The new year is steadily making its way to your doorstep, and you want to be ready for it. You want to take better care of yourself and you want to eat more-healthy foods. You've heard about the vegetarian diet, but what does that really mean? And is it doable? More important, perhaps, do you want to try it?

Being a vegetarian means different things to different people. Some people claim to be vegetarians because they do not eat red meat; others stay away from pork and chicken, as well. Still others eat no land animals but do eat fish and seafood. None of them, in the true sense of the word,  are vegetarians.

Also called herbivores, true vegetarians  eat vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts. Here, definitions of the various -tarian diets:

• Nonvegetarian — one who eats all or most types of meat.
• Pescetarian — one who eats fish and seafood.
• Lacto-ovo vegetarian (also called ovo-lacto vegetarian) — one who eats dairy products, and eggs.
• Lacto vegetarian — one who eats dairy products but no eggs.
• Vegan — one who does not eat any animal products (strict vegans do not use animal products, such as leather or wool).
• Fruitarian — one who eats only foods that do not kill the plant (apples are picked from the tree; carrots and potatoes are the plant) and eats raw fruits, grains and nuts.

Going vegetarian is much easier today than it was even 10 years ago. Most Wichita-area restaurants serve at least one meat-free option, and local grocery stores stock microwaveable vegetarian meals, as well as offering gorgeous fruits and vegetables year-round. Most new vegetarians are pleasantly surprised at the variety of recipes that are easy to follow and taste great.

For those who can't fathom going meatless, take heart — meat substitutes are available and actually taste good:

• Use meatless crumbles in tacos, sloppy joes, spaghetti sauce and breakfast bakes.
• Try "fake bacon" on BLTs or with the morning meal.
• Substitute fat-laden ground beef patties with spicy black bean or "Prime Grillers" burger patties.

Give it a try for a day or a week. You may discover new recipes and new flavors, and you very well may eat a wider variety of foods than you have before. That variety is the first step to better health.