| by: Melanie Mendelson
Many people contemplate becoming a vegetarian at one point or
another. Some consider a meatless diet because they feel sorry for
the animals. Others think a vegetarian way of eating will improve
their health.
However, out of those well-intentioned people very few actually
follow through and change their way of eating. The idea of
completely giving up meat forms a big stumbling block for most.
For some reason, when it comes to vegetarian cooking, most
people only see the "extremist" approach: either give up meat
completely or you might as well include the meat in every meal.
This "all or nothing" thinking becomes a mental barrier that keeps
a lot of people from eating more vegetarian meals.
How about finding a happy medium? Drastic changes to one's diet
never last. Do not beat yourself up for eating meat. There is no
need to give it up completely. Just try eating a little less of
it, that's all.
Start right now by making one meatless dinner every week. Keep
everything else the same. Eating just one vegetarian dinner every
week is definitely doable and easy. It will be just a nice change
instead of deprivation!
If you think going meatless one day a week would not make a big
difference, consider these simple numbers: if everyone ate
vegetarian meals just one day a week, it would save one out of
seven animals. Out of 92 million animals that are consumed in the
United States alone every year, over 13 million animals would be
spared. This is a huge impact!
In addition to doing good for our planet, you'll enjoy great
health benefits by including more fruits and vegetables in your
diet. Fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins, nutrients,
anti-oxidants and fiber - all the things that are good for us.
They can help with weight loss and prevent diseases. Numerous
studies show that diets high in fruits and vegetables reduce the
risks of deadly diseases such as cancer, heart attack and stroke.
Also, by trying out new dishes, you will break your food
routine and discover new tasty recipes and food combinations. It's
really nice to eat something different once in a while instead of
being stuck in a food rut.
This simple shift of mindset from "all or nothing" to a happy
middle ground will do wonders. Vegetarian eating does not need to
be a full-time commitment, sacrifice and strive for unattainable
perfection. Just do what you can to eat a little less meat, have
fun trying new vegetarian meals and enjoy the benefits. |
