| Your desire is to become a vegetarian. Why? The | | | | Raw, meaning foods that are prepared at no |
| answer to this question is very important in | | | | higher than 115-120 degrees. |
| starting and remaining a vegetarian. People | | | | Step 3 - You've figured out what type you'd like |
| become vegetarians for different reasons. There | | | | to begin your vegetarian journey with, now you |
| are those who because they are suffering from | | | | need to begin to eliminate the unwanted items in |
| some sort of illness have upon their doctors | | | | your eating plan and include more of the fruits, |
| recommendation eliminated meats from their diet. | | | | vegetables, nuts and seeds. Some people go cold |
| Then there are those who are animal activists | | | | turkey and eliminate all the unwanted stuff right |
| and cannot bear to eat those whom they call | | | | away. Others eliminate an item at a time. Again |
| their friends. There are those who do it because | | | | the choice is yours. If you've only associated |
| their friends are doing it or it seems like a good | | | | being a vegetarian with eating big bowls of salad |
| idea. Then there are those who after much | | | | and nothing else, welcome to an exciting journey. |
| reading and observation of the causes of so | | | | Those times have long past and a vegetarian |
| many diseases have decided to take the | | | | lifestyle is filled with delicious and mouth watering |
| preventative approach and become vegetarians | | | | eats and the salads have come a long way. The |
| to prevent disease from entering their bodies. | | | | only boundary is your imagination. Now you start |
| Step 1 - Step 1 - Decide why you want to | | | | to have fun. |
| become a vegetarian. There are as many reasons | | | | Step 4 - Create a menu plan based centered |
| for becoming vegetarians as there are people out | | | | around your new eating choices. Do internet |
| there. Whatever your reason is you need to | | | | searches for vegetarians menu plans, check out |
| clarify it. If you are one of those wanting to do it | | | | library books on vegetarian cooking, experiment |
| because it seems like a good idea or because | | | | with different types of vegetables. Try out a few |
| your friends are doing it then you need to read | | | | that appeal to you. Take your favorite vegetable |
| and listen to as much information as possible on | | | | and start looking for different ways to prepare it. |
| the subject of vegetarianism(is that a word?) in | | | | Don't be afraid to try a combination you've never |
| order to get a more substantial reason for | | | | tasted before, you might be pleasantly surprised |
| continuity. So, no matter what your reason may | | | | at the taste. |
| be, for the most part the underlying reason | | | | Step 5 - Never stop learning. The key to sticking |
| behind most people becoming vegetarians is a | | | | with any decision is to keep yourself informed. |
| desire for better health. Most health practitioners | | | | The more you read and listen to materials on the |
| would agree that a vegetarian lifestyle is a | | | | health benefits of different foods and the |
| healthier lifestyle. | | | | vegetarian lifestyle, the more motivated you are |
| Step 2 - Now you know the reason you want to | | | | to stick with it especially in the beginning stages. I |
| become a vegetarian. Decide what type of | | | | find that if some time goes by without me |
| vegetarian you are going to be. This is not going | | | | reading or listening to something health related I |
| to be set in stone. You can make different | | | | begin to long for foods that I once enjoyed but |
| choices as your learn and grow on this journey. | | | | have decided to eliminate from my eating plan. |
| Let's discuss different types of vegetarians. The | | | | Step 6 - Be easy on yourself and those around |
| basic vegetarian eating plan is one that consists of | | | | you. Eating an occasional piece of 'whatever' |
| mainly fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans and | | | | amidst an otherwise healthy eating plan is okay. |
| grains. There are also as many variations of the | | | | Don't allow anyone to make you feel guilty for |
| major types as there are people because it's an | | | | occasionally indulging(notice I did say occasionally:) |
| individual decision. You are the one who has to | | | | ). Go easy on those around you who have not |
| decide what goes in and out of your mouth. That | | | | yet made the decision to transition to a |
| said, let's move on. The major types of | | | | vegetarian eating plan. By your example they will |
| vegetarians are the ovo-lacto vegetarians, | | | | be encouraged to take baby steps. Let them |
| pescatarians, lacto-vegetarians, vegans, | | | | notice the weight loss, the increased energy, |
| ovo-vegetarians, raw vegans. | | | | clearer skin and all the benefits that go with the |
| Ovo-lacto vegetarians - Vegetarians who include | | | | vegetarian lifestyle. Answer their questions with a |
| diary products and eggs in their eating plan. | | | | non-condemning or self-righteous attitude and |
| Pescatarians - Pescatarians include fish. | | | | share from time to time snippets from articles |
| Lacto-vegetarians - Vegetarians who include dairy | | | | you read or audios you listen to. Don't bombard |
| products in their eating plan. | | | | them just be open to their questions and |
| Vegans - Eat only plant based foods, no animal | | | | occasionally share what you are learning. |
| products or by-products. | | | | Step 7 - Rejoice in your decision! Enjoy the |
| Ovo-vegetarians - Eat eggs. | | | | journey! |
| Raw vegans - Eat only raw plant based foods. | | | | |