There are many terrific websites with information on eating in a vegetarian way - that is NOT just giving up meat, but learning healthy food combinations, and recipes. Find some of them below. Nothing motivates us like disease or a health challenge. When Ann Fonfa gave up eating meat in 1974 she simply went along with friends and coworkers to the same restaurants, eating the same burger, bun, lettuce, tomato and sauce -but put away the burger. This was NOT healthy vegetarian food. At better restaurants she had salad and a baked potato. Most salads at most restaurants contains iceberg lettuce, some fairly anemic tomatoes, and perhaps a slice of cucumber or onion. Not much actual FOOD for a vegetarian. So make sure you step up and learn what you need to. Food combining yields the news that rice and beans together provide plenty of protein and fiber. You should use Brown rice and any type of bean. Food combining tells us to eat fruit from the same season or locale. With modern methods we can have apples and plus at the same time - but they really do not go together all that well. Some people think eating locally-grown food is really a good idea. It is picked more recently, probably picked at its prime as opposed to before it actually ripened. Many Farmers' Markets offer this kind of food. You can talk to the farmers and find out who does not use pesticides. Sometimes they do not get certified as organic but the farmer may not be using chemicals in the fields. Make sure that you eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every single day. It is thought best to eat some fruits in different colors - a colorful plate means you are getting a variety of phytochemicals (plant-based chemicals that are nutrients our bodies need). Drink water daily - can you install a home filter? It's cheaper than bottled water, and may be safer. The type of plastic used is now recognized as important. Look to see if the plastic bottle (or any plastic container) has a number on the bottom. If it is 1 (PETE), 2 (HPE), 4 (LDPE), or 5 (PP), it is considered safer. If it has 3, 6 or 7, forget it! Safe Plastic information courtesy of Pocket Guide to Plastic, Growing Up Healthy (212) 241-3185 to order them. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.