Becoming a Vegetarian - Some Useful Tips

1. Do some research - Not as hard as it sounds,who are supportive of your decision and not have
search the internet and you'll find many sites withany major disruptions in your life.
information relating to being vegetarian.The making a gradual change plan gives you time
Alternatively, visit a library or bookstore, thereto plan when becoming a vegetarian. You'll be
are many good books on the subject.more likely to stick to your new diet and you'll
2. When you are shopping look at whathave less disruption. However you need to make
vegetarian food is available in the shops. Manysure you don't start eating unhealthily as a quick
supermarkets and food stores, especially theway to replace meat, for example with lots of
larger ones, tend to stock an increasing range ofcheese, eggs and high fat dairy foods. Also it's a
vegetarian convenience foods, such as veggiegood idea not to take too long on going
burgers, sausages and other frozen or chilledvegetarian altogether or you could end up not
foods that are suitable for vegetarians. Also anycutting out the meat completely.
health food shop or natural food store will have aIf you want to cut out meat gradually, you could
good selection.first cut out the red meat, then the chicken and
3. Buy a vegetarian cook book. There are literallyfinally the fish, choose whatever you think will suit
hundreds to choose from, there are many thatyou.
specialise in quick and easy recipes, and many are7. Beware Hidden Animal Products
aimed at beginners who are becoming vegetarianCheck the labels when buying food. Of course
too. Some also specialise in different types ofdepending on where you live, the labelling will be
food, for example, Indian, Italian or Chinese.better in some places than others. Look out for
4. Try a vegetarian recipe - There are literallythe "suitable for vegetarians" label.
thousands of them out there, you can easily findThere are many animal products used in
them on the internet, from the many recipeeveryday foods that make them unsuitable for
books available, or many cookery magazines willvegetarians. The most common of these are:
have vegetarian recipes.Gelatin/gelatine - Protein from the bones, cartilage,
5. Buy some vegetarian food, don't be afraid totendons and bones of animals. Often found in
try new things such as the many meatfreedesserts and yoghurts, but also some sweets and
replacements out there.marshmallows.
However don't rely too heavily on the meatWhen you see any tempting chocolate desserts
replacements for the meat you eat, but also thinkcheck the label, in many cases it contains gelatine!
about the vegetarian foods you already eat, andThe same goes for many yoghurts especially the
try to include more of these in your planning, forlow fat ones. Organic yoghurts and other dairy
example macaroni cheese, vegetable lasagne,produce is more likely to be vegetarian.
baked potato with cheese, spaghetti with tomatoRennet - This comes from the stomach lining of
sauce, pancakes or vegetable soup! This will helpslaughtered newly born calves. It is used in the
you when becoming a vegetarian.making of cheese. However more cheeses are
6. Decide if you want to convert gradually/quicklybeing made vegetarian all the time, they should be
- and make a plan!labelled as suitable for vegetarians but
Some people go vegetarian overnight, perhaps ifunfortunately aren't always.
they've read about or seen a TV documentaryAnimal Fat - Most often found in cakes and
about what happens in slaughterhouses.biscuits.
This way you would get the benefits sooner andCochineal (E120) - Red food colouring, found in
know that you were doing it immediately mightsome sweets, made from crushed insects -
make you feel better, but you would need towould you really want to eat that?
have done some planning and be around peopleEggs - Only buy free-range!