Vegetarianism

[Anonymous]

As I get older I can't eat a lot of animals anymore. Anything like duck, veal, lamb, rabbit...Just cannot do it. But I still enjoy chicken, beef, and especially things like salami and prosciutto. If you are vegetarian, do you miss those things? It would make most sense ethically for me to stop eating it all, but I wonder how I will do and if I will miss it too much.

[Anonymous]

I don't miss any of those things - but you don't have to go all or nothing. It is ok to cut down on meat, or just not eat some kinds of meat. It's also ok for your diet to change!

[Anonymous]

Don't miss them at all.

[Anonymous]

Only thing I miss is bacon. But as time goes on I miss it less.

[Anonymous]

I dont'miss it at all. On the contrary, over time I have developed a stronger and stronger aversion to meat

[Anonymous]

I have gone veg a few times in the last few years, mainly because my daughter is a vegetarian. I do not miss meat at all when I am not eating it - and my aversion to it grows the longer I am away.

[Anonymous]

Nothing has to be permanent. If you try it and miss those things, then go back.

[Anonymous]

Agree with others that after a while you not only don't miss it but start to get an aversion. That said, you don't have to commit to any particular diet forever, so if you do miss something specific you can always eat it. The vegetarian police won't lock you up.

[Anonymous]

What I have sometimes missed is the homey, spicy-salty flavor of some meats like salami, which I grew up eating a LOT of.

I haven't eaten meat in 35 years and when I feel dissatisfied it just means I need more variety and flavor and up my savory, umami type dishes.

[Anonymous]

I ate A LOT of meat in my youth and 20's and became a vegetarian at the tail end of my 20's partly for the ethical and environmental reasons and partly because I realized I ate way too much of it and probably could never trust myself to eat it in moderation (eg i'd never be able to eat it just a few times per week, or even just once a day!). I quit all at once-- no weaning off. Obviously, I missed it a lot, had intense cravings, and I even had dreams in which I was eating meat. Those lasted a year or more honestly. But now I've been a vegetarian for 20+ years and I'm very happy. Don't expect that it will be easy, but it will be meaningful.

[Anonymous]

I miss meat never but it's been 25 years since I last ate it. I do wish I had it easier when eating dinner with my family or going to a restaurant.

[Anonymous]

Been a vegetarian for over 40 years. I stopped eating meat because I just thought it was gross--essentially decaying flesh. Don't miss it a bit.

[Anonymous]

It is not an all or nothing option. You can be vegetarian 95% of the time or 80% or whatever you want but still have some meat on occasion if you want.

[Anonymous]

I've never eaten duck, veal, lamb or rabbit. Eat whatever you want that works for your body. Some people are vegetarian at home and eat meat at restaurants. Some eat meat once a month. Do whatever.

[Anonymous]

It’s a glorified eating disorder