HOW TO BE A VEGETARIAN
IN TEN EASY STEPS

Whether it's for health, animal rights, politics or any other reason, you may be considering a vegetarian lifestyle. Here are 10 steps to start you thinking

• Read
  Research. Explore. Get the facts. Read lots. Knowledge is power.

• Think
  Think about the animals. Think about your body. Think about the earth. And if you're not tired from all that thinking, consider how your food choices impact the people around you and the world. No need to make any decisions. Just allow yourself time to ponder.

• Talk
  Talk to vegetarians. Talk to non-vegetarians. Ask questions. Share your thoughts. Join a club. Start a club. Hang out with vegetarians. Then do more thinking.

• Set Goals
  Make a game of it. Bet your friend you can go a whole month without a hamburger or two weeks without eggs and cheese. Setting goals can be serious or fun. Depends on your attitude.

• Cook
  Learning to cook in a whole new way can be exciting. Take a class. Get books from the store or library. Get "Vegetarian Times" magazine. Try out new recipes on a friend. Do potlucks. Allow yourself to get creative, to play. Have some fun with it. Meatless meals are not only possible, but limitless.

• Eat
  Make mealtime special. Sit down. Use the good china and cloth napkins. Play nice music (but don't distract yourself with books or TV) before you dig in, and take a moment to be thankful. As you eat, chew carefully, savoring each bite. Slow down. Notice the tastes, sensations. See how it feels to really experience food this way.

• Listen
  Try to be aware of your body's needs. Sleep when you're tired. Eat when you're hungry. Pay attention to your body - which foods feel good, which don't? Notice how certain foods drain your energy, mood, emotions, concentration and sleep pattern. Respect your body. Learn the connection between what you put in your body and what you get out of it.

• Experiment
  Try other lifestyle changes. Consider fasting. Look into juicing. Explore macrobiotics or raw food diets. Maybe take up a new sport, or try yoga or jazz dance. Maybe start a journal or learn a new language. Whatever interests you, try it "as a vegetarian" and see if it feels any different.

• Prepare
  You may get resistance from friends and family. Be ready for it. (Family dinners can be especially stressful - breaking "food traditions" is hard on everyone.) Be strong, but not self-righteous. Trust yourself. Prepare, too, for your own self-doubts. Am I getting enough vitamins? Am I doing the right thing? This is normal. Relax. Talk to your friends. Build a support group. Refer back to your books. And if you do "fall off the wagon," see how you feel, and get back on! Give yourself room to be human, and time to adjust.

• Celebrate
  Mark the day on your calendar that you stopped eating meat. Celebrate that day! Rejoice in your decision! Have a party. Buy yourself a gift. Treat yourself to a massage. But realize that vegetarianism is an ongoing process, and the "journey" is more than half the fun!

Whether you see it as a lifestyle, a "religion," or simply a nutritional choice, vegetarianism is an exciting and beautiful concept. Good luck ... and enjoy!

Free info
F.A.R.M. 1-800-MEAT-OUT

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine 1-800-US-LIVES

Nutritional Services,
1200 3rd St.,
Manhattan Beach, Ca. 90266
(800) 280-3584

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R E S O U R C E S

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