So, you’ve been thinking about switching to a vegetarian lifestyle but don’t know how to get started? This post might just be for you.
For some people, the transition is instant and easy, while it might be more challenging for others. If you find yourself in the second group of people, there is no need to worry. The temptation to eat all sorts of foods is everywhere and easily accessible. This transition is not just about switching the food you consume, but a reprogramming of how you view food as well. Therefore, encountering some difficulties is quite reasonable.
I personally fall into that second category. Going vegetarian after years of eating a certain way can be daunting. I unintentionally tried the vegetarian diet for some time during my college years and went right back to consuming animal products as soon as I began to cohabit with my brothers again. Call it convenience or temptation, breaking away from the cultural and habitual elements of nutrition that had been ingrained in me seemed impossible. However, vegetarianism was always at the back of my mind.
Reasons for transitioning to a vegetarian diet
There are many reasons for going vegetarian. Some of those include trends, health issues, dislike of meat products, love of animals, curiosity, customs and beliefs, and trauma among others. These reasons may intertwine just like only one of these factors may push you to become vegetarian.
For me, several elements came into play. For one, eating animal products, especially red meat and at times chicken would be a gamble: I would often feel nauseous after consuming them, a feeling I do not like to experience. Furthermore, these foods often made me feel heavy and were followed by a drastic drop in energy levels. Secondly, I never liked milk but thought it was necessary to consume all the calcium needed for healthy bones, so I would force myself to a bowl of cereal if cheese wasn’t available.
Finally, I didn’t particularly enjoy the cooking nor the eating process for that matter. I cooked because I “had” to. There was meat because there “had” to be a source of protein on the plate. After learning more about this, I discovered that meat was not the only source of protein.
Vegetarianism made sense for me based on the reasons listed above. It meant spending less time preparing meals and more time doing things I enjoyed; it allowed me to remain active after meals; and most importantly, no more feeling nauseous after meals.
So, what does this transition look like for you? Below are a few tips to help you on your journey to adopting a vegetarian diet.
Tips for the transition
1. Know your why
As with anything in life, you must know and understand your why. Why do you want to adopt a vegetarian diet? Be honest with yourself in identifying the strength of your why. If you want to take that leap because it is trending on social media, you may not last. When thinking about your why, keep the following elements in mind.
Commitment: is this a short-term experience or a long-term commitment. A short-term commitment may include going vegetarian out of curiosity, testing the waters before fully committing, weight loss purposes, and/or fixing a health issue. A long-term commitment means you want to make a complete lifestyle change.
Benefits over losses: you can make a pros and cons list for this one, but the idea is to frame your why in terms of advantages. You’re not losing out on food options, you are expanding and discovering new tastes that you would have never experienced before. You won’t be missing necessary nutrients; you’ll be consuming foods that can better contribute to your nutrient intake and improve your health.
2. Identify your obstacles / expect resistance
Obstacles may come in various forms. They may show up before you even take the leap or after. These obstacles may include but are not limited to the people you live with, peer-pressure, your cultural background, a weak “why”, lack of organization in prepping meals, and lack of knowledge about foods to consume.
These obstacles may affect you to varying degrees but be aware of them. If your “why” is strong enough, you’ll be able to overcome them.
3. Research
There are a multitude of resources out there for adopting a vegetarian diet. Take advantage of social media and blogs to be inspired by people who have also made the jump; purchase a vegetarian cookbook; take a self-learning course on Udemy or find a vegetarian coach to keep you accountable; read academic journal articles on the matter; if you personally know someone who is vegetarian, ask them to help you.
These are just a few ideas on how you can approach your research. Choose the option(s) that feels manageable and works for you.
4. Choose your approach
Here, I am referring to making a drastic change or taking baby steps. As stated, we all adapt to change differently. If you’ve tried the drastic method before and it didn’t stick, try a different approach.
Baby steps can look like this: if you were consuming meat every day, try reducing the amount of times you do so per week i.e. from 7 days to 4 days a week. If you were consuming all kinds of meat, start removing varieties bit by bit. Once you’ve mastered that, adopt a pescatarian diet.
You can give yourself deadlines, so it gives you time to get used to the idea that you won’t be consuming a certain food. On the other hand, you can go with the flow; at the right time, your body/your spirit will let you know that it’s time to let go of certain foods.
5. Experiment and Assess
This final step ties everything together. Vegetarianism is a lifestyle: there will always be something to learn and things to adjust, from finding new recipes to setting the right schedule to purchase groceries, to storing produce so it lasts longer, the list goes on. Approach this journey in a way that works for you and don’t be afraid to readjust along the way.
In the meantime, try this quick and easy spring mix salad recipe.