“Should I be eating a plant-based diet, is it hard, will I be hungry all the time, I could never give up hot dogs”…these are some of the usuals I hear when I let people know I don’t eat meat or when people are thinking about it for themselves.
So let’s get into it…is a plant-based diet for you!
First let me tell you about me, what I eat, and how I got here. I have been a vegetarian/ pescatarian for about six years now. When I was in high school I attempted a plant-based diet many times and was faced with weight gain, an unhealthy diet and always feeling hungry. 👎 I was in a house with three brothers and parents who both worked. Meals were made and if you didn’t like what was for dinner you had to make something else. When I first attempted my plant-based diet I was not making my own food, was not buying my own groceries, and had little knowledge of what foods did what and how to stay full and healthy. It didn’t work out then, but later in life when I was living by myself and able to make informed food decisions for myself I realized I could fully commit and be healthy and satisfied.
Eating a plant-based diet is normally described from a lack point of view. People are way quicker to focus on all the things they can’t have before realizing how much they can have. If you changed anything in your life and only focused on all the stuff you would miss, you would probably never change anything. I try to never look at my diet from a lack point of view…and say there is something I might be missing like chicken parm? Instead of saying, “Oh, I can’t have that” I just sub the chicken There are so many amazing alternatives to sub meat in any recipe that by the end of the meal I’m not even thinking about the fact that there is no chicken in my “chicken” parm and just that I’m enjoying the delicious meal I have. To me, most of the time the meal is more about the seasoning and other flavors anyways, that small substitution never gets in my way.
Here are some tips and tricks for an easy vegetarian transition:
- Be mindful of your carbs! It can be easy to carb overload in the beginning as it is an easy option, but be wary! Carbs are great for you, and extremely delish (duh) but too many (if not getting burned off correctly at the gym/etc.) can lead to unwanted weight gain and sluggish energy. Not what we are looking for! So always be conscious of how much you’re eating without over-obsessing. (a fine line I know, but you can do it!)
- Eat your veggies!! Veggies are still somehow the most underrated thing for people. The thing is, it’s all about the prep. Veggies can be the most delish thing on your plate if you give them the time and attention they deserve! Dark leafy greens (kale, spinach, bok choy, asparagus, etc.) are also very important for a vegetarian because they are a great source of Iron which you may be low on without meat.
- Dairy is a great source of protein! When you were eating meat there was never really a need to focus on the fact that dairy has a lot of protein, but now that you’re not eating meat it’s something you can be aware of! Obviously, be conscious of fat content and everything is best in moderation. Some high-protein cheese options are cottage cheese, blue cheese, and Swiss cheese. (And whenever possible try sticking with local dairy options or organic. 😊)
- Being vegetarian does not make you healthy! Everybody always assumes that if you are vegetarian you must be eating salads and rabbit food all day long. This is not necessarily the case. Cake, cookies, and junk food are usually all vegetarian options. So remember, just because something doesn’t have meat in it, doesn’t mean that’s what you should be eating all day long. But of course enjoy your potato chips and cake, because life is short, just remember everything in moderation!
- Lastly, try new things and stay curious! This is a time to learn and have fun. Make recipes you have never tried, try making your favorite meat recipes but with a vegetarian substitute, and don’t stress. Never let yourself go hungry and use the internet as a resource. There are a lot of happy, full vegetarians out there waiting for you to be able to share their findings with you, like me 😊
So how will you know if vegetarianism will work for you?
Well, you won’t unless you try. And in trying you will discover a diet that either works for you or doesn’t. It is not time lost, it is time learning. It is trying something new which is always great!
We get so caught up on black-and-white labels that we forget we can live in the grey. You don’t have to be a vegetarian to eat a meal with no meat, and you don’t have to choose one thing for the rest of your life. If you are a vegetarian for five years and in the sixth year decide to eat a hotdog every day there is nothing wrong with that. If you want to be a vegetarian but eat meat out at restaurants only, do it. If you wanna do meatless Mondays go for it! At the end of the day eat what makes you happy and write your own rules. Know what you are eating (where did it come from, how was it treated, is it good for you?), make good decisions, choose the best options whenever possible (LOCAL first always and organic whenever possible), and don’t worry about labeling yourself!!
(And if you’re in it for the long haul, try a supplement for Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D. These are not found in many vegetarian foods!)
