Advice for New Vegetarians About What to Eat

By Kelly Moss


This may seem a bit surprising, but many new vegetarians really add weight when they stop consuming meat. As a vegetarian, you should adapt to a wholly new vegetarian food pyramid. Years of eating patterns must be re-programmed. The golden rule of vegetarianism is that you will need protein to feel full. If you are still hungry after a meal, then you most likely didn't eat enough protein. Many new vegetarians gain weight because they finish up not getting full after a meal. In turn, they eat more and start nibbling. However this also makes becoming vegetarian is an excellent fast weight loss diet plan.

Vegetarian meat substitutes

As a new vegetarian, you must make an active attempt to replace animal products, not just banish it, from your diet. If you're doubtful the easy way to replace meat in your diet, go to the supermarket and purchase a few different meat alternatives to try at home. There is a lot more than tofu available, so dive in and start experimenting. Meat substitutes can typically be found in the frozen food, produce, or canned food aisles.

If you're unsatisfied with the meat substitutes you've selected, try cooking them differently or try a different brand. Be patient! You will find some you like and others you do not. While fake meat might smell, look, and taste like the real deal, it will either need significantly more or less cooking time (dependent on the product).

Vegetarian protein shakes, bars and powders

To replace meat, consider adding your favorite protein shake, bar, or powder to your daily schedule. While meat replacements are straightforward to contribute to your routine, they don't generally contain enough protein to deal with your total daily requirement. To supplement the fake meat in your diet, you will need to diversify what you eat.

Many protein additions are best consumed for breakfast. With most folks skipping breakfast anyway, a quick protein drink or bar is an easy way to get your morning boost and your protein. If you've tried different protein powders and bars and not been pleased, try a Slim Fast or Boost type drink. They taste like chocolate milk (or strawberry, vanilla, and so on.), and they don't have the pastiness or heaviness of other protein products. Boost makes a protein-heavy drink that contains 15 grams of protein, which isn't exactly a steak, but makes for a pretty easy vegetarian breakfast.

Don't forget to vary your proteins. Most meat substitutes are made of soy. Attempt to therefore consume a protein product that includes whey as well. Many new vegetarians add egg white powder to protein smoothies they make. Remember, all of the protein is in the yolk!

The easiest way to order at a restaurant the vegetarian way

Among the new habits you must develop as a vegetarian, you'll need to re-learn how to order at a trattoria. Don't ask a wait person, for example, if they can advocate a vegetarian dish. Why?

Because vegetarian to some means no red meat, to others it implies no chicken broth or lard. Instead , ask the wait person specifically for what you need. There is little worse than not asking for specifics and then being served something you're not going to eat. You'll soon discover the best restaurants for your new diet in your neighborhood. Many eateries now have vegetarian sections on their menus. Exploit these with the same caveats as indicated.

Always be ready!

As a new vegetarian, you might find yourself over at a friend's house at meal time with zilch to eat. You do not need your host to make you something special, so be prepared. Carry a jar of almonds, cashews, or peanuts in the automobile. They're high in protein, won't melt (like many protein bars), and don't have expiration dates. Having an alternative snack with you at every point will help you reduce enticements to have meat and fast food and will make eating away from home less stressed.




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