A Journey to Becoming Vegetarian, part 1

We've taken the challenge at GOAT Skills® to eat cleaner during COVID-19 and beyond. Food is daily medicine that can help us thrive. For our Founders Cris Dishman and Jennifer Thibeaux, they've elected to go Vegan. We know that going from meat eating to plant-based overnight is a challenge. We've put together a series of articles about vegetarianism - a natural step toward going plant based. Remember, there's no prize for making a quick transition to plant based eating and living. Be kind to yourself and make the moves that make sense for you.

IF you're an athlete, eating plant based is healthy, but you must be very forward thinking with your nutrition as removing meat, removes some nutrients you need. We strongly encourage you to seek medical advice before changing your diet and nutrition intake. 

It's always hard to accept and undergo changes; likewise altering to a vegetarian diet is not as easy as it may be presumed. So, it is very important to do an in depth analysis before adapting to a new lifestyle. Sometimes, switching over to meatless diet might be difficult. Therefore it is better to know the positive and negative effects beforehand, because becoming vegetarian involves a lot more than just cutting on meat.

There are several types of vegetarians like some who prefer eating fish and whereas some who don't. On the other hand, there are people who even do not consume dairy products including cheese and eggs, and live on fruits and vegetables. Switching to a vegetarian diet is always an individual's preference. One must also keep in mind the nutritional supplements that body would require, before you shun cottage cheese and other nutritional foods that provide essential nourishment.

It is better to start off slowly and progress gradually to be a total vegetarian. Though it is hard to believe, the entire body system will go through definite changes, since the body will not be getting something which it is very much habitual of. It is always better to reduce the quantity gradually, instead depriving meat from the routine diet suddenly, replace it by in-taking fish or chicken and then start cutting down the consumption gradually turning to be a total vegetarian.

The most important part in turning to a vegetarian style is to know the nutritional contents in the food which would be consumed instead of meat. Generally, those who do not approve of a vegetarian lifestyle, have an assumption that their body would be deprived of vital vitamins and minerals, if meat is not added in the diet. Although, there are many who have been successful in switching over to a meatless diet. Such individuals have been able to supply their body with necessary nutrients and hence filling in the lag caused by the meatless diet.

Many researches have proved that green vegetables like broccoli, kale and spinach contains enormous amounts of calcium and consumption of these green vegetables would give necessary nutrients to stay healthy. As well, nuts are known to be rich source of protein. Consumption of such vegetarian diets can ensure that one gets enough to have a healthy life with balanced nutrition.

Turning to a vegetarian diet is one of the vital aspects that you can do to make your body feel healthy. And for individuals already converted to a vegan style, must have realized that they feel great and have excessive energy and also were able lose weight without starving. So start thinking on this and make a progress towards a satisfying lifestyle. 

For educational and informational purposes only. Before starting any new diet and exercise program please check with your doctor and clear any exercise and/or diet changes with them before beginning. We are NOT doctors, nutritionists or registered dietitians. We do not claim to help cure any condition or disease. We do not provide medical aid or nutrition advise for the purpose of health or disease nor do we claim to be doctors or dietitians.