Going Vegetarian

It's been a while since I last wrote, and as I write this right now, I'm researching vegetarianism.

I am now a vegetarian. Well, a Lacto-Ovo-Pesco Vegetarian, meaning that I still eat fish (mainly salmon), eggs & dairy products. Some vegetarians are vegans, meaning they eat NO animal products what so ever-or dairy.

My decision to go Vegetarian is mainly spiritual and healthwise.

I believe that when an animal is killed, there are certain energies given out at the time of death (just like when humans die), and I for one do not wish to take on that negative energy of the dead animal. Now, I still eat fish so of course I'm taking in a bit of it, but not nearly as much as if I were eating regular meat and poultry, as fish are much, much smaller in size.

I also believe (and have valid research to back me up) that vegetarians are healthier. We are forced to eat more fruits and vegetables, and supplement the lack of meat with other healthier options such as nuts, whole grains, wheat, beans, soy, and in my case-dairy.

It's a proven fact that vegetarians (on average) live longer, healther lives and are healthier all the way around. Vegetarians are at less risk for heart disease and diabetes, and often have a more nutritious diet than meat eaters.

Some famous vegetarians include: Shania Twain, Christie Brinkley, Brooke Sheilds, Rue McClannahan (Golden Girls-my fave show), Alec Baldwin, Natalie Portman, Sarah McLachlan, William Blake (my favorite poet from the 1700s), Mark Twain, Susan B. Anthony (major feminist-go girl!), Liv Tyler, Chelsea Clinton and Seal. So, it's obvious that I'm not alone in my quest....

Let me say that I have NO problem with people who aren't vegetarian, I do not look down upon them, I say, eat what you want to eat, it's your life, your health and your choice; but for me, this is the best thing.

I was very sick for a very long time, actually my whole life, but really, really sick from February 2005-August 2005, and I believe that part of that (along with pent up stress, anger, hostility and frustration) was that fact that I ate meat. Since I've stopped eating meat, I feel better, healthier and even happier.

With that being said, I am only about a month (maybe six weeks) into this journey and it IS a tough one. Society, especially American society, makes it rather difficult to be vegetarian, however, I still believe I am doing the right thing for ME.

Just like anything else in life though, the decision to become vegetarian is a very personal one, and not right for everybody.

I have never liked meat in high quantities-even growing up, I might have had some chicken or roast once or twice a week-I grew up mainly on Italian food (spaghetti), salad and fresh fruits and vegetables from our 1,500sq.ft. garden-so I've always loved veggies! I ate salad everyday of my life pretty much my whole life, and to this day-there's really nothing more satisfying than a yummy salad with everything but the sink in it and my homemade dressing (I am the dressing queen y'all). So, going full vegetarian hasn't been that huge of a change for me as I've always eaten a massive amount of fruits and vegetables.

I'm finding myself having to like beans-all beans, not just black or green. Now, I eat canelinni beans (my new favorite), kidney beans, chick peas, and of course, black and green beans. (Still won't touch lima beans though-yuck) Next week, my goal is to try lentils-again. Canned beans (or even fresh packaged beans you soak and boil) are rather cheap and very hearty. You can add beans to any salad, soup or meal with ease.

Another thing I'm adding to my diet is a daily 1/2c. of oatmeal (you're supposed to eat 1c. but my stomach is small). A daily yogurt, which actually I've eaten since I was about 18, everyday. And bread, whole grain or whole wheat-either in a sandwich, or with butter (hey, I gotta have some vice y'all), or with peanut butter.

I'm making some very interesting things, basic and simple though, and I'm really excited to tell you all about it later in this entry.......

Aside from becoming vegetarian, I'm also trying to cut WAY down on my sugar intake. Vegetables and fruits (especially) have their own natural surgars in them, and I'm finding that dark chocolate is the only sweet I really like now. And believe me, this was MUCH harder than going vegetarian. I have always had THE biggest sweet tooth, binged on candy and sugar infused crap my whole life-but now, I don't miss it.

Okay, yesterday, I had a handful of M&M's and a handful of Skittles, but you know, everything in moderation-I think that dieting (for whateve reason, in whatever way) is NOT about depravation-but moderation.

