I'm going vegetarian should I wean myself or go cold turkey?

Question

I haven't eaten red meat in 3 weeks and have now given up poultry and pork for 1 week to see if I even miss meat. If I don't miss them then I'm done with meat.Should I stay with this schedule?

Answer 1

Make a firm decision and stick to it.

The only time i would ever consider weening off something is if it was going to have a serious detrimental affect.

otherwise there is no point in delaying till tomorrow what you can accomplish today.

: )

Answer 2

My experience is that I weaned myself off meat very gradually, over a year's time for all livestock, and then in one more year from all seafood. I didn't miss meat at all. So I guess this will work better than going cold turkey, when your craving for a flavor you've been used to eating all your life could overpower your will to give up meat, and you start eating meat all over again.

Your program/schedule doesn't seem to include fish/seafood. Does this mean you're one of those people who mistakenly think fish is not meat?

Vegetarians don't eat meat from animals, whether living on land or under the sea.

Answer 3

Only you can know what works best for you as a person... I know that sounds tacky, but how you quit things does depend on the individual.

I went cold "tofu" because I have an addictive personality and I knew if I ate another bit, I would go get a double bacon cheeseburger. Of course, that was 7 years ago and I now find flesh to be disgusting and I have no desire to eat it.

By going one animal at a time, the process could contribute to the idea that you are "missing out." If you do drop one thing at a time, I recommend that you come on here or on veg recipe sites and then find and make all the awesome replacements people tell you are yummy. Once I learned how to cook awesome foods, I never felt like I was missing out.

If your reasons for going veg are health related, I suggest you start with cow, move to pig, then bird and then fish.

If your reasons are environmental or animal-cruelty based, it may be better to start with fish, move to bird, then pig, then cow then game.

The possibilities are many, which is why you need to think of what is best for you.
:)

If you feel the schedule you made is the best, then it is the best.

http://www.vegsoc.org/newveg/fft/index.html
http://www.goveg.com/
http://vegweb.com/index.php?action=recipes

Answer 4

There are certain advantages to both.

By giving it up gradually you are allowing yourself time to find recipes that do not involve meat. I think one thing that makes people go back to eating meat is because the first few weeks they are eating side dishes and boca burgers(it took me a few weeks to build up enough recipes to last me weeks without eating the same thing. You won't miss meat if you find new ways to prepare your favorite dishes, or new fav. dishes.

Cold turkey's advantage is that you cannot say to yourself(at the end of the week)"well, I'll give myself just one more day, and keep saying that)

Which ever way you feel most comfortable is the best choice. There is no right or wrong way to stop eating meat.

Answer 5

It sounds as if you have pretty much weaned yourself off meat, one type at a time (some people start by going veg one or two days a week and increase gradually to full-time vegetarianism). And it sounds as if it's working for you. So keep it up! Good for you!

Answer 6

I went cold tofu ;). I'll admit about two weeks in my dad brought home pepporni pizza and I ate some of it... needless to say I got a stomach ache and haven't eaten meat since then and that was 4 years ago.

Answer 7

Actually, as you are on the path to becoming vegan, unless you switch to ONLY RAW FRUITS AND VEGGIES, some things you'll find will still contain animal product(s).
As you find the markets that cater to those that subscribe to the all natural/organic/health foods and vitamins way of life..ASK QUESTIONS.
There are many knowledgeable people that work in those places.
Where I live and shop there is a store that sells all natural and organic that I can generally ask and find answers to many of the questions I have and if they are unable to answer it, some can direct you to exact sources to find the anser(s) you seek.
You should also consider a colon/intestinal cleansing.
You might find this web page useful from Yahoo's directory:

http://dir.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Cultures_and_Groups/Vegetarians/Vegans?skw=vegans

Answer 8

My friend is a vegetarian. She went cold turkey, but she never cared for meat. On the other hand, we have a mutual friend who slowly cut out meats and then eventually went vegan.

It depends on your goals and reasons for going meatless. Why go without meat if you like it? Not unless there's a health goal involved.

Answer 9

Yeah, stick with it. It sounds like you're doing a good job so far, and if you mess with it then you might feel ill... some people find that if they go without meat, they get rather sick when they start eating it again.

Answer 10

If this plan is effective and you don't have many cravings, then stick to it. Many vegetarians who try to suddenly change end up breaking down and eating a hamburger. Good luck!