For about six months, I was pescetarian , meaning the only meat that I consumed was seafood. I made the transition into vegetarianism and remained that way for two years before making another leap into veganism. From experience, I know that completely changing your lifestyle is difficult, but these 5 tips can help you ease into vegetarianism:
1. Have Goals
This is the most important part of changing your lifestyle. Why are you giving up meat? Is it to impress a group of people, to lose weight and be healthy, or for animal rights? It doesn’t matter what your answer is, it only matters that you have one and that you remind yourself of it at least once a week. You might try buying a white board, hanging it in your room, and listing all the reasons you chose to exclude meat from your diet. Seeing a constant reminder will keep you motivated and determined.
2. Clean Out Temptations
Okay, so this one isn’t always easy if you aren’t living at home. What I did, though, was buy all my own food and ignored the food that wasn’t purchased with my own money. It came with a great sense of independence, and I was able to stay away from real meat when I had delicious alternatives. If you do live on your own, however, it’s easy to clear out temptations: clear out the real meat and replace them with fake meats or other delicious products.
3.Cook For Yourself
If you don’t already, begin to cook your own meals. This way, you will know and be able to control exactly what goes into your meal. Not only will you save money by not going out to eat, but you will also begin eating a lot healthier. Learn new, meat-free recipes by doing quick, online research and try to cook up the ones that sound most appealing.
4. Research Before Eating Out
This part can honestly be a little bit exasperating, but it’s very important. When your friends or relatives decide they want to eat out, research the restaurant or fast food chain’s vegetarian options. Even places like In-N-Out have vegetarian-friendly options (grilled cheese and veggie burgers); just research online to be sure. Choose what you want before leaving your house to help keep your temptations down.
5. Find a Support System
This may not seem necessary, but at the beginning stages of your lifestyle change, you might find it incredibly difficult to stay on track. It’s helpful to find a friend or two who are also making the change, or have already made the change, into vegetarianism. You can hold each other accountable and call each other up to keep yourselves on track with your new diet.
Another thing you should never forget is to not beat yourself up. Sure, maybe you gave into a temptation or even ate meat for a whole week. Luckily, there isn’t a “vegetarian police” to arrest you or give you a ticket. Just be proud of yourself for how far you’ve come. Any change is bound to be difficult, but you’re taking the baby steps into a better you, and every step is worth celebrating.