You?ve finally made the decision to change your eating habits and dive head first into a vegetarian lifestyle. Congratulations! You have made a wise decision. Now you have to decide whether to go ?cold turkey? or make the transition gradually.

Whichever way to choose to start your vegetarian lifestyle, you can will notice the health benefits of vegetarianism more quickly by firstly significantly reducing the amount of meats consumed, and making vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains the focus of your meals.

Take your time when shopping for food, plan ahead, and make sure you read food labels to ascertain information about food additives, food coloring and hidden animal ingredients. If you decide to eat dairy products, choose non-fat or low-fat varieties.

There is a wide variety of vegetarian foods available in most grocery stores, however, some of the more uncommon items may need to be sourced from one of the many specialty vegetarian food stores. Eat a wide variety of foods, and don?t be afraid to try vegetables, fruits, grains, breads, nuts, or seeds that you?ve never tried before. Convenient, ready-to-eat, whole-grain breakfast cereals, and quick-cooking whole-grain cereals such as oatmeal, whole-grain breads and crackers, such as rye, whole wheat, and mixed grain and other grains such as barley and bulgur wheat are readily available.

*You should give consideration to the following foods:-

*Canned beans, such as pinto, black beans, and garbanzo beans

*Rice (including brown, wild, etc.) and pasta (now available in whole wheat, spinach, and other flavors) with tomato sauce and canned beans and/or chopped veggies

*Vegetarian soups like lentil, navy bean, or minestrone

*A wide variety of plain frozen vegetables, and canned and frozen fruit

*Fortified soy milks and soy cheeses, should you choose to not eat dairy

*A wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, which should be the core of any diet

Once you have mastered the art of cooking delicious vegetarian meals you will soon realize that a meatless diet does not have to lack variety. As a matter of fact you will find it easy and fun to serve up such healthy, tasty and perhaps life prolonging meals that you and your family will thoroughly enjoy.