Going Vegetarian: 5 Women Who Gave Up Meat

These women went vegetarian for different reasons—and say doing so changed their lives, for the better. Could it change yours?

November 3, 2011
how going vegetarian changed these women&#039;s livesPhotograph by Thayer Gowdy

Shortly after giving up meat in 1995, Jessica Lindsey took a cross-country trip that gave her a taste of what eating out was going to be like. "Vegetarianism was still so fringe then that hardly anyone outside of California knew what it meant," she says. "At one restaurant, the waitress told me that the soups were vegetarian. She said that the broth was from beef, and it contained chicken pieces, but no meat!"

Today Lindsey rarely has such strange encounters. Vegetarianism is steadily becoming mainstream. Roughly 6 to 8 million Americans are vegetarians, according to the Vegetarian Resource Group—up from a half million to 2 million in 1994. And they have gotten smarter about their dining choices. A generation ago, vegetarian meals were often built around leaden nut loaves or uninspired brown-rice casseroles. Today, many vegetarians consider themselves foodies and relish the challenge of finding recipes that showcase fresh vegetables as a delicious main course, flavored with herbs and spices. More than 50 vegan cookbooks are set to be published this year alone. "Vegetables are becoming culinary rock stars," says Amanda Cohen, owner of the vegetarian restaurant Dirt Candy in New York City.


As these women show, there are many potential health benefits to eating vegetarian.

The Organic Gardener

Elizabeth Harper, 50, Rushville, NY
Job: Jewelry designer
Status: Married, no kids
Vegetarian for 38 years

When I was living in England at age 12, I matter-of-factly told my parents that I was going to be a vegetarian. I first learned of the concept from their friends who visited us after a trip to India and cooked us some wonderful curries. My parents took it better than I thought they would. Mum was worried that I wouldn't get enough protein, so she sent away for soy chunks, which had to be re-constituted. She'd put them in "pretend" meat pies. It was pretty gross.

Fortunately, the older I got, the easier it became. Packaged veggie burgers and breakfast sausages today taste so much better than they did even five years ago. And now, of course, I'm in charge of the cooking. Even though my husband isn't vegetarian, he does enjoy the soups I make, like potato cream and celery leek. He also likes veggie stir-fries, and snacks I pick up for us to share like cashew butter and peanut-butter-filled pretzels. I don't mind making him meat or fish every once in a while, as long as it doesn't look like an actual animal. For instance, I could never put a lobster in pot, but I don't feel squeamish at all about grilling him a turkey burger.

The Payoff: It's hard for me to know the impact being a vegetarian has had on my health, because for three decades I haven't eaten any other way. But I know from my days of being a nurse back in England that a lot of women start to need medication and feel their health slipping by the time they're 50. And, me? I still feel as fabulous as I did at 25! My weight (145 pounds on my 5'5" frame) is about the same as it was back then. Because I have so much energy, people think I'm younger than I am. I don't bother to correct them.

Vegetarian Healthy Eating Tip: Don't Be A "Starchatarian"
When you go vegetarian, it's a common misstep to replace meat with starch. However, such a diet is no healthier than a meat-based diet and may even be less so. Instead, fill the empty spaces on your plate with plant-based protein—nuts, seeds, soy, and legumes contain plenty. In addition, aim to get enough of the following nutrients, which can fall short:
Iron: For nonmeat sources, turn to egg yolks, beans, and cooked spinach.
Calcium: Nondairy eaters should opt for leafy greens such as kale.
Omega-3s: If fish isn't on your menu, be sure to consume walnuts and flaxseed, and consider a supplement.
Vitamin B12: This nutrient occurs naturally only in animal products, so you must either supplement or eat fortified foods (like cereals or soy milk).

MORE: 14 Ways to Make Veggies Less Boring