Wellness

[kcladyz]

I do not know if this is the right forum  but I want advise from any vegetarans ( or near vegetarians)

I want to move from a mostly meat diet to a more vegetable diet  if not totally vegetarian.  Reason is  I have become more sensitive to animal cruelity  and also to be more healthy.  What is the best way to go into this?  Should I transition slowly from meat diet to mostly vegetable diet? I want to do it in a haelthy way so I do not fall off the wagon and pig out on BBQ  lol.

Also what are your opinions  about seafood?  I hear some  eat a primary vegatarian  diet yet allow  seafood from time to time.  

[NeNe1010]

I am not a vegetarian but I am a Prescatarian (veggies, and some fish and seafood). I also eat eggs from free range chickens. I do not eat dairy products. Check the vegetarian section at you grocery- I love Morning Star grillers (soy burgers) and their faux chicken fillets. I put soy crumbles (faux ground beef) in my chili and spaghetti and you would be surprisec how many people dont miss the real ground beef. If you need more incentive just watch some of the videos of how most meat is inhumanely raised and slaughtered. Also animal protein is not  necessary in our diet. I quickly lost the taste for meat and have not eaten it for many years. l dont miss it at all. I am 63 and my blood pressure is low. My cholesteral is also very low. Good Luck. You are doing a good thing for the animals and for your health.     

[sidsmom]

YAY @kcladyz!!!

You've already taken a HUGE step...probably the hardest step of all.
You recognize the treatment of animals is important...ps: fish still feel the mistreatment.

That compassion will parlay to the perfect plant-based diet.

Note...I said "plant-based" diet versus vegetarian or vegan. These descriptions have SO many different meanings & social stigmas, it's more important to say plant-based to reduce the pushback from family/friends.

I believe the thought of 'vegetarian' is slowing disappearing. Vegetarians still allow dairy & eggs....and we are educated every day dairy is not good for us. Also the treatment of animals to obtain dairy, eggs, honey is still...not very good.

Health reasons? As a personal testimony, I was a fat vegetarian & fat vegan for many years...and suffered from disappointing biomarkers from my yearly physicals. Vegetarian...ate tons of cheese. Vegan...ate tons of olive oil & nuts. It wasn't until I started a low fat whole foods plant based (LFWFPB) diet where changes really happened.  Processed oils & fake soy meats are still processed foods...not good for our health,

Many people will say it's easier to 'ease into' a LFWFPB diet, but others come from the 'rip the bandaid off' camp. When I was going through this transition many, many yrs ago, I was lucky to find brown rice at a dusty old hippy natural food store. Today? There are SO many resources...books, DVDs, podcasts, YouTube videos...and even the Walmart in middle America will have options to live a LFWFPB diet successfully....healthfully, cheaply & more important than anything, ethically. 

With that, my go-to for everything is the McDougall Diet.

Dr. John McDougall's message hasn't changed in since the 70s. It's a diet based heavily on starches....potatoes, rice, oats, etc. His website has an amazing online program...everything FREE!   Meal plans, shopping lists, tons of success stories & an interactive forum. There's also a FB page that's very, very interactive.

https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/free-mcdougall-program/

If Dr. McDougall isn't your 'style', then...
-) Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn
-) Dr. T. Colin Campbell
-) Dr. Neal Barnard
-) Dr. Dean Ornish
-) Dr. Pam Popper
-) Jeff Novick, MS RD
-) PCRM.org

All of the doctors will have narrative books, as well as cookbooks. PCRM.org (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) is another website to get started.

The key to success is....eat lots of starches to satiate you!  Don't go hungry!

Check out the website above....I think it will make your journey so much easier! Just take the dive into a full on low fat whole foods plant based lifestyle....you won't be disappointed.

Good luck!!

[ValuSkr]

Just think of the money you'll save by not buying meat and you be a vegetarian in no time at all.

[Shelbelle]

My daughters inlaws follow the Dr Esselstyn plan, not easy but they have been doing for a long time now. They are close to 70, in excellent health, they take no RX drugs for things like cholesterol and BP.

[hckynutjohn]

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@kcladyz wrote:

I do not know if this is the right forum  but I want advise from any vegetarans ( or near vegetarians)

I want to move from a mostly meat diet to a more vegetable diet  if not totally vegetarian.  Reason is  I have become more sensitive to animal cruelity  and also to be more healthy.  What is the best way to go into this?  Should I transition slowly from meat diet to mostly vegetable diet? I want to do it in a haelthy way so I do not fall off the wagon and pig out on BBQ  lol.

Also what are your opinions  about seafood?  I hear some  eat a primary vegatarian  diet yet allow  seafood from time to time.  

---

I have been a lacto-ovo since the mid 1970's. For me everything I have quit has been "cold turkey". Smoking/Drinking/Eating/Gambling to name a few. That for me has worked for decades now.

I am NOT offering this as advice, only saying what has worked for me. You might consider seeing a Nutritionist. 

hckynut(john)

[fourpaws56]

I am vegan, no animal products..most animals are killed in inhumane ways, kept in inhumane conditions. My love for animals over-rides the love of eating them....JMHO,I think meat is gross, the way it looks and smells...sometimes I have to handle it when cooking for my family....totally grosses me out!

[phoenixbrd]

Kclad....congratulations, you are opening a door to a new way of life.  All the authors recommended by Sidsmom are excellent for how to incorporate a whole food plant based diet into your life.  There is no right way, it is what is best for you.  Christina Raw and Matt Monarch transitioned immediately and never looked back, but that is not most people. Usually people take time transitioning in stages and it becomes a very natural process. If you read Will Tuttle's book and view some of the films on the processing of animals as food, I doubt you will ever regret your decision and you will feel and look better than ever before!  Wishing you much joy in your new adventure!

[MoJoV]

I've been a vegetarian for over 20 years,not for health reasons but for moral reasons.  I jumped right in and now would never consider eating meat again.  As for eating seafood or fish,no. You aren't a vegetarian if you're eating seafood. There are so many options now,it's not that difficult. 

I've tried and tried to stop eggs and milk and have failed over and over. I see so many young people that are vegetarians,people in their 20's. 

Come on in,it's nice here in vegetarian land!😁

[kcladyz]

Its been difficult. A few times i fell off the wagon and ate chicken  but i have managed to replace  a lot of meals  with non meat  alternatives and I lost 5 pounds.  Today I was proud of myself  and instead of having my normal sunday meat packed breakfast  I had  a vege omlette light on cheese and yesterday I had baked zuccini for dinner.  

Owning 5 parrots has helped. When ever I eat chicken I think I am eating their relatives  which has helped me a great deal to say no.  its been hard for I always HATED fruits and vegetables  so i am trying to train myself to enjoy it