My mother always told me that there has to be balance in life, with everything, especially food. Anything in moderation is fine, anything is excess is not. I don't like store bought cookies anymore (although I never really did), can't stand Oreos now (one of my all-time favorites before a few months ago), and don't care to gorge on sugar ladden treats.

To me, a fresh bunch of grapes, an apple and strawberries are just as great, if not better, than any of the previously named stuff. In fact, I ADORE fresh fruit, always have! That's one of my favorite things about summer (the abundance of fresh, juicy, ripe fruit) and one of my least favorite things about winter (the lack of it). The point is, I'm finding that my desire for sweet things that are not naturally sweet, is going away-thank God.

I also believe that my skin is healthier-my skin is glowing now, even without an ounce of makeup on it, I have a glow to my skin and I love that! It's something I just noticed a few days ago. I still have acne, but there is no amount of adding, subtracting, scrubbing or dieting that'll fix that-it's just there, period.

I find that a once a week trip to the grocery store is all I need to make my vegetarian lifestyle work. What's harder is eating out, choosing vegetarian options in an American reastraunt is quite challenging, as this country is absolutely a carnivious one.

Anyhow, I'm writing about this today because I'm finding myself having to defend my decision about going vegetarian.

Even my friends and family are questioning it; I'll get blank stares or quiet silences on the phone. I'll get the "why?," or "hunh?" or "are you sure? what are you gonna eat?" Even today, my grandma asked, "don't you get tired of just vegetables?"

No, I don't. I mean, yeah, part of me still misses meat, but the truth is, the last time I ate it (which was Sept. 28th) I felt sick for days. I was naseaus, tired and dragging my feet. Yes, I do get tired anyhow, but like any part of a healthy lifestyle-you have good days and bad days. Not eating meat is not why I'm tired, I'm more tired if/when I do ea tit. But, the point is, yes, I get tired of JUST veggies, but I don't eat JUST veggies; I eat all kinds of things as I stated before: veggies, fruits, oatmeal, bread, dairy, peanut butter, cheese, salmon (okay so I'm not complete vegetarian-but salmon IS healthy for you), nuts and beans.

Here are my tips for HEALTHY VEGETARIAN EATING:

*Start vegetarian, don't just go vegan overnight. Vegan means no meat, no diary and no animal products what so ever. At this time, I do not ever intend to go vegan, as I adore dairy such as yogurt, eggs and cheese. But, it's a personal choice, either way, go vegetarian first.

*Don't go vegetarian overnight either. Weed out the meat in your diet; if you eat meat twice a week (whether is be poultry or beef), cut it down to once a week. Like anything else, just cutting your body off from anything it's vitally used to is NOT good or healthy. For me, I didn't eat meat even weekly before I became vegetarian, so I simply cut it down to once or twice a month.
*LISTEN TO YOUR BODY: before you decide to go vegetarian, eat some meat and really FEEL how you feel afterwards. Does your stomach hurt? Are you overly full? Do you feel like you have a boat anchor in your stomach? (Like I did). Are you extra tired or nervous? Do you feel drained? These are all signs that your body doesn't like the meat, and all of these things happened to me-which IS one of the main reasons I decided to go vegetarian.

Actually, I'd say LISTEN TO YOUR BODY anyway. The biggest problem with a lot of people is that they DON'T listen to their bodies-especially when it comes to food. We overeat, even when we're not hungry or already full. We undereat when we're tired, stressed or busy because we just don't have the time. BIG mistake there! Vegetarian diet or not. We continue to play music, have the TV on or fight with someone when we really just want QUIET. Think about it, if you REALLY listened to your body and your inner voice, what would you really hear? You'd probably be very suprised. My body tells me so much everyday, I don't mean it literally speaks to me, I'm just in tuned with it. I've always been though, that comes from being so sick so much of my life-after that, you have to listen to your body-or else.

Anyhow, the point is this: if your body IS craving meat, and I mean craving for DAYS (at least 3-4) , than eat some. See what happens. You might have an adverse (although NOT allergic) reaction to it like I did, which will then make your decision crystal clear.

*Do not try to become vegetarian and carb/fat/sugar free all at once. EVERYTHING IN MODERATION. Do ONE diet (or health) change at time.

