Going Veg - Need nutrition advice!

I have a similar living situation, my bf loves meat, and so does my son....however I have been a veg for a couple months now. I happen to love soy milk, but I used almond and rice milk as well. As for tofu, sometimes I eat it, sometimes I dont LOL Its one of those things I guess. I keep my protein up using beans, quinoa, and sometimes a vegetarion protein shake (the one I use has pea and rice proteins with a bit of soy, so its completely dairy free). When it comes to meals at home I sometimes sneak in tofu or soy based products in stuff like stir fry and pasta sauce, but alot of the times I end up making the main meal based around veggies and then cook chicken for my bf and son, and then something else for me. It sucks when your the only one in the house, and it can take a bit of work, but you kind of get into a routine after a bit Good luck!

It's pretty much the same as how to stay healthy on a non-vegetarian diet:
1. Eat a variety of foods from all the food groups. Most people who get sick on veg diets get sick because all they eat are potatoes and rice or something. Eat lots of different kinds of fruits, veg, grains, beans, etc, and you'll be fine.
2. Avoid added sugar, processed food, soda, junk food, etc. Remember that junk food is junk food, whether it's vegetarian or not!
3. Watch your portion sizes.
4. Drink plenty of water.
5. Don't feel obligated to eat "traditional" vegetarian foods. You can be a perfectly healthy vegetarian and not eat any tofu, tempeh, or other meat replacements.
6. Be adventurous. It's a common myth that a vegetarian diet means eating beans at every meal, or eating only curries, or only salads. Look for recipes from vegetarian-friendly sites such as vegweb and Vegetarian Times. There are a lot of great, delicious, easy, non-boring options out there.

#2 is especially important because a lot of people think that "vegetarian = healthy"--but a 500-calorie vegan cookie is just as bad for you as a 500-calorie cookie with eggs in it! Also, avoid those processed meat substitute frozen foods (e.g., soy-based veggie "sausage"). They are just as much a junk food as other processed foods, even if they have less fat and fewer calories. Use them as treats or occasional additions to your diet.

For eating out, look for ethnic restaurants; Middle-Eastern, Asian, African, Mediterranean, and South American cuisines all have a wide variety of vegetarian options.

Expect people to tell you baloney about "complete protein" or "you won't get enough of [nutrient X]" or "watch out or you'll become anemic". Millions of people live very healthy lives eating vegetarian diets. It's a myth that the human body NEEDS meat. (It's also a myth that the human body "wasn't meant to eat meat" or "shouldn't eat meat", for that matter. Humans are omnivores, and very well adapted to omnivory.) As long as you are eating a varied diet, getting enough calories, and avoiding junk food, you can be just as healthy on a vegetarian diet as you can on a diet that contains meat.

Expect people to question your motives or act offended by your diet. A lot of people feel threatened by a person who is vegetarian, probably because they think you will be out to "convert" them (they will think this regardless of what you say). Try not to be offended or take it personally; it's their problem, not yours.

I'm not a vegetarian now, but I have been both vegan and vegetarian in the past. Today, I eat eggs and dairy every day, and I eat meat maybe once or twice a week (e.g., I might cook a chicken on the weekend and eat it during the course of the week, or use some bacon or ham in a soup or other dish). There are a lot of great vegetarian options out there; when you can get out of the mindset that every meal must center around meat, a lot of doors open up :-) Try different fruits, veggies, and grains, prepared multiple ways. Instead of thinking of it as "giving up" meat, think of it as ADDING a whole world of new foods to your diet.

And finally: don't beat yourself up if you eat some meat. If you like it, and you eat it in moderation, there's nothing wrong with it. If you're concerned about animal welfare, buy local, humanely raised meat. This is how I have cut my meat consumption; I can't afford to eat pastured chicken or pork or grass-fed beef at every meal, and I don't eat industrial or feedlot meat, so I have just started eating a lot less meat. Personally, I think it's better to eat a little bit of humanely raised meat to satisfy my cravings than to eat processed meat substitutes.

Above all, enjoy yourself! Food should be pleasurable and tasty. Don't be afraid to experiment (and don't forget that sometimes, experiments fail...) Have FUN!

There is a book called Becoming Vegetarian that is pretty good. I learned a lot from it and I've always been vegetarian. A good cookbook is How to Cook Everything Vegetarian by Mark Bittman. He's not vegetarian so his recipes don't generally include weird ingredients. My husband, who is not vegetarian, has had no complaints about anything I've made from it.