Ive been a vegetarian for about 6 months now, and ive got to say that if i can do it, anyone can. You see, im in the military, and i live in the barracks. I'm stationed in japan, and dont have a car. This leaves my only practical source of food at the chow hall. Its really not that difficult, i just make most of my meals with lots of side dishes. Its amazing how most entrees are meat, but there are enough instances of potatoes, veggies, etc. to do the trick. Plus i always get a salad, soup (if there is a meatless soup offered that day) and fruit with my meals. The hardest meal at the chowhall would have to be breakfast. they mostly have sausage, eggs, and all that other non-vegetarian/vegan breakfast stuff. I usually just tough it out and get what i can, settling for a small breakfast (tater-tots, muffin and fruit on the average morning).
Anyway, just another testimonial for you, so stick in there. Besides, when you get used to it, you dont really miss eating meat.
Oh, and all this business about not getting enough of this obscure mineral, or enough of that protein... I just dont worry about it. Maybe im eating unhealthily because i dont get enough of this or that... but like i said, I've been eating this way for about 6 months now, and i havent felt any negative side affects yet. One thing that does kinda nag at the back of my mind is the calcium deal, cuz i dont drink milk either (not that i will turn down a food if it has been made with milk... if i was to try to be fully vegan in my current situation, i would look like a starving ethiopian in a week) but im just going with the theory that most mammals dont drink milk in their adult lives, and im pretty sure they dont all have osteoporosis.
Congrats on your decision, and good luck!
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