For about 10 years, I was a vegetarian. I decided to stop eating all meat once I entered Middle School and it truly took a toll on my health. In Middle School, we would watch documentaries on why foods such as poultry and shellfish are not good for the body. I noticed that so many young girls were becoming vegetarians so I wanted to try it out for myself. I wanted to write a blog post on how to become a healthy vegetarian, because there are several unhealthy aspects to it, if one does not know the proper nutrients and proteins they need without meat and fish. First, I completely cut out all fish and then I started to eat less and less red meat such as steak and pork. Eventually, I completely cut all meat out of my diet such as chicken and turkey. I truly thought this would be healthy and that not having these meats a part of my diet would make me feel better. Along with that, I have a huge passion for animals and something about eating them did not feel right to me. As time went on, I began to notice that my hair was thinning, I was becoming far too thin, and my nails were not growing. I immediately was in denial to the fact that my body was becoming unhealthy due to vegetariansim. The first year I was a vegetarian, I really had no idea how to eat correctly. The most important part of becoming a vegetarian or a vegan is knowing the correct proteins and carbohydrates one needs. The big issue with becoming a vegetarian is that many people do not know how to eat correctly and they end up eating too many carbs, just in place of protein from meat. If one does not know the correct way to get protein in their body without eating fish or meat, they often eat carb based foods which leads to gaining weight. Another issue with becoming a vegetarian is that the meals are often not filling which leads to unnecessary snacking. Some researchers suggest that vegetarians are more at risks for strokes. They also suggest that vegetarianism is not good for one’s brain health, leading to a “choline crisis”. Choline is often found in poultry and is an important nutrient for the brain and it’s functions. The most important foods for a vegetarian to eat are eggs, whole grains, peanuts, fruits, and vegetables. When people first become vegetarians, they often notice hair loss and that is due to a lack of iron, vitamin B, and zinc which are all found in meat. There are several protein and iron rich foods that vegetarians can eat for hair growth such as quinoa, tofu, lentils, nuts, and beans. Several nutritionists and dietitians believe that vegetarians can have mood problems. When I first starting researching vegetarianism, I learned that some researchers believe that eating meat improves one’s mood. Although there is not a whole lot of science on the idea that meat can improve mood, I found it very interesting. One of the biggest difficulties when becoming a vegetarian is the limited food places. For example, once I stopped being a vegetarian it was much easier for me to grab food on the way somewhere when I was in a rush. When I was a vegetarian, I always had to wake up extra early and prepare my own food. Although I enjoyed preparing my meals every now and then, it became extremely time consuming. Although there are difficulties when becoming a vegetarian, there are several positive aspects to it, but it is very important to research the steps on how to have a healthy diet when being a vegetarian.
Now, I would like to discuss how to be a successful vegetarian. When I was a vegetarian my sophomore year of college, I went to the grocery store every Monday with a list (vegetarian foods only) of foods that I could fill my pantry up with. It is important to always read the ingredients because sometimes there can be meat products in the food that you might not notice. Next, it is necessary to always plan out breakfast, lunch, and dinner. One mistake that many vegetarians face is missing one of the three meals because they did not plan accordingly. Making a lot of plant-based food in the beginning of the week and saving the left overs can also be very helpful. One negative aspect to vegetarianism is that is can be a pricey lifestyle. If one budgets their money correctly and budgets their groceries then being a vegetarian might not be so pricey. Another way to have a healthy die while being a vegetarian is always taking vitamins. Meat, fish, and shellfish have so many nutrients that the human body needs to function and vegetarians must find a way to supplement these nutrients. A doctor once told me that vegetarians are at a lower risk for cancer and diabetes. Along with that, vegetarian diets reduce the risk of heart disease. One important tip for vegetarians is making sure there is some source of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin E, and magnesium in their diets. One last tip is to not always assume that vegan products are the healthiest. For example, if people see vegan butter they might immediately assume that it is better for their diet than regular butter but that is not always true.
In the last part of my blog, I want to discuss how it feels to no longer be a vegetarian. Two years ago, I decided to start eating meat again and it was a very weird feeling. I heard from several people that it is very difficult to switch from not eating meat to eating meat. Personally, I felt a lot healthier once I included chicken and fish in my diet. I still do not eat red meat such as steak, veil, and pork, but I really enjoy chicken, salmon, and tuna. Although I was healthy when I was a vegetarian, I feel much more energized now that I have meat in my diet. Sometimes I feel guilty about eating meat, but I always remind myself that it is a part of the food chain and a way for humans to get the proper nutrients and vitamins they need. The best way to a healthy lifestyle is motivation, working out, eating natural foods, and always reading the ingredients in any food. I would like to post another blog for vegetarians that includes the best planted-based foods, recipes, and other nutritional facts.
