Should I?

[Fluffy_Guinea]

I have been thinking ever since finding out veal was made out of baby cows that I should become a vegetarian, It just makes me sick that they make it out of baby cows but why should that be any diffrent it's sick that they do that to all animals this opened my eyes I really never thought about what I was eating. But I'm not a big fan of veggies and fruits so it might be hard..any ideas?

[landhermie]

That's the same thing I thought when my mom said that she could never eat veal, but could eat any other cow. All I said was, "All cows have feelings" or something like that. I think she was implying that I could actually eat veal.

[TrekkiePiggies]

I went veggie in the 7th grade. I was not a fan of fruits and veggies either, and they were pretty expensive in my area (Alaska) to boot. But, the best thing I found was to try new ways of cooking veggies and preparing fruits. Sometimes the old cook's adage is true: the sauce's the thing!

For instance, do you like spaghetti sauce? Try it on new things, like cheese tortellini, polenta, baked potatoes, and toasted flatbread. Grab a jar of your favorite brand of marinara or other meatless sauce (or make your own), and sautee a chopped onion and maybe some bell pepper in a bit of olive oil with some vegetarian sweet sausage (such as Morningstar Farms Breakfast Patties/Links, or Gimme Lean Sausage Style). Hey presto, you've got a very healthy, veggie-riffic sauce to combine with your favorite starch!

Mix a chopped banana and a small spoonful of peanut butter into a serving of plain oatmeal for a high-protein, low-sugar breakfast. Try vinagrette dressings on salad greens with cheddar cheese, apples, and dried cranberries. Have some wholegrain crackers and a bit of cheese with a piece of fruit for a light lunch. Try fat-free cottage cheese with fresh or canned pears for breakfast or a big snack. Try some Middle-Eastern or Asian recipes and incorporate yogurt sauces and soy-based sauces in your cooking to liven things up.

Do you like beans and lentils? There are a million and one tasty bean and lentil dishes you can make, from chili and burritos to Chinese steamed buns and Indian dhal (my fave!). Browse recipe books or go online to get recipes and ideas.

Going veggie does not require you to love beans and tofu with all your soul, but it helps. If you want something that looks/tastes familiar, I highly recommend Morningstar Farms's frozen products--they have meatless corndogs, chicken patties, burgers, and more. The Quorn brand is also quite tasty, and uses a different protein source (mmmm.....mycoprotein!). Yves brand has some great meatless deli slices too, for when you want something like a turkey sandwich.

Start with foods you find comfortable (sandwiches, pizza, pasta, whatever), and start adding in veggies and lean proteins. Do a "switcheroo" and replace meat protein with veggie protein. DON'T just take the meat out of your diet and expect to be healthy! You need a good 50g protein every day (more if you're still growing). Remember: going veggie isn't just about the veggies. You've got to look after your protein intake too, and keep an eye on your vitamins and minerals. Iron and calcium are the big two (especially if you are a girl or woman), and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) is something you'll need to supplement with if you go vegan (vegans eat no animal products at all).

[Fluffy_Guinea]

I wouldn't be able to go vegan I love cheese it's actually one of my favorite foods and my mom would say no she doesn't want me to go vegetarian anyway she thinks I won't get enough protein which is what I'm worrying about. I don't like beans and I've never had lentils just a fact but I'm very picky. Thanks for all the ideas though Trekkiepiggies I may run this through my mom I know we have a vegetarian cook book around here my brother went vegetarian about five years ago and he's not anymore he got really sick for some reason it had something to do with his blood I know that. But I'll go check some recipies out I really want to do this .

[PhoenixFeather]

Keep in mind that vegetarianism doesn't have to be an "all or nothing" proposition. Even if you only reduce the amount of meat you eat, you are still helping lots of animals. So, find a few non-meat meals that you enjoy, and start there. Eat meat-free a few days per week at first, and then expand until you don't want or miss the meat. Good luck!

[petz-r-life]

I went veg at the start of 6th grade, and I am going vegan once I turn 21. I highly recommend it. I look, feel, and think better.