Easing In—The Gradual Approach to Going Meatless

Taking changes one simple step at a time makes the process more manageable and, for many people, makes the entire transition seem far less daunting. It also makes it fun—with each step, you change a little something, learn some new information, and try a few things you’ve never tried before! As you master each new skill, you become more confident in your ability to maintain your new lifestyle, plan your meals, and handle yourself in any number of social situations.

There are two main advantages to taking a gradual approach to switching to vegetarianism. They are:

You’re more likely to make the changes permanent if you change your habits slowly. By changing your habits gradually, you change the way you think about eating as you go along; you learn more and create a strong base on which to anchor your new, better, healthier habits.

Making a number of small changes gives you the chance to adapt them to your current lifestyle as you go along. You probably have so many things in your everyday life going on at once that you often feel overwhelmed already. Making a slow transition is simply less disruptive to your life than making one huge, sweeping change.

The downside to the gradual approach, as we’ve already discussed, is that you might find yourself losing focus and taking longer to complete the transition to a completely vegetarian lifestyle. If you take too long, you will never make it to your goal. Be honest with yourself. If it’s been months since you started changing habits and you’re still not there, you may want to take a hard look at where you are, where you want to be, and what steps you need to take to get there.

There is also a possibility that if you make changes slowly, you may get stuck in one place and stay in a state of semivegetarianism permanently. You might decide to stop eating red meat but never move on to giving up fish and chicken. You might intend to eventually eat an entirely vegan diet, yet you never give up eggs and cheese, and end up feeling like a failure. So if you want to make a slow transition, plot out the changes you intend to make, set specific goals, and follow a structured plan.

What to Do When the Going Gets Tough

Once you’ve made the transition to vegetarianism, the importance of maintaining your meat-free resolve is ever-present. As with any new way of thinking and/or living, you have to expect a couple of bumps in the road or a few hiccups along the way to vegetarianism. But don’t get frustrated with yourself. Use the adjustment period as a time of experimentation. Try new recipes and new foods at home. When you go to a restaurant, sample new vegetarian dishes. Read up on nutrition, and let yourself adjust properly to a vegetarian-driven mindset.

Giving up meat for the rest of your life can seem like a daunting task. As with anything you eat in moderation, you’re going to get cravings. That is why you should reduce your meat intake slowly (review the Ten-Point Plan to Becoming a Vegetarian). Occasional slipups are completely normal. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Change takes time and patience. Always remember to take it one step at a time. When you are in a situation where you don’t have the option to stick to your vegetarian diet, just pick up where you left off the very next day.

A lot of people tend to look on the bright side of life. Others … not so much. Focusing on the restrictions of a vegetarian diet instead of the benefits can cause a lack of focus and will make maintaining discipline that much harder. It’s all about the way you choose to look at your plate. Instead of focusing on the meat that isn’t there, focus on all of the nutritional goodness that is there. Any vegetarian will tell you that they have more foods to choose from than most people think. The varieties of vegetarian meals are endless. And a positive attitude can make all the difference in the world. More choices mean more meal options and more plates full of yummy food. Don’t waste precious time and energy thinking about what you used to eat. Think about what you haven’t even tried yet. Get excited about planning your meals and tasting new vegetarian dishes. Eventually, you’ll forget all about the missing meat, and maintaining discipline will become second nature.

Add a little fun to the vegetarian transition process by keeping a record of the foods you used to eat and the ones you eat now. Track your progress down on paper, and watch your diet evolve right before your eyes. Jot down thoughts about cravings and why you crave those foods. In time, you may notice an unhealthy pattern build around certain foods. Having a sense of awareness about the food that you choose to eat will help you step outside of the box and see things on a much larger scale.

You may realize that you were craving meat or other foods not because you liked the taste of them but because you were conditioned to eat them. Writing is a healthy form of expression and can certainly help you in your transition. Take pride in how far you progress, study the before and after mindset, and take notes on the vegetarian foods you like and dislike. All of this will help keep you focused on the task in hand and serve as a crutch when you are having an off day.