According to Planet Green, a Discovery Channel website, people become vegetarians for a number of reasons, including health, humanitarian and political reasons. According to the website, some people become flexitarians, or partial vegetarians, eating meat-free meals during the week and allowing themselves some meat on weekends. Whatever level you decide to be, making the switch to a vegetarian diet should not be too difficult.
Step 1
Eat meat on alternate days to help you ease into the vegetarian lifestyle. If you eat meat less than three or four times a week, reduce it to two days. Or try the flexitarian option, allowing yourself meat only on weekends. This will help you ease into the vegetarian lifestyle slowly and get used to it.
Step 2
Cook more meat-free dishes. The Cooking site Veggie Table recommends eating more meals that traditionally don't require meat as an ingredient. These include pasta, pizza, rice and beans, lasagna, quiche and soups. You won't miss meat this way because you're not used to seeing it in these dishes.
Step 3
Try vegetarian meat substitutes. If you miss the texture of meat, you can buy mock meat products at health food stores and other specialty food shops. These meats are made from tempeh, tofu, soy and wheat gluten and prepared to look and taste like chicken, fish or beef. Everything from meatballs to ribs to hamburgers is available with meat-free ingredients.
Step 4
Take food with you when you go out. Unless you know of vegetarian restaurants in the area, preparing your own meals will make it easier to avoid meat by-products such as gelatin, which may be hidden in restaurant dishes.
Step 5
Find a support system. It can be difficult to stick to a vegetarian diet if you're the only one eating that way in your family or circle of friends. Vegetarian groups, such as the Vegetarian Site and Veg Source, offer a chance to learn more about eating and living as a vegetarian. Some vegetarian groups organize meetings that you can attend to meet other like-minded people.
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