HOW TO BECOME A VEGETARIAN: A USEFUL GUIDE TO AVOID MISTAKES

Becoming a vegetarian is a path that must be faced in stages, but it is not just a question of changing diet, in fact, in this choice, the whole lifestyle is involved. Today we want to explain to you how to become a vegetarian avoiding mistakes and second thoughts. Before continuing, we suggest you watch the video below to prepare a steaming and comfortable pumpkin soup, one of the most loved vegetarian dishes ever.

Becoming a vegetarian: how to do it gradually

One of the first rules for becoming a vegetarian is to understand that it cannot be done from today to tomorrow. If you have always followed an omnivorous diet it will not be easy, especially at the beginning, to definitively abandon fish and meat. The safest way, also and above all from the point of view of health, is to become a vegetarian gradually.
The path is long and presents some obstacles, but if you are convinced of the decision made, tenacity will help you not to give up. The fact that you have taken an important decision, that of permanently eliminating animal proteins from your diet, already makes you a decisive person, so here are our tips to follow to embark on a green lifestyle and never have second thoughts.

The reasons for becoming a vegetarian and how to communicate it

When you decide to become a vegetarian, you need to focus on the reasons that led you to this decision. If the reasons for the change of course are solid, then you can have a chance of success, otherwise it will only have been a "passing idea that arrived at the wrong time. We want to underline this aspect above all because if you are not fully convinced, after a few weeks will tend to stray and in a short time the desire for a slice of meat or sushi will be unstoppable.
If we are sure that this is not a passing slip, we can tell friends and family that we have become vegetarians. This is a step feared by many, especially since the greatest fear is that of not being understood or of being made fun of. How to do? It will be necessary to demonstrate a certain amount of security in order to overcome the answers unscathed: some friends could doubt your decision and not take you seriously and it is precisely in these situations that if we are not convinced, we could falter.

Becoming a vegetarian: what to eat?

Before making any decision, it is good to think: what does it mean to be a vegetarian? What are the foods that can be eaten? It is easy to get confused especially for the affinity of the vegetarian diet with others such as vegan, raw food, pescetarian, etc ...
To be precise, we can define a vegetarian as a person who eats a whole range of plant foods and animal derivatives. It is precisely dairy products that make up the difference with vegans: the latter, in fact, also eliminate animal derivatives from the diet, reducing it to the consumption of plant foods only.
What to eat on a vegetarian diet?

vegetables
fruit
cereals
legumes
oil seeds
algae
sprouts
spices and herbs
milk
dairy product
egg
honey

The ones we have listed are the staple foods that can give rise to more complex foods such as pasta, bread and desserts.

How to shop as a vegetarian

When we become vegetarians, the way we shop will radically change. It will be essential to know how to read product labels well, this to identify ingredients of animal origin and automatically become aware of what you are going to eat. It will be perfectly normal to explore supermarket aisles you previously ignored, or even make longer stops in the fruit and vegetable aisle. In some cases it may be advisable to change supermarket, choosing a store that is more suited to the new dietary needs you have undertaken. These are some of the good habits that will help you become a vegetarian gradually and easily.

Recipes to experiment

After shopping, it's time to experiment with the recipes. Finding vegetarian recipes may seem complicated, but it's not at all. A little training will be enough to understand what are the perfect combinations to avoid creating dishes that are extremely caloric, or absolutely not very nutritious. The advice is obviously to try the various recipes and write down in a notebook any things to do or avoid. for the next time you decide to prepare that dish.This way you will become a true expert and over time your mind will be able to think of vegetarian dishes that would never have occurred to you before.
When it's time to experiment in the kitchen, don't be shy. Trying new products, combinations and recipes will help you build a complete and tasty diet without the risk of getting bored. You will find that many of the meals you ate in the past were completely vegetarian and just enrich them to make it perfect. You can also invite friends for dinner by offering them a vegetarian menu: we are sure they will be amazed.

Becoming a vegetarian: pros and cons

One of the main advantages of the vegetarian diet is that by eliminating meat, all the contraindications of excessive consumption of animal fats are avoided. However, there are also cons to watch out for, one of which is the lack of vitamin B12 contained in animal foods (meat, fish, eggs and dairy products), essential for the synthesis of red blood cells.

Its deficiency can have important consequences and it is good not to neglect its intake even in a vegetarian diet. Talk to your doctor, and prefer products such as vegetable milk, soy yogurt, cereals and veg burgers or take a specific supplement.

Listen for the body's signals

Switching to a vegetarian diet can lead to problems at the beginning. This is normal because the body has to get used to it and it happens especially when the change is rapid; be careful, we could end up bringing to the table dishes too rich in carbohydrates, leaving out fruit, vegetables and proteins Feeling tired and exhausted could be an alarm bell: in this case you will need to review your weekly menu and try to balance it as much as possible. If this is the case, it is best to contact your doctor or nutritionist.

It can happen to go wrong without even noticing and order a ham toast. In some cases, however, the cheats are frequent and therefore it is appropriate to ask questions to understand what is happening. It is important not to blame yourself too much, but to pay attention to the signals your body is sending you.

Think like a vegetarian

A sign that makes you understand that you are on the right path and are convinced of your choices is to start thinking like a vegetarian. But what does it mean? In particular, we are referring to no longer asking oneself a whole series of problems and questions that seem insurmountable at the beginning of the journey.
Here are some examples: what to eat at a restaurant? How to deal with intrusive questions about changing your diet? How to replace meat to ensure the right amount of protein? At this point, therefore, you can say that you have made it and you will be proud of the journey made.