Going vegetarian

[Tueuse de Vampires]

I know we have some vegetarians on here, so I'd like to call on them to help me out.


I've always been a meat lover. Really, really much. As a child, I'd eat the meat first, then when it was time for veg claim I wasn't hungry anymore, and salami was basically the only thing I ate on bread.

Well, times have changed, and I do eat more varied now, and there are also a lot of veggies I like. Also, I do have a lot of friends that are vegan or vegetarian, basically around 80% of my close friends. They got me thinking, and I've come to the conclusion that I want to start eating a vegetarian, or at least pescetarian diet.

I've been doing that for the month now. Only thing is, I find it increasingly hard. I just crave some stuff I shouldn't be eating. Is this normal, did any of you experience this in the beginning? And will it pass?

Btw, I live in Berlin, probably one of the most vegan/vegetarian friendliest cities in the world. There's a ton of meat-free restaurants here, and we even got two completely vegan supermarkets. So it's not really the lack of choice of alternative products.

 

[Ianigsy]

As an ex-vegetarian, I'd say that the most important thing to remember is that although some people might try to lay guilt on you, unless you have really good personal or ethical reasons to give up eating meat, you will be tempted and there's no need to make life hard for yourself if you give in now and then. People have evolved to be able to eat both meat and plants, and there are certain things that it's easier for your body to get from meat than from vegetables or supplements. If most of your friends are vegetarian and you're spending time with them and eating the same sorts of things then it shouldn't feel like a big change, and if you're eating less meat- perhaps just a couple of meals a week with meat- then you're already doing well. It has to be your choice and something you want to do.

If anybody is wondering why I describe myself as an ex-vegetarian, well, I've given up meat three times in my life, on each occasion girls were involved to a greater or lesser extent, and on the last occasion I found that a little bit of eczema that I have on my hands improved with some meat in my diet, and when I was diagnosed with depression a couple of years ago, I realised it was making things worse to be denying myself something I enjoyed for the sake of something I wasn't totally committed to.

But living in Berlin and not having currywurst ever again...😱

 

[fredthe3rd]

I'm a sort of part time vegetarian if there's such a thing (there isn't is there?) I often choose vegetarian meals in restaurants because they sound more interesting and cook something without meat once or twice a week at home.

I think I've unwittingly become part of this recent trend of being vegetarian one day a week - the reason the trendies give is that it's better for the environment - that's certainly a bonus but its not the reason I started doing it. (I think it might have started when I tried an Indian curry with paneer)

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (who is a definite carnivore) has a vegetarian book that might be worth your time.