What do Woody Harrelson, Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Clinton, Jane Goodall, Bruce Springsteen, and Betty White have to do with this food column? They are also vegetarians or vegans. Yes, I’m a vegetarian, and no, my meals do not consist of lettuce and carrot sticks.

I made the decision to change my diet years ago after reading a lot of literature about the pros and cons and thought it would work for me for a variety of health and ethical reasons. I have had to giggle at the range of responses that have followed since: “Oh, you’re a vegetarian? I like vegetables, so I think I could do that too,” “We’re having a little get together, oh wait, what are you able to eat?” and the most frequent, “Why?”

Now I’m not saying this doesn’t happen, but I personally have never heard a vegetarian ask a meat eater how long they’ve been eating steak or ask why they choose to eat meat, so I don’t always understand others questioning my food choices, but that’s okay. Believe me, I eat plenty of other food items, so the fact that there is no chicken, cow or pig on my plate isn’t really the issue.

There are varying degrees of vegetarianism ”“ some more strict than others as personal preferences differ. The Mayo Clinic’s website offers a simple breakdown of types of vegetarian diets that range from lacto-ovo vegetarian (exclude meats but allow dairy and eggs) to vegan (exclude meats and dairy and any foods that contain either). The USDA recognizes that vegetarianism is becoming more popular and have info on their website about it at www.choosemyplate.gov.

For those of you interested in a comparison, Harvard provides a healthy eating pyramid and Loma Linda University offers a diagram of the vegetarian food pyramid.

Like anything else, there are some misconceptions. A handful of these myths are that vegetarians are healthy and slim, they don’t get enough protein, they can’t do rigorous workouts, and they spend loads of money on groceries. While disappointed that my change in diet did not come with an immediately slim and svelte figure, I am healthier overall, and realize it is not always an automatic or quick transformation. As for protein, I do eat an occasional piece of fish, but am able to get sufficient protein from sources such as beans, nuts, lentils, and almond milk (although admittedly, the almond milk is not a significant source).

I am not one of those people who is at the gym every day, but my weight training, cardio, and yoga workouts have not suffered at all from my eating habits. If anything, when I am being selective about what I eat, I feel great and have more energy. Although I am definitely not in the same league as fellow vegetarians Tony Gonzalez or Dave Scott (an NFL player and Iron Man champion respectively), it just shows that strength and performance don’t necessarily suffer when eating a plant-based diet. As for how much I spend; it all depends on what I am buying and where I am purchasing it, but for the most part, my grocery bill has decreased.

If you are considering a diet change, it is a good idea to consult with your doctor, dietician, and/or nutritionist. Initially, my doctor recommended that I take B12 and iron supplements as they are two of the vitamins and minerals that vegetarians or vegans may sometimes not get enough of. However, it has not been an issue as long as I incorporate a variety of foods.

For those who are veggie curious, but are not yet ready to commit to it, there are plenty of options. One is to try a new dish when you go out to eat. Recently, my fiancé and I visited Dahlia’s Delights, a vegetarian café in Biddeford. We ordered their Avocado Delight Wrap and Caprese Panini followed by an orange craisin coconut chocolate chip vegan cookie ”“ yum. They use fresh, local ingredients and have a very nice staff. There is a good selection of items and daily specials, so there should be something that suits anyone’s taste if you want someone else to make that first vegetarian meal for you.

For those who may want to try a change at home, add an extra fruit or vegetables to one of your regular recipes or as a side dish. Substitute a plant-based choice, such as one of the many kinds of beans, for a processed food, carb or meat. If you’re like me and not as creative as you’d like to be in the kitchen, pick up a vegetarian cookbook or “google” vegetarian recipes. It doesn’t matter how you start or experiment, just remember that even small changes will help you decide if the vegetarian option is right for you.

— Tammy Cloutier is a wildlife scientist and freelance writer for the Journal Tribune. She lives in Kennebunk.