I am a true vegetarian, but I have been vegan for the past two months and will most likely continue with this lifestyle. The key to converting to vegetarianism is baby steps. You don’t have to exclude all meat from your diet all at once. I started by giving up milk and then three months later I gave up meat altogether. You can try to give up beef first and then poultry or you can try to give up meat five out of seven days of the week. If you go cold turkey, you may have more difficulty sticking with your new diet. Also, keep in mind that it is very easy to be an unhealthy vegetarian if you eat high sodium, high fat, processed vegetarian meals. Try to stick to as many fresh fruits and veggies as possible when cooking a meal. If you are pressed for time and need to buy a meat substitute out of the freezer aisle, read the nutrition label and try to find something that is low in sodium and fat. Mallory's favorite charity is her local Humane Society of Indianapolis (Indyhumane.org)
