If you reading this, then chances are, you’re a meat eater who wants to go veg. Good for you! Vegetarianism is a very healthy change for your life. You might be exited and ready to get started, but are most likely faced with a very important question – how do I become a vegetarian. Now, while the simple answer is stop eating meat, we all know it’s never easy to change years of dietary practice in one go. So here’s 7 steps to easy the change.
1. Have a big ‘why’. Answer a simple question; why do you want to become a vegetarian? Like any massive change in lifestyle, you will need a very good reason to do it. Your motivation is the single driving force behind a change so grand.
2. Learn about it. Start reading about vegetarianism, watch videos, talk to other vegetarians. Basically get grasp of what it is and what it’s not. This is also a good time to start searching for vegetarian recipes that you might find delicious.
3. Pace your self. A change in diet is nothing more than a change in habit. If you know you won’t be able to go cold shoulder, don’t. Instead, make a smooth transition from foods with meat to foods without. Slow and steady wins the race
4. Substitution. Start replacing the meat dishes with vegetarian meals. Instead of eating that cheeseburger, eat a veggie burger with 2 slices of soy cheese. I strongly suggest you at least start replacing and phasing away all red meats.
5. The meat sabbath. Choose any day of the week you are most comfortable with and make that a vegetarian only day. Commit to eating vegetables, grains, fruits, nuts and no meat. Soon you’ll be comfortable expanding those meatless days throughout the days of the week till all seven days are meat-free.
6. The company you keep. Start making vegetarian friends. Don’t underestimate the influence of the people you surround yourself with. Having vegetarian friends will push you to stay true to your commitment to vegetarianism. You’ll also find vegetarians to be easy-going and friendly people.
7. Get started today. There are many resources online that offer great information on how to become a vegetarian, like this one. There’s never a better time than now to make a change
