Ask Mary

Start by familiarizing yourself with vegetarian food.   It’s easy to find vegetarian staples, such as beans, lentils and tofu, in ethnic restaurants.  Many classic meat-free dishes have Italian, Mexican, Indian, Asian, and Middle-Eastern origins.  And don’t forget egg and cheese dishes like omelets and quiche that you might already enjoy. Read books and cookbooks about vegetarian diets and make a file of recipes to try. In some communities, vegetarian cooking classes are held in natural food stores, food co-ops and community adult education programs.  They make it easy to try new foods and meet like-minded people.  Read a great article about going vegetarian at About.com.