| Are you thinking of becoming a vegetarian and | | | | know that you were doing it immediately might |
| don't know where to start? Or perhaps you've | | | | make you feel better, but you would need to |
| already tried to go vegetarian and weren't | | | | have done some planning and be around people |
| successful. | | | | who are supportive of your decision and not have |
| Here are some useful tips to help you on your | | | | any major disruptions in your life. |
| way to becoming a vegetarian. | | | | The making a gradual change plan gives you time |
| 1. Do some research - Not as hard as it sounds, | | | | to plan when becoming a vegetarian. You'll be |
| search the internet and you'll find many sites with | | | | more likely to stick to your new diet and you'll |
| information relating to being vegetarian. | | | | have less disruption. However you need to make |
| Alternatively, visit a library or bookstore, there | | | | sure you don't start eating unhealthily as a quick |
| are many good books on the subject. | | | | way to replace meat, for example with lots of |
| 2. When you are shopping look at what | | | | cheese, eggs and high fat dairy foods. Also it's a |
| vegetarian food is available in the shops. Many | | | | good idea not to take too long on going |
| supermarkets and food stores, especially the | | | | vegetarian altogether or you could end up not |
| larger ones, tend to stock an increasing range of | | | | cutting out the meat completely. |
| vegetarian convenience foods, such as veggie | | | | If you want to cut out meat gradually, you could |
| burgers, sausages and other frozen or chilled | | | | first cut out the red meat, then the chicken and |
| foods that are suitable for vegetarians. Also any | | | | finally the fish, choose whatever you think will suit |
| health food shop or natural food store will have a | | | | you. |
| good selection. | | | | 7. Beware Hidden Animal Products |
| 3. Buy a vegetarian cook book. There are literally | | | | Check the labels when buying food. Of course |
| hundreds to choose from, there are many that | | | | depending on where you live, the labelling will be |
| specialise in quick and easy recipes, and many are | | | | better in some places than others. Look out for |
| aimed at beginners who are becoming vegetarian | | | | the "suitable for vegetarians" label. |
| too. Some also specialise in different types of | | | | There are many animal products used in |
| food, for example, Indian, Italian or Chinese. | | | | everyday foods that make them unsuitable for |
| 4. Try a vegetarian recipe - There are literally | | | | vegetarians. The most common of these are: |
| thousands of them out there, you can easily find | | | | Gelatin/gelatine - Protein from the bones, cartilage, |
| them on the internet, from the many recipe | | | | tendons and bones of animals. Often found in |
| books available, or many cookery magazines will | | | | desserts and yoghurts, but also some sweets and |
| have vegetarian recipes. | | | | marshmallows. |
| 5. Buy some vegetarian food, don't be afraid to | | | | When you see any tempting chocolate desserts |
| try new things such as the many meatfree | | | | check the label, in many cases it contains gelatine! |
| replacements out there. | | | | The same goes for many yoghurts especially the |
| However don't rely too heavily on the meat | | | | low fat ones. Organic yoghurts and other dairy |
| replacements for the meat you eat, but also think | | | | produce is more likely to be vegetarian. |
| about the vegetarian foods you already eat, and | | | | Rennet - This comes from the stomach lining of |
| try to include more of these in your planning, for | | | | slaughtered newly born calves. It is used in the |
| example macaroni cheese, vegetable lasagne, | | | | making of cheese. However more cheeses are |
| baked potato with cheese, spaghetti with tomato | | | | being made vegetarian all the time, they should be |
| sauce, pancakes or vegetable soup! This will help | | | | labelled as suitable for vegetarians but |
| you when becoming a vegetarian. | | | | unfortunately aren't always. |
| 6. Decide if you want to convert gradually/quickly | | | | Animal Fat - Most often found in cakes and |
| - and make a plan! | | | | biscuits. |
| Some people go vegetarian overnight, perhaps if | | | | Cochineal (E120) - Red food colouring, found in |
| they've read about or seen a TV documentary | | | | some sweets, made from crushed insects - |
| about what happens in slaughterhouses. | | | | would you really want to eat that? |
| This way you would get the benefits sooner and | | | | Eggs - Only buy free-range! |