Q & A

1. Will I lose weight quickly ?

A: Possibly. However, the most important benifit to a vegan/vegetarian diet comes the the healthy foods which you will be consuming more of, and the unhealthy foods which you will be receiving less of. It is possible to gain weight on a vegan/vegetarian diet, due to the fact that many new veggies replace their "fast food" junk with vegan/vegetarian "junk". When switching to a vegetarian diet first consult your doctor, and then consider approaching the transition slowly. For instance, try having only 1 vegetarian day/meal per week, and then increasing with time. 

    2. I want to try this but, I love junk food !

A: While vegan/vegetarian junk food isn't healthy to consume as your "main" diet, In my opinion finding meat-free alternatives to your usual "junk food" fair can make the initial transition easier. For instance, if you usually have a burger and fries for dinner, try having a veggie burger with home made fries (easy on the oil partner !). Again, this junk food "substition" should not become your regular diet, but more so help you as you transition to a healthir diet.

   3. I'm a big guy/girl how can i still full off of this "rabbit food" ?

A:  Contrary to what one might assume, there are many filling vegan/vegetarian dishes both pre-made (frozen) and home made (cook books).  While some people do notice that they become hungrier faster at first (due to how much easier it is for the body to digest plant based foods), there are wonderful ways of keeping your tummy happy. For one make sure that your have balanced meals, ones that have AT LEAST 1 cup of veggies, tofu/tvp, and a carb (rice, potatoes, beans etc). Do not underestimate the importance of having veggies with every meal, and eating a full cup of veggies with every meal even if you feel "full" or aren't "hungry". The reason being that veggies are good for your body, and also the fiber in them will fill you up. 

   4. Can I eat Fast Food ?

A: Though fast food isn't healthy, there are some vegetarian/vegan options pretty much everywhere. Full lists are available on Peta's website, along with a list of snack foods and every day items which are vegan/vegetarian. When i visit places like Mcdonalds, Burger King, Arby's I usually get fries or salad. However, make sure that the fries you are eating were not fried in "old" oil used for frying the meat products at the resturant.

  5. What If I'm busy ?

A: Making Vegetarian/Vegan food can be as easy as making a tofu salad wrap (using Garden Burger Chicken strips, salad dressing, lettuce, and a whole wheat tortilla), or making a huge vegetarian pizza to snack on during the week. Virtually everything is available in vegan/vegetarian versions now, from cheese and ice cream to yogurt and mayo.