If you've thought about becoming vegetarian or vegan, or think you would benefit from a wheat or dairy free diet, why not give it a go?
Start now
January is a great time to embark on a new regime because the majority of the population are full of dieting determination and good intentions - helping you to stay on the wagon and away from the local kebab house.
Health benefits
Embarking on a meat-free vegetarian lifestyle will encourage you to eat a diet rich in fruit, veg and variety, ensuring you have plenty of health-giving, anti-aging nutrients to set you up for the New Year.
You're also likely to eat more polyunsaturated fats (the healthy ones) rather than potentially harmful saturated fats which are mainly derived from animal products.
Studies have shown that vegetarians following a well balanced, low fat, high fibre diet (so we're not talking about the cheese on toast brigade) are less likely to suffer from obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and some forms of cancer. Reason enough to give up the steak and chips.
If you decide to give vegetarianism a go, make sure that you replace meat with foods that contain the nutrients you'll lose. Do your research and have a look at the many veggie websites for recipes and diet planning advice - try vegsoc.org or nutrition.org - and above all make changes at your own pace. A step in the right direction is better than no step at all.
Going vegan
The key difference with a vegan diet is that you are not allowed to eat foods derived from animals, such as protein-rich eggs, cheese and milk.
It is still possible to get all essential nutrients through a plant-based diet with the exception of some vitamins, such as B12, which can be taken as a supplement or through vitamin fortified foods.
The foods you'll be cutting out aren't the healthiest of options: eggs are high in cholesterol and dairy products can be hard for our bodies to digest. So be completely saintly and get your protein from legumes, beans, nuts and grains, your calcium from broccoli and soya milk and follow Popeye's example by getting your daily dose of iron from spinach.
