posted February 26, 2004 10:31 PM         

Reject junk food of all kinds and don't indulge in too much dessert.

Try eating whole grain food, brown rice instead of white bread and white rice, because whole grain products contain far more nutrients than the white stuff. They are chewy but that's good for your digestion (but make sure you chew it well!). Brown rice takes a longer time to cook but it's worth the time.

Eat plenty of vegetables (especially broccoli) and fruit, in order to obtain various vitamins, minerals (including calcium!) and fibre. Eat lots of dried fruit, nuts and seeds as well, as they contain mono-unsaturated fat (which is good for you) and essential vitamins and minerals, too. Eat lots of tomatoes as Linda suggested, because this can keep you away from anaemia.

Join a local vegetarian group in order to keep you informed and strengthen your motive. Try
www.viva.org.uk
www.vegetarian.org.uk

Drink lots of fruit juice (with the fibre, home made) and fresh spring water (not so easy to find nowadays). Try having mueslie for breakfast instead of cornflakes, rice bubbles and the like.

Some veggies go back to meat eating again, because they either feel that they need more energy from meat or they feel that they've been under too much pressure- 'all this info is driving me insane! I don't care! This is too much! I don't want so many restriction'. Just remember- you never need meat. And you can do it smoothly. If you are committed, you can go veggie today, once and for all. However, if it's psychological and you feel that you'll have to take it easy, then follow Linda's advice. It's never too late, as long as you're getting started. Linda, in my opinion, was not accurate about our body systems being 'shocked' when we 'suddenly' become vegetarians. But she was right in the case of the psychological thing. If you feel that it should take you some time to adjust, then listen to Linda. Although I must point out that the meat we eat contains antibiotics and hormones and the fish we eat contains mercury and POPs, due to factory farming and pollution respectively.

If you live in the UK, you're in luck- visit www.redwoodfoods.co.uk (which specialises in vegan food) and you'll get (fake) ham, beef, turkey, chicken, bacon, sausages, fish, fish fingers and more. There are other brands in Britain as well, and I believe you can find such things in your own country. You won't have to worry about making a feast or a veggie barbecue. Personally, I found fake meat enjoyable, but once I was so drunk at a party and the smell of the fake meat just made me sick. I don't really need fake meat. I don't eat fake meat any more because it reminds me of the taste of real meat. Nonetheless, if you seek a wider range of veggie food and still like the taste of meat, why not trying the make-believe food.

Even without fake meat, there is still a broad spectrum of variety of veggie food. Get some really nice veggie cook books at
www.viva.org.uk

You will feel refreshed!!!

Vegetarianism is not restriction. It's relief and freedom.

Good luck!

posted February 27, 2004 11:16 AM         

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Sincerely,
divinia