Vegetarian thinking about eating meat again-help!

There are numerous ways to meet your protein needs without incorporating meat into your diet. Nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, soy (edamame or tofu are great), rice, grains, some veggies (in higher quantities)... I mean, why is meat the only way? I think being vegetarian for that long is wonderful. Just make it a goal to cut back on sugary foods, and keep your carbs clean and complex (e.g. grains, brown rice, fruit)..
Also, since you consume dairy and eggs, protein shouldn't be hard to come by in this area. Best of luck!

I'd honestly be more concerned about how sick you might get the first time you ate it. But I would start small for sure. Maybe a soup with shredded chicken, or something where it's not the main portion of the meal.
I'd either way work on the refined carbs and sugar though.
Do know that meat is a cholesterol carrrrrrrier

hey! sorry, I read it but didn't see why you'd want to eat meat again if it "grosses you out." Why don't you just continue being a vegetarian and eat healthier breads, fruit, veggies, etc? Just curious....

Do know that meat is a cholesterol carrrrrrrier

thank you for making this point. lol i forgot to say that.

so true....

I've been a vegetarian since 1977, but also was addicted to sugar. As HungryTuna mentioned, there are many good sources of protein, some dense in calories (read that nuts), as well as coconut products, oils and avocados. The first thing I did was stop eating anything with corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and derivatives. Not only did that eliminate most of the unhealthy foods I was eating, but also got rid of the intense sugar cravings after about a week. Then I started eating only unrefined grains, fruits and vegetables, and foods made from the same. It has really helped with my cholesterol readings and my overall sense of well being.
I am also hypothyroid. I would recommend having your Vit. D level checked by your doctor and taking a good supplement, the does relative to what you find your level is. It seems that Vit. D is involved in the immune system (along with many other things), and low levels can affect your thyroid function.
Exercise and the ensuing weight loss, seems to have been very effective in lowering my bad cholesterol and increasing the good, where other things have failed. Good luck!

I haven't had beef in over 8 years. About 3 years ago I was dared to try a bite of steak (with also the trade that the person would try a cherry because he hates cherries). I put it in my mouth, chewed down on it and nearly threw up. I spit it out immediately. I don't think I'll ever eat red meat ever again and that experience reassured me that I knew I didn't want it. Another thing that keeps me from eating it (added reassurance) is that I know if I ate it it would make me super sick.

If you don't WANT to eat it then don't eat it. It will take awhile for your stomach to get used to it again. There are other ways to get those nutrients...other foods and vitamins.

I eased my way back in with fish, and then realized i was content with only adding fish. There is a lot of variety, and its a great source of protein. The texture is more familiar to a vegetarian then chicken or beef. i just started with small portions. I had no problems adjusting (i heard horror stories about people getting sick, but i never did!)

Eating a healthy vegetarian diet, you need to be pretty committed to eating properly. Of course that is a goal that we should all share, but if it's not actually happening then yes I can understand your considering eating meat.

So, I wondered whether maybe any of the food you eat is "meat substitute" food. For instance a veggie friend of mine eats some sort of manufactured protein thing that resembles bacon. So if there is something you eat a veggie version of, for instance soya mince, that might be a first start?

There are numerous ways to meet your protein needs without incorporating meat into your diet. Nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, soy (edamame or tofu are great), rice, grains, some veggies (in higher quantities)... I mean, why is meat the only way? I think being vegetarian for that long is wonderful. Just make it a goal to cut back on sugary foods, and keep your carbs clean and complex (e.g. grains, brown rice, fruit)..
Also, since you consume dairy and eggs, protein shouldn't be hard to come by in this area. Best of luck!

i agree completely.
i don't think meat is the only option for protein. I am a pescatarian, so i do eat fish, but i mostly eat strictly vegetarian the majority of the time. i am able to meet my protein goals with eating the foods that are listed above. and when u eat carbs, make sure they are complex carbs, and not highly processed.

best of luck!

ditto to this

Always check to make sure that the protein values in the foods that you log are the right ones. Some of what individuals have logged on here is incorrect so you have to make sure it ties up with what's on your packet. And if it's a whole food you can always check the values on nutritiondata.com. Chickpeas and lentils are great proteins and can be used to make dips for veggies or sandwich fillings. Daal is brilliant for a low cal meal, chickpeas are great in salads. Quinoa is a great replacement for rice and pasta and is a protein too. Lots of ways to fit proteins into your life without giving up being a veggie - it's something I would never consider giving up now and I'm positive that there's always a vegetarian way to get around every health problem!

Hi there!
I think our nutritional needs are quite individual: when my oldest daughter was 14, she was 'grossed out' cooking chicken and decided to eat a vegan diet; I am a good cook so I was very careful with making sure that she got all of her nutrients. Then my youngest daughter decided to go vegetarian. She liked cheese and eggs too much to give them up. So I thought, heck! I am cooking for these two, I might as well join them. I followed a vegetarian diet for two years; ate fabulous meals and soy based foods several times a week.
All of us had issues with low vitamin B12 levels, and my youngest daughter and I had low levels of iron storage. Fatigue! Headaches! Nausea! All of them. At one point, my daughter was getting iron injections because the oral supplements did nothing to the blood levels.
Finally, the two of us added in a little bit of meat every week and we felt so much better! My oldest daughter started eating vegetarian after the first year of eating a vegan diet and 15 years later, she eats a little high quality chicken and fish.
I feel so much better eating a bit of meat which is a great protein source that my body seems to like. My iron stores are great and I haven't had to take B12 supplements for 15 years.
However, ALL of us are now allergic to soy in any form. I have been told that this is not unusual.
I have been hypothyroid for years and also have hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) ... eating a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetable and good protein, with some olive oil or canola oil is the diet I follow now. I don't have the huge swings and aching muscles that I do when I eat a lot of sweets and white flour. Now I avoid BOTH of these.
It's trial and error for sure but I agree with everyone else who has suggested cutting out white flour and sugars!
Good luck and eat what 'feels' right for you.

I couldn't. Like you, I just don't view meat as food at all. I can't bear to touch it, let alone put it in my mouth. I really don't think you need to worry about protein goals. I think most people eat too much protein anyway. I have always been very low on protein, and yet I build muscle faster than any other woman I know. Just go with your ethics.

I know there are many protein sources...but when I log it, I still see that it just isn't that much. For instance, an egg is 6 grams. And I keep hearing that I shouldn't be eating soy alllll the time. Nuts only have so much as well, and they aren't complete proteins. I set aside maybe 30 percent, but I don't usually meet that goal. Even though I eat eggs regulary, tofu regulary, etc. I've been adding lentils and quinoa lately as well.

Oh yeah, an egg is only 6g protein, but it's like only 70 cals, so I usually eat two.

The CDC recommends 10-35% cal from protein, with 10% being absolute barebones minimum-to-sustain-health. The thing with protein is that eating more doesn't necessarily have a benefit - you just pee out what you don't use. I aim for 20% and don't have any problems meeting it most of the time, but, 30% would definitely be tough without going really heavy on the soy and/or dairy. If I'm doing math right, that's 150g on 2000cal./day diet. Anyway, again, good luck.