I am used to getting weird reactions from people when they find out I don’t eat meat. Here is a recent one: “I am all for being a vegetarian, but if we all stop eating beef, the cow population will become out of hand.”

This made me realize that there are a lot of myths about being a vegetarian, and they need to be busted. Here are five common myths.

MYTH: Meal planning becomes much harder

TRUTH: It’s actually the same, When you meal plan for your family dinner, you usually know how to make what your planning. The only difference between meal planning as a vegetarian is that you have to learn how to make these new meals. The meal planning much easier than you may believe. If you are struggling with meal ideas, a ton of blogs and websites provide weekly vegetarian meal plans. Click here for an example.

MYTH: Humans need meat for protein

TRUTH: Vegetables have a lot more protein and nutrition then people think. For example, broccoli contains more grams of protein per calorie than steak. To see a complete list of the amount of protein in vegetables, go here.

MYTH: It’s only about the meat.

TRUTH: Getting rid of meat alone will not make you healthier. Cutting out junk foods, carbs and most dairy can be a huge part of making your body healthier, along with lots of yoga, meditation and overall exercise.

MYTH: You’ll lose weight

TRUTH: For some people, this can be true if you cut out bad foods such as chips, doritos, sugary cereals and junk foods. This can also be true for vegans. However this is not true for all people who convert to vegetarianism.

MYTH: You won’t have as much energy as you used to

TRUTH: This is true if are not eating properly, and can be true for the first couple of weeks until your body has properly adjusted to its new diet, but it is no reason to get discouraged. If you do not have enough energy. you are not getting enough fiber, fat, or protein, says Drew Ramsey, MD, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University. Following the vegetarian food pyramid, making sure you get enough fruits, whole grains, vegetables, beans, nuts, plant oils and eggs and/or dairy is important. This website lists how many serving of each area you should have each day and provides a downloadable brochure showing how to get started on a vegetarian diet!