I would not like to impose on you a certain view of how a vegetarian should eat properly. There is no one right way here. Everyone is different and what works for one person may not work for another. Someone calculates their diet strictly according to the established norm of JBU (fats, proteins, carbohydrates), someone simply replaces the usual steak with soy, and someone tries to eat more fresh greens and fruits. Perhaps the most important principle that all novice vegetarians should follow is to listen to yourself and your body and in no case ignore its signals.
Healthy Tips for Vegetarian Beginners
Firstly pay attention to cereals and cereals. Whole grains are extremely beneficial for our health, because they contain many vitamins, mineral salts and dietary fiber, which are deprived of refined and refined foods. Various cereals, whole grain rice, whole grain pasta, quinoa, corn, green buckwheat, etc. can be included in your diet. These friends can be a good source of energy, in addition, they are rich in iron, which all novice vegetarians are so worried about. It is most convenient to add grains to soups or cook healthy cereals from them, and cereals can be an excellent side dish for the second course.
A good campaign for cereals can also be legumescontaining large amounts of protein. These include chickpeas, beans, lentils, peas, soybeans and beans. In order for these products to be absorbed better, do not be lazy to soak them for a while before cooking and don’t skimp on the spices Indian cuisine is a great example here. Spices improve digestion and promote better absorption of legumes. The easiest solution for any beginner is to boil lentils or chickpeas in boiling water with your favorite spices. If this option is not for you, check out easy yet delicious recipes for lentil patties, falafels and soy meatballs.
Do not forget about fresh vegetables and herbs, – they are always better to use together. Love spinach? Add some fresh parsley and a basil leaf to it – oh, a tasty and healthy salad is ready! Also, give preference to seasonal products that can be easily found in the local market. Try to process vegetables less in order to preserve the maximum of useful properties in them.
Always keep fresh on the table fruits and berries. Fruits of different colors symbolize the presence of different substances in them, so it is more useful to combine them with each other.
It is also recommended to consume about 30-40 grams of dried fruits per day. When choosing, give preference to fruits that have retained the shell, not aged in sulfur dioxide, not fried or soaked in salt or sugar.
Your faithful companions can be different types of nuts (hazelnuts, almonds, pine nuts and others) and seeds rich in oils, vitamin E and beneficial omega-3 acids (such as pumpkin, sunflower, hemp or flax seeds). They can be eaten simply as a healthy snack or added in small amounts to a fresh salad. Do not forget to use more vegetable oils, which in a concentrated form contain all the beneficial substances of the above products. Know that only natural cold-pressed oils can bring real benefits.
Being a vegetarian is not just taking one food off the table and replacing it with another. Inveterate meat-eaters make fun of the scarcity of plant-based nutrition, not suspecting how rich a vegetarian table can be. Giving up animal products means taking a step towards a new, interesting lifestyle, discovering many delicious and unusual recipes, and who knows where all this will eventually lead …