TEN EASY STEPS
TO BECOMING A VEGETARIAN
Whether it's for health, animal
rights, politics or any other reason, you, like many others may be considering a
vegetarian lifestyle. here's some ways to get started, or at least start you thinking...
- READ! Research.
Explore. Get the facts. Start with John Robbins' "Diet For a New America" and
you'll learn about the protein myth (vegetarians do NOT lack) and the calcium myth (more
is NOT neccesarily healthier) and more. Read lots. Knowledge is power.
- THINK! Think about
the animals. Think about your body. Think about the Earth. And if you're not tired from
all that thinking, consider how your food choices impact the people around you and the
world. No need to make any decisions. Just allow yourself time to ponder.
- TALK! Talk to
vegetarians. Talk to non-vegetarians. Ask questions. Share your thoughts. Join a club.
Start a club. Hang out with vegetarians. Guaranteed you'll get an earful. Then do more
THINKING.
- SET GOALS! Make a
game out of it. Bet your friend you can go a whole month without McDonald's or two weeks
without eggs and cheese. When you win, reward yourself with a Rice Dream bar or some other
treat. Setting goals can be serious or fun. Depends on your attitude.
- COOK! Learning to
cook in a whole new way can be exciting. Take a class. Get books from the store or
library. Get "Vegetarian Times" magazine. Try out new recipes on your friend. Do
potlucks. Allow yourself to get creative, to play. Have some fun with it. Turns out
meatless meals are not only possible, but limitless.
- EAT! Make mealtime
special. Sit down. Maybe use the good china and cloth napkins. Play nice music (Don't
distract yourself with books or TV.) before you dig in, take a moment to be thankful. As
you eat, chew carefully, really savor each bite. Slow down. Notice the tastes, sensations.
See how it feels to really experience food this way.
- LISTEN! Try to be
aware of your body's needs. Sleep when you're tired. Eat when your hungry. Pay attention
to your body - which foods feels good, which don't? Notice how certain foods drain your
energy, mood, emotions, concentration and sleep pattern. Respect your body. Learn the
connection between what you put in your body and what you get out of it.
- EXPERIMENT! Try
other lifestyle changes. Consider fasting. look into juicing. Explore macrobiotics or raw
foods diets. Maybe take up a new sport, or try yoga or jazz dance. Maybe start a journal
or learn a new language. Whatever interests you, try it "as a vegetarian" and
see if it feels any different.
- PREPARE! You may get
resistance from friends and family. Be ready for it. (Family dinners can be especially
stressful - breaking "food traditions" is hard on everyone) Be strong, but not
self-righteous. Trust yourself. Prepare, too, for your own self-doubts. Am I getting
enough vitamins? Am i doing the right thing? This is normal. Relax. Talk to to your
friends. Build a support group. Refer back to your books. And if you do "fall off the
wagon", see how you feel, and get back on! Give yourself room to be human, and time
to adjust.
- CELEBRATE! Mark the
day you stoppped eating meat in your calendar. Celebrate that day! Rejoice in your
decision! Have a party. Buy yourself a gift. Treat yourself to a massage. But realize that
vegetarianism is an on-going process, and the "journey" is MORE than half the
fun!
So, whether you see it as a
lifestyle, a "religion" or simply a nutritional choice, vegetarianism is an
exciting and beautiful concept. Good luck...and enjoy!
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