For the past four years I have been a devote vegetarian. Well, maybe devote isn’t the right word. I’ve had my share of mistakes and mishaps. In fact, recently I learned that imitation crab, which is often found in crab rangoons, is still made of meat, just not crab meat. My point is, you can eat plant-based foods or become a vegetarian without the fears and pressure a large majority of the vegan community pushes on the public.
I first became a vegetarian in 2017 after watching the film, What the Health, on Netflix. I was unhappy with how I looked and decided it was time for a change. Although I truly love and care for animals, I became a vegetarian for my own health.
Health benefits to eating plant based
- Lowers your risk for heart disease
- Reduce changes of getting type 2 diabetes
- Reduce inflammation in body
- Lower blood cholesterol levels
Prior to becoming a vegetarian, I was a big meat lover. I ate almost all meat, so you can image my families surprise when I decided to become a vegetarian. I constantly ate processed meats and frozen meals. When discovering recipes and meals I could eat as a new vegetarian, I was amazed at how much was out there. Many cultures have numerous vegetarian dishes and some of my favorite meals were already meatless.
A lot of people consider vegetarianism and eating plant-based to be expensive because of Western society. If you want to eat fake meat and diary free cheese, yeah, that is going to be expensive. But there are numerous cultures around the world that get their protein from sources other than meat.
Non-meat sources of protein
- Chickpeas
- Cauliflower
- Tofu
- Nuts
- Quinoa
There is also some evidence that the meat industry is bad for the environment, and as big advocate for saving the planet, it was just another reason for me to get on board.
My advice to those considering becoming a vegetarian is to take it at your own pace. Many of us have this idea in our heads that if we want to become a vegetarian we have to quit eating meat cold turkey (pun fully intended), but that is far from the truth. You could cut out one kind of meat from your diet and progress from there, or not. For some being a vegetarian just isn’t feasible. It might be too expensive or just not good for your health. Do what is right for you!
