Thinking about becoming a vegetarian? This guide will have you painlessly transitioning from wherever you’re at right now into a HEALTHY vegetarian.
Did you know that Oreos are vegan?
It’s true. And I know we’re only talking about vegetarian here and not vegan, but I’m making a point so work with me for a sec.
Ok. Here’s the point: just because something is vegetarian (or vegan like Oreos) doesn’t mean it’s actually HEALTHY. And if you’re going to do the hard work to change your diet and be healthier, you should at least know what healthy looks like. So you don’t end up a junk food addict, who just happens to not eat meat.
So for all the beginners out there who are ready to take the plunge, there should be a way to make becoming a healthy vegetarian as painless as possible.
This is that way.
HOW DO YOU MAKE BECOMING A HEALTHY VEGETARIAN AS EASY AS POSSIBLE?
Don’t try to take everything out of your life all at once. That’s pretty much it.
All that leads to is unchecked cravings and resentment. Cravings lead to binges. Resentment leads to guilt.
We don’t want any of that.
The idea is to find a balance between your comfort zone and the new things you’re trying – and then take one step outside of it.
HEALTHY VEGETARIANISM 101
Give yourself a month + follow these 3 simple steps
You’ll not only set yourself up to move into a vegetarian diet for the long-term, but create a strong set of habits to maintain a healthy diet. This is basically a month of practice. Take this time to get a feel for what you like and what works, and what you don’t like or what doesn’t work.
You don’t have to love everything about being a vegetarian, you don’t even have to be one specific kind of vegetarian. You have to figure out what works best for you and your lifestyle.
Maybe you want to keep eggs, or fish, or fish and eggs. It’s completely your call. This is the month to test the waters and figure out where you want to start.
1. START WITH ONE FOOD
If you’re having trouble picking a place to start, try this: grab a pen and paper then write down everything you ate for the last 3 days.
It’s OK if you don’t remember every little thing, we’re looking for general themes here.
Look for one animal product you can say goodbye to for one month that will be replaced by fruit and vegetables.
Make it easy on yourself for this first month, and don’t choose your favorite food in the whole wide world that you’d die if you had to live without.
Set yourself up to win with an easily replaceable food.
- Do you eat chicken every day, but beef only a few times a week? Then start with the beef.
- Do you eat fish, dairy and eggs every day? Cut out one of those and leave the rest.
- Do you only use milk in your cereal and coffee? Make this your one thing, and find a milk replacement like almond or soy.
There’s no wrong answer.
2. WRITE UP A GAME PLAN. RIGHT NOW.
You chose your one food, so what’s next? Still have that pen and paper out?
Let’s say your one food is chicken.
Make a grocery list for dinners without chicken, a list of breakfasts that have no turkey sausage (basically the same thing, ya’ll), or a week’s worth of lunch ideas that don’t include cold cuts.
Don’t wait until you’re starving at work or getting home late and exhausted. Nothing good ever came from difficult decision-making while hungry. And picking food can be hard.
Think about how you will replace that food item with a fruit or vegetable. Don’t fall into the trap of replacing one animal food with another (like chicken for beef, or sausage for eggs).
Sometimes you can skip it all together, like leaving cheese out of a salad or off your sandwich. Other times it might mean getting a little creative, like asking for avocado instead of the cheese or getting the falafal wrap instead of a turkey burger.
3. GO HARD ONCE A WEEK
On this day, you’re going full on meat and dairy free. Yep, you’re going 100% vegan for 1 day a week.
Fill this day with all forms of fruits, vegetables, nuts and beans. Consider it practice for the rest of the week, and those days when you really have no idea what to make without using cheese.
Experiment with veggie burgers, sandwiches piled with avocado and hummus and sundried tomatoes, roasting some vegetables for dinner with a side of coconut rice and beans, or snacking on some apple slices with peanut butter.
At the end of the month, you’ll have had thought through 28 meals that were fully plant-based. You’ll be overflowing with ideas of what to make for dinner.
This is a monthly goal for a reason
It takes time to practice remembering to not eat certain foods, figuring out what foods to eat instead, and then feeling good about the choices you’re making so you don’t end up feeling miserable and deprived.
Like all things on Things We Eat, this is a buildable goal.
Choose one food this month. Next month, add a second. Every month, make a plan until your choices become second nature.
Use each month as a way practice and improve.
You won’t just end up a vegetarian. You’ll become healthier than you ever have been, faster than you ever thought you could.