Thinking about becoming a vegetarian, but scared! Need advice!

auddii

I agree with the no label thing; incorporate more meatless meals if you like (and all meatless if you find you enjoy that way of eating). I would suggest not proclaiming that "you are now vegetarian". Others (and yourself) may view it as a failure if you go back to eating meat. However, incorporating more meatless meals into your diet works no matter how many of them are actually meatless. And fewer people will give you crap for a meal where you do want some meat.

And definitely don't be scared of the lack of variety. There are tons of vegetarian options, and you've been given some great resources already.

rbiss

It's an easy blood test if you're worried. I get my levels tested every year and have always been fine on a complete crap diet. Everyone is different. Supplementing is a good idea though.

Michael190lbs

I ate about 300 chickens in 2015 and more than likely three or four cows am very healthy and in great shape may I ask why you want to quit eating meat?

fishshark

Michael190lbs wrote: »

I ate about 300 chickens in 2015 and more than likely three or four cows am very healthy and in great shape may I ask why you want to quit eating meat?

hmm maybe cause its their personal choice? such a crazy concept? As if "health" (subjective term) is the only reason to not consume meat.

BinaryPulsar

I became a vegetarian as a teenager and was for a long time. I went omnivore for my second pregnancy. Now I am eating a vegan diet. Nothing to be scared of, especially if you eat dairy and eggs. As others said you can reduce meat. Or stop and go back if you want. I am eating a vegan diet now. Could be forever. Or not. Doesn't really matter. I can't anticipate the future. I'm doing well on a vegan diet. And got an app to locate restaurants called Happy Cow. There are a couple groups for vegetarians/vegans on mfp and on Facebook (that I learned about from mfp). I have food intolerances from a medical injury. But, if I could, I would want to still eat eggs.

AnnPT77

Speaking as someone who's been ovo-lacto vegetarian for 41 years (yes, since 1974), I don't think there's any reason to fear lack of variety or getting bored with the food. (Others on the thread have expanded on why that's so; +1 to what they said).

The thing I'd urge you to think through is the social logistics, if you're going to be a fully adherent vegetarian (i.e., never eat meat). Examples: Meat-eating friends ask you to their house for dinner. What do you say? Your whole family is eating a traditional holiday dinner, and of course you're going. What do you do? All your co-workers are going to a steakhouse (or German restaurant, or any other place that isn't very veggie-friendly). Do you go? You're getting into a serious relationship with someone who may be The One, but s/he is a major meat'n'potatoes eater. How does this work?

There are good answers to all these kinds of scenarios (so don't get all mad at me, other vegetarians! Believe me, I know a dozen ways to handle them gracefully.).

The point is, navigating the social side of vegetarianism in a non-vegetarian culture is, IMO, one of the kind of annoying parts of vegetarianism. If you can deal comfortably with this part, I think you're all good to go. Being bored with the food isn't an issue, IMO - there are so many interesting foods to try, so many interesting vegetarian cuisines from around the world to experiment with.

If I had it to do over again, knowing what I do now, I might choose "nearly/mostly vegetarian" over "vegetarian" purely for convenience. (This will not be an attractive option if there's an ethical/moral reason for you to become vegetarian, of course.) I'm not going that route now because at this point, frankly, meat just seems kinda icky.

neohdiver

socioseguro wrote: »

You can eat less meat without becoming a vegetarian.
If you continue eating cheese, eggs and milk then you are NOT a vegetarian.

You are confusing vegan with vegetarian. Milk, cheese, and eggs are vegetarian - they are not vegan.

I never have figured out what the big deal about going without meat was about - or about why vegetarian restaurants have to serve fake meat when there are so many wonderful and delicious meatless foods that don't pretend to be mostly tasteless fake dead animals.

AnnPT77

neohdiver wrote: »

I never have figured out what the big deal about going without meat was about - or about why vegetarian restaurants have to serve fake meat when there are so many wonderful and delicious meatless foods that don't pretend to be mostly tasteless fake dead animals.

+1 . . . Yes, yes, yes. Sooo much *this*. The fake meat is (mostly) just awful.

BinaryPulsar

neohdiver wrote: »

socioseguro wrote: »

You can eat less meat without becoming a vegetarian.
If you continue eating cheese, eggs and milk then you are NOT a vegetarian.

You are confusing vegan with vegetarian. Milk, cheese, and eggs are vegetarian - they are not vegan.

I never have figured out what the big deal about going without meat was about - or about why vegetarian restaurants have to serve fake meat when there are so many wonderful and delicious meatless foods that don't pretend to be mostly tasteless fake dead animals.

Agreed! Fake meat is awful and I break out in hives. I like real food (vegan).

fishshark

AnnPT77 wrote: »

neohdiver wrote: »

I never have figured out what the big deal about going without meat was about - or about why vegetarian restaurants have to serve fake meat when there are so many wonderful and delicious meatless foods that don't pretend to be mostly tasteless fake dead animals.

+1 . . . Yes, yes, yes. Sooo much *this*. The fake meat is (mostly) just awful.

ive had tempeh wings that were pretty on point but the fact that i knew i was eating fake meat was some how more digsuting then just eating boneless wings ha.