By: Erika Gendron

Becoming a vegetarian is a difficult thing to do; it’s hard to go from being a carnivore to the veggie life. It’s getting a little easier now you can buy; mock meats, soy dairy products; even fake fish at almost any grocery store. More restaurants are starting to cater to the vegetarian community, places like Denny’s, The Hard Rock Café, Ruby Tuesdays and TGI Fridays all have veggie burgers on their menus. You can buy frozen meatless beef patties all the way to soy Buffalo wings. Finding the foods isn’t the problem; it’s being able to stay healthy doing it. Here are some steps to make sure you know what you’re eating, and how to do it without hurting your body.

1. Try easing your way into your new diet. Cook your favorite meals, but instead of using meat try substituting with mock meats or vegetables. For example when you make spaghetti, instead of using ground beef put crumbled veggie burger or ground meatless beef. Don’t jump right into vegetarianism; you might rob your body of vitamins and essentials proteins. Add a lot of vegetables to your diet, dark leafy greens are a high source or fiber and proteins. Like with all diets it’s good to avoid a lot of junk food and drink a lot of water. Variety in your diet is important for being a healthy vegetarian. Eat lots of; fruits, vegetables, nuts seeds, and whole grain products. Be creative and mix it up.

2. Reading labels is a big part of being a vegetarian especially those who try and avoid anything with animal products. There are things to watch out for like, gelatin which is in Jell-O, and is made from animal: skin, hooves and bones. Also lard which is pig fat. You should always read labels, just to know what you’re putting into your body.

3. Vegetarians are very likely to become anemic if they don’t eat right, from the lack of iron which you would normally get from red meat. Foods that contain a good source of iron are; dried beans, spinach, chard, and dried fruit. To help your body absorb for iron eat foods containing vitamin C. Foods like oranges, tomatoes, fruit juices and broccoli are all a great source of vitamin C. Another important vitamin is calcium, which is needed for bone and joint health. It’s especially important for teenagers and kids that are still growing. Try eating broccoli, tofu enriched with calcium, and/or low fat milk or fortified soy milk.

4. But there are a lot of healthy upsides to a cruelty free diet:
· Vegetarians live on average six to ten years longer than meat eaters.
· Reduced risk of types of cancer, and heart disease ( 50% higher risk for meat eaters)
· Less chance of becoming obese (though most mock meats have less fat than the real thing- they are not fat free. So if you’re looking to lose weight make sure to look out for that)
· Vegans (vegetarians who eat no dairy or eggs) are less likely to develop acne.
It’s also always good to exercise, even just light exercise, take your dog for a walk or do stretches. Keeping your body active is one of the best things you can do for yourself.
Sometimes, with the hustle and bustle of life it’s hard to give yourself the kind of care you deserve. If you’re a busy person and don’t have time eat like you should, I suggest meal replacement shakes. They are enriched with tons of vitamins and great for your body. When you’re on the go take carrot and celery sticks with you and sank on those. Peanut butter, rice cakes, popcorn and juice bars are all fast easy snacks that are good for you.
Becoming a vegetarian might be a hard transition, but it’s worth it to protect animals and their rights. I strongly believe in the idea that the more vegetarians there are the fewer animals killed. It’s not only a great gift for animals, the environment; it’s great for you and your body.