What is the deal with vegitarians ?

Question

This question is certainly not intended to offend anyone but I never really got it.
With all of the chemicals and hormones that they are using in the production of meat these days I kind of see the point

but man while like my veggies I just gotta have my meats. It is almost like a primal urge, So how then does someone go about eliminateing it from their diets

Answer 1

I don't think it's really a "primal urge" for you to eat meats. It just means your body is craving protein. Vegetarians get their protein from other souces, such as nuts, beans, legumes, etc, instead of meat. To eliminate meat from your diet just means you're eliminating just one source of protein. It really is easy. Just substitute the meat with another protein source.

Answer 2

The motivation to go vegetarian is different for all people. I always find it amusing when I read responses of people saying "god made us to eat meat" and "you can't get the right nutrition without it" This simply isn't true. Our society is big on eating meat. It makes you "manly" or some such, this may really be what that "primal urge" you are talking about is. There is a HUGE abundance of "fake meats" out there nowadays that are filled with protein and a lot less fat than the real thing. Sure it's not exactly the same, but after you've gone years without eating meat, you don't really remember the difference. The biggest mistake people make in the swich is just keeping the same diet they had and just eliminated meat. That won't work!

Usually, whatever it is that motivated you to not eat meat (whether it's for ethical, health, religious reasons, etc.) will be the thing that keeps you going. If you are interested, read up on vegetarianism. Browse some cookbooks in a book store (a lot of them have good information in their introductions). It's just a different less mainstream way of getting nutrients.

Answer 3

Well, besides the fact that it's disgusting, it's basically as simple as not eating it anymore. Give yourself a realistic time frame to shoot for. Say you'll go two weeks without eating meat, and stick with it no matter what. If you really hate it after that long, you can go back to eating animals, if not, then you might have found a diet that works for you. Also reading about the meat industry is a good way to quit eating meat, try reading Slaughterhouse. Besides that I suggest you do a little experiment to prove to yourself that your "primal urge" is not for meat, but for the flavors of the sauces you put on it.
Take a raw piece of meat and stare at it, smell it. Are you salivating yet? No? I didn't think so, most people wont. Now do the same thing with a piece of fruit that you like and most people will begin to salivate. Point is, physiologically your body is interested in eating that piece of fruit over the meat any day.

Answer 4

Because of our historically different backgrounds some people are better vegetarians than others. If you look at the other animals on the panet some are herbavores, some are omnivores and some are strict carnivores, same with us walking talking "monkeys". In other animals it has to do with the length and difference there of, of the intestines, again same with us. The small intestines break down fiberous foods (vegetables) while the large intestine break down protein. The bigger the large intestine the more meat a being should eat.
As for vegetarians, not all veggie lovers are Vegan (no animal products at all, food clothes cars...) Vegetarians run the gambit from no red meat (Swine-Polo-Ovo-Lacto-Peshi) to full on "nothing with eyes" PETA member in good standing Vegans.
The want for meat can be a primal urge as you say. My mother has dreams of stalking cattle in feeder lots with knives and forks if she go with out red meat for too long. If you want to become any type of Vegetarian, for any reason, the best thing to do is ween yourself off of meat, since it really is the easiest of "addictions" to do this with. (My husband and I would never dream of it as he is a "Meatan" and doesn't digest vegetable matter well, and I am a low carb omnivore) You start by eliminating all red meat from you diet, subbing FRESH spinach for the lack of iron. Then start removing (in order) pork, poultry, firsh and sea food, milk products and finally eggs. Making sure that you replace the vitamins, minerals and protein that your are removing with supliments and vegetable based proteins like tofu, nuts, and beans and rice combos. Eventualy the large intestine will shrink and you won's be able to eat meat anymore.

