I have found that it is not difficult - it is amazing how much protein there is in vegetables. And, if you work out, rather than using whey protein in your protein shakes, just switch to soy protein. I have been pleased to see that even the macho muscle magazines now agree that soy protein offers all of the benefits of whey protein for body builders.
I put together the following table to give you an idea how much protein you can get from several food types:

This should give you a pretty clear understanding why body builders eat a lot of meat - it is loaded with protein. But, that being said, so are soy nuts, soy powder, tofu, almonds, and even bread. I often have half a cup of soy nuts before I go to bed, and half a cup of almonds with my breakfast. That is the equivalent of 3/4 of a chicken breast. Throw in a couple of pieces of bread and a half cup of beans and you have the other quarter of a chicken breast. And, if you work out, a quarter cup of soy protein powder before and after working out and you are there - at least that is about what I do each day - along with an assortment of vegetables. For reference, I weigh about 175 pounds and put in pretty strenuous workouts.
I don’t want to pretend that my simple table will give you all you need to know about taking meat out of your diet. And, in truth, I don’t expect anyone to go from eating meat with most meals to being a vegetarian in a short time. It took me several years to cut way back on my meat intake, but only 1 book to finish the journey.
There are hundreds of web sites that can guide you through replacing at least some of the meat in your diet with vegetables. And I havn't even touched on the soy-based faux meats - some of which are amazingly good - like Boca Burgers - I especially like the flamed grilled Boca's.
Interestingly, we find that we are paying less for food now.
Flip side, the rewards are really pretty darned significant. A subject I will get around to sooner or later is the impact of stress in our lives. And how beneficial it is to find satisfaction - in terms of stress relief. One of the reasons I am so satisfied with my life is I truly believe that I am reducing my risk of serious illnesses - because I have cut most animal-based foods from my diet.
It really is a great feeling eating a meal and believing you are making your life better!
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