Vegetarian Life and How I Make it Work

Hello Everyone! I'm not sure if I've talked about it before, but I've been a vegetarian for about nine years now. It started when I was fifteen when I started to think about how meat got to the table, and after watching a documentary I just couldn't physically eat it any more. Although I do still eat seafood for some reason, but I won't get into that. Everyone thought turning vegetarian would just be a phase, but something just switched in my brain and it's just been part of who I am ever since. It's always been my own personal choice and a lifestyle that I happen to love. It's really opened my eyes to nutrition and helped me get more creative with my cooking.

I was really lucky that my family has been quite supportive the whole time and just accepted that it's how I wanted to be. It hasn't all been easy, but I thought I would share how I've made it work over the years.

Get adventurous 

 Being vegetarian has definitely brought out my love of cooking and I've gotten used to trying new foods. It's a whole new way of eating, and one that can actually be quite exciting and fun. Don't be afraid to try new foods and recipes that will help meet your nutritional needs. Without meat as a staple, I've had to find different ways to substitute it in meals. There are lots of great options out there to try, so be brave and find what works best for you. If all else fails, just spend hours pinning recipes on Pinterest like I do!

Stalk restaurant menus 

Eating out is quite often the biggest pain for a vegetarian lifestyle (I honestly don't know how vegans do it!) so it's a really great idea to check out what's on the menu before you arrive. Most restaurants have online info now, so it's easy to see if it's going to suit you. If not, just politely tell your friends/family that you can't eat much there and maybe suggest somewhere else. Personally, I've found that Thai and Indian restaurants offer the biggest range of vegetarian options for you to choose from.

Regular blood checks 

Obviously this kind of lifestyle can restrict you from getting certain nutrients into your day if you're not smart about it. Personally, I've never had much of problem with my iron-levels or anything like that. But it is a really great idea to get checked out every once in while just to make sure everything is okay. This is especially true if you start to feel tired all the time etc. so make sure you get checked out by your doctor regularly.

Protein and Iron Sources 

This is super-important to maintain healthy nutrition as a vegetarian. But don't worry, it''s not as daunting as it sounds. Make sure you have lots beans (chickpeas, red kidney, black beans etc.) regularly in salads or as a burger patty. I became a big lover of tofu after learning how to cook it properly, but there are tonnes of great brands of vegetarian sausages/meat substitutes that are super tasty. Bean Supreme is my absolute favorite!

Don't be scared to be awkward

Special diets are nothing new nowadays, although sometimes it does come with a few unavoidable eye-rolls. I've always made sure to let people know ahead of time if I'm going over for dinner, that I can only eat certain things. It can feel like you're a burden, but if you give them warming and maybe bring something yourself, it's not that bad! I always ask to have the vegetables cooked first on the BBQ instead of after the meat. It may be a little awkward to ask, but people never seem to mind any time that I've asked. 



I hope that helps anyone considering a vegetarian diet or has just started one. Obviously I'm no health expert, but if you have any questions let me know in the comments!


Steph x.