Apr 16 2008
Vegetarian does not have to be all or nothing
Many people contemplate becoming a vegetarian at one point or another. Some consider a meatless diet because they feel sorry for the animals. Others think a vegetarian way of eating will improve their health.
However, out of those well-intentioned people very few actually follow through and change their way of eating. The idea of completely giving up meat forms a big stumbling block for most.
For some reason, when it comes to vegetarian cooking, most people only see the “extremist” approach: either give up meat completely or you might as well include the meat in every meal. This “all or nothing” thinking becomes a mental barrier that keeps a lot of people from eating more vegetarian meals.
How about finding a happy medium? Drastic changes to one’s diet never last. Do not beat yourself up for eating meat. There is no need to give it up completely. Just try eating a little less of it, that’s all.
Start right now by making one meatless dinner every week. Keep everything else the same. Eating just one vegetarian dinner every week is definitely doable and easy. It will be just a nice change instead of deprivation!
If you think going meatless one day a week would not make a big difference, consider these simple numbers: if everyone ate vegetarian meals just one day a week, it would save one out of seven animals. Out of 92 million animals that are consumed in the United States alone every year, over 13 million animals would be spared. This is a huge impact!
In addition to doing good for our planet, you’ll enjoy great health benefits by including more fruits and vegetables in your diet. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, nutrients, anti-oxidants and fiber - all the things that are good for us. They can help with weight loss and prevent diseases. Numerous studies show that diets high in fruits and vegetables reduce the risks of deadly diseases such as cancer, heart attack and stroke.
Also, by trying out new dishes, you will break your food routine and discover new tasty recipes and food combinations. It’s really nice to eat something different once in a while instead of being stuck in a food rut.
This simple shift of mindset from “all or nothing” to a happy middle ground will do wonders. Vegetarian eating does not need to be a full-time commitment, sacrifice and strive for unattainable perfection. Just do what you can to eat a little less meat, have fun trying new vegetarian meals and enjoy the benefits.
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About The Author
Melanie Mendelson is the author of “Vegetarian Main Dishes - Yummy Recipes That Even Meat Eaters Will Love”.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melanie_Mendelson
loved this post!
its so true, that we tend to be all or nothing when we think about food.. i know i tend to think that way, at least.
This is a great post. I just went vegeterian and it is a huge adjustment for me. I don’t want to consider adding meat back, but I am astounded at how many products have milk, milk byproducts, cheese or eggs in them.
I would like to be vegan, but I’m afraid I’d never get that all figured out. I guess the compromise for me is not to feel bad for not being a strict vegan. This post made me feel much better about it. Thanks!
Variety is best! I’m 60-70% vegetarian. People always think I’m vegetarian too! I must have that vegetarian aura or something! but the truth is I eat chicken and fish and very rarely red meat! I do feel really awful about eating red meat however and that’s probably 90% of why I don’t eat it often. Cows are just so darn cute!
anyways, I welcome anyone here to my blog where I share 60-70% vegetarian meal plans, tons of tips on anti aging and disease prevention thru natural health!