Tips on how to become a vegetarian?

I have been wanting to be a vegetarian for some time now, but it is so hard. I tried one time and I just couldn't do it. But I really want to live a different lifestyle, and all those videos of the way they hurt those animals are just horrendous. I just really need some tips on how to successfully become a vegetarian. My birthday is tomorrow, and I'm willing to start it on my birthday (I'll be 16).

Also, what are the different foods that I can eat when I do become a vegetarian?Tips on how to become a vegetarian?
I became a vegetarian when I was 12, and I started just cutting out pork and red meats.

After about 3 months of that, I stopped eating white meat also.

I eat a lot of mock meat(boca burgers, smart dogs, etc) and I try to get my protein from black beans, peanut butter, and other high protein foods.

Just really set your mind to it.
Hi! Well, have you seen this video?

http://action.peta.org.uk/ea-campaign/cl鈥?/a>



Whenever you are really tempted to eat meat, think of something that you read or saw that really made you upset about how the animals are treated, and then you won't want to eat the meat anymore.



I know its tempting when you see meat, but you have to have self control and motivation. You have a prefrontal cortex (part of your brain that controls/makes decisions).... use it!



Here's some websites with good vegetarian meals:

http://webecoist.com/2008/09/01/20-delic鈥?/a>

http://eartheasy.com/eat_vegetarian.htm

http://webecoist.com/2008/10/28/14-quick鈥?/a>



Oh and also, don't eat gelatin, its made from cow bones.



Good luck! And happy birthday!Tips on how to become a vegetarian?
make sure you have a job! it can get pricey. when people start BBQ-ing just think about how nasty that meat really is!! %26amp;%26amp; Turkey really isn't so bad though, so if you find you may want to have some kind of meat, go with turkey. be creative! :D find a way YOU like veggies, get some cookbooks! amazon has some great vegetrain/vegan cook book. %26amp;%26amp; don't worry, my first shot at being a vegetarian was an epic fail too haha, it takes a while to adjust. I plan to be a REAL vegertian someday (right now I still eat chicken and turkey, and fish, but those are the only meats I eat) but it's hard living in a household where eveyrone else eats crappy food soo...yeahh whenever I move out I'll be trying that again
You are looking at it the right. Becoming vegetarian is not about limiting yourself, but about trying new foods.



I suggest new grains like buckwheat and quinoa.



How to cook buckwheat:

http://www.healthaliciousness.com/recipe鈥?/a>



How to cook quinoa:

http://www.healthaliciousness.com/recipe鈥?/a>



Also be sure you are getting enough vitamin b12 which comes only from animal products and is essential for your energy levels.

Vegetarian foods rich in vitamin B12:

http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articl鈥?/a>Tips on how to become a vegetarian?
i'm 16 too, and i tried to become a vegetarian two years ago, gave up, but tried again. i recommend easing into it, like by eating more vegetables you like, pastas, and veggie burgers (i recommend boca products, they're amazing). definitely keep up on eating fruits, veggies, and a lot of beans because that gives you the protein you don't get from meat.



good luck, and happy birthday!
eat Absolutely NO meat.
By not eating meat.
It has to be something you REALLY want to do. You need to put your mind to it.



Take a look around Wal-mart (or where ever you shop) and find meals without meat. Noodles, fruits, vegetables, salad, rice, vegetarian lasagna, PB%26amp;Js, beans, etc.. You can even buy a vegetarian cookbook there or at a local bookstore or online. If you're looking for recipes I found this website and I'm sure there are plenty more online:

http://www.vegcooking.com/



When you start, it might be hard. Maybe start by cutting out meat as often as you can. Start to eliminate the types of meat gradually:

Red meat, such as beef.

Pork, such as bacon and ham, after a week.

Chicken after another week.

Fish and shell-fish, such as crab and salmon, after another two weeks. For the first couple weeks you just need to tell yourself that you really want to do this but its okay if you cheat a few times. If you are ever considering quitting just go back and look at those videos of them hurting the poor animals and ask yourself if you want to be a part of that. You can also try rewarding yourself. (Silly, I know.) You could be like in kindergarten and have a chart with stickers :) Or you could promise to buy something you've been wanting if you can keep it up for __ months.



Happy Early Birthday! :)
I've been veggie since I was 12. It helps to get others in the family veggie too. I cut out everything immedietly. Chicken, pork, beef. Even Haribo!!! :D. But now theres new veggie haribo and if you havent eaten haribo in over 15 months it tastes good. But only if you havent had normal haribo in a while - otherwise it tastes weird. But anyway - back to the matter. Get friends and family to help. My parents where vegan at the time (and still are). It means that theres always suitable foods in the fridge. And if you have friends also veggie - or just accepting your vegetarianism, they'll help you stay away from meat - if your finding it hard. But it will take committment. I have sisters who attempted it several times. Eating meat as I write ;).



Try some quiche with things like cheese or peppers. Quorn sausages are nice too - but they lack in taste. You'll need to cover them in ketchup! Try some websites on veggetarianism and recipes too.



Good Luck!!



PS. When you say - But I really want to live a different lifestyle, and all those videos of the way they hurt those animals are just horrendous - You saw the Iron Bru commercial too. Right? Ghastly.