| Are you thinking of becoming a vegetarian and don't | | | | better, but you would need to have done some |
| know where to start? Or perhaps you've already | | | | planning and be around people who are supportive of |
| tried to go vegetarian and weren't successful. Here | | | | your decision and not have any major disruptions in |
| are some useful tips to help you on your way to | | | | your life. |
| becoming a vegetarian. | | | | The making a gradual change plan gives you time to |
| 1. Do some research - Not as hard as it sounds, | | | | plan when becoming a vegetarian. You'll be more likely |
| search the internet and you'll find many sites with | | | | to stick to your new diet and you'll have less |
| information relating to being vegetarian. Alternatively, | | | | disruption. However you need to make sure you |
| visit a library or bookstore, there are many good | | | | don't start eating unhealthily as a quick way to |
| books on the subject. | | | | replace meat, for example with lots of cheese, eggs |
| 2. When you are shopping look at what vegetarian | | | | and high fat dairy foods. Also it's a good idea not to |
| food is available in the shops. Many supermarkets and | | | | take too long on going vegetarian altogether or you |
| food stores, especially the larger ones, tend to stock | | | | could end up not cutting out the meat completely. |
| an increasing range of vegetarian convenience foods, | | | | If you want to cut out meat gradually, you could |
| such as veggie burgers, sausages and other frozen | | | | first cut out the red meat, then the chicken and |
| or chilled foods that are suitable for vegetarians. Also | | | | finally the fish, choose whatever you think will suit |
| any health food shop or natural food store will have | | | | you. |
| a good selection. | | | | 7. Beware Hidden Animal Products |
| 3. Buy a vegetarian cook book. There are literally | | | | Check the labels when buying food. Of course |
| hundreds to choose from, there are many that | | | | depending on where you live, the labelling will be |
| specialise in quick and easy recipes, and many are | | | | better in some places than others. Look out for the |
| aimed at beginners who are becoming vegetarian too. | | | | "suitable for vegetarians" label. |
| Some also specialise in different types of food, for | | | | There are many animal products used in everyday |
| example, Indian, Italian or Chinese. | | | | foods that make them unsuitable for vegetarians. |
| 4. Try a vegetarian recipe - There are literally | | | | The most common of these are: |
| thousands of them out there, you can easily find | | | | Gelatin/gelatine - Protein from the bones, cartilage, |
| them on the internet, from the many recipe books | | | | tendons and bones of animals. Often found in |
| available, or many cookery magazines will have | | | | desserts and yoghurts, but also some sweets and |
| vegetarian recipes. | | | | marshmallows. |
| 5. Buy some vegetarian food, don't be afraid to try | | | | When you see any tempting chocolate desserts |
| new things such as the many meatfree replacements | | | | check the label, in many cases it contains gelatine! |
| out there. However don't rely too heavily on the | | | | The same goes for many yoghurts especially the low |
| meat replacements for the meat you eat, but also | | | | fat ones. Organic yoghurts and other dairy produce is |
| think about the vegetarian foods you already eat, | | | | more likely to be vegetarian. |
| and try to include more of these in your planning, for | | | | Rennet - This comes from the stomach lining of |
| example macaroni cheese, vegetable lasagne, baked | | | | slaughtered newly born calves. It is used in the |
| potato with cheese, spaghetti with tomato sauce, | | | | making of cheese. However more cheeses are being |
| pancakes or vegetable soup! This will help you when | | | | made vegetarian all the time, they should be labelled |
| becoming a vegetarian. | | | | as suitable for vegetarians but unfortunately aren't |
| 6. Decide if you want to convert gradually/quickly - | | | | always. |
| and make a plan! | | | | Animal Fat - Most often found in cakes and biscuits. |
| Some people go vegetarian overnight, perhaps if | | | | Cochineal (E120) - Red food colouring, found in some |
| they've read about or seen a TV documentary about | | | | sweets, made from crushed insects - would you |
| what happens in slaughterhouses. This way you | | | | really want to eat that? |
| would get the benefits sooner and know that you | | | | Eggs - Only buy free-range! |
| were doing it immediately might make you feel | | | | |