About 25 yrs vegetarianism here --- the last 10 of it vegan.

My guiding text for veg-ism was Diet for a Small Planet by Lappe. My personal belief is that eating only plant foods is good for the planet, good for us nutritionally, and obviously stops the widespread inhumane housing and unnecessary slaughter of other sentient beings.

I'm for jumping right in and becoming a vegetarian. Why? Well, I couldn't do it any other way. My taste buds couldn't adjust to going back and forth between animal and vegetable meals. My palate would become jaded if I ate animal foods, and I would then be unable to appreciate the more subtle flavors of vegetarian meals. And, understanding what I do now about the harm dairy does us, I would even recommend going vegan right away.

However, there's more to the art of eating right --- than going vegetarian. It's important to first study nutrition and hydration, vitamins and minerals, PH balance and the balance of fiber and nonfibrous food, as well as maintaining healthy blood sugar levels --- before making big changes in diet. And you need to know how far you must travel to buy economical vegan foods and vegan cookbooks. I'd also recommend finding a veggie website, with a bulletin board, so you can talk to others about how to plan and cook the types of meals you enjoy --- as well as the specific foods to look for in health food stores.

In my opinion, vegetarianism is not for the faint of heart, for the confirmed fast food eater, or for those who are still undecided.

It does work out nicely for the singleminded lazy person, like myself, however. I prefer simple and easy to prepare veggie meals. I eat crazy combinations that others wouldn't enjoy because they're faster and designed to give me super nutrition and suit my taste buds. I can do that, because I don't cook for others.

Whether you're on the long journey or the short journey to vegetarianism, I highly recommend it.

Adieu