Answer 5

Well, speaking for myself, I grew up eating meat. In fact, my mother was adamant about how important it was. But I never felt entirely comfortable with one creature dying so that I could live. As an adult, my husband and I chose to stop eating meat. Partly because we live in a society where you don't have to kill to survive, and partly because meats today are filled with hormones and antibiotics that have been proven to be bad for us. We were lacto-ovo (we did eat eggs and dairy) vegetarians for about 20 years. You need to know what you're doing so that you get enough protein, but it's not so hard. Eventually, for several reasons, we found that we needed to introduce another source of protein into our diets, so we have been eating some fish for about 5 years. This has worked well, but eventually, I hope to return to a true vegetarian diet. It is true, humans do not crave meat, but they do crave protein. Desiring meat is not a primal urge, it's simply your body craving the most familiar source of protein that it has known. Also, from a global standpoint, a great deal more food is generated on an acre of land that is farmed than an acre that is used for grazing. More vegetarian diets could eliminate some of the starvation in the world.

Answer 6

Meat (particularly red meat) is one of many foods that are chemically addicitve because of the reactions in your body when you eat them. Other addictive foods include dairy products (particularly cheese), chocolate, and sugar.

Like any addiction, it can be broken. Like any addiction, you need to motivation to overcome it. Vegetarians have many different motivators: not wanting to support animal cruelty is usually at the top of the list, and health is another motivating factor. Some people just don't like the taste of meat.

I haven't had meat for over a decade and have never craved it since eliminating it from my diet. In fact, I find the smell nauseating. Instead, I have found so many other incredibly delicious foods that I never would have considered trying if I hadn't cut meat out of my diet. It is all what your tastebuds are used to.

Answer 7

We aren't really vegetarians but we limit meat intake because of the way it's processed for the most part in the US. We prefer to eat much less often of better quality, free range or organic meat ( it's expensive) and the rest vegetarian dishes with plenty of vegetarian protein. I read a lot about meat production for the US and it disgusted me so that the smell of meat was repulsive. I still don't have ethical issues with eating meat- you see? Anyway, sometimes the idea of meat bothers people for whatever reason, to either change where they get theirs from, or cut it out of their diet altogether.

EDIT- Michael H get off your high horse and read the responses in full. I said we are not really vegetarians. Period Full Stop. Jeez- I wouldn't want to be if they're all as stuck up as you.

Answer 8

I been a vegetarian for not very long. you can get vegetarian meat that is really good like the boca and morningstar farms and worthington stuff! then you dont have to eat the animals no more. I stopped eating meat because a friend said it would help me to get better from getting hurt and the doctors agreeed and thay all helped me and my dad that had a heart attack to eat better.

just stop eating the meat and when you really really want to eat some just get a griller or some wham instead!!!

Answer 9

Ever since the day i became vegetarian ( age 14 ) I've never had any craving or desire to eat meat or its slaughter by-products.

Its simple.

I just will not support the cruelty and animal abuse that meateaters support through their paying for meat.

27 years of being veggie and never had any doubt that i've made the right decision

blueberry, you say "We aren't really vegetarians but we limit meat intake because of the way it's processed for the most part in the US. We prefer to eat much less often of better quality, free range or organic meat "

Why do you even use the word vegetarian? You are not. Full stop, why even use it ?

I know we're great, but there is no need to pretend to be associated with us just because you eat organic meat...How very Bizarre.

Lyyman: it doesn't take 7 years to adjust to a new diet. it takes about 1 second.

Barret: when you say "....human beings need the protein they get from meat in order to be healthy" I guess you're saying i'm unhealthy then, eh ? Oh no, wait, this is just another one of those meat-eater myths in order to try and clear their conscience.

Answer 10

Some people really do not care for meat. My favorite pizza in a vegetarian pizza. I may go 2-3 days a week and not eat meat. I usually go at least one day a week without it.

Answer 11

Its not that great, your different, i guess, some people don't like meat. Especially people who never ate meat in their lives, which i know some who never tried meat ever, obviously they have no urge for meat and if adding meat they might get sick because a vegetarian's body gets use to living off non meat only so they are fine the way they are, but when introducing meat in them. There body goes, wtf? I lost the enzymes to digest meat, so what am is suppose to do with this? My point is everyone's different.