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I am finding it very difficult to become a vegetarian.I am not scared of the possible risks of becoming a vegetarian.It’s just that I am 16 years old,and I have lived my whole life eating meat.I wish to quit eating meat,but it is an addiction similar to smoking.Does anyone have any advice on how to conquer my addiction once and for all?
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Here’s how to make the transition to a plant-based diet one step at a time:
Step One: Eliminate red meat. Keep a mental log of how many times a week you eat red meat. Reduce the number of times each week that you eat red meat, until you feel comfortable that you can stop eating it completely. As you reduce the number of times per week, gradually reduce the portion size of the meat at each meal. Make the fresh vegetables or grains the central focus of your meal with less emphasis on the meat. Soon you will be able to stop eating red meat and not miss it.
Step Two: Eliminate poultry and fish. Once you have eliminated red meat from your diet, you can use the same technique for poultry and fish. You may want to eliminate poultry first, and then reduce the amount of fish you eat. Make the transition gradually, so you don’t miss the foods you are giving up. It may take several months to accomplish these steps. Remember there are many long-term benefits you’ll enjoy, once you are following a more healthful diet.
Step Three: Increase fruits and vegetables. Add more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet, to be certain that you are getting an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals. When you eat nutrient rich foods, you’ll feel better overall, and won’t miss the meat.
Step Four: Use protein substitutes. One of the keys to successfully making the transition to a plant-based diet is to find protein substitutes to take the place of the meat. There are many delicious soy-based products on the market today. Buy an easy to follow vegetarian cookbook. It will be full of ideas and suggestions on how to prepare a balanced meal, without meat or fish. Beans, nuts and seeds, grains, and some vegetables are good sources of protein. For a quick, protein rich meal, use a soy-based protein powder, combined with fruit and soymilk, to make a delicious shake or smoothie.
Step Five: Enjoy your favorite comfort foods. Find substitutes for your life-long comfort foods. For example, if lasagna is a favorite dish, make it with vegetables like mushrooms, onions, and spinach, instead of sausage and ground beef. Experiment with using tofu as a substitute for the ricotta cheese. There are soy-based “ground beef” products you can use to make “meat” lasagna.
Step Six: Experiment with natural foods products. Every time you go to the supermarket, spend a few minutes exploring the natural foods section. You will be amazed at the selection of easy to prepare vegetarian meals. Choose from vegetarian chili, risotto, soy-based macaroni and cheese, and tofu scrambler. All of them are quick and simple, relatively inexpensive, and they taste good. Experiment with different selections each time. You may find some new favorite comfort foods.
Step Seven: Dine at vegetarian friendly places. When dining out, choose a restaurant that offers a vegetarian menu, vegetarian selections, or that will accommodate your special requests. Many ethnic restaurants offer a great variety of healthy vegetarian dishes. Visit Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Indian, and Italian restaurants in your area or during your travels. You’ll discover a whole new world of dining pleasure when you open yourself up to the possibilities. Our book, ViVa’s Healthy Dining Guide, is a great resource to have on hand to help you find new and exciting places for delicious vegetarian food.
Step Eight: Renew your commitment daily. Begin each new day with a personal commitment to eat healthfully. Be conscious of how the food you eat will impact your health, and the way you feel. Once you have transitioned to a vegetarian diet, be compassionate to those around you, who choose to eat meat. Understand that they may, or may not, make the commitment to a vegetarian diet one day. Prepare delicious vegetarian meals for them whenever you have the opportunity. They will come to respect and appreciate your lifestyle.
You’re not addicted to meat. You just like it.
It’s not addicting. Vegetarian is a lifestyle. If you like meat so much, keep eating it. Be happy with your life is the first step, the move towards making others happy. I’ve been vegetarian for almost a year now….
Before I became a hardcore-vegetarian, I was a pescatarian. Pescatarian’s eat fish, but not other meats. Then, over time, I stopped eating fish and found brands like MorningStar and Boca. There are a lot of vegetarian "meats" that taste like meat. Turns out it wasn’t hard after all!
Take baby steps, it takes getting used to. Good luck!
I agree with a previous answerer that eating fake meats like morningstar or other burgers might help you transition into a vegetarian diet. Making any change is hard, but in the end it is really worth it.