After spending the past few months in quarantine, all the time to myself has given me a lot to reflect on, but has also left me bored at some points. In July, I wanted to change something in my life, to try something new and to be spontaneous. I decided to try being a vegetarian for the first time ever. I had been eating animal products my entire life, but never thought to stop eating meat. As it turns out, it was one of the best decisions I made for my health. There’s so many reasons to try it out and to see if it’s an option for you!
1. It’s not that hard!
When I first stopped eating meat, I wondered what I would eat to make myself feel full. I was used to eating chicken almost every day and wasn’t sure I would get enough protein. However, a few quick Google searches suggested dozens of brands of meat substitutes that would help me get protein and still eat pretty much all the same foods. I quickly realized how many foods I already ate that were vegetarian. Adding tofu, chickpeas, roasted veggies, or any meat substitute to my meals was such an easy switch, barely taking any time to adjust. Every grocery store has had more than enough options of yummy food that never leaves me hungry. Living a vegetarian lifestyle shouldn’t be restrictive. Instead it should introduce a whole new group of foods and meals to your life! Eating more whole foods that are less processed than fast food that included meat gave me so much more energy than I had before!
2. It’s good for you!
Everyone always says this, but it might be surprising how true it actually is that being vegetarian is good for you. The absence of red and processed meats often leads to the consumption of less saturated fat and LDL cholesterol, which has been linked to less heart disease, lower rates of multiple cancers, and less incidence of many chronic diseases. With a vegetarian diet, the risk of consuming pesticides, herbicides, as well as diseases like salmonella can all be avoided. Also associated with a vegetarian is a longer lifespan with more energy and less health issues in elderly people!
3. It’s great for the environment!
It’s true that large corporations are one of the leading causes of climate change. Meat production plants cost the U.S. tons of emissions, and produce huge amounts of waste. The New York Times reports that livestock accounts for up to 18% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. As a vegetarian, less water is used, less emissions are produced, and less land is used to produce the food you eat. There is no doubt that not eating meat is more sustainable.
There’s a million ways to start a vegetarian diet, but I suggest looking for sources of protein that aren’t meat (eggs, tofu, tempeh, nuts) and trying to incorporate more vegetables and fruits into every meal. Some of my favorite vegetarian meat substitutes from the grocery store are from the brands Gardein, MorningStar Farms, Field Roast, and any veggie burger I can find. At the end of the day, eating food that makes you happy and makes you feel good is all that matters, but experimenting with new lifestyles and meals is a great way to explore and find food that works for you. Remember that no food is bad for you; treat your body as well as you can and fuel it with what makes you happy.