Becoming a Vegetarian

Becoming a vegetarian may seem like a hard task. Most people believe that you will have to change your diet completely and only eat salads. However this is far from the truth. There are many options available that make being a vegetarian very easy.
The first step I took in becoming a vegetarian was replacing chicken with veggie “chicken.” Boca Burgers, Morningstar and other brands make veggie chicken nuggets, patties, buffalo wings, veggie chicken tenders and more. I usually make one of these options and combine it with vegetables like I would regular chicken. These brands also make veggie burgers and black bean burgers, as well as tofu hotdogs. It takes a few tries to get used to the taste of tofu hotdogs, but the burgers and chicken are delicious!
Another good product is the “meat” crumbles, which is a vegetarian version of ground beef. Use them the same way you would ground beef and put them in Hamburger Helper, tacos, or chili.
Don’t be afraid to try tofu! Look up recipies online or grab a tofu cookbook. Tofu will take on the flavor of whatever you are cooking it with. Don’t be afraid to experiment! I have found that preparing tofu in Chinese food is very easy and tastes great.
Restaurants are beginning to have more and more vegetarian options. The most obvious option would be salad. Just make sure the salad does not contain bacon bits or any meat. Many restaurants, such as Chili’s and Burger King, offer veggie burgers or black bean burgers. P.F. Chang’s also has many vegetarian options. To view more chain restaurant vegetarian options visit http://www.vegcooking.com/ChainRestaurants.asp.
For local restaurants that offer vegan or vegetarian cuisine visit Happycow.com. You can type in your zip code or address and it finds restaurants near you. Be sure to search before you go out of town to find vegetarian restaurants nearby.
Being a vegetarian really as hard as most people think. After you find out what dishes you like or do not like, your diet will barely take any effort at all!