Any vegetarians here?

Muneca2899
Muneca2899 Posts: 24
edited November 8 in Food and Nutrition
Hello,

I have wanted to become a vegetarian since I could remember. Heck, I tried about 5 times and seemed to always fail. :( I decided I wanted to try again....any good sites or words you can send my way?

Thanks,

Replies

  • Watch the movie Forks Over Knives and you may get all the motivation you need. And perhaps instead of going full vegetarian, begin by choosing 2 days a week for all vegetarian dishes. Even those small changes will do wonders for your health.
  • It's more of sticking thru with it. I will continue to eat egg, milk and cheese....you know an An Ovo-lacto vegetarian. I just seem to fall of the wagon easily. I figured I quit smoking 72 days ago and I am doing great why can't I do something even greater that I want to so bad. KWIM?
  • yestowellness
    yestowellness Posts: 98 Member
    Hello,

    I have wanted to become a vegetarian since I could remember. Heck, I tried about 5 times and seemed to always fail. :( I decided I wanted to try again....any good sites or words you can send my way?

    Thanks,

    Watch food it, it will change your life. I've finally became a vegetarian at the beginning of the year. This month I did an all vegan diet just to kick me out of the habit of eating meat all together. The 1st week or so was hard, nut now I can cook my family's meal w/out salivating :tongue: Starting next month I may slowly start adding some dairy, eggs, & fish on occasion. I love the way my body feels, I sleep better, & my skin is looking good. Go for it even if it's a few times a week like the other poster suggested. For recipes checkout www.allrecipes.com also starting Monday, February, 6th my blog Vegetarian in Bed with Meat Eaters, will feature Recipe Monday. It will feature delicious recipes that I've tried along with other vegetarians. Hope this helps. Add me if you like.
  • OMGLeigh
    OMGLeigh Posts: 236
    It's more of sticking thru with it. I will continue to eat egg, milk and cheese....you know an An Ovo-lacto vegetarian. I just seem to fall of the wagon easily. I figured I quit smoking 72 days ago and I am doing great why can't I do something even greater that I want to so bad. KWIM?

    Are there specific foods that you are having trouble with?
    I am not a vegetarian but I do live, love, and cook for one.
  • PeaceLoveVeggies
    PeaceLoveVeggies Posts: 673 Member
    Hi there :) I started off with watching videos on how animals are slaughtered on Youtube, Meet Your Meat, Earthlings, etc. Those got me off the eating meat wagon very quickly.
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    Just don't eat any meat. It's pretty straightforward.

    This might help, though: http://features.peta.org/VegetarianStarterKit/
  • Fairysoul
    Fairysoul Posts: 1,361 Member
    I went veggie and never looked back, I just started replacing my meats with tofu and beans... friend me if you would like, I talk about my food all the time :)
  • bjshields
    bjshields Posts: 677 Member
    Watch the movie Forks Over Knives and you may get all the motivation you need. And perhaps instead of going full vegetarian, begin by choosing 2 days a week for all vegetarian dishes. Even those small changes will do wonders for your health.

    Totally agree! I am working on going to a whole foods, plant-based diet; this movie helps a lot. Also, I'm now reading "The China Study," a book by one of the doctors (Campbell) in the movie. It's amazing his research findings. Somebody recommended a book "Going Vegan," which I haven't started but looks good. Good luck!:smile:
  • killagb
    killagb Posts: 3,280 Member
    No.
  • AlbertPooHoles
    AlbertPooHoles Posts: 530 Member
    If you've struggled to do it, perhaps your heart really isn't into it. Why do it, then?
  • SeaSiren1
    SeaSiren1 Posts: 242 Member
    Vegan over a decade and my diary is open to my friends.
  • onedayillbamilf
    onedayillbamilf Posts: 662 Member
    I was a vegetarian one day.
  • Beastette
    Beastette Posts: 1,497 Member
    I can't remember what it was like at first, it's been that long. I do recall dining out to be a challenge at first, though. So, check out some recipe apps/websites to get excited about it. I like the allrecipes app.

    I think we need more information on what your specific challenge is. Do you work at a BBQ place or steakery?
  • MeganMac17
    MeganMac17 Posts: 90 Member
    Watch the movie Forks Over Knives and you may get all the motivation you need. And perhaps instead of going full vegetarian, begin by choosing 2 days a week for all vegetarian dishes. Even those small changes will do wonders for your health.