*Watch your salt-intake though: don't over salt your veggies or vegetarian meals!

*Watch sugar intake-veggies are actually naturally sweet, most of them, really! Allow your pallot to get used to their natural sweetness!

*Start with already vegetarian meals/ side dishes such as: Spaghetti (with meat-free sauce), quesadillas, salads (absolutely endless), french toast, veggie sandwiches, mashed potatoes, corn, guacamole, salsa and chips!

*Add 2-3 whole grain servings a day. Such as cereal, oatmeal, whole wheat bread, or bulgar.

*Don't forget the cheese: all sorts of creamy, soft and hard cheeses-swiss, provolone, brie, cream, bleu, cheddar, goat,American, etc, etc, etc-the world of cheese (like wine) is endless!!!

*Try Tofu again: all different ways. A great way to try tofu is to go to your favorite Chineese Food Restraunt and ask for a SIDE of a tofu dish. It can be tofu with beans, or tofu with veggies, your choice. Try it, see how you like it. The great thing about tofu is that is DOES take on the flavor of whatever you cook it with and I find that the Chineese (or any Asian) really know how to prepare it (tofu) in a yummy way! At Panda Express, I love the Tofu & Vegetables! You can also make your own stirfry at home, but instead of meat, substitue tofu. This sounds like a no brainer but is worth mentioning. You might find you like Tofu, and if you do, great, if you don't, that's fine too. You have to get used to it, actually, you have to get used to ALOT on a vegetarian diet. Some changes will be easier than others.

*Try Soy Milk, Soy Cheese or Soy Ice Cream: for me, I HATE Soy Milk and Soy Cheese, tried it, hated it. But, Soy Ice Cream is pretty good. Unforunately, a lot of people (such as my grandma's husband) are allergic to soy, so if you are, obviously, don't do this tip. If you are allergic to soy than being vegetarian is going to be a little bit tougher.

*Pick everyday vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, and celery to start with. See what you can do with them. I love each of these vegetables raw-they're a great snack and very healthy.

*Try Herbs: whether fresh or dried, food without herbs isn't much fun! Try all different herbs like basil, oregano, sage, thyme, dill, majarum, taragon-as well as off-kilter herbs such as winter savory and lemon verbenum. Herbs add such flavor and character to ANTYING without adding fat, calories or any kind of animal product.

*If you like onions and garlic, get ready to eat ALOT of them. Be sure to have your toothbrush, floss and mouth wash nearby though so you don't gross out your sweetie with your garlic breath.

*Pick a favorite vegetable, or two: mine is zuchinni-I LOVE it. Anyway it comes; raw, cooked, sautee'd, broiled, whatever....SO delicious. But, you may find that you love bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, potatoes (okay, who DOESN'T like potatoes?)-find that favorite veggie or two and play around with it (them.) Fix it ALL different ways and see what you can do with it.

*Don't forget your starches such as potatoes & corn. Of course, don't overdo these and just live on them, but they are vegetables too-and very yummy ones at that! Corn is a great addition to salad, soup, or on it's own.

*Chop, dice and store your veggies properly when you bring them home from the grocery store. Really, one of the vital parts of snacking as a vegetarian is making sure the veggies are ready to eat at a moment's notice. And also, this makes preparing meals (esp. dinner) much quicker and easier!

*Know that your body, and pallot, will undergo major changes while you're becoming a vegetarian. So, be paitent with it, and go slow.

*TRY, TRY, TRY-try new vegetables, new foods and new flavors-you never know, you may end up liking whatever it is your trying. In fact, I make it a point to try a new food at least once a month!

*Learn to make a really good vegetarian soup-yes, they take some work and practice. Yes, they involve lots of chopping, dicing, measuring, and babysitting. But, it's WORTH it. Once you master that "signature" homemade vegetarian soup, you can then make it in HUGE quanities and freeze it and store it. That way, you'll always have a vegetarian meal on hand. My personal favorite vegetarian soup is vegetarian minestrone', oh my gosh, SO delicious!

