Am I destined to become a former vegetarian?!
Am I destined to become a former vegetarian?
I'm a dedicated vegetarian, and have been for about twelve years, but lately I've been contemplating eating meat. Normally meat repulses me and I've sworn I'll never eat it again, but now I'm not so sure. Meat still grosses me out, for the most part, but I also find myself wanting to try it. Basically I'm confusing myself. Did I know what I was doing at 12 when I became a veg?
Answers:
I think it's totally valid to question the decisions you made when you were 12. Most of us didn't know what we were doing when we were 12!
I think, if you are really craving it, you should have some meat. And then see how you feel about it, mentally and physically. (Be warned -- you should only have a little bit to avoid an upset belly since your stomach hasn't had to digest meat in a long time.) You may decide to re-commit to a vegetarian diet or you may not.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6rzuhucb_su&m...
After being a vegetarian myself raised from birth to 16 without meat it *does* take awhile to become accustomed to another lifestyle change. The biggest challenge was to overcome the symbolism of knowing this was a live animal and now a source of food on my plate. If it helps this is what our ancestors did to survive and it was a normal part of life for them.
If you do want to try meat I would start with a milder version such as small portions of chicken (try a chicken schnitzel for instance) instead of confronting yourself with a whole bird on a plate. Even after 13 years of eating meat now there are still some foods I cannot tolerate such as Lamb. The flavour is too gamey & distinctive for me.
If you do decide to change your diet, take it slowly and allow your tastebuds & stomach time to adjust.
One more thing, please don't feel guilty if you decide to experiment. The world is a jungle out there and animals have no qualms about finding live food for their dinner. This is also fundamentally what help keeps the food chain (and pecking order) in place.
the only logical answer i can think of is, eat everything meat and veg, you need both proven science tells u that protein is essential for healthy body as well as vitamin and minerals.you may say, I'm killing an animal. if yoUr a veg ur killing plants.just because you can't hear the plant it dose not mean it dint suffer. it's like saying if some one killed your brother and the judge wants to send him in prison 4 life,will you say please judge dont punish him because my brother is mute,deaf or disable no. if your brother is disable you will ask for more saver punishment on him.
Becoming vegetarian is a lifestyle choice, in the same way that choosing not to be a vegetarian anymore is.
The only way you can clear your confusion is to try eating meat. Maybe that will make you realize what is the right lifestyle for you.
http://www.savethesheep.com/f-ausliveexp...
Save the Sheep! > Further Abuses of Australian Animals Exposed in Gruesome Investigation
watch the video and then see what you want to eat....this made me choose to become a vegetarian!!!!
I really hope not.
:)
It is your decision whether to go back to eating animals, but perhaps you just need to give your diet a little kick.
I am not sure if people who give up on vegetarianism are really happy. Every Thanksgiving, I see one of my cousins family members. He has an awkward face whenever someone feels the need to bring up my lifestyle. Every year he tells me that he was a vegetarian for twelve years. Part of him seems like he misses it, but another part of him has the sense of *I failed and you're going to fail too.*
I just tell him that is nice.
Find some fun new cookbooks and recipes. Maybe it is time to hit the fake meat. Cook your burger in oil (addictive fat found in meat) lots of seasoning (garlic salt, pepper, onion powder) and lots of toppings (grilled onion, cheese, veganiase etc..)
Often, when we think we want meat, we really are either craving the fat and grease (seems odd, I know) or the savoriness of it, which is all about the seasonings and toppings.
Look for meat dishes and replace the animal with fake chicken and beef strips or ground.
And finally find yourself a support system. Do you find yourself feeling ostracized on occasion because your diet is different. Check out the vegetarian society, vegetarian message boards... heck, buy some vegetarian books... stuff so you can hear others who have the same lifestyle as you.
Good luck with everything.
Yes, your instincts at 12yo were correct.
Why sponsor all that pain, cruelity and animal abuse just to satisfy your taste buds.
"Vegan and Proud" has provided all the answer you need.
If i were you, i would look at varying my vegetarian diet, perhaps its just the variety of things you eats that is boring you ?
Ahsan's answer is a good enough reason to stay veggie. If meateating does that to your logic then i'd steer clear if i were you.
I also went vegetarian at a very young age, I was thirteen. I'll be 23 in a few weeks. I tried to eat meat at the age of 16, my boyfriend and I always ate fast food and I just got tired of eating fries for dinner so I got a cheeseburger from Mcdonalds. I got deathly ill and blacked out so needless to say I wont be trying that again any time soon. If you do decide to go back to meat you have to do it little by little or you will get ill. Your body doesn't know how to properlly digest meat after all that time. Good luck.
I agree with Lillian's answer you have to spice
things up every once in a while in order to
keep from being burned out. It's time to
treat yourself to some mock meat or
go to a vegetarian restaurant or one
that has some specialized vegetarian
dishes on the menu. It may also be nec-
essary to get a change of scenery. Go
to a city like Chicago, Los Angeles,
or New York. You can incorporate visits
to Gourmet Veg restaurants like Chicago
Diner, The Lotus, The Millennium, or
Vegetarian Paradise into your vacation
plans.
Whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck.
It's understandable to occasionally think about trying meat eating since we're constantly surrounded by people doing it. My solution is to find some veggie analog product and eat that instead. As an example I occasionally get a craving for Swanson pot pies and I track down the Worthington ones since those are just as nasty as how I remember the real thing.
I'll back up Burntglitters tale of getting sick from eating meat! I've been to hospital several times when someone lies and gives me "food" with meat in it. You've been veggie more than long enough to experience the first hand 'pleasure' of what meat really does to a body. This is something you should truly be concerned about.
Yes you knew what you were doing (and still are), occasional doubts are natural so don't fret too much. Look at the videos, look over the health and environmental problems caused by meat eating and production, try a variety of substitutes and/or veggie diet changes to satisfy the cravings and you'll be fine!!