    I agree with this poster. I tried the vegetarian thing and thought it would be pretty easy because I've never been a meat lover, but I did miss things like chicken, so now I try to eat vegetarian 2-3 days a week!
  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    I have been a vegetarian my entire life so it isnt particularly difficult for me. Why do you always go back to eating meat? For me i dont even think of that stuff as options.... at all. Im not tempted to be like "Oh chicken pasta!" i am just like "Oooh pasta".

    *Shrug*

    Why do you want to be vegetarian anyway? If its because you think it is wrong- and you are able to to continue to eat meat.. maybe you should reevaluate how you really feel about it. I think people are able to disregard that they are eating a dead animal because you dont actually see the animal- you just see a meal or a dish.

    If its for health reason- decide whats important to you. Health or eating Bacon wrapped cheese sticks.

    Just Sayin
  • Fellow vegetarian here!!!!!

    Welcome and please stick with it this time. I am a very serious animal lover and know that the process of slaughter is very, very cruel! Also, it's so much more healther. There are so many different variations of meatless "meat"! Vegan hamber patties, vegan sausage, vegan....well, everything!!!!! Vegan meat substitues have so much less fat than regular meat!

    Good luck in your vegetarian journey, I am happy for you:)
  • starracer23
    starracer23 Posts: 1,011 Member
    I'm a pescatarian and I have been so for the last 9-10mths. If you truly want to stay away from meat, watch "Food Inc" on netflix, also "Forks over Knives". I watched it and I have not had a piece of meat in my mouth since...
  • dance_fit
    dance_fit Posts: 53 Member
    You need to know why you want to be a vegetarian. I went vegetarian because of animals in 2004 and haven't looked back because to me a burger or piece of chicken isn't worth eating when I see it as the product of suffering animals. I'm transitioning to vegan for the same reason (gave up all dairy last year, eggs are next) .

    If you're doing it for health reasons, maybe allow certain meals, or occasions where you will have meat that you enjoy. That way you're never feel like you are "falling off the wagon."
  • renubhat_82
    renubhat_82 Posts: 549 Member
    I am a vegetarian (i do eat egg), try to make small changes in your cooking by tossing few veggies in it.. You can do it, do not take all at once, take one at a time, I am sure you will love it!! Feel free to add me on your frnds list.. :-)
  • AlbertPooHoles
    AlbertPooHoles Posts: 530 Member
    Wow. Scaring oneself into not eating meat?
  • MaureenCreates
    MaureenCreates Posts: 97 Member
    Hey girl!
    Next month I'll have been a vegetarian for 5 years, and I have to say, the first couple months are really hard.
    First couple weeks I felt great, but I didn't know how to deal my diet properly yet, so my nutrient stores were quickly sapped. After about 3 week I felt like crap. I was tired all the time,etc. That's when I started to turn to vitamins to help supplement my diet and it helped a lot.
    It took a couple months for me to really fix my diet. I still take multivitamins now, but mostly to support my more recent muscle-building lifestyle. Even without them, my doctor's quite pleased with my blood test results.
    After the first year I started being repulsed by meat. It's still really a weird feeling. I smell it, and remember how good it tasted, but I look at it and the thought of eating it turns my stomach.
    Good luck!
  • JoJoDoerr
    JoJoDoerr Posts: 173 Member
    http://www.vegetariantimes.com Is a really good site! Tons of good recipes and even a "Vegetarian Starter Kit" that gives you info and tips for getting started!
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
    I have been a vegetarian my entire life so it isnt particularly difficult for me. Why do you always go back to eating meat? For me i dont even think of that stuff as options.... at all. Im not tempted to be like "Oh chicken pasta!" i am just like "Oooh pasta".

    *Shrug*

    Why do you want to be vegetarian anyway? If its because you think it is wrong- and you are able to to continue to eat meat.. maybe you should reevaluate how you really feel about it. I think people are able to disregard that they are eating a dead animal because you dont actually see the animal- you just see a meal or a dish.

    If its for health reason- decide whats important to you. Health or eating Bacon wrapped cheese sticks.

