Being vegetarian the right way

Stuffed collard greens

The vegetarian way of living is becoming a wide spread phenomenon across the globe. Not only for health reasons put for saving the world. According to Positive News Hong Kong, the Belgian city of Ghent is embarking on an experiment where every Thursday is a day free of meat, fish and shellfish. The association says, “If everyone in Flanders does not eat meat one day a week, we will save as much carbon dioxide in a year as we would if we took half a million cars off the road.” Along with this meat free day, according to Forbes, the Baltimore City Public Schools system was recognized by the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) as the first Meatless Monday school system in the U.S.

People can have meatless days or be vegetarian but there is the matter of doing it the right way. So many people end up going for the junk because they are unaware of the good delicious foods available to them. It’s important to take the time out to figure out what is right for them before embarking on this change. Take these 6 points into consideration:

Soba noodles with vegetables

1. Giving up meat immediately is not the right way. It should be a gradual process for your body to adjust and get use to this new way of living. When changing to a new way of living or eating it can be a shock to the body. It’s important to take it slow.

2. Reading up on vegetarianism is a great way to understand what the options are in your daily choices from eating out to recipe choices and more. It’s essential to find out these options to ensure an enjoyable process.

3. Viewing this way of eating as restrictive is not the approach to take. Changing the way people live or eat should be a positive and pleasant experience. People should be able to continue to socialize, eat good foods and have fun. Know that there are an abundance of food choices out there that don’t have meat. It’s about exploring and understanding.

Banana pudding with berries and dark chocolate

4. Express one self by letting people know of this change and why they have decided to go this route. Spreading the word and educating people makes the process much easier. If one hides it, then it becomes a more complicated when being social with family and friends.

5. The key is variety. Try all the fruits, veggies, whole grains, beans and nuts out there. Try the different meat alternatives like tofu, tempeh and seitan. Be adventurous and figure out what you like and don’t like. Playing with all the different condiments available to create an array of flavors is a great way to create these dishes in the way that suits ones taste buds.

6. Seek additional help to figure out what one body needs. It is crucial that the body is still getting the right type of carbohydrates and fats in the body along with the essential vitamins we need to go on each day. Since this is a lifestyle change ensure it is a happy and loving one by working with a holistic health coach to support and educate you in this new journey.