There are many possible reasons for being a vegetarian. Some people do it to improve their health, while others worry about the treatment of animals or desire to have less environmental impact. Contrary to what some people think, a vegetarian diet is not boring - it attractive as you are willing to make. Explore several ways to become a vegetarian and eliminating meat from your diet forever!
1. Consider your reasons for becoming vegetarian. Sorting out your reasons for becoming a vegetarian and having strong convictions concerning your diet will help you stick to your new lifestyle. Knowing your reasons is also important to help you explain to other people why you are a vegetarian; having a ready answer for the inevitable questions makes the journey a little easier.
- Common reasons for becoming a vegetarian include moral or ethical concerns regarding the treatment of animals on factory farms and in slaughter houses, a desire to ensure equal food distribution, religious convictions, health needs, environmental concerns, or a combination of any of these.
- For some vegetarians, an intense disliking of the taste and texture of meat begins early on, and is later bolstered by innate feelings of interconnection with animals and the world as a whole.
2. Reveal your choice to the world. Start with those with whom you're close, such as your parents or partner. This will alert them to the need for dietary changes in the home and also gives you the first opportunity to explain your choice to people who are close to you and are hopefully likely to be supportive. Be ready for disagreement from some people. It is not considered the "norm" in many cultures to eat vegetarian only, and while few people ever ask a meat eater why he or she chooses to eat meat, very few people hold back on asking a vegetarian why he or she does not eat meat.
- It's a good idea to have some solid research to back up your choice to be vegetarian. While it shouldn't have to be the case that you need to justify your decision, there will be times when being armed with the facts can ward off unkind or unhelpful comments about your diet. Good things to point out include how being vegetarian will improve your health and help you fit with your moral or religious views about the importance of kindness to animals, etc.
- When informing your family of your choice, stay calm and polite, even if they find it difficult to accept.
- Avoid arguments. Some people will treat your choice to be vegetarian as a political statement or even as a personal affront. This is both annoying and unfair and can often result in "baiting" you into an argument about how human beings are supposed to eat meat, and so on. Avoid getting into a fight by restating why it matters to you and how you feel healthier for your choice.
- Offer to make a vegetarian meal for family and friends. A tasty meal is often the best advertisement for vegetarianism.
3. Make a gradual change. Initially, eat vegetarian as much as possible without giving up meat entirely. Learn to enjoy vegetarian food before you quit meat cold turkey . Start to eliminate different types of meat gradually, having "one last meal" with the relevant ingredient and resolving not to eat it again. Try this schedule for gradual meat reduction:
- Eliminate chicken and fish first.
- Cut out pork, such as bacon and ham, after a week.
- Stop eating red meat, such as beef, after another week.
- Cut out shell-fish, such as crab and shrimp, after another two weeks.
How to Become a Vegetarian
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