Healthy Food Eating Plan – An Interview With A Vegetarian
There are many different ways you can create a healthy food eating plan. Over the coming weeks, I will be putting together some articles that explore different ways people create their personal eating plans. If you have ever searched for anything in relation to healthy diets, eating, lifestyle or the like, you will know that there are so many different ways people can create a healthy food eating plan. When I first started looking into whole foods, it was mind boggling over just how many different diets and food “lifestyles” there are, such as raw food diet, vegetarian and paleo just to mention a few. The aim of these articles is to give you a personal perspective to assist you in making an informed decision when looking into the design of your healthy food eating plan. For more information about vegetarian-ism please visit Vegetarian Diet Beginners Facts.
Vegetarian Food Lifestyle
This week we are exploring the vegetarian food lifestyle. This article has been put together after interviewing my sister Jaclyn who is vegetarian. For the sake of accuracy, Jaclyn is referred to as an Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian because her diet includes eggs and dairy. The information in this article has been set out in a question and answer format. If there are any questions that are not covered in this article that you would like to ask, please leave them in the comments box below and I will get Jaclyn to answer them for you.
Q: Why did you become a vegetarian?
A: Meat just didn’t agree with me. I wasn’t well after consuming any type of meat product. Eating it use to give me stomach cramps and I felt that I wasn’t digesting well when eating meat. Once I took meat out of my diet and made different food choices I felt better and found I lost some weight. Since eliminating meat from my diet, choosing organic foods and making my food from scratch, I have found that I can no longer tolerate processed foods or anything with preservatives.
Q: How long have you been a vegetarian?
A: Since 2012.
Q: Have you ever considered becoming a vegan?
A: No, I couldn’t live without eggs, yoghurt and cheese in my diet. Eggs in particular are the base for most of the dishes I include at each meal. Without these I would be hungry all the time.
Q: What is your biggest challenge with being a vegetarian?
A: Meal preparation is one of my biggest challenges. I find I need to be organised with what I’m eating for the week, otherwise I end up hungry or making poor food choices. When I say poor food choices, I mean a throw together meal which may not contain all the nutrients you need to keep yourself healthy.
The next biggest challenge is balancing the main meal at night, so I don’t wake up hungry in the middle of the night.
Q: What are some of your strategies that you use to keep yourself organised with your meal preparation?
A: Meal planning for the week is really important. I set aside some time to plan my weekly meals. I have to know what I’m going to prepare for the week, so I have a variety of choices at meal time that contain the nutrients I need for my busy lifestyle.
Q: What do you do to make sure that you don’t wake up hungry during the middle of the night?
A: It’s about training your body with a new way eating routine. I eat smaller meals more frequently. I might have either a large glass of water, a smoothie or my lemon ginger tea before I go to bed.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who is considering becoming a vegetarian?
A: You need to have self-discipline to make sure you eat well to maintain a balanced diet. You need to be well organised and allow enough time with your meals to prepare them properly so they are nutritious. Also don’t think that becoming a vegetarian is too difficult. Work closely with a natural health professional. I had some health concerns and working with my GP and Naturopath helped me make sure I was getting all the nutrients I needed from my diet and helped me keep a check on my health.
Q: Are there any resources that you can recommend for someone wanting to embark on a vegetarian lifestyle?
A: I recommend working closely with natural health professionals. Swapping ideas with friends and like-minded people in the community. I love cook books and cooking, these are another great resource I use.
Q: How do you know your body is getting everything it needs?
A: I get regular blood tests, I monitor my energy levels and as mentioned previously I work closely with my GP and Naturopath.
This article is for information purposes only. It is designed to give you the perspective and experience of a vegetarian. It is important for you to remember that everyone’s body and nutritional needs are different. It is important that you seek the advice of a qualified health Professional when you start your journey as a vegetarian to ensure that you are meeting your bodies specific needs. The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. If you have a health concern please seek advice from a qualified health professional.
I would like to thank Jaclyn for sharing her experience with us here at Christene’s Healthy Food. If you are vegetarian or know the experience of a vegetarian, I would love to hear your experiences. As mentioned above, if there are any questions we have not covered here in this article, please leave those questions in the comments section below and I ask Jaclyn for an answer. Thank you for visiting www.christeneshealthyfood.com I hope you have found the information useful. I look forward to seeing you again soon.
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