Yes, I get enough protein.

Here are the 6 things that happen when you become a vegetarian.

1. You kill fewer animals

The total amount of land animals slaughtered for meat was 7,353,462,725 in the US in 2013. Being a vegetarian for just 6 months means you saved 101 animals and 804 lbs of CO2 wasn’t released. There is certainly more you can do to actively save animals by protesting, volunteering in sanctuaries, or teaming up with animal rights organizations, but being a vegetarian is a good place to start.

2. People are suddenly concerned about your health

For some reason people seem concerned for your health as soon as you start eating healthier and eat plants instead of harming animals. I’ve noticed meat eaters will become defensive about their eating habits as soon as you say you don’t eat animals. It’s easy as a vegetarian to get frustrated with people when they say things like “where do you get your protein?” or “we have canines for a reason”. The best thing to do is respond positively and explain why you are vegetarian and maybe offer them some documentaries or books to look into if they want to learn more. Education is the first step towards understanding something.

3. You become more health-conscious

Eating a plant based diet means more variety and creative with your cuisine. Your plate will become more colorful with more veggies and fruits. You start to focus more on the nutrients and benefits of your food rather than just the calories in it. Once you become more aware of what you’re putting into your body you’ll notice you feel lighter, have more energy, and feel good that you’re not supporting a system that kills animals and harms the environment.

4. You might lose weight

This isn’t a guarantee of course but many people experience some weight loss and feel like they have more energy. When you eat whole plant foods full of vitamins and fiber that are easy to digest, unlike heavy processed meats, your body has more energy to help you do the things you want to do. According to the Journal of General Internal Medicine, found that those on vegetarian diets lost around 4.4 pounds more than meat eaters, while those on a vegan diet dropped 5.5 pounds more.

5. You start scouring restaurant menues

You’ll start to dine at restaurants in your area that are vegetarian and vegan. The Happy Cow is a great app that helps you find vegetarian restaurants that are close by. There’s almost always an option that is vegetarian and you can always ask if they will make it vegetarian for you.

6. You know celebrities who are vegetarians

Peter Dinklage, Alicia Silverstone, Miley Cyrus, Jared Leto, Ellen Degeneres, Ricky Martin and Kristen Bell are just a few celebrities who have adopted vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. For ideas for vegetarian recipes YouTube has many users who have great ideas for people who want to switch it up.