Attempting vegetarianism

[Anonymous]

Recently I have been struggling more and more with the cognitive dissonance between considering myself an animal lover and also eating meat. I was definitely raised in a meat and potatoes Midwest family, so my eating patterns were set at an early age to include meat at least once a day.

I’ve been trying to cook more meatless dishes, leaning on beans a lot, and I’m enjoying it, but I admit I haven’t been able to wean myself off meat—it smells so good, and at restaurants I’m alway drawn to meat dishes. Has anyone else found a way to combat the desire for meat after a lifetime of eating it? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Having parents from the Midwest, grandparents who were farmers, not eating meat seems a more unnatural way to live. Respecting animals by choosing humane farms is, IMO, more ethical than opting out entirely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having parents from the Midwest, grandparents who were farmers, not eating meat seems a more unnatural way to live. Respecting animals by choosing humane farms is, IMO, more ethical than opting out entirely.

This, plus choosing to consciously have a few days per week where you don't eat meat or fish. If you like Indian food, it is one of the best ways to do it. Lentils/chickpeas are all excellent sources of protein and are not boring---they are quite tasty. if you want to include Soy/Tofu, then you also open up Thai/Chinese/Malaysian/etc as good choices. Most of the meat dishes can also be done with tofu instead

[Anonymous]

I mostly only buy meat from humane local farms. And eat it once or twice a week. I also make a point of trying to eat all parts of animal to extent possible — when we get a chicken I make the liver for myself, the heart and neck for dog, and use bones to make bone broth. We get several meals out of one chicken.

But aside from that, there are lots of meaty type meals made with lentils or mushrooms. And free range eggs are great.

[Anonymous]

I know some people who are vegetarian at home, and ... whatever when out of the house. Some of my kosher relatives operate that way as well.

[Anonymous]

It doesn’t have to be an all or nothing situation. Why deprive yourself if you want to eat meat?

Cook vegetarian at home, but if you’re at a restaurant or someone’s house and meat looks appealing, go for it.

[Anonymous]

I went completely raw in 2017 when I became sick, and it helped me heal. In 2020, I slowly incorporated seafood back into my diet. I then became conflicted between my health and compassion for animals (sea life included). When I went raw, I realized I could live very well and have all my nutritional needs met (yes, I know about B12, etc) without the animals needed to die. I then made the choice to not consume any animal products. I don't go crazy at restaurants asking for different cooking pots/pans etc. I simply told myself "no". We expect addicts to give up cigs, alcohol, drugs, social media but we "can't" give up bacon?????????? OK.

[Anonymous]

I became vegetarian very young because of that same cognitive dissonance. But for me it wasn't a matter of battling my desires - I tried to eat meat still and just couldn't do it. You might find yourself increasingly in that position, too, if your head and heart are already heading in that direction.

But as other say - you don't have to be absolutist with yourself. Start by incorporating more vegetarian meals into your diet. See how you feel. Give yourself the freedom to eat meat in restaurants if you really want it - but maybe try the veg option sometimes and see how that feels.

I agree that buying humanely raised animal products is an important consumer choice. (Though a lot of animal welfare people say there are no humane choices when it comes to consuming animals. I feel like that is an unhelpful perspective, though - even if pasture raised chickens don't have as good a life as a pet, it is certainly better than factory farmed animals.)

In short - you can make this choice incrementally and see how you feel at various steps along the way. Your incremental choices do matter to the animals who are part of the food system.

[Anonymous]

DCUM unfortunately over the years has become more and more anti-vegetarian so you won't get the best responses here.

I've been vegetarian for about 25 years but also ate meat for the first 15 years of my life. It takes adjusting but honestly these days there are so many alternatives. Just start experimenting to see what you like. Check out Happy Cow to see which restaurants you could try. Visit an animal sanctuary to get up close to the issue - we love Poplar Spring. They have a Thanksgiving with the Turkeys coming up - https://www.animalsanctuary.org/events/annual-events/

[Anonymous]

Not a lot of help on this thread so far. Many many people in the world are vegetarian and do just fine. Trying to convince someone who wants to eliminate meat that it's totes fine is really gross.

