegetarian. My parents are sort of supporting me on this. But everyone i live with eats meat. I've already stopped eating Beef for a while now. I don't eat any kinds of seafood. I don't eat pork or turkey. So the only kind of meat that i actually do eat is Chicken. How do i give up chicken? Also, i don't want to get anemia and i'm not sure what kind of vitamins i'm going to need. how do i get iron without eating meat or taking any supplements? please help and give me specific things that i should eat.

Thank You!

Answer 1

hey,i am vegetarian.

i don't eat meat(chicken,goat,sheep.....),fish and eggs.

if u want to be vegetarian, be slowly.

for a month don't eat any meat but eat eggs and fish.

then leave fish and then eggs.

it is not true that vitamins,iron,protein are found in meat,fish,and eggs only.

for iron different cornflasks,wheat flasks and drinks are available in market. if u are indian,u are quite familiar with horliks,complain....etc. for vitamins eat fruits and juice.

very interesting is that the nutrition that we found in meat can be found in grapes and berries as well.so take grapes(purple/green) also take strawberries,bluberries and mushroom.to get protein, get protein from soya,beans,rajma.

and from milk and it's products.

Answer 2

eat meat substitutes, morningstar or boca are good brands

a genera viitamin like flinstones works

explore the world of soy products

being vegetarian is a lifestyle so you must be commited

Answer 3

I'm also 16 and I will be 17 next month and I have been vegan almost a year now and when I started I was worried about the silly myths that I would become anemic.You don't need to worrie too much about developing anemia on a vegan/vegetarian. I have grown much healthier since I became vegan. Even stronger so don't beleive the protein myth.

I would start by watching this video and showing it to your parents so they may be more supportive.

http://veg-tv.info/Earthlings

You should plan your meals well. I eat fruit in the morning or cereal and soymilk and in the after noon I like to eat alot of veggies, Beans, Rice, Pasta and stuff. My two favorite Vegans foods are Broccoli pasta with spicy tempeh and hummus and my peanut butter bannana sandwich with a cup of soymilk.

Whole grains- I eat alot of whole grain rice and pasta 5-10 servings

Fruit- Always enjoy fruit in the morning and sometimes the afternoon 2-4 servings

Vegetable's- I love brocoli,carrots,potatos 4-6 servings

Nuts/Legumes- Good source of protein. I make sure I eat beans/rice after a workout 2-3 servings

I don't supplement anything for iron,B12 or any other vitamin but I do take Flax seed oil because it provides you with all your essential fatty acids and is great for you.

I hope this helps you have an easier time becoming Vegan then I did.

Answer 4

Try this link to the vegetarian society, it will give you a lot of information on health, nutrition and recipes.  

www.vegsoc.org/info/goingveg.html  I think because you only eat chicken, you may find it quite easy going vegetarian, there are some substitutes for chicken that are really tasty! Especially Quorn products. Glad you have the support of your parents, show them the veggie website so they may be able to help you with meals! :)

Answer 5

The only thing you might have to worry about is getting enough vitamin B-12, but you can take a multivitamin for that.  Don't listen to anyone about not getting enough protein or iron or anything because you can derive that from plant sources (where do you think cows and chickens get their protein!?)  Americans run the risk of getting too much protein rather than not enough.

Amazon has an amazing selection of books on the subject.  For information, I recommend Becoming Vegetarian by Vestano Melina and Brenda Davis, and for recipes you can try the Student's Vegetarian Cookbook by Carole Raymond.  You can also get vegetarian starter kits from PETA and the

Vegetarian Resource Group.

Answer 6

That's great you want to go vegetarian!

Vegetarian sources of protein, iron, and calcium:

http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/?v=08sourc...

More info on iron in veg diets:

http://www.goveg.com/essential_nutrients...

Eating vitamin C-rich foods (like citrus fruits and peppers) when you eat iron-rich foods is a good way to increase iron absorption.

There are lots of faux chicken meats available these days. My favorites are Gardenburger Flame Grilled Chik’n, Boca Chik'n Patties, and Morningstar Farms Meal Starters Chik’n Strips. More here: http://www.vegcooking.com/guide-favs.asp

Good luck!

Answer 7

spinich has enough iorn to get you through, but the real problem your running into is proteen!!

the human body and brain needs alot of proteen, but more inprtantly a VARIETY of proteen, so although spinich has alot of proteen, it is only one type, and soy is the same, it has enough but of only one type.

If I were you, I would remember that everything dies one day, one way or another, and animals that are used for meat today die in a very quick, humaine maner. and keep eating the lean healthy chicken (not deep fried, but baked, boiled, BBQ, ) it is one of the best foods you can put into your body