I would like to become a vegetarian, any advice?

Question

Okay so i'm 15 and I'm already tiny waisted and I don't want people to think that's it's because I'm "annorexic" I just don't feel healthy anymore.

I'm not really a big meat eater, except for chicken, and I love fruits and vegetables, my mom told me if i'm willing to cook some of my meals she would let me try being a vegetarian see how it works, so on that note:

any good websites with recipes?

Does anyone drink soy milk?

thanks : )

Answer 1

stop eating chicken

Answer 2

beefatarian is good too

Answer 3

I've been a vegetarian for 6 years now and no ones labeled me anorexic =]

Being a vegetarian is a great way to become healthier-- if you do it right. You can't negelct your protiens. As a vegetarian you can't just go to one source to get a complete protein as you could with meat. You'll have to get really good at balancing your diet. For instance eating a soy product and eggs makes a complete protien by combining two incomplete proteins. It's the same with something like lentils and a handful of mixed nuts. Just get a vareity and you should be set.

Go to this website for a free vegetarian starter kit. It comes complete with recipes and tips. http://www.goveg.com/order.asp

I drink soy milk, as well... The taste gets some getting used to, but I prefer it over milk now. If you're having a hard time stomaching it, you might try one of the flavored soy milks... like vanilla or chocolate =]

If you ever get tired of cooking, be sure to stop by your local supermarket's freezer isle. The vegetarian stuff is usually by the breakfast stuff. Morning Star has some tasty stuff =] Since you liek chicken, I'll point out that they make some great chiken patties (I prefer them to Boca Burgers any day). In the soup section, Amy's brand makes a killer chicken-less chicken noodle soup =]

As far as recipes go, you can make meatloaf out of the fake meat crumbles and it's the regular recipie with an extra egg and saltine crackers crumbled inside.

You can also make a great stir fry. Just buy some peppers, snap peas, water crests, tofu (located by the lettuce in the produce section usually), and mushrooms. Very good =]

I don't know if this helps. If you need anything (tips on cooking or  just support) you can email me whenever. My address is [e-mail] I check it religiously.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

www.goveg.com is great!!!!

oh and soy milk is awesome...esp. chocolate soy milk....yum!

Answer 5

when ever I need a recipe I google recipes for whatever my main ingredient is like recipe for artichokes or tomatoes or eggplant I usually get good results.I don't like soy milk unless it is flavored chocolate or vanilla. try rice dreams milk

Answer 6

I was not planning on becoming a vegetarian when I read the book " skinny b*tch". It offers a lot of recipes. After reading that book I haven't had meat since. My biggest mistake is that I never researched it and have not had a healthy diet. So make sure that you are prepared. My friend is a vegetarian and she also feels great. I started eating a lot of soy products and I am now learning that that much soy is not good for you. Check out the vegetarian food pyramid and good luck! http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vegetar...

Answer 7

Umm well the first thing you have to know is most Soy Milk isn't Vegetarian. Every Soy Milk I've seen contains an ingredient called "natural flavors". Natural Flavors (unless is sais Natural flavors from Vegetables) is just a mask for animal products like egg and Poultry, which kind of defeats the purpose of Soy Milk.

You don't need recipes to become a Vegetarian, you can use your imagination. I'm a Vegetarian and have learned how to cook because of that, and basically I'll seat Soy hot dogs and soup. The thing with Soup is you can make it any way you want, and make any kind of broth you want. For instance just boil hot water with Carrots, Celery, and Onions and you have a Vegetable Broth. Also after the broth is ready you can add anything like Mushrooms, beans, Rice, or exotic foods like Asparagus and Fruit. Well basically all I eat is Orange Juice, Soy food's, Soup (oil dumped into them), and Chips and that really makes it all. I get all the nutrition I want from those (obviously not the chips.

Answer 8

Eat eggs cheese and lentils (as you like vegetables) as a substitute for protein. And eat lots of green things, like spinach and greens - you must have protein and iron in your diet

Soy milk's ok, but I would buy the flavoured ones, like banana and strawberry. I find the 'original' soya milk a bit weird..

Good luck with that :)

x

Answer 9

Don't do it.  Your body needs meats and the fats that are in them.  Soy substitutes are not good for you.  Our bodies are machines that have evolved over the years.  They know what they need.  Don't skip meats.  Try new ones.

