QuestionLong story sort-of short:
My body feels terrible. Headaches, 24-hour viruses, constipation/diarrhea, canker sores, etc.
I don't eat out that often, but what I'm eating still isn't good for me. I eat hamburger meat, frozen chicken breast, eggs, coffee, lunchmeat, and occasionaly powdered milk for cereal. The list goes on. I am 5'9" and 150lbs. I used to be 130. I'm not fat but I will get there if I don't change.
I feel bloated and want to go on a water fast but I have no willpower to do it for even a day. I need to detox/cleanse but I don't know how.
My biggest problem is finding food and recipes to eat that taste good. I've never really eaten a vegeterian meal so I'm clueless. Will I lack nutrients?
As of now I am trying to make my only beverage water but it is so hard. How did you get in the habit of making the right foods? My problem is actually making them, not buying them (that's the easy part!).
Advice greatly appreciated!
AnswerFirst of all Emily I want to say congrats on your decision to become a vegetarian, or at least considering it!!! This is a major step and you should feel proud for taking it. Choosing to lead a healthy lifestyle in this unhealthy world that is so overridden with mis-information is difficult. Vegetarianism is a personal choice that must first be made mentally. Based on what you have stated it is one that you have given quite a bit of thought which is the first and most important step. Doing your research comes in close second, which you are already doing as well.
Next, making the transition from a meat to plant-based diet may seem difficult but it can actually be seamless. There are so many food options today versus when I decided to become a vegan some 13 years ago. The list of meat substitutes is endless and can conveniently be purchased right in your local grocery store (just ask the store clerk where the MorningStar Farm or Boca products for vegetarians are in the frozen food section). Then start swapping actual meat for vegetarian meat substitutes and you'll find that there's barely any difference in the texture or taste. Smoothies are a good option for a morning breakfast or afternoon snack. Combine some frozen fruit, agave nectar to taste, and almond milk then blend and enjoy. There are vegan cheeses, nut milks, any many other dairy substitutes to explore.
Moreover, with it being summer you're in luck. Summertime is the perfect time to make this transition because so many fresh fruits and veggies are in season. Use this time as an opportunity to awaken your taste buds to live foods. Visit a local farmer's market and buy some organic fruits and veggies. You will find that eating more live foods will awaken your taste buds and give you an appreciation for fruits and veggies that you didn't have before.
As for a vegetarian diet lacking nutrients, that's a misconception. In fact, fruits and veggies, rather than meat, have all of the nutrients that the human body requires. Furthermore, a plant-based diet better enables the body to absorb the minerals and nutrients in food. Beans, nuts, seeds, leafy green veggies and fruits are very rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals so you will absolutely get your fill of nutrients. Many processed foods inhibit the body from absorbing nutrients and shut off the body's natural hunger mechanisms making you eat more and store more in fat deposits. This is why our nation is becoming increasingly more obese. So either way you look at it becoming a vegetarian will offer you a healthier existence.
If you don't want to dive right in there are several ways to ease into the dietary change at a pace that is comfortable for you. For instance, there are different types of vegetarians. There are pesco-vegetarians who eat seafood and ovo-lacto vegetarians who consume dairy products and eggs. You might also do a meatout on proscribed days of the week or do a 3/4 meal split where you eat vegetarian meals 4 days out of the week and meat on the others.
Being a vegetarian is an evolutionary process and there's no one-size fits all approach. So relax and focus less on what you CAN'T eat and more on the variety of new things that you CAN eat as a vegetarian. Becoming a vegetarian comes with many benefits that will change your life in ways unimaginable! Vegetarians have lower risks of heart disease, some cancers, diabetes, have longer life spans and lower incidence of obesity. So that said, there's no need for a water fast or a detox. Making this transition will detoxify the body naturally. To get started visit your local farmer's market or a nearby health food store and try some organic produce, do more cooking and buy less processed foods, purchase some vegetarian cookbooks, request a free vegetarian starter kit from any number of sites including mine and relax and embrace the soon-to-be healthier new you!!
Warmest regards,
Amirah Bellamy
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