It sounds like youre doing good so far! I think you may just have to experiment with more cuisines and dishes. A pp mentioned indian food - so much rich flavor that you dont miss the meat. Instead of just beans, look at mushrooms, lentils and crumbled tofu (very similar texture to ground meat). I'm not vegetarian and I have a moroccan lentil/orzo/chickpea stew recipe that is to die for. https://netcookingtalk.com/forums/threads/moroccan-lentil-and-chickpea-soup-cooks-illustrated.28868/

I have a vegan friend who posted a meme that said "Non vegans think we miss bacon and chicken, no what we miss is the amazon rainforest, coral reefs and animals". I think that's a good way to look at it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not a lot of help on this thread so far. Many many people in the world are vegetarian and do just fine. Trying to convince someone who wants to eliminate meat that it's totes fine is really gross.

It sounds like youre doing good so far! I think you may just have to experiment with more cuisines and dishes. A pp mentioned indian food - so much rich flavor that you dont miss the meat. Instead of just beans, look at mushrooms, lentils and crumbled tofu (very similar texture to ground meat). I'm not vegetarian and I have a moroccan lentil/orzo/chickpea stew recipe that is to die for. https://netcookingtalk.com/forums/threads/moroccan-lentil-and-chickpea-soup-cooks-illustrated.28868/

I have a vegan friend who posted a meme that said "Non vegans think we miss bacon and chicken, no what we miss is the amazon rainforest, coral reefs and animals". I think that's a good way to look at it.

This is the sort of sanctimonious twattery that makes people hate vegans

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recently I have been struggling more and more with the cognitive dissonance between considering myself an animal lover and also eating meat. I was definitely raised in a meat and potatoes Midwest family, so my eating patterns were set at an early age to include meat at least once a day.

I’ve been trying to cook more meatless dishes, leaning on beans a lot, and I’m enjoying it, but I admit I haven’t been able to wean myself off meat—it smells so good, and at restaurants I’m alway drawn to meat dishes. Has anyone else found a way to combat the desire for meat after a lifetime of eating it? Thanks.

It could be more than just tradition/habit, OP. My ex was vegetarian, so we only ate vegetarian at home, and it made me anemic and sick af. Even working with a nutritionist and being meticulous about variety and supplements and such didn't help. Some of us are obligate carnivores, regardless of what the vegans say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a lot of help on this thread so far. Many many people in the world are vegetarian and do just fine. Trying to convince someone who wants to eliminate meat that it's totes fine is really gross.

It sounds like youre doing good so far! I think you may just have to experiment with more cuisines and dishes. A pp mentioned indian food - so much rich flavor that you dont miss the meat. Instead of just beans, look at mushrooms, lentils and crumbled tofu (very similar texture to ground meat). I'm not vegetarian and I have a moroccan lentil/orzo/chickpea stew recipe that is to die for. https://netcookingtalk.com/forums/threads/moroccan-lentil-and-chickpea-soup-cooks-illustrated.28868/

I have a vegan friend who posted a meme that said "Non vegans think we miss bacon and chicken, no what we miss is the amazon rainforest, coral reefs and animals". I think that's a good way to look at it.

This is the sort of sanctimonious twattery that makes people hate vegans

+1 I work in the animal welfare field and I hate that sh** - it's so unhelpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not a lot of help on this thread so far. Many many people in the world are vegetarian and do just fine. Trying to convince someone who wants to eliminate meat that it's totes fine is really gross.

It sounds like youre doing good so far! I think you may just have to experiment with more cuisines and dishes. A pp mentioned indian food - so much rich flavor that you dont miss the meat. Instead of just beans, look at mushrooms, lentils and crumbled tofu (very similar texture to ground meat). I'm not vegetarian and I have a moroccan lentil/orzo/chickpea stew recipe that is to die for. https://netcookingtalk.com/forums/threads/moroccan-lentil-and-chickpea-soup-cooks-illustrated.28868/

I have a vegan friend who posted a meme that said "Non vegans think we miss bacon and chicken, no what we miss is the amazon rainforest, coral reefs and animals". I think that's a good way to look at it.

This is the sort of sanctimonious twattery that makes people hate vegans

I am exhausted and in a bad mood today, but this made me burst out laughing and will be my favorite expression going forward. So THANK YOU!

[Anonymous]

Try being vegetarian for a few days or a few meals and increase over time.

Try fake meat. Daring vegetarian chicken and morningstar farms vegetarian chicken nuggets are really good.

Try cuisines that are designed around bring vegetarian such as Indian.

Try vegetarian friendly restaurants such as Sunflower, Chay in Falls Church, Busboys and Poets.