| We all know that when you start with optimal | | | | forego red meat, fish and poultry. |
| nutrition it's much easier to to live a healthy life. What | | | | Flexitarians (semi-vegetarians) consume a plant-based |
| we often struggle with is learning how to obtain | | | | diet most of the time, but occasionally add small |
| optimal nutrition? If you're trying to find better health, | | | | amounts of meat, poultry or fish to their regular fare. |
| then it's time to evaluate the options when it comes | | | | To get really take advantage of a vegetarian diet, |
| to eating a better diet. You need to learn how to | | | | you'll need to hold yourself accountable for the way |
| make healthy choices, and then make a decision to | | | | you eat. Decide to make healthy food choices. If you |
| begin making the best choices possible. | | | | find that the idea of giving up meat completely is too |
| One way to get better nutrition is to follow a | | | | overwhelming, then strive to "be vegetarian" for just |
| vegetarian or semi-vegetarian diet. Because a | | | | one meal per day. As you become more comfortable |
| vegetarian diet consists most of plant-based foods, | | | | with your new lifestyle, you can move to two meals |
| like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts | | | | a day, until eventually all of your meals will be |
| and seeds, it usually has less fat and cholesterol, and | | | | meat-free. |
| often has more fiber as well. | | | | If you decide to try any form of vegetarianism, |
| To get started you'll need to understand the types | | | | eating out may be difficult at first. When you do go |
| of vegetarian diets available. They typically fall into | | | | out to a restaurant, skip the fast food where most |
| several groups defined by the types of animal foods | | | | of the non-meat items will be fried. Many restaurants |
| they eat: | | | | offer a selection of vegetarian options. Those that |
| Vegans eat only plant-based foods. Nothing they | | | | don't can easily leave the meat out of any item on |
| ingest comes from animals. This means no meat, | | | | the menu. Unless you go vegan -- the strictest form |
| poultry, fish, milk, eggs or cheese. | | | | of vegetarian -- eating out will become much easier |
| Lacto-vegetarians still eat milk and other milk | | | | with a little practice. |
| products in addition to fruits and veggies. They do | | | | It's worth the effort to find ways to eat nutritious |
| not eat eggs or meat, fish and poultry. | | | | food and follow a sensible eating plan. Having the |
| Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat everything that | | | | best nutrition is the foundation to living a healthier, |
| lacto-vegetarians eat with the addition of eggs. They | | | | happier life. |