vegetarian
Calling all vegetarian ladies. I'm thinking of making the switch and becoming vegetarian. I've pretty much eliminated beef and pork from my diet. I'm looking at phasing out the poultry and fish next. How did yall do it? What was the hardest?
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I keep telling my husband..in about a year or so I'll be a vegetarian maybe even a vegan. I simply prefer to not eat meat or eggs or basically anything from an animal. Idk its like i can smell the animal when I'm chewing it and i just can't. Don't get me wrong i love love love me some adobada fries and tacos with queso fresco. Its just that after awhile the thought that i just ate an animal will gross me out which further lets me know that being a vegetarian is in my future. I'm sorry I'm no help but I'm just working on my journey now to be one. I substitute meat with beans which works because hello i love Mexican food!! So yea.. anyways it'll be a work in progress but i know i can do it. I'm just going to have to understand the fact that sometimes I'm going to have to make separate meals but when i get into the groove of it, it'll probably be different. O well it is what it is..Good luck Op
I was vegetarian for a few years as a teenager, started eating fish and chicken for a couple years and now I've been vegetarian again for over 2 years. I don't find it difficult at all. I just don't eat meat. You can basically make any dish you'd make with meat still, just don't add meat lol!
My SO still eats meat but rarely at home, but sometimes I will cook it for him. For example if we are having pasta I will cook everything the same and just cook separate beef for him. Or cook a regular meal but cook one chicken breast for him or something.
I haven't eaten red meat or pork in over 25 y.. I have been a big chicken breast and fish eater. I don't think I could give up seafood but I've been eating less chicken and more egg whites. I've always eaten a lot of veggies.. Sweet potato, spinach.. Cauliflower mash..Just don't substitute protein for fats or starches and you should see the same energy level and nutrition benefits. GreekYogurt.. Hummus... Etc.
Thank you ladies. My husband isn't thrilled but I promised he'd so get his steak lol
I was a pescatarian for 7 years. I gave everything up cold turkey, I was super into the whole "meat is murder" thing. But because I was only 10 at the time, my mother encouraged me to continue eating fish so that I would get protein. Alongside the fish, I replaced protein with protein bars. I think they were called Power Plus? Just make sure you get enough iron and protein in your diet or it's going to totally suck.
I tried to do it in college but I got horrible gas even though I was using beano. I later found out that I was eating WAY too many beans! I eat vegetarian a few nights a week but I avoid the processed meat substitutes (though the vegetarian chorizo is pretty good). I stick to tempeh (crumbled and sautéed until crispy in a stir fry), tofu (drained and marinated before cooking), lentils, and quinoa for my proteins.
Best advice is get familiar with good vegetarian meals and dishes that you like and are well balanced with protein. At first I gained weight because I was eating too many carbs. Quinoa is a great grain to start playing with if you haven't already. I don't do the meat substitutes just well balanced vegetarian meals.
I don't miss meat. Been vegetarian since I was a teen. I do eat fish though so I'm not a "true" vegetarian. It's actually pescetarian. Eh labels lol
I was a vegetarian for 3 years as a teenager, stopped for a few years when I was 18, and then went back to it for another 3+ years before becoming pregnant and needing more protein for my growing baby.
Just like with anything that's hard to do, it takes a lot of willpower and motivation. I did it (and plan to go back to it after pregnancy) because of the animals - the way they are tortured and the inhumane methods they are slaughtered for our consumption has never sat well with me. The rights of animals has always been something I've been passionate about, so being strict about staying away from meat was easy for me. Make sure you have a set reason for being a vegetarian in mind, and remember that reason every time it gets hard or you want meat.
Quitting cold turkey seems to work better as cutting back never seems to fully work. Make sure that the members of your household, family, and friends know you've decided to not eat meat, and hopefully you receive support.
Also, meal plan and eat at home as much as possible. It's much easier than going to restaurants, especially in places who don't have many veggie options. And if you're going to a family or friend's dinner, always ask beforehand if they would like you to bring your own dish. If you are the only vegetarian, you can't expect them to make you a completely separate meal, and you also want to make it easier on yourself.
Good luck! It takes a lot of work to properly maintain the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle, but it's worth it! Make sure you keep up with your protein intake, as that's something a lot of vegetarians lack - Pinterest is great at finding meals.
I jumped in cold turkey (using that phrase seems silly when discussing a veggie lifestyle ?).. I hear it's easier to phase out meat slowly but I just took the plunge. Honestly it wasn't hard for me at all. I think I've always been a vegetarian at heart, but was in denial or something. Lol. Meat has always given me the creeps. I don't use them alot, since I mostly eat fruits and veggies.. But have you tried any meat alternatives? Tofu fried rice is aaaamazingg!
Also wanted to add.. I have felt way better and more energetic since making the switch. Strange, but I also noticed a huge decrease in body odor even when I don't wear any deodorant.
Cheese/ dairy was the hardest for me, but really if you just remind yourself of how harmful the animal products most of us eat (meaning bought from the store, even if organic) are to your body and the earth it helps. Watch some documentaries like earthlings, and it will help you a lot because you picture that ? also, animal agriculture is literally destroying the earth, so that's another good thing to remind yourself.