Surprisingly I share your name. Although I come from a meat eating family, I never liked meat or fish as a child so becoming a vegetarian was easier for me. I have heard that the blood types tell you if you are inclined to be a vegetarian or a meat eater.
I would have loved to become a vegan but wherever I go, i.e. friend’s, relative’s, restaurants etc. there is hardly any choice for me to eat so I reluctantly go for cheese or eggs (no fish or meat). Once I went to a party and the only choices there for me were some salad and rice. I am now so much aware of the needless consumption of animals.
Nowadays, there are many choices at supermarkets, e.g. tofu, soya products, quorn burgers and fillets, So Good soya milk etc. A couple of years ago, when I went into supermarkets and asked for ‘tofu’, the shop assistant would always take me to the ‘dog food’ section.
Some people erroneously believe that vegetarians don’t have protein in their diet.
Anyway, good luck with your decision.

Thank you for your contribution here. Wish me luck.

Increasingly research tells us that consumption of meat increases the chance of CHD compared to vegetables. If one keeps to the recommended recipe of five fruits and vegetables per day, it reduces the chance of colon cancer which is worse in the West due to diet.

Indian and Chinese cooking have a wide variety of interesting and tasty vegetables which can be acquired even for a complete non-vegetarian. Thanks to the advantage of transport supply of fresh vegetables from far corners of the world has been possible and hence our wide choice of food.

If we only look at the statistics of diseases related comsumption of mostly saturated fat consumption compared to polyunsaturates I hope it will change peoples mind about the right choice of diet. I have turned mostly vegetarian, eating lots of salads attractively done in olive oil, vegetables and pulses. I eat a lot of fish, moderate number of eggs and hardly any red meat. My weight and health has improved and I feel far more happy and I intend to maintain this level of health. Happiness also comes with feeling healthy and better chance of longevity. This also mean I can indulge happily in tasty desserts or tipple or even some junk food as long as it is within reason. I also do moderate exercise and burn off some calories.

Meat products have hormones which certainly interacts with out metabolism and red meat is connnected with high cholesterol. Roasting meat and/or vegetable reduces the necessity of using oil, which undergoes changes at high temperatures of cooking, hence the risk of cancer or CHD.

Recipe books on healthy foods are widely available. Indian cooking involves many different spices, each with several medicinal properties including anti-cancer, cardio-vascular, anti-arthritic to name a few.

Remember the spice trade which started centuries ago and even led to war being fought to protect these valuable commodities. Why not try ginger, garlic, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamon, cloves and turmeric for a start. For example, Indian food does not have to be hot as they are often associated with. They really do make a difference.

I love the title… “Wanna-be vegetarian!” I have been a conscious eater a year and three months now. While my goal is to be vegetarian, I make exceptions. They are few, but Christmas was one both years. I come from a massive family. One of my aunties makes the tastiest Swedish Meatballs & my dad makes cabbage rolls like my great gramma used to, which includes ground beef. I just can’t help myself for these two dishes! The amount of love that goes in to preparing these two dishes is grand and they are both dishes that have been passed down from generation to generation.

My choice of vegetarianism came from a regulation that the FDA deemed cloned meat safe for human consumption. Once my decision was made to go vegetarian, I read Skinny Bitch & my reasons became more diverse. I do love the taste of meat, so it is hard at times. I have chosen to be kind to myself for waivering and respectful to the Christmas cooks (they’re cooking for 50-some people an additional dish for me, the lonely veggie is too much work!). The other times I may find myself waiver is if the craving is so large, I feel it’s my body communicating that I need iron – I haven’t had one of these slips for almost a year now. Once I educated myself on healthy vegetarianism, the cravings became less. For the vast majority of the year, I am vegetarian… On the days I can hack it – I am forgiving. After all, we are all human right? No one’s perfect!

Good on ya for making the step! It’s a big one, but one I feel has increased not only my health, but my awareness of what I’m putting in my body.

Happy holidays!

When we got our second dog earlier this year, I realized that I was eating their distant cousins. I pictured what happens to farm animals happening to my beloved pets (after all, they’re not all that different), and it was finally the push I needed to phase out meat.

It has been hard bc my hubby is still a carnivore, but he supports me and buys his own meat or only eats it when we go out. I had a problem with the idea of buying and/or preparing meat and then not eating it. If I don’t support the way they treat animals, then that includes not buying the product.

Every now and again, I have a non-vegetarian meal (either seafood or Ikea’s meatballs!), but as I learn more recipes and make sure I’m getting all the nutrients I need, these will also be a part of the past.

I’d like my daughter to think it’s completely natural to eat vegetarian, bc I know how hard it was for me having been raised in a family where if it doesn’t have meat, it’s not really a meal.

Kim, actually, not buying leather/suede/fur items was one of the first steps I took long before I was able to alter my diet. This year I finally found a pair of incredibly comfortable vegan athletic shoes!

Serena, thanks for this honest-to-goodness article!

1) take a multi-vitamin (this is optional but, I am a strong believer in supplements AND NO, I do not work at a vitamin store or own stock in any vitamin companies)
2) take NON-constipating Iron (Iron is known to constipate or “bind you up” [sorry, just being honest])
3) Add beans/legumes to your diet (but, don’t go overboard)
4) Skinny bitch is a good read filled with suggestions but, not for the faint of heart
5) If you miss meat, try alternatives like Morningstar or Boca (Be open to trying different brands. I like Morningstar but, some folks swear by Boca. It is personal preference.)
6) Be prepared to ask what is in so called “vegetarian” dishes. There are many types of vegetarian so, you’ll need to find out what type of vegetarian (lacto ovo, etc.) best suits you. But, it can be very comfusing to folks who are unaware. Some vegetarians eat chicken and fish, others only eat dairy (and ingest no meat), still others are complete vegetarian (or vegan [VEE-gan]).
7) Be patient with friends/family and ready to field all sorts of crazy questions. And, you CAN keep your leather or suede jacket/pants/purse/shoes, etc). You do not have to get rid of it just because you are vegetarian/vegan.
Make sure to drink your water.
9) Make time to add in exercise, if possible. Even a 20 minute walk can do SO much good.
Good luck and I hope that I haven’t overwhelmed you. Don’t try to do these all at once. Just choose something from the list and do the best you can. We all make