Vegetarians (pescatarian/lacto-ovos: Help on becoming one! Please and thank you

[Nana_4]

Hey GaG members,

I'm 20 years old and a pretty fit girl. I've always been physically active and into eating healthy. Ever since 8th grade I have wanted to become a vegetarian, but for how strict my parents are, I was never able to. Now that I'm 20, and I planning on moving out sometime soon, I want to become a vegetarian.

For the past few years I have stayed away from white bread, real butter, high fat/fructose foods. I eat boiled eggs quite a bit, but I do not drink/eat dairy products because of my lactose problems and the disgusting crap in it. have also cut down largely on meat, and want to cut it out completely.

How would I go about becoming a true vegetarian? I do love fish and seafood, so becoming a pescatarian is what I leaning towards.

I understand doing it gradually and day-by-day is best, but what is some other advice you would give?

Thanks in advance (:

Updates

+1 y

I also take Omega's and vitamins daily.

[DanAG]

Just stop eating meat. If you love fish and seafood then eat it.

Keep in mind that healthy eating is more about what you do eat than what you don't. So always look at it from that point of view. I bring this up because you mentioned a lot of things you quit eating, or plan on quitting, but you didn't mention healthy foods that you eat. I've known several people who made this mistake. They quit eating this, and quit eating that, but it was one-sided because the rest of their diet was crap.

When I became a vegetarian it wasn't planned. I was literally in the middle of eating a meat sandwich. I stopped and looked at it and thought "this is gross, I don't want it" so I stopped eating it. I didn't eat meat again for five years.

Just remember to get lots of good stuff in you. And try not to go overboard like some people do.

[GeorgeMack]

I went vegan in a similar manner. I just got tired of eating animal meats, dairy, and eggs. I haven't wanted to eat the junk since.

[Nana_4]

Thanks!

I do see your point about just mentioning what I don't eat, however I do eat a pretty healthy-health conscious diet. For mornings I usually eat oatmeal with flax whole wheat bread, or boiled eggs and flax whole wheat bread, both with fruit and tea. For lunch I usually eat a salad with a dairy-free yogurt, or a sandwich. Dinner is a bit hard for me to get in everyday with work and school, so I either eat what my mom made, a cereal/protein bar (if I work out), or nothing.

(cont'd)

[Nana_4]

CONT'D 2:

I really don't eat all that unhealthy things. Once a week I let myself cheat with a donut or something, but other than that I really stay away from that crap, as it makes me feel gross.

That's pretty cool how you two just decided to go vegetarian, though. I work at a zoo in the food services and find is so weird that they serve meat.

Thanks though, I will definitely look more into this!

[LoveBambi]

I recommend transitioning into it. I tried becoming a vegetarian once but because I LOVE seafood I was a pescetarian on and off for about a year. Then my younger sister decided to become a vegan which I thought was kinda funny until I got a flyer from some guy on campus about slaughterhouses and chicken cages. Anyway, for a long list of reasons I decided to become a vegan as well. I transitioned into that for about 3 months (since classes started). I'd say do your research on your diet choice, do it for the right reasons and definitely transition into it. You might feel a bit dizzy in the beginning though..not sure if that's normal or not lol but good luck!

[Nana_4]

Thanks so much!

Yeah, I eventually would like to become a vegan, but it's best to start gradual. It's horrible what they do in those slaughter houses, it breaks my heart. Have you ever seen Food Inc.?

Any who, I can for sure say I am doing it for a right reason.

Thanks for your answer. (:

[LoveBambi]

You're welcome! I prefer not to watch documentaries on animal abuse..if a pamphlet about slaughterhouses was enough to make me cry then no thanks lol I found the transition to be so much easier with food substitutions as well so look into that when you get the chance :)

[Katie22222]

I've been a vegetarian for 5 years, just stopped eating meat one day. I eat dairy and eggs, but not fish. I've never had health problems, I had my blood checked a while ago and all was normal.

[Nana_4]

Awesome! See, being vegetarian isn't bad as every meat-eater assumes.

[Anonymous]

Just stop eatting meat. I'd go to the doctor since it's unnatural for the human bodies not to eat meat so you will have to take supplements to make up for it.

[GeorgeMack]

You are an idiot. Unnatural for the human body to not eat meat? Our intestines are 12 times longer than our body. True carnivores have shorter intestinal tracks than the human species does. Meat continues to rot in the human body and the odor from the rotting flesh exists our pores.

Let me guess you are amoung the many thousands who wonder where vegans get their protein from?

The only supplement vegans or lacto-ovo vegetarians may need to take is one chewable methylcobalmin b12 vitamin.

[Nana_4]

Yup, he's actually correct. Check this out:

link

"Everyone Eats" by Eugene N Anderson, is a pretty good book about our evolution of food, and why we eat what we eat.

[Opinion Owner]

Our teeth are set up to eat meat. I don't wonder sh*t I don't care what people eat as along as people don't make me make 7 different meals because one person can't just eat the salad. And I've seen plenty of vegatarins that are clearly sick from not getting the right nutrients because they don't get enough because they didn't bother to figure out how to make up for it