What should I eat and will it taste good?
You probably already eat a lot of great foods that either don't contain meat, or could easily be made without it. The easiest thing to do is to take a glance at the What to Eat page, and notice just this basic list of examples of foods that are closer to the source. You'll see pastas, burritos, rice dishes, veggie burgers, salads of every kind, soups, stuffed vegetables, truly it's endless. All are available at restaurants either on the menu, or if you order "off the menu" and just ask for exactly what you want from scratch, or something on the menu slightly modified. None of the fighters eating close to the source ever feel they have lost any enjoyment in food, in fact they feel a world of amazing tastes has opened up and the best thing is you feel great after the meal.
Should I be taking supplements like vitamins or protein powder?
Well, it never hurts for anyone to take normal amounts of dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. If you decide to eat no products from animals at all, you may want to take a sublingual B-12 supplement, and hemp seed or flax seed oil for omega 3's is good as well. Some people also take a Taurine pill or powder. Also, if you are a woman eating only 100% from the source, its good to take an iron supplement.
These are fine if it makes you feel more confident that you are getting all the minerals and vitamins you need, but all you really need to do is eat a good variety of foods close to the source, mixing plenty of beans, nuts, vegetables and grains.
As far as protein, you certainly don't need a supplement, but again, if it makes you happy, you can always make protein shakes using soy protein powder.
How will I get protein?
Many beans and nuts, and products made from them (tofu, casseroles, stir fries, bean and vegetable burritos, peanut butter, etc.) have a good deal of protein per ounce, but without the cholesterol, hormones or pesticide concentrations. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) say the average American is eating significantly more protein than they need – and that's the average American, not someone specifically trying to consume extra protein to build and maintain muscles. Our experience as fighters is we have more energy to train and and we build more strength by eating a variety of healthy foods from the source. Remember, it is not food that builds muscles, it is training and exercise. The food is what powers you and gives you the nutrients to repair and grow your tissues, and the best fuel for the fighter is whole, unprocessed foods direct from the source. You should consume amino acids and proteins from natural sources, and your body will do the rest. Note that if you are ever concerned and want to artificially increase protein intake beyond what a healthy varied diet can deliver, you can always bolster your protein intake with protein shakes with soy protein, but this is a processed food product.
