Ever since becoming a vegetarian, people have asked me what it’s like to abstain from meat. Many of the questions can be boiled down to, “How can you survive without eating meat?” I’m always happy to explain. Here are five things non-vegetarians ask about most often.

You Can Eat Enough Protein

This is the biggest question and the answer is simple. Actually, it’s easy to find meat-free sources of protein, depending on what type of vegetarian style you adhere to (see the next topic below). Nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains such as quinoa, bulgur and farro are great sources of plant-based proteins. Tofu, made from soybean curd, is an easy way to add protein to any dish. Some vegetarians also eat eggs, dairy and seafood, all of which are excellent sources of protein. Adding seeds or nuts to oatmeal or a smoothie is a nice way to add protein and healthy fat at breakfast. Adding beans to a salad or soup can be an inexpensive and nutritious way to boost the protein of lunch and dinner meals. Plus, there are many meat analogs (products made from plant sources that resemble meat) available in restaurants and grocery stores.

There Are Many Different Vegetarians

I typically don’t use the label of “pescatarian” when describing my dietary choices, but someone who is a pescatarian eats no meat, but does eat seafood. An “ovo vegetarian” eats no meat or dairy, but does eat eggs. A “lacto vegetarian” eats dairy, but no meat or eggs. A “lacto-ovo vegetarian” eats no meat, but does eat dairy and eggs. Meanwhile, a “vegan” diet avoids all animal products, meat, dairy, eggs and seafood.

Be Mindful of How You Approach Someone’s Dietary Preferences

We all have our own reasons for the choices we make. Be respectful of someone’s dietary preferences and lifestyle choices. Sometimes, people feel the need to say things to change someone’s mind about being vegetarian — trust me, whatever is said won’t sway the decision to be vegetarian. For instance, I’ve heard many people say, “You can’t eat anything on the menu.” This is almost never true!

I Really Do Not Mind if You Eat Meat

Telling me how good your burger is won’t dissuade me from choosing the stir-fried veggies with tofu and bok choy. Too many times I’ve been urged to “just eat meat.” Why would someone think this is an OK thing to say? I really don’t mind if you eat meat — even when I’m eating with you. In fact, I’m really not worried about what you’re eating, I’m just trying to enjoy my meal.

Not Every Vegetarian Needs to Supplement, but Some Might

If you choose to eat animal products such as dairy, eggs or seafood, you may be getting enough vitamin B12, calcium, vitamin D and iron. But, if you aren’t eating these items, you may need to ask your doctor to check a baseline level of these nutrients. Vegans must consume foods fortified with vitamin B12 or a take a vitamin B12 supplement. It’s also a good idea to speak to a registered dietitian nutritionist if you’re making a change in your diet and are unsure if you’re eating the adequate nutrients your body needs.

When I finished my dietetic internship I was hired at a small hospital in my hometown. As I started feeling more comfortable as a dietitian, I learned I still had some reservations about nutrition support. I wasn’t completely comfortable leaving recommendations, especially in the critical care unit. My manager at the time suggested I think about taking the CNSC exam once I had at least one year of clinical experience under my belt. I wasn’t totally convinced at first, but studying for the exam was one of the best decisions I’ve made during my clinical career. Not only do I feel more confident in my recommendations, but I gained more knowledge in many other areas of nutrition that I hadn’t necessarily concentrated on during my nutrition courses in college.

The National Board of Nutrition Support Certification provides the CNSC exam content, which consists of a nutrition assessment component (19 percent of the exam); therapeutic plan of care (32 percent); initiation, monitoring and clinical management (32 percent); management of outcomes (8 percent) and a professional practice component (9 percent). The Candidate Handbook for the exam can be found on the NBNSC website, where detailed information on each exam component can be found.

Talk to your employer about whether they will pay for the CNSC through an education reimbursement program. Or, perhaps, by making the case for how obtaining a CNSC credential will benefit your work as a clinical practitioner.

When you first encounter the material, the CNSC exam can seem daunting, so give yourself ample time to prepare. For my first time taking this exam, I gave myself four months to prepare, studying for about one hour a day, though not always on weekends.

Also, be aware that the exam must be retaken every five years to ensure a level of knowledge and to encourage clinicians to stay up to date.

5 Essential Resources for the CNSC Exam

There are many resources available for those studying for the CNSC exam, but here are the five I found most useful.

• A.S.P.E.N.
  By becoming a member of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition you gain access to many resources for studying for the CNSC exam at a discounted price. You will also have access to Nutrition in Clinical Practice and the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, both of which are great ways to stay current on nutrition research.
• The A.S.P.E.N. Adult Nutrition Support Core Curriculum, 3rd Edition
  This resource is a great tool to use in studying – honestly, the first time I took the exam I read this cover-to-cover and took so many notes my college self would have been impressed. This book covers the basics in nutrition all the way through to specific disease states, implementation and management of nutrition support. Each chapter also provides questions and case studies to help you understand the material.
• The Nutrition Support Fundamentals and Review Course
  This resource is for a review of nutrition support basics. I’m using it now to refresh my knowledge in preparation for my recertification.
• A.S.P.E.N. Self-Assessment Program
  This is an online module with test questions to assess your level of knowledge. This is a great resource for determining where to focus your studying. The test questions provide you with the correct answers to help maximize your studying.
• Clinician’s Compendium
  This is another resource that’s useful if you need further review of nutrition support, and it includes sample test questions. The Clinician’s Compendium is free to A.S.P.E.N. members.

Here are a few other details to know before you sign up to take the CNSC exam. It is offered twice a year for a two-week period in April and September/October. It is administered at a testing site, similar to how many of us took the Registration Examination for Dietitians, but may take you longer to complete.

Good luck!

Katie Kelly, RD, CNSC is a registered dietitian and blogger in the San Francisco Bay Area. Follow her on Instagram to see her food, travel and fitness adventures.

Start Your Day with a Glass

Make it a goal to start each day by drinking a full glass of water to get a head start on your fluids. Try putting a glass of water by your bed to drink right after you wake up.

Gear Up

If you find that you avoid using your water bottle because it’s hard to clean, ugly or has a funky smell, it may be time to get a new bottle that you will use.

Get an Insert

If you prefer wide-mouth bottles for how easy they are to fill, look for a lid insert that fits inside the mouth. This will make it easier to sip while you’re active.

In the Clear

If you’re in the market for a new bottle, get one that is clear. This way, you can see how much or little water you have consumed. This can be a helpful motivator to fill up and drink up.

Three Times Full

If you have a 16-ounce water bottle, make it a goal to refill your water bottle at least three times throughout the day.

More than Just Water

Add fruits and vegetables with high water content to your diet. These include cabbage, spinach, squash, watermelon, citrus, cantaloupe and strawberries.

Start a Hydration Journal

Write down how much water you drink to keep on track with your daily goal.

Drink While Active

Make sure to drink fluids during exercise, especially if you’re exercising outdoors or in a hotter climate. Aim to stay hydrated without overhydrating. How can you tell? Your urine should be a pale yellow.

Travel Tip

If you’re flying this summer, bring a small empty water bottle and refill it once you’re in the boarding area. Without the need to buy bottled water, you will save money, limit waste and have access to water throughout your flight. Remember, an airplane cabin is a low-humidity environment, which can leave you dehydrated and more susceptible to jet lag.

Flavor Your Water

If you’re tired of plain water, add strawberries, cucumber, lemon or mint to flavor your water. You can even purchase an infuser water bottle to take flavored water on the go.