Dealing with cravings as a vegan?!
Answers: how do I deal with these cravings? I'm trying to be vegan but it's damn hard. So far it's been a month and once every week I get this huge craving for meat and burgers and sweet succulent fatty goodness. Sometimes I can curb it, but often times I run out and get jack in the crack or burger ****... I feel like crap afterwards but when I'm eating it It's so satisfying.. almost better than sex. I've read about the cravings and I know it takes a bit of time but is there an easier way? How did you deal with them when you had them?
Hi
Are you going from meat eater to vegan? This could be the reason. Eggs and Dairy could satisfy that craving, then eventually you could eliminate those......or eat them when you get that craving!
There are veggie burgers, veggie sausages etc out there, and you can still get plenty of grease without the meat :)
I don't crave meat...but I think that if you grow up with it, it can be a comfort food...so you go back there. Becoming vegan can be hard because sometimes you can get a little freaked out, like "is this for ever and for real? Am I just setting myself up for failure?" But what you need to understand is that this personal for you. It can emotional, it can be a little scary (I've heard of people going through all kinds of things....someday it will be funny to you).
You shouldn't feel guilty, guilt leads to regret and regret stays with you, and you end up doing it again because you can keep telling yourself "Well I always do this......". So just drop it, there is no one judging you but you, so just accept that sometimes you crave meat....hopefully next time you wont eat it, but if you do so be it. :) Chill out :)
Cravings can come when you get really hungry, so keep snacks on you, don't get really hungry :)
And well, in the great scheme of things, you are doing an amazing thing, even by only eating meat once a week, you are making a HUGE difference...just relax, you're all good :)
Veggies rule!
Give in, bro.
Giving in, when you've been working so hard, just takes you back in deeper,then it's harder to say no next time. If this is the life you want, to abstain from meat products, and so forth, you're going to have to do your homework, give your body what it needs,without meat, I know it's hard,... I tried going vegetarian many a times,...but I failed,and learned to except that it wasn't for me. See your doctor,a nutritionist,a friend,someone who is supportive of your choice,and is willing to help you reach your goals.
It's ok to eat a Jack in the Crack .....it's not really meat (unless you consider rat droppings, lard and chicken beaks meat)!
Cravings can be physical as well as mental. What I mean is that sometimes cravings are actually your body telling you you're not getting enough of something and your brain will tell you to eat what it remembers had that "something" in it. If you are craving meat, your body may actually be craving something you get FROM meat. For example, iron and protein. You should experiment a little and see if adding more of each thing makes a difference. It can be very challenging for a vegan to get enough of these in their diets. Good luck!
If you're finding it hard, try to find vegan alternatives (eg Frys burgers) - not all vegans agree but we all walk our own path. You're only human, find a path through but try not to crack as it just keeps the cravings coming, and you obviously chose veganism for a reason, try to keep that in the front of your mind.
NEVER GIVE UP ON YOUR SELF...
I am not a vegan or vegetarian, but I believe that people who set goals for them selves must stick to it.
Why not satisfy your craving with a chocolate bar?
Have you considered going vegetarian first, and easing yourself in a little more gently? I say that only because my wife and I have been vegetarian for seven years, and we're only now feeling comfortable making the transition to vegan. It's hard enough to make the jump from vegetarian to vegan ... I can't imagine what it would be like to go from omnivore to vegan.
Anyway, just consider it. If you go vegetarian first, you can still enjoy dairy products and eggs ... and don't knock that, because that it gives you a lot of flexibility. Lots of meat substitutes have dairy and eggs in them, so you can enjoy those as you make your transition. Just some food for thought. :)
You know what? I just had to pray about it, ask God to help me, take away the desire for meat, period. I used to be a big meat eater. Not a day passed without chicken, beef, mutton, fish, etc etc . But today I can truly say that I dont have the desire for those anymore. I am a full-fledged vegan. I don't even eat eggs, even though I used to love them! Instead I eat "scrambled tofu" which can be made like scrambled eggs, and OH! do they taste good?!! yep they do! awesome. Also, I eat tofu seasoned like fish, and wrapped in seaweed, which tastes like fried fish, which i used to love! and guess what?! I don't miss that fish anymore! cause I have tofu wrapped in seaweed that tastes like fish, even better! and as for the meat substitutes, I have all diffrent varieties of Boca burgers, Portabellla mushroom burgers, chicken nuggets, vegan ofcourse, tofurky, for turkey, bologna, salami, hot dogs, worhtington's vegan links, etc etc have so many substitutes today, that I dont care for meat. In fact, just thinking about the cruelty to the poor animals, and the sight of it revolts me and makes me sick, run far as i can from the meat isle!
You can go a few days without eating.
You don't have to eat every day in order to survive.
The objective of eating is survival.
Eat something with fat and protein in it. (Soyburgers, peanut butter, roasted macadamias.) It will pass.
But yes, as stated above, most people go vegetarian first.
That way, when you go vegan, you only miss cheese!
Why do you spill your guts on here. I've been a true vegetarian for many years, am a virtual guru on the V&V forum, and I tell you the best policy is "don't ask, don't tell". Satisfy your cravings because your body is telling you you are lacking something, but don't spread it all about the V&V forum.
Eat the meat that your body craves... it's good for you.