I dabbled in vegetarianism for years. I picked it up when it was convenient but threw in the towel when I smelled bacon. This is not surprising behavior, considering I did not reflect on my purpose behind this lifestyle.
Things changed, not all at once, but in stages. I met people who started to make me think differently. I began to consider my long-term health and the role that a plant-based diet might have on my longevity. I even craved vegetables because I knew how to prepare them.
My meat-eating partner started to choose plant-based meals over his former hangout, the steakhouse. Apparently, it was not only possible to change; it was possible to love the new lifestyle more than we imagined.
I know that vegetarianism is not for everyone, but we can all agree in the benefits of more plants in all of our diets.
Here are some of the ways my partner and I began to make the transition. These ideas may help you to edge towards veggie life slowly, without feeling deprived (and maybe, maybe even liking it):
I used to be “all or nothing” girl, not seeing the point of the in-between. Now I see that there is benefit in the in the grey areas.
If your friends are raving about kale, and you don’t get what the fuss is about, guess what? There are other vegetables. Try a meatless Monday and if it goes well, you can have other meatless days of the week. It doesn’t have to be all at once.
If you have gotten into the habit of a meat and potatoes diet, you may feel that there is only one way to get food on the table in a hurry. However, there are so many amazing plant-based recipes that can be made in advance that are just as easy, if not easier than what you are already making in the kitchen.
Follow plant-based blogs, buy some cookbooks, or even cheat a little with a meal kit delivery service. Maybe polenta with stewed mushrooms will become your new go-to meal. Deliciousness is the easiest way to stay on the plant-based track.
I lived in Thailand for a couple of months and it didn’t take me long to stop saying, “I like spicy food.” (I quickly realized it is all relative.) Not everyone likes hot sauce, but vegetables (and fruits) shine with a little spice.
Refresh your spice cabinet. Try pumpkin pie spice in your oatmeal or coffee, and a little cumin in your bean chili. Roasted potatoes are even better with a little sprinkle of something, especially if that something is a flavor that makes your mouth water.
While veganism used to be a hippie concept, now vegan menu items are sprouting in the most unlikely places.
Ask a vegetarian friend of yours why they decided to go that route. Watch a Netflix documentary on the subject, such as “Vegucated” or “Forks Over Knives,” or read a book that isn’t too preachy like “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” or “The Humane Economy.”
Everyone has a cause that will help them stick to a goal. Whether it’s animals, the environment or your own health, knowing this will help you to stay with a new way of eating.
Making any shift in your diet requires a certain amount of mindfulness. Even a small change requires checking in: Do you have the same amount of energy? How is your digestion?
Notice how your body responds to more plants and tweak as necessary rather than giving up. Many people find that they feel great with more plants, which is a great incentive to continue.
Edited by Jody Smith