Starting a vegetarian diet can be a great sacrifice and at the same time a huge favor to your body and health. There are several categories of vegetarians depending on what they eat.
Specialists advise people regardless of age to follow a vegetarian diet but it’s very important to do it properly. The following guidelines can help you in deciding whether you’re willing or able to give up meat and useful tips on starting a vegetarian diet.
Plan your menu carefully – you might need some foods that are good substitutes for meat. Make a list of the dishes you like and are meatless. These meals should be familiar to you, don’t experiment at first – the transition will be much more easier.
Look through your favorite foods, could you replace the meat from these with other delicious ingredients? If yes, make up special recipes and prepare your dishes according to these. The more time you spend with planning the more successful the result will be.
There are special cookbooks and articles designed for vegetarians. These will provide you with enough information about how to get used to new eating habits when starting a vegetarian diet.
Go to a restaurant and ask for their special vegetarian meals, you’ll be surprised how tasty these can be.
It is important to know that keeping a vegan diet requires effort. You’ll have to eat foods that offer you the right amount of nutrients as from the eliminated meat.
A varied diet means a lot of fruits, vegetables, seeds and grains. You’ll have to take care of the necessary calcium, vitamin and iron intake.
There are several foods that became popular among vegetarians. Tofu and Veggie burgers are only some of these delicious meals.
Soy can easily replace meat, since it is high in protein, pastas are also very tasty and nutritious. You can get the basic nutrients from several foods other than meat or diary products:
Vegetables as broccoli and green legumes are rich in calcium which is essential for the bones. Tofu and soy is also rich in essential nutrients, replace meat with these new ingredients.
Zinc plays an important role in protecting our immune system. Beans, chickpeas and pumpkin seeds contain a large amount of zinc, include them in your meals.
Iron is necessary for blood formation, you can get it from lentils, peas, dried fruits, raisins and even spinach. Combine these ingredients according to your personal taste.
Healthy diets must not be boring and torturing, you can do the vegetarian diet well and with pleasure if you find the right flavors and treats for yourself.
