When considering a vegetarian diet, you should know it isn’t as simple as just cutting out the meat. To stay healthy you have to introduce other kinds of food to your routine to ensure you are still getting all the iron, protein and fats that your body needs. Fourbody helps explain the benefit of Vital Greens, and can aid in the adjustment period of going from omnivore to a straight up vegetarian.
The best way to stay on top of your health is to keep nutrition in mind, and plan your meals ahead of time whenever possible. It’s becoming easier to be vegetarian, due to the growing amount of people that are exploring different diet options, so most supermarkets and restaurants will have a few good options for you. If you feel like you need encouragement or support for your transition, then the internet is a fantastic place for information and reassurance that is right at your fingertips.
Nutrition
The first thing you should know is that beans, rice, lentils and chickpeas are going to become your new best friends, and that you did not know comfort food until you knew all you can do with the simple potato! Becoming a vegetarian can be challenging, so if you feel like you need to ease into it slowly, start introducing a couple of meat-free nights a week, and work up from there. As for getting the nourishment you need, you will pick up little tips and tricks along the way, like how vitamin C can help you absorb more iron from your food.
The amounts of certain nutrients you will need will depend a lot on your physique and activity levels, and how you get them will also depend on whether you decide to eat certain animal byproducts such as eggs and dairy. Whilst these foods are not essential, they are very rich in calcium and protein which your body does require. If you choose not to consume these products, you will need to ensure you are eating other things that have these kinds of nutrients. One thing you probably should consider buying is vitamin D supplements, because this is something that many vegetarians find difficult to get sufficient amounts of. .
Planning and Prepping
How you prepare your meals will have a large effect on how nutrient rich they are when you eat them. As always, fresh is best and where possible, and preparing things yourself means you have much more control and knowledge about what you are putting into your body. Steaming is always best, and if you are a fan of your foods, a slow cooker and a blender will be your best friends for meal preparation. If you are a sucker for creamy textures, but don’t feel great about dairy, pureed almonds are a wonderful way to get that good mouth feeling without using animal products. Plus, if you can find a way to work protein into all of your meals you won’t find yourself nearly so hungry throughout the day, and you will have the energy you need to get around.
If you are choosing vegetarianism for environmental or economic reasons it is best to try and stick to fruits, veggies and herbs that are in season and locally produced to maximise the value of your choices for the world around you. However, whatever the reason you have decided to go green, as long as you do your research and plan ahead, nothing can get in the way to a healthier and happier you!
