Introduction
You’ve decided to stop eating meat, either for moral or health reasons, and it seems like a big job. You don’t want to back down from your decision, so you need to go for it, all at once. Before you start throwing all the steak away, go through this checklist to make it easier for you to stick with it.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Steps
1
Step One
MAKE A MEAL PLAN
You have to make a menu with at least ten or twelve meals that you know you absolutely love. Without a menu to keep you moving, you’ll find yourself occasionally snacking on whatever you can find, and your will power can start to slip. So think of dishes that you like and can eat more than once or twice a week (vegetarian meals you already like, such as pizza or macaroni and cheese, are a good start) and make a list that you can always go to when you’re feeling hungry or your determination is weakening.
You have to make a menu with at least ten or twelve meals that you know you absolutely love. Without a menu to keep you moving, you’ll find yourself occasionally snacking on whatever you can find, and your will power can start to slip. So think of dishes that you like and can eat more than once or twice a week (vegetarian meals you already like, such as pizza or macaroni and cheese, are a good start) and make a list that you can always go to when you’re feeling hungry or your determination is weakening.
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Step Two
FIND OUT WHO IS HELPING YOU
One of the hardest parts of not eating meat is knowing who is going to help you and who is going to be a problem. Perhaps your husband or wife are supportive. Perhaps your kids are going to help out. And perhaps your best friend is a butcher. Make a list so you know who is supportive and willing to eat what you’re going to eat, and who is going to tempt you by sitting in front of you with a big plate of barbecue ribs. Plan your activities and meals accordingly.
One of the hardest parts of not eating meat is knowing who is going to help you and who is going to be a problem. Perhaps your husband or wife are supportive. Perhaps your kids are going to help out. And perhaps your best friend is a butcher. Make a list so you know who is supportive and willing to eat what you’re going to eat, and who is going to tempt you by sitting in front of you with a big plate of barbecue ribs. Plan your activities and meals accordingly.
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Step Three
PLAN ON EATING IN
Until you have become used to not eating meat, it’s best to avoid restaurants. A meal at a restaurant is almost guaranteed to be two sides and a main meat dish. Some restaurants offer vegetarian substitutions, but most still cater to the traditional meal format. Unless you plan on eating nothing but appetizers and side dishes, try to have most of your meals at home. Once you're a seasoned vegetarian, you'll be back at restaurants with no problems.
Until you have become used to not eating meat, it’s best to avoid restaurants. A meal at a restaurant is almost guaranteed to be two sides and a main meat dish. Some restaurants offer vegetarian substitutions, but most still cater to the traditional meal format. Unless you plan on eating nothing but appetizers and side dishes, try to have most of your meals at home. Once you're a seasoned vegetarian, you'll be back at restaurants with no problems.
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Step Four
BE READY FOR DIGESTIVE CHANGES
Meat rots when it gets warm, so the digestive system rushes to break it down before it goes bad inside the human body. As you cut out the meat in your diet, you’ll sometimes find that you still feel hungry after eating, or that you’re going to the bathroom more often for the first few days. This is temporary, because your body is adjusting to not dealing with the protein-rich, fat-laden meat you’ve been eating for such a long time. It will pass in a few days, and you’ll find that you have more energy and you don’t feel tired after a big meal.
Meat rots when it gets warm, so the digestive system rushes to break it down before it goes bad inside the human body. As you cut out the meat in your diet, you’ll sometimes find that you still feel hungry after eating, or that you’re going to the bathroom more often for the first few days. This is temporary, because your body is adjusting to not dealing with the protein-rich, fat-laden meat you’ve been eating for such a long time. It will pass in a few days, and you’ll find that you have more energy and you don’t feel tired after a big meal.
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Step Five
TOSS THE MEAT AND STAY THE COURSE
Now that you’re ready, go ahead and get rid of the meat. Keep your house stocked with great vegetarian meals and snacks, and don’t look back. Good luck and good health!
Now that you’re ready, go ahead and get rid of the meat. Keep your house stocked with great vegetarian meals and snacks, and don’t look back. Good luck and good health!
Tips & Warnings
- If you’re becoming a vegetarian for health reasons such as heart disease or diabetes, you might want to go one step further and become vegan (giving up animal products like eggs and milk as well as meat). This can make a huge difference in your health and wellness, too!
- Having one little burger or piece of chicken might seem like no big deal, but it confuses your digestive system and makes it harder to see the results. And the more often you go back to eating meat, the harder it is to stay vegetarian.
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