Finding the Answers to the Most Commonly Asked Questions about Vegetarianism

Posted by admin in Becoming Vegetarian on Mar 1st, 2010 | 0 comments

Many people have e-mailed me with questions ranging from general to specific. Below, I’ve included some of those questions. Each question contains a brief answer as well as an indication as to which chapter in the book you can go to in order to find more detailed information. My goal in writing this book was to offer you a genuine and feasible reason to switch to vegetarianism and give you the keys on how to make the transition as easy as possible. I hope you have enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed writing it. But more importantly, I hope I have given you many reasons to become a vegetarian.

Q. My child is fourteen years old and recently decided to become a vegetarian. How can I be sure that they will grow up healthy and strong?

A. Getting all the vitamins, nutrients, and protein your body requires as a vegetarian adolescent is a lot easier than people think. Read chapter 17 for more information on raising healthy vegetarians.

Q. How do you know if food contains dairy or meat?

A. It’s not always easy to know whether the food you are eating contains dairy or meat products, especially if you don’t cook the meal yourself. Browse chapter 8 for more information on identifying hidden animal products.

Q. What do I buy at the grocery store besides salad for vegetarian meals?

A. There are far more food options for vegetarians than people think. Browse chapter 12 for more information on stocking your meatless kitchen with healthy, tasty, and nutritional vegetarian items.

Q. How can I be sure that my body is getting everything it needs on a vegetarian diet?

A. This is probably one of the biggest concerns for people who convert to vegetarianism. You can easily get everything your body needs (even protein!) on a vegetarian diet. Just take a glance at chapter 5, and brush up on vegetarian nutrition.

Q. Can I lose weight on a vegetarian diet?

A. There are many different reasons why people choose to become vegetarians. One of those reasons is to live a healthier lifestyle and lose weight. Browse chapter 10 for key tips on how to lose weight and balance your eating habits on a vegetarian diet. You can also take a look at chapter 11 to read up on the importance of exercise.

Q. What do I do if I crave meat?

A. Sticking to a vegetarian diet can be hard for those individuals who are just starting out on their vegetarian lifestyle. For tips and advice on how to stay on track, take a look at chapter 4 on how to get started on your journey and at chapter 8 on how to avoid setbacks, find support, and resist cravings.

Q. I’m a high school student and a vegetarian. What can I do about eating lunch in the cafeteria?

A. Maintaining your vegetarian lifestyle at school and/or at work can be somewhat of a challenge, especially if your food options are limited. Browse chapter 9, and you’ll find ways to enjoy vegetarian options at restaurants, on the road, at work, and in the school cafeteria!

Q. How can I make vegetarian meals that taste good?

A. There is a common misconception that all vegetarian meals are tasteless. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Browse chapter 13 for some great (and delicious!) vegetarian recipes to get you started!

Q. How can I stay an active and competitive athlete on a vegetarian diet?

A. Athletic vegetarians are often concerned about not being able to perform at a high level without the added protein from meat and eggs. Take a look at chapter 16 on how to eat well and be active at the same time. There are vegetarian athletes all over the world!

Q. How can I get my whole family involved?

A. Involving your entire family can be a bit of a challenge. When it’s just you, sticking to a vegetarian lifestyle is much easier. But when you have a spouse and/or kids to think about, you have to be able to compromise. Browse chapters 8 and 17 for tips about coping in a meat-eating family and raising a family on a vegetarian diet.

Q. Is drinking milk against vegetarian principles, and are dairy products good or bad?

A. No, there are vegetarians who still eat dairy products. For more information about the pros and cons of dairy, take a look at chapter 15. I would advise you to stay away from dairy products whenever possible. If you’re just starting out, it’s okay to consume it sometimes, but later your body will learn to reject dairy because it’s just not for human consumption! That’s the reason why vegans don’t consume dairy products either.

Q. How do you make your co-workers accept your vegetarianism?

A. Managing your vegetarianism at work can be tricky. Read up on this and other social/work situations in chapter 19. You can learn how to create a support environment both at home and at the office.

Q. What does it really mean to be a vegetarian, and how will it benefit my overall health?

A. Being a vegetarian will not only be healthy for you physically, it will also be healthy for you on a mental, spiritual, and emotional level. Read chapter 2 to gain a better understanding about the history of vegetarianism. Then, read chapter 3 to learn how being a vegetarian is not only beneficial to you but also to our planet. Chapter 7 will also give you a better understanding on how you will be a healthier and happier individual by becoming a vegetarian.

Q. What if I want to have my family and friends over for a holiday meal? As a vegetarian, how can I cook something that we all can enjoy?

A. Holiday meals present a great opportunity to experiment with different vegetarian recipes. Read chapter 18 to learn more about planning dinner parties with friends or cooking a holiday meal that the whole family is sure to enjoy. You’ll quickly see that it’s not as difficult as you may think!

Q. Are soy products bad for you?

A. Soy products have been the subject of many scientific studies lately, and the results are not good. While tempeh is fine to eat in moderation, other soy products (like soy milk) should not be consumed on a regular basis. Read chapter 14 to learn more about soy products and why you should avoid them and choose other meat alternatives instead.

Q. How do I deal with this argument from a friend: If we don’t kill the animals, there would be too many of them, and they will roam the world!

A. The reason why there are now trillions of animals in our planet is because we made them. The cows are inseminated again right after they have done giving birth; if humans are treated this way, each family would have probably twenty to thirty children. No wonder there are so many animals on this planet. The same applies to chicken, fishes, ducks, pigs, and all meat-factory animals.

Remember, our resources are being used on them, instead of on humans. The more animals there are, the less we can use our resources to solve our planet’s problems.

Q. Whatever the question is …

A. Always answer the question with a common ground, using examples such as the water problem that we are currently facing in this world and the changing climate that comes down hard on food production and adversely affects our future. Explain that meat industry is one of the most destructive industries on the planet because it clears more than 50 percent forests around the world. A major portion of the world’s crops are being fed to animals instead of humans.

You can also explain how going vegetarian could save people’s lives and help them avoid huge hospital bills. Looking at the statistics, it is clear that if we do what others do, we will end up like them. Only by changing our diet is it possible to avoid becoming one of the statistics.

If you explain it like this, the listener would have to agree with you because there’s nothing that they can debate on. Never start with the issue of killing or not killing animals because if you do so, people can get aggressive.

Actually, even as vegans, we kill animals all the time. There are thousands of insects and other small animals that get killed in the process by which we get our fruits, vegetables, and other natural foods. The most we can do is just minimize the killings, but not stop it altogether. It’s impossible to live without somehow killing small living beings. Therefore, don’t use the above argument.

Answer in a way that creates mutual understanding between you and your listener. By explaining the health benefits they would get by eating more fruits and vegetables, you are helping them to live healthier and be less vulnerable to chronic diseases. They’ll be thankful to you as long as you answer any questions they have in a nonjudgmental way. Nobody likes to be judged! Nor should we presume to do so!

Remember that every time you answer questions about being a vegetarian, you are actually making others’ lives much better, for many people don’t know that what they consider their “normal” diet is actually harming them!

So be happy about it!

You’re making a difference in almost every new person you meet. What a huge blessing it is when you think about it!

So smile—because you deserve it.

Enjoy!

Rudy Hadisentosa