{Vegetarian Curious #1} Katie’s Story

I have this semi-healthy blog here which means not TOO healthy so I have stayed away from diets such as vegetarian because to a gal from Nebraska…it seems UBER healthy to be a vegetarian.

There are many healthy benefits, however, and I thought rather than research on the internet, I would ask some of my friends to share their veggie-ful stories and recipes. 

I’m entitling the series “Vegetarian Curious” and will probably continue the series with my own posts once I get the hang of things.  I don’t intend on ever going completely vegetarian, however I think a couple of veggie-filled days will do me some good.

I will be putting up quite a few of these guest posts in the next couple of weeks to help transition me back into school…so get excited to hear from some talented bloggers!

I am actually probably in my first day of class as you are reading this…send some prayers my way if you think about it!!  My summer was wayyy to kind to me! 😉
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Hi everyone! My name is Katie and I blog over at Talk Less, Say More. I had the pleasure of meeting and rooming with Amanda while we were at the BLEND Retreat in May. (I’m also the reason for her new obsession with Greek yogurt…you’re welcome Amanda.) 😉

I was super excited when Amanda reached out about writing about my vegetarian lifestyle. I love sharing my journey and experience with other people, especially when it comes to healthy living and fitness.

I became vegetarian about 10 years ago when I was 15. I was a freshman in high school and because I didn’t like the taste of meat, I decided I wasn’t going to subject myself to having to eat it. My family didn’t quite understand my choice and definitely challenged me to “make it work.”

For me, going vegetarian was completely my own decision and therefore I could make my own rules. I cut out all meats and eggs, and only allowed myself dairy and seafood. At the same time, I’m pretty lactose intolerant so dairy was few and far between.

Senior year of high school…

Growing up, my biggest challenge with being vegetarian was learning to eat vegetarian in a healthy way and for years I know this was something I did not do. Since my family expected me to make it work, that often meant picking the pieces of chicken out of the casserole they made for dinner or living completely on side dishes at family gatherings. I know that for the most part I was not getting the proper protein or nutrition intake for quite some time. My family wasn’t trying to deprive me but I’m pretty sure they thought it was a just a “teenage angst phase” and that I’d get over it sooner or later.

But I didn’t. This wasn’t something I was willing to compromise on and maybe it was just my pure stubbornness and strive to prove others wrong, but I wasn’t going to just give up because it wasn’t always easy. I knew that I just needed to find my groove. And college wasn’t much easier. The cafeteria at my college didn’t have many vegetarian options (that didn’t look like last week’s leftovers) so I ate a lot of grilled cheese sandwiches, pasta with veggies, bagels with peanut butter or creme cheese and tuna salad wraps every day. My diet was boring and not as nutritious as it could (or should) have been.

This may have tasted good but there was some real nutritional value missing

And then I moved into an apartment and started cooking my own meals. I started reading cook books, magazines and healthy living blogs. I was on a journey to find the healthy side of eating vegetarian while still “making it work.” My family and friends realized this wasn’t just a phase and I found a whole new level of support. In fact my coworkers often talk about how I’m one of the healthiest eaters they know and friends come to me for advice on healthy and/or vegetarian/vegan eating.

The good news is we’re in an era where healthy, vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free eating are becoming more common. For some it’s merely by choice and for others it’s by necessity. Eating out is becoming so much easier with more available options no matter what your restrictions. Additionally, people are more aware of other’s eating restrictions and often take that into account when planning an event or throwing a party. (For my own family’s gatherings, they usually let me know what we’re having ahead of time so I can decide if I need to pack anything that I can eat, but generally I don’t find it necessary.)

I’ve allowed my diet to change and adapt as I need, want and see fit. I’ve removed all dairy from my diet (except Greek yogurt and the occasional frozen yogurt, chocolate or ice cream); I’ve added eggs back; I’ve reduced my seafood intake and I’ve increased my beans, nuts and legumes. I’ve learned eating vegetarian in a healthy way and sticking to mostly “real” foods, keeps my body at it’s best (fit, healthy digestion, etc). I’ve learned to eat 3 smaller meals and 2-3 snacks per day; this is what works for me and this is what makes my body feel good. I’ve learned that a combination of a healthy diet and active lifestyle is what makes my body thrive. And I’ve learned that 10 years later, I still don’t regret my decision to go vegetarian because it led me down the path of a happy, healthy and fit life.