So you might know all about being vegetarian, you might of heard a few things about what its like and its intriguing to you, or you may have the very common questions like, “What do you eat?” or “Will I get sick” or “Will I get skinny, if I am vegetarian, or many other questions?”

I can not personally tell you what it is like to transition from eating meat to giving it up, as I have been vegetarian since birth, meaning I have not eaten any meat, fish, eggs or any products that require killing a living creature, but I have grown up around many people who have made this change in their diets. I can tell you that it will totally transform the way you feel, think and look. I have taught many people how to incorporate a vegetarian diet into their lives. It requires becoming conscious and aware of what you put in your body and learning how to eat a balance of your proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, fibre, enzymes and fats, healthy fats that is.

“Why would I want to become a vegetarian?” you may ask. Or you may ask, “How do I do even start?” Perfect! You ask all the right questions.

Vegetarianism is the practice of refraining from eating any meat of animals of the land or sea and also eggs, but not dairy as many are lead to believe. The earliest recorded history comes from India, with the practice of Ahimsa or non-violence. There are many references to the ancient Greeks, the Italians and during the Renaissance era, who refrained from meat eating. There are many reasons why people become vegetarian, Health, Ethical, Spiritual, Environmental, Religious, Moral or Economic. Whatever the reason, they all have a positive impact on your body and mind, the people around you and the environment.

At first it may be difficult to cut the taste of blood from your diet, as meat has hormones and salts in it that is addictive, but if you begin with just cutting red meat out to start with and then chicken, fish and eggs will follow easily, if you choose to. You will see the difference it makes in so many ways in your life. In doing this you need to learn how to live a balanced diet, so you are getting all the proteins, vitamin and minerals you need, or you will become the cliché, skinny, ratty, malnourished, temperamental vegetarian, that you may have come across in your travels. This is generally due to an imbalance in their diet, whether they are lacking proteins, B vitamins or some other nutrient that is needed by the body to function efficiently.

So a few easy steps to becoming healthy:

* Introduce new foods in gradually, while replacing the meat with other non-animal proteins, such as bean curd (tofu), seitan (gluten or wheat protein) or beans and legumes.

* One or two days a week, choose to have an all-vegetarian diet. You will feel the difference.

* Get acquainted with the ingredients that are out there to cook with. Be adventurous and creative. There are so many delicious combinations of food that you can choose from.

* Buy a cookbook or cookbooks that excite you. There are also many monthly magazines that give you fresh ideas each issue. Look through and see what type of cooking appeals to you. There are so many styles to choose from. There is wholesome earthy types of food, quick and easy dishes, raw food, decadent and rich, very healthy or comfort food. I personally like a balance of all the above.

* Go to your local farmers market and try new vegetables to see what you like. You can buy the same vegetable and cook it so many different ways. E.g. Chard can be used in soups, lasagne, bakes, stir-fries, pastries, turnovers and wraps. Have fun with cooking and creating new recipes that you can share with people.

* Every week pick a theme from a country and cook dishes that are all from that country. E.g. Mexico could be something different every day. Empanadas, Tacos, Fajitas, Tamales, Nachos, Burritos, Gorditas, Gazpacho, Tortilla soup, etc. You can serve each meal with a salad and some rice. This is an easy way to do it, because you can get all the regular ingredients that are used for the one week, as each country has certain ingredients that they regularly use in cooking, i.e., Italian cooking uses tomatoes, eggplant, Basil, and Garlic. Thai cooking uses coconut milk, lemongrass, limes, cilantro, basil, chilli and fresh vegetables.

Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Coming Up This Week:

TUES- HEALTH BENEFITS

WED- RESTAURANT PROFILE- DOWN TO EARTH

THURS- INTERVIEW WITH SPECIAL GUEST

FRI- LIFESTYLE, MEDITATION, YOGA, ETC