*For a delicious vegetarian sandwich try this: spread cream cheese on two slices of whole wheat bread-scatter the bread with dill, fresh parsley and chopped scallions. For the "filling," slice cucumbers, avacados, tomatoes, bell peppers, cheese (provolone or cheddar) and spinach. Layer the veggies up on the sandwich and add a splash of vinger or olive oil if you want. You can also toast the bread beforehand. This sandwhich is delicious, crunchy, satisfying and filling!

*Get good at making homeade salad dressings: experiment with different olive oils, vinegars and herbs! Don't forget the garlic too! A great binder is dijon mustard and or honey! My favorite is this: lemon juice, olive oil, oregano, thyme, dijon mustard, garlic, salt and pepper. Mix together and enjoy! Also, just a good quality extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice w/ parmessan cheese over any salad is absolutely scrumptious and delicious!

*Realize that your family may not want to go vegetarian, so try and understand that. You may still have to purchase and prepare meat for them, but you don't have to eat it. Although, it's also a good idea to get them trying some of your new vegetarian dishes-they might end up liking them! For instance, I LOVE sautee'd zuchinni and califlower with garlic, paprika and thyme-and so does my mom! We love it b/c it's SO incredibly yummy!

*Choose Olive Oil (Extra-Virgin preferably), Peanut Oil or Walnut Oil to cook with-it's the good kind of fat and good for the heart. I used to think that EVOO was bad to cook with, but it isn't-it adds a lot of flavor to anything. EVOO is an essential part of any healthy diet and it's great in salad dressings, for sauteeing, or anything. Plus, there's really nothing better than finding a really good quality olive oil-it's like wine, so go on an intential search to find some really great olive oils in your area.

*Don't overdo your sweets or fried foods-part of being vegetarian is being healthy-so frying all your vegetables kind of defeats the purpose. Sure, fried veggies are great once in a while, but get used to them being raw, sauteed or roasted.

*Roast vegetables-their natural sugars come out and they get really sweet, creamy and savory. I know you'll love it!

*Never underestimate the power of whole wheat pasta & rice-you can add either to anything to make a bland veggie meal something hearty and filling!!!

*Hail the avacado-it adds creaminess, texture, flavor and heart healthy fats to anything. Add avacado to a salad, have an avacado as a side or of course, make or buy, guacamole. Who doesn't love gaucamole? It's the BEST!!!

*Hail the beans-green, black, white, pinto, navy, red, lima-whatever. They're a great source of protien, iron and even calcium. Canned beans are a breeze to add and or prepare-just open the can-can't get much simpler than that!

*Eat yogurt, or eggs everyday. 1 cup of yogurt or 1-2 eggs, or BOTH! You have to have calcium and protien in the vegetarian diet. If you're going vegan, of course, omit this.

*Learn to love oatmeal-it's so good, and so good for you. You can buy instant oatmeal or the cook over the stove kind. You can add dried fruits, nuts, maple syrup, honey or brown sugar to it to make it tastier. My personal favorite is 1/2c. of oatmeal, cooked. Add 2 tbsp. of milk, 1 tbsp. of pure maple syrup (or honey), and a handful of dried cranberries (or raisins), or nuts. So sweet, so natural, and so yummy! Full of fiber, a shot of calcium from the milk and even a bit of fruit!

*Read labels-learn the "disguise" terms for meat and other animal products.

*Take a calcium supplement-just to be safe!

*Drink LOTS of water (which you should do anyway, vegetarian or not).

*Be paitient with yourself, and others. In life, and your new vegetarian lifestyle-it takes time, adjustment and paitence, so be kind to yourself-always!

For more information, please visist this website:
http://www.jtcwd.com/vegie/

That is the best vegetarian website that I found, but here are some others:

The Vegetarian Resource Group:
http://www.vrg.org/

The Healthful Living Organization:
http://www.healthfullivingintl.org/

Vegetarian Times: (great yummy recipies)
http://www.vegetariantimes.com/

The Vegetarian Society: (in England)
http://www.vegsoc.org/

International Vegetarian Union:
http://www.ivu.org/

Many Veggie Blessings,
-SL

P.S. Happy Birthday Dana! My childhood friend is 22 today, and I'm not far behind her! Hope you have a great one Dana!