I want to transfer from eating meat to becoming a vegetarian or a vegan?

Question

I grew up with a family that eats meat and I want to try something new...plus my boyfriend is vegan and it looks like my relationship could be long-term..please help??

Answer 1

You had a lot of good answers. And if you are in a long term relationship with someone and you have different eating habits they eventually change. I am vegetarian and I have not always been but I think that your motivation to change should be for yourself.
And after being vegetarian there is no way I will ever go back to eating meat even on my worst days I feel better than when I did when I ate meat.
But as for your question how to switch, there are several 'cross-over' products on the market that you can try. Morning Star, Boca, Loma Linda, Worthington etc. but don't let these be your staple.
Give yourself time to change over gradually. I mean from a chemical level. meat takes a longer time to digest than simple vegetable meals so initially you may find yourself hungry quickly but don't worry about eating more once you are not eating fries and alot of sweet stuff.

Here's the fun part you can eat as many vegetables as you like and you will not gain weight unless of course you have your potatoes deep sea diving in gravy (Paula Dean style) no disrespect to Paula, I love her show!

If you are very active and exercise a lot you may run out of energy more quickly until you body adjusts then you will find that you actually can eat less and have more energy that before. You body just needs time to adjust to where to get the fat and calories needed to run it.

Do not go vegan right away unless you really think it is necessary for you health or something. Vegan is good but from meat to no meat and no milk and cheese is really hard to do. And honestly everyone I know have always said breaking cheese and milk are the hardest.

Getting protein is not as hard as some people try to make it out to be. Soy milk and there are several varieties to chose from has protein, as well as beans and tofu. Tofu has had a bad rap but I maintain it all how it is prepared. I lived in Japan for a while and I came up with several ways to cook it. If you wan some Ideas email me and I'll give you some tips. But it is whatever you make it, This is a bad analogy but think of it like this if you soak a sponge in honey it will taste like honey, if you soak it in vinegar it will take like vinegar. That is tofu. if you just season it on the outside it will taste like a sponge seasoned on the outside.

Also you need to let your taste buds get accustomed to what food really tastes like, I say that because meat is usually well seasoned and we don't appreciate the taste of vegetables.

Just do it slowly start by taking one or two types of meat or eggs out of your diet and replace it with a substitute. And when you don't miss it add another to your list. Remember there is no time frame to become vegetarian so enjoy the process don't rush it.

Usually people leave fish for last because it is not that bad as compared to other meats.

Good luck

Answer 2

I agree with some of the others, that you should do it for yourself first, boyfriend second. I'll bet he has some cookbooks, or at least the library and internet will. You can surprise him with a new recipe each week; I'd sure love that. See if he returns the favor and makes something with meat in it for you. That will be a good sign.

I also grew up with a family that eats meat, Scotish-British-Canadian style, so lots of meat. Lots of junk food. Lots of stuff that shouldn't be considered food. Pretty much I was able to experience one of the most unhealth diets on the planet. I didn't realize it at the time of course.

I was easily able to change my diet for the better and it was mostly about finding new recipes and changing old habits. I found no difficulty at all. It wasn't my plan to become what people call 'vegan', it just happened. I changed my diet for bicycle racing and found I was no longer eating any animal products (I'd never even heard of the term vegetarian or vegan at the time). And no, I have no deficiencies, take no vitaminis, don't need to combine foods, or any of those odd ideas people have about being vegan/vegetarian.

Answer 3

I've gone from eating meat to becoming a vegetarian... But I never did it for a relationship. I've dated people who eat meat (I haven't had meat in over 8 years)... one guy for 2 years... and him eating meat was never a problem... I just never kissed him after he had eaten a steak or anything (and not without gum first... lol).
But you have to start slowly... try cutting out beef and pork first (that's what I did). Try that for about 3-6 months... and if you can easily do that... they try no meat at all. But switching over immediately will be hard... and substituting Boca burgers and other stuff wont really work. The taste is so different (nasty to me)... you have to work up to those kinds of things. I will admit veggie burgers are an acquired taste.

Answer 4

Let me compare your problem to mine. I smoke and my boyfriend doesn't. Now, I know that smoking is seriously dangerous for my health so I've cut down and I don't smoke around him. But, I'm not married to him either. To become a vegan you have to give up all things that are made from animals. Maybe you should try cutting back on meat and eat as he does when you're with him. You may find out that you don't like the lifestyle and that he is really not your type. You may also find out after cutting down that you can actually do without meat but really are not willing to give up that leather jacket or leather boots.

God put animals on this earth to feed us and I respect animal life but personally, I think vegan's have taken the concept a little too far.

Also, I read yesterday on Yahoo! that vegans have lower IQ's.

Answer 5

Are you wanting to become a vegan because your boyfriend is one, for the health aspect or the cruelty issues?

It's pretty hard to switch over to vegan because you'll have to become an avid label reader to make sure no meat industry products are used in what you're eating. You'll be able to do it if you just buckle down and hold on to the willpower. Make sure you get enough protein in your diet from other sources though. Take vitamins and calcium supplements too.

Kudos to you for trying, whatever your reason, just be prepared to have the occasional slip up until you retrain yourself and your tastes.

Also, of the three reasons I listed above, the most effective mode of thinking to keep you on it is for the cruelty aspect, second most effective is for your health and if you're doing it just because your boyfriend is one, that might not be enough to keep you on the wagon with it. Just keep that in mind...and if you have an occasional slip and tear down a box of McNuggets, don't beat yourself up. Just get back on the veggies and remember how bad you felt for doing it the next time a craving like that hits you.

Good luck!!

And don't let anyone tell you that tofu is "good". Tofu stinks regardless of WHAT your food preference is!!

:)

Answer 6

I started vegetarianism about a month+ ago. I haven't eaten any meat. If you want some good help, motivation, information, and encouragement go to www.peta.com. Oh and wal-mart has great vegetarian meat morning star is the best brand that I have tasted so far. I make delicious burgers. E-mail me and I can help you out a lot.

Answer 7

Try Boca burgers and other Boca "meat" products. The "chicken patties" are really tasty too. They are vegetarian and made of texturized soy, but taste just like meat. They contain lots of protein, which you will need as a vegetarian. You can get them in the frozen health food section of your grocery store or at a health food store or co-op.

Answer 8

My answer is... I am a vegetarian (my whole life I didnt touch meat) I am from India and why I am a vegetarian is... I was born in a Brahmin (Hindu Priest) family..and hindus does not offer meat to GOD and hindu priests wont touch meat at all.. I belong to that caste and religion so not only me all my family members wont eat meat and the inner meaning is GOD does not like killing animals

Answer 9

The best thing you can do is consult a dietitian. Next best thing would be to go to the library and do some research. In any event, be careful as you can easily become dangerously anemic if you don't eat properly!

Answer 10

It is easy. Just stop eating meat.

Suggest you do it slowly, start cooking meat free dishes and use them for some dishes during the week. Pasta with tomato sauce, ratatouille etc