    Just Sayin

    Don't knock bacon wrapped cheese sticks. They're ****ing tasty!
  • leavingfat
    leavingfat Posts: 64 Member
    I second starting slowly. I started eating veggie two or three times per week and now I only eat meat once every two or three weeks. It's usually because I'm eating at a friend's house or cooking something my husband is craving.

    Eating vegetarian, for me, feels great and it encourages me to be more creative with my cooking. Though, I'll admit, I keep homemade frozen falafel in my freezer for a quick meal. We eat a lot of Indian and Asian food, too. We eat lots of beans, I make seitan (which is super cheap and easy to make) and we sometimes eat tofu and tempeh, too. It's easier for me to stick to it if we keep it cheap and meat replacement products (like pre-made veggie burgers and chix patties) seem crazy expensive to me.

    One of my biggest weight traps is cheese, so I've slowly been cutting down on that, too. That makes it easier for me, for some reason, to not eat meat too.

    I love to try out recipes from these sites:
    http://www.theppk.com/
    http://theveganstoner.blogspot.com/
    http://www.101cookbooks.com/ (Not all veg, but much.)
    http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes-galore/
    http://thelazyvegetarian.blogspot.com (Really easy stuff.)
    http://veganmenu.blogspot.com/
    http://beyondthefreezeraisle.blogspot.com/

    I watched the documentaries that others mentioned and enjoyed them. I tend to think all documentaries are biased in one way or another, though, and a vegetarian diet can be just as unhealthy as a meat-based diet if you're eating a ton of pasta, sodium-filled meat replacements and cookies, you know?

    Anyway, I've gone on waaaaaay too long. Happy eating!
  • starracer23
    starracer23 Posts: 1,011 Member
    Wow. Scaring oneself into not eating meat?

    If you knew how it was raised, slaughtered and processed...I'm sure it would "scare" you too.

    It's disgusting what is allowed to happen to the meat that feeds this country (for the most part)....Everyone wants cheap food. That means that it's not raised properly, it's not feed properly, it's not always slaughtered properly. Plus the fact that beef has to have an ammonia bath before it can be consumed...that disgusts me. Oh and also the fact that a chick hatches, and 46 days later it is slaughtered and packaged. FORTY-SIX days!! That isn't normal....no way, no how.
  • lelaspeaks
    lelaspeaks Posts: 163 Member
    I was vegan for a bit, then vegetarian and now I eat dairy, eggs, and seafood. There are tons of great websites and most meals are still as equally as good if you just remove the meat component and supliment it with things like beans, nuts, etc. My one warning is don't limit experiences in life simply because you're a veggie! If you're eating at an insane restaurant and have an opportunity to try something you may never get a chance to try again - try it! Well - it also depends on why you became a vegetarian - humanitarian reasons, health, etc. There are plenty of unhealthy vegetarians though - make sure you watch your calories because things like nuts build it up fast! And CAAARBS!! It's easy to just up the carb intake when you don't have meat. Also - you can have too much tofu in a day - women tend to have a sensitive immune system to soy - so I've read at least. Also - watch your protein - that will have a big effect on how you feel throughout the day - many dark greens and broccoli have great sources of protein.

    As far as websites - there are a ton but I don't think you really need them :)
  • AlbertPooHoles
    AlbertPooHoles Posts: 530 Member
    Wow. Scaring oneself into not eating meat?
    If you knew how it was raised, slaughtered and processed...I'm sure it would "scare" you too.

    It's disgusting what is allowed to happen to the meat that feeds this country (for the most part)....Everyone wants cheap food. That means that it's not raised properly, it's not feed properly, it's not always slaughtered properly. Plus the fact that beef has to have an ammonia bath before it can be consumed...that disgusts me. Oh and also the fact that a chick hatches, and 46 days later it is slaughtered and packaged. FORTY-SIX days!! That isn't normal....no way, no how.
    I don't get my info from biased documentaries.

    To each his own, of course. In my case, the way meat is raised and slaughtered does not scare me from eating it.
  • Charlottejogs
    Charlottejogs Posts: 351 Member
    If you need further motivation- reading the book Fast Food Nation may help. Since my reasons are moral there really never times that I want to eat meat. I think it helps to be interested in trying to cook new and different foods to keep it interesting and then you have no reason to go back to old habits- good luck!
  • shivaslives
    shivaslives Posts: 279 Member
    Lots of vegheads here. I'm going on 13 years.
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