Hello,
My name is Bette and I am a new member. Both my husband and I are interested in becoming a vegetarian. It won't be too difficult for me since I have not eaten any red meat since I was 17 (over 25 years ago), but we also want to give up eating chicken and fish as well. We live in the Orland Park, IL area and wanted to know if anyone within the group is local to the Orland Park area that could educate us. There is a lot more to becoming a vegetarian than just cutting out meat from ones diet. Having the knowledge of proper food combining is essential to keep yourself healthy and your diet balanced.

If anyone is aware of any cooking classes or lives nearby that we're able to contact for information, please respond.

With regards,
Bette J. Maldonado

Hello Bette,

That's great news! If you need some literature you can order a free "Free Vegetarian Starter Kit" from local group Mercy For Animals. Here's the link: http://www.mercyforan... (or you can download a version)

Good luck!

cheers,
-dave

Thanks Dave....I appreciate you sending me the information!!

Bette!!! This is exciting news!!!

Here's a link I use a lot, there aren't too many in Orland Park but maybe a nearby suburb as well? http://www.vegillinoi...

GOOD LUCK!

Hi Bette,
We're all happy to hear you and your husband are trying to be vegetarians. I have materials that will help you become veg. I can mail them to you if you like.

Also, meditation will help you quit all meats more easily... as well as smoking and other intoxicants. (I can show you how if you're interested.) This inner "education" bypasses the mind and uplifts your being, then you will change naturally...

Don't worry about food combination... ever... believe me... Just eat like you used to except replacing animal protein with vegetable protein. That's all! My husband and I and our two grown children have been well and VERY healthy. We switched to vegetarian diet 17 years ago and vegan diet 2 years ago.

What you say may be true, Hannah, but there are so many recipes and dishes that meat-eaters would consider "abnormal", that that is part of what I want to learn (no, I am not the OP). There are some vegetarians who just eat "veggie burgers" and whatnot, and then add certain things to their diet to get what the meat used to give them that's "healthy", but what some people might call "real" vegetarians are cooking entirely different dishes. Or, meat-eaters who have not been raised in "typical America" that also eat these dishes. There was something with Eggplant that was really good at one meting of Food Not Bombs. Also I have recently learned that all but one type of soy is very, very bad for you (and the type that is not bad for you is not often seen in retail anything).

Bette,
I live in Steger, and work in Chicago. Vegan Outreach has Guide to Cruelty Free Eating which has a section on nutrition that would address any such concerns that you might have. Reach me by phone and I can mail you one. Joe Espinosa 708 717-7573

Also I have recently learned that all but one type of soy is very, very bad for you (and the type that is not bad for you is not often seen in retail anything).

whoa whoa whoa! What? Citation needed please!