Vegetarianism is a lifestyle choice that is moving from fad status in Western cultures to a well-recognized way of eating that’s good for both personal health and for the environment.

There are many forms of vegetarianism, ranging from the strict vegan diet, which allows only plant-based foods (no dairy, eggs, honey, or animal products) to the lacto-ovo vegetarian diet, which allows animal products but no animal flesh.

Although it has never really been mainstream in Western cultures, vegetarianism is not a modern phenomenon. Many cultures throughout history have adopted this approach to food, including the ancient Greeks and Indians. In India, vegetarianism was closely associated with nonviolence, while for the ancient Greeks and Egyptians it was thought to be important for medical purposes and ritual purification.

Why be a vegetarian?

In contemporary Western culture, people choose to be vegetarian for many different reasons. Here are a few.

Respect for living creatures

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals states on their Web site that “farmed animals are every bit as intelligent and capable of feeling pain as the dogs and cats we cherish as our companions. They are inquisitive, interesting individuals who value their lives, solve problems, experience fear and pain, and are capable of using tools.”

Environmental reasons

A 2006 United Nations study concluded that eating meat is “one of the . . . most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global.” The report stated that the meat industry “should be a major policy focus when dealing with problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity.”

A healthier choice

While some people have economic, cultural, or religious motivation behind their vegetarianism, one of the most common incentives is health. The American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, and numerous other dietary organizations, have stated that at all stages of life, a properly planned vegetarian diet is “healthful, nutritionally adequate, and provides health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.”

A variety of large-scale studies have confirmed that vegetarians tend to have a lower body mass index, lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and less risk of heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. In a 2007 study of 500,000 people, even a relatively low intake of red meat was found to increase a person’s risk of cancer of the esophagus, colon, rectum, liver, and lungs by 20 to 60 percent. The health benefits seem to go on and on, covering everything from improved mood profiles to longer lives to a reduced risk of animal-to-human disease transmission.

Becoming vegetarian

However, in spite of all these benefits, many people find it difficult to switch over to a vegetarian diet, particularly if they’re accustomed to eating a lot of meat. The following steps can help you to get started.

Make friends with fruits, vegetables, and meat alternatives.

Do some research and find ingredients and dishes that suit your tastes. There are plenty of resources available to help you with this. Vegetarian meals can be simple (baked beans and cheese sandwiches) or gourmet (butternut squash and pear ravioli with rosemary sauce). The choice is yours.

Take it slowly

Although there’s no problem with quitting meat “cold turkey,” so to speak, the change can be more sustainable if you take it slowly, creating new eating habits as you go.

Try switching one meat-based meal for a vegetarian one in your first week, increasing that to two a week, then three, and so on. This will allow you to learn some new dishes and experiment with using vegetables in new ways without too much pressure. Another way to ease into the change is to start by cutting out red meat, then poultry, and eventually fish.

Think positive

Becoming a vegetarian doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a life of munching on tasteless leaves. Start with what you do like, and you’ll soon find that leaves can be very tasty—and there’s an endless variety available to you. The key to a healthy diet is to consume a wide variety of foods. So keep an open mind. Experiment with tofu, learn to love lentils, and consider upgrading salads from side status to main meal.

Know what to expect

Becoming a vegetarian can mean different things for different people. Some people feel tired at first, but that will pass. Others find that they lose weight or that their skin clears up and they look healthier. There are also some who don’t seem to notice any significant difference in how they look and feel.

What to watch out for

Even though a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet can easily provide all the nutrition you need, it can take some time to learn how to get it. Don’t ignore signs that your body isn’t getting what it needs, and be ready to ask an expert for advice. Protein, iron, and vitamin B₁₂ are the nutrients most commonly available from meat, so it’s important to know how to get them from a vegetarian diet. And it isn’t all that hard.

Protein

Most vegetarian diets only have a slightly lower level of protein than a meat diet, and they can easily meet daily requirements. Eggs and dairy are complete sources of protein, and while a few plant foods (such as soy, chia seed, and quinoa) provide all eight essential amino acids, the same can be obtained by eating a wide variety of plant foods. One key to obtaining adequate protein is to keep in mind that, while most grains and legumes do not by themselves make up a complete protein, most any combination of a grain and a legume does.

Iron

Interestingly, vegetarian diets typically contain as much iron as diets where red meat is regularly consumed. The difference is that iron from plants can be more difficult for your body to absorb. Your body relies on other substances you eat to help it absorb iron, of which one of the most effective is vitamin C. Try eating foods rich in iron (such as spinach, black beans, cashews, whole grains, and broccoli) in combination with vitamin C-laden foods like citrus, tomatoes, and other acid-tasting fruits.

Vitamin B₁₂

Vitamin B₁₂ is essential for a healthy nervous system. Low B₁₂ can be a factor in depression, fatigue, and a variety of other health problems. Although your body only needs a tiny amount of B₁₂ to function, it’s impossible to get it from plant foods. Lacto-ovo vegetarians can gain what they need from dairy and eggs, but vegans must rely on fortified foods (some breakfast cereals, for example) or B₁₂ supplements.

Find a community

Being a vegetarian is much easier when you’re not doing it alone. You might find that when you decide to change your diet, some of your friends or family will take the plunge with you. That’s great! You can encourage and learn from each other. Joining vegetarian cooking classes is another good way to meet others going through a similar change. Online communities can also provide the support and encouragement you need. Find a couple of good vegetarian food blogs to follow (try ohmyveggies.com, veggiebelly .com, or ohsheglows.com) and join the conversations there.

American author and nutritionist Adelle Davis once said, “We are indeed much more than what we eat, but what we eat can nevertheless help us to be much more than what we are.”

Help on the Web: For some extensive collections of vegetarian recipes, check out www.vegweb.com or www.sanitarium.com.au/recipes. Also, http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/free-vegetarian-starter-kit.aspx has some suggestions on making the switch to a healthier diet.

A vegetarian’s shopping list

Here are a few basic items you’ll find indispensable.

• A variety of fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables
• Canned beans (such as kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas)
• Lentils, canned or dried
• Rice
• Pastas
• Canned vegetarian soups (such as tomato, lentil, or minestrone)
• Tomato sauce
• Herbs and spices, fresh or dried
• Whole-grain bread
• Meat alternatives such as tofu and a variety of textured vegetable protein products that are available at many supermarkets
• Milk and cheese (or soymilk and soy cheese if you choose not to eat dairy)