10 Things You Need To Consider Before Going Vegetarian

Going vegetarian can be one of the most difficult but rewarding decisions you can make. Yet, there are a few things to consider before you start!

Going vegetarian has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Whilst I would recommend going vegetarian to everyone I know, there’s no denying that it’s a big change. So, here’s 10 things you need to consider before going vegetarian.

1. You can start small.

Just like with any big change in your lifestyle, the first few weeks can be difficult. But to make it easier on yourself, it’s perfectly fine to start small and work your way towards going fully vegetarian. Start with cutting out one type of meat, then go from there.

2. You’re going to need to focus more on what you eat.

Vegetarians are more likely to have vitamin deficiencies than meat-eaters. But don’t worry, there are plenty of other sources of important vitamins that are vegetarian. Pulses, whole grains and protein-rich vegetables will become your new sources of Iron, Protein, B12 and Omega 3. Or, a trip to your local pharmacy for some multivitamins may work better for you. As long as you eat well, you shouldn’t have to worry about having vitamin deficiencies.

3. Prepare to be questioned on your choice.

“Why did you go vegetarian? I could never do that, I love meat too much.” Get ready to hear this question all the time. The benefits of going vegetarian still aren’t widely known, so be prepared to explain yourself to everyone you meet.

4. Going out for a meal isn’t as easy as you’d think.

Understand that it’s very possible that the only vegetarian items on a restaurant’s menu are; salad and chips. I know, sounds riveting. Whilst many cafés and restaurants are introducing vegetarian options, you might still find it difficult to find something good to eat.

5. Get ready to learn some new cooking skills.

From your nightly dinners to family get-togethers, you’ll probably have to make everything yourself. But who doesn’t love feeling proud after making a delicious meal? Buy some vegetarian cooking books, put on your apron and give it go!

6. Don’t just rely on salads.

Regardless of what others say, vegetarians do eat more than just boring salads. We want to eat amazing food too! Like I said before, when going vegetarian, you need to focus more on what you eat to get enough vitamins. So, ditch the salads and make some real food!

7. There’s plenty of faux-meat options available.

Have a favourite kind of meat that you don’t know if you can give up? Well, there’s most definitely a vegetarian option to help you with this. Faux-meat products give the taste and texture of meat, but only using plant-based ingredients. Going vegetarian sounds easy now, doesn’t it? What have you got to lose?

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8. You’ll live a healthier lifestyle.

Going vegetarian is an incredibly healthy lifestyle change. Eating more plant-based foods means that you’ll be eating less processed and highly saturated foods, which is incredibly good for your health and wellbeing.

9. You’ll be healthier in the long term.

Even better, going vegetarian has proven to result in lower chances of getting abdominal obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and certain cancers. Need I say more?

10. Going vegetarian helps the environment.

The meat and dairy industry currently uses three quarters of all land used for growing food, as well as significantly contributing to global warming. The meat industry is a bigger contributor to climate change than cars. And I know this is obvious, but going vegetarian stops your support of the meat industry, which is responsible for inhumane and cruel treatment of animals.