So you’re thinking about becoming vegetarian… This is all I’ve learnt in the last months, hope it helps!
Veggetables are much tastier than meat! And also way easier to cook: you can make then just the same way you eat your meat but also steamed, raw, in a sauce, boiled… This gives you the opportunity to exploit your creativity and find all different ways possible to have them.
Wait, you think you don’t like veggies? That’s because you’re not cooking them the way that YOU like. Maybe so far you only know the way your parents made them, maybe it felt like a punishment as a kid, but… There’s so many varieties to try, and you don’t have to like all of them. For example, I hate olives (yes, I know, as a Spanish, how can I), but I love carrots, beetroot and pumpkin, these are my go to.
And protein… P R O T E I N! The big debate when you tell meat-eaters that you’ve stopped consuming meat. Let me tell you a secret, there’s enough protein in legumes and cereals. So make sure that in most of your dishes you have chickpeas, lentils, buckwheat…
Fats give energy to your body. They also help creting and developpment of new cells, blood coagulation and
the brain to work normally. They are specially important for women, because they affect the creation of hormones, and if you don’t get enough of them you might start not getting your period. So keep an eye on that! So, to have enough of them, remember to eat seeds (all types of them: pumpkin, sunflower…, and different types of nuts).
Carbo-hydrates are the main source of energy of your body. You need them for everything, and if you don’t get enough of them feel tired and evverything will be more difficult for you to do. You can find them in
pasta, rice, bread, oats… Of course it’s better to get whole flour than the white one, so you can start making small changes as you feel more comfortable with your new diet.
Vitamins and minerals: of course, they are in the veggies and fruits and help
keeping your body healthy on the inside and the outside. And if you are taking (or thinking of taking) multivitamin suplements, let me tell you that incresing the number of vegetables you eat will have a more efficient effect (and it’s cheaper).
We should have each of the group nutrients in every meal. But lastly, you are the one who knows you the best, so pay attention to the signals that your body gives you and don’t doubt on doing blood tests and asking your doctor if you have any doubts.