Going Vegetarian? Three Tricks of the Trade

If you're a new vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, or even flexitarian, figuring out what to eat can be confusing and frustrating. Your average American meal tends to center around a main meat item with a few small things on the side. If you take the meat out of meat and potatoes, are you just supposed to eat potatoes for dinner?

The obvious answer is no (although, there was once a man who ate only potatoes for a whole year), and there are a lot of options waiting for you behind that no-meat door. Here are some rules and tips that I tend to follow as a vegetarian!

1. Don't just substitute meat with fake meat

While this sounds appealing, it's not a great idea to swap out real meat for fake meat for two reasons. 1) It's not cost-effective. Part of the reason people say that it's more expensive to be plant-based is because processed plant-based foods are pricey! 2) It's unhealthy to eat heavily processed foods regularly. While meat substitutes might taste and look good, they tend to be made up of ultra-processed ingredients.

2. Accumulate a list of key items

Having certain healthy foods that add nutrition to your diet and can be thrown into different dishes can be a lifesaver. For example, tofu, a basic for many vegetarians and vegans, is extremely versatile. Tofu can be used to make dairy-free chocolate mousse, faux eggs, and even sliced thinly for tofu sandwiches! There are so many other staple items that can add nutrition to your diet. Your body is used to getting a decent amount of its nutrition from meat, so finding ways to replace it is a crucial step in maintaining your energy level and overall health!

3. Meal plan with basic weekly dishes

Meal planning is a great way to save on groceries and have a clear schedule for your week, even if you're not vegetarian. However, it's especially important for vegetarians because it's so easy to get sucked into eating pasta every night! Taking the time to sit down, think, and devise a list of healthy meals for the week will help you avoid falling prey to empty carbs.

There are many more ways to stay on top of your vegetarian eating, but these three ideas are a great place to start when working towards staying nourished and happy with your diet! Always keep in mind that it's okay to slip up, and you're only human. Your body is biologically wired to eat sweet, salty, fatty foods, and at times it can be difficult to resist those natural impulses. You can always try again tomorrow!