Welcome to r/vegetarian!

New or potential vegetarians - please read this FAQ before posting.

A lot of the posts at r/vegetarian are from new or prospective vegetarians asking questions about the switch to the diet and what's important. While it's great to have more converts, we often spend time repeating the same advice. So here's some hints, tips, info and links for you. Of course, don't be put off asking the community a question; they're always happy to help and there's a lot of vegetarian experience around these parts.

What is a vegetarian? Most western vegetarians are "Ovo-lacto" which means they do not eat meat but do eat eggs and dairy. Of course this is down to personal preference. A vegan is someone who abstains from the use of any animal derived product. Don't vegetarian diets lack protein? Far from it! Protein can be obtained from a wide range of sources such as pulses, beans, lentils and nuts. Visit here for an overview of vegetarian nutrition requirements and sources.

Will I miss meat? Well that's down to you. You may surprise yourself by how much you forget about meat with a varied vegetarian diet. If you still get a hankering for meat, there are some excellent meat substitutes out there depending on where you live.

Are the meals boring? Not at all. Beginning a vegetarian diet is like an adventure, you'll be forced to try new things and new flavours. It's not all going to be great (a bad tofu experience is probably guaranteed)! Don't be put off though, it's all a learning experience. Get a few cookbooks and check out veggie blogs to get your ideas flowing.

Don't become a pastafarian! It's all too simple to try and survive on pasta and tomato sauce or mac and cheese. BAD IDEA! You need a varied diet.

Anything else? Check out the Vegetarian Society's complete and free guide.

Thanks to @jamesdownwell for writing our FAQ.