Vegetarians are steadily growing in number. In the US, for instance, there are now more than 14 million vegetarians, twice the number more than 10 years ago. In England, nearly 30,000 people shift to vegetarianism each week. As more and more studies reveal how high calorie, high fat diets lead to obesity and a number of diseases including high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and formation of gallstones, the more people are encourage to adopt a healthier plant-based diet.
Like any diet change, however, shifting from a meat to a meatless diet can be pretty challenging and some don't succeed. Here are some tips on how you can make your transition to a plant-based diet as smooth as possible:
Take it Slow but Steady
As with any dietary change, gradual shift is key. Introduce the changes one step at a time to allow the body enough time to adapt to them. For instance, eliminate pork from your menu for a full week first. At the same time, introduce more vegetables and plant foods into your diet. Once you have adjusted to the pork-less diet, drop another meat from your menu.
Start With Familiar Dishes
Think of vegetarian dishes that you already eat regularly, then slowly introduce new vegetarian dishes. Perhaps pasta alfredo, stir fried vegetables, and fried gumbo are already part of your daily meals. Why not add black bean enchiladas and vegetarian curry to give your meatless diet more variety. Get yourself a copy of vegetarian cookbook for delicious ideas on how how to create meatless meals.
Substitute Meat With Meat-like
Think of meals that can be easily turned meatless with a few small changes, such as a regular meaty lasagna can easily be changed into an eggplant lasagna. Remove the ham from your split pea soup and add more fresh herbs. By slowly removing meat from your menu, you'll be surprised at how easy it is to transition to a plant-based diet, and you'll find yourself a vegetarian in no time.
Experiment with plant-based substitutes (such as tofu) to make the transition to meatless diet much easier. You can easily find veggie burgers, hot dogs made of starch, and other replacements for meat in groceries and supermarkets. The same goes for dairy – get soy-based milk, cheese, yogurt, and so on.
When Living With Others
If living with other people, get their cooperation. Others many not see your point for adopting a vegetarian lifestyle, and you may be ridiculed or become the subject of jokes. Explain to them how vegetarianism is a smart and responsible choice.
When in a Restaurant
When dining in a non-vegetarian restaurant, don't be afraid to specify what you want. Chinese restaurants will skip the egg and ham if asked, or pizzerias, the cheese.
A meatless diet may seem unthinkable at first, but once you've started exploring dishes with substitutes and experimenting with new foods, you'll see how a plant-based diet can be a lot of fun. Once you've tried a plantain burger, you'll never go back to beef burgers. By following the tips above, you'll complete your transition to a plant-based diet in no time.
Source:
www.euroveg.eu
Cecille de la Cruz - Cecille is a health-oriented individual, and love sharing with other people the results of her research about health and wellness. You can ...
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