Answer 10

Being a vegetarian is a big commitment but worth taking if you're serious about it. I myself am not one but i try not to eat a lot of meat because it grosses me out to think where it comes from. If you do decide to become one you have to make sure to replace the nutrients that you will be missing from meats with things like eggs,tofu, nuts ect. I would recommend to continue to eat fish and other water creatures in the beginning at least, if not full time. My friend had decided to go vegetarian starting in Jan 2008 and she said her body had to adjust to the new food intake, and that it was hard because her family is Italian and loves their meat, but it sounds like you have a great family  backing you up! Good luck  

Answer 11

I eat chicken and fish every once in a while because there is only so much vegetarian food out there and you start getting bored of the same stuff.  It would be great to have a chef !  I do drink soy milk but i have heard too much soy can cause thyroid problems so i have cut down on the soy but it's great in cereal !  Some veggie burgers are good and others are not so good...you will have to keep trying different foods and different recipes before you find what you like.  Try going to PETA's website for veggy recipies.

Answer 12

It's not as difficult to be vegetarian as you probably think it is.

Try soy meats. I love 'em, but some people don't like them. I think that's because they think they taste weird compared to meat.

In my opinion, though, soy hot dogs and soy breakfast sausages are really good. Try it, see what you think!

And also, try gradually eliminating meat from your diet, instead of just suddenly stopping eating it, because it would be harder if you did the second way.

I drink soymilk. I really dislike the taste of real milk, no matter what fat percentage.

Answer 13

I considered labeling myself a vegetarian...I don't plan on eating meat anytime soon, but that's just because it's more expensive and comparatively more difficult to preserve than other foods.

If you are just going to be a vegetarian to be trendy or for attention, then you could easily just secretly eat meat.

If you are trying to be vegetarian for a reason, then you should rethink it since there's not necessarily a persuasive argument to not eat meat... God knows the chicken is just a perfect fit in the natural ecosystem (i.e. it's only alive because we raise it to be eaten).

Answer 14

dont be a nerd...

Answer 15

sure go for it but take your time and don't be afraid to slip its ok to eat meat every now and then. Soy milk is good for you but it is a protein source it does not have any calcium for your bones. There are brands that are fortified with calcium (I buy soy dream with calcium) I drink soy milk cos I cant drink regular milk. theveggietable.com is a good easy to follow website.

For me though a diet wont make me feel healthy, exercise usually does the trick.

Answer 16

Just in case you didn't already know, vegetarians never eat any animals.

Fish, shrimp and clams are animals.

Bread, pasta, cereal, rice, beans, peas, lentil, nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies can easily offer everything that you need except B12.

http://www.veganhealth.org/sh

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo

All vegetarians should take a B12 supplement regularly since most people eat meat, dairy AND fortified cereals yet still have a B12 status that is lower than recommended.

http://www.veganhealth.org/articles/b12

It may help you if you see proof that vegetarians have the same potential as anyone else.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/sto...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/phpBB2/...

http://www.macdanzig.net/bio.php

http://www.scottjurek.com/career.php

If you need meat or dairy during any stage of your life or to live any certain lifestyle, why does the American Dietetic Association say otherwise?

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada...

Answer 17

first step to being a vegetarian: stop eating meat.

http://happycow.net shows you a bunch of vegetarian/vegan restaurants in your area. tofu is a really good alternative to meat,

but you have to cook it right.

to the soy milk question... you can drink regular milk as a vegetarian and eat eggs. it's vegans that don't. i think vanilla soy milk is alright.  

Answer 18

I drink a quart of soy milk on my way to work every morning but mostly for the protein.

I'm an avid carnivore.

There are lot's of healthy ways to consume meat.

If you're already thin and don't feel healthy switching to a vegetarian diet is not likely to make you feel any better.

You should probably seek the advice of a nutritionist.

Answer 19

how about peanuts (unsalted maybe) and u can get them raw or cooked i think.

i dont know to much about this...  im kinda trying to eat less meat too

i know i can get protien from soy milk or nuts and stuff ,  beans even like baked beans

i find sometimes i just need to eat meat so i do but just sparingly