How to resist eating meat?

Question

I have recently decided i want to become vegetarian for both health and moral reasons...I'm finding it really hard to adjust to not eating meat (because i like the taste of it!!) can anyone give me tips on how to combat this??

Mark, in response to your reply i do not have a problem with certain cultures doing whatever they need to survive. HOWEVER, I have a huge problem with the way in which we, in western cultures exploit and cruelly treat the animals that we finally slaughter and sell to consumers.

Answer 1

Don't get the moral aspect of this argument. Explain to me this.

There are people in this world that cannot eat a vegetable diet because of their environment. Like the Inuit in Alaska / the Arctic. Their diet consists ALMOST entirely of meat and fish. Are the Inuit people immoral? I don't think so

Or perhaps there is a morality rule exemption for the Inuit???

Sorry, doesn't hold up in court.


--------------------response to follow-up----

First of all, your singling out western cultures is way off base. Eastern cultures may not have the mass production capabilities but they still have the cruelty down. How about Japan driving the whales to extinction or China doing the same thing to sea horses, tigers and other (now) rare animals. No....we are the same....west and east.

And, if you don't like an industry then get your food from another supplier that practices the methods you embrace.

And being a vegetarian doesn't make you innocent. Lacto-Vegetarians are one example. Did you know that veal is a byproduct of the dairy industry not the beef industry. Yes, they need to keep the cows pregnant to get milk so as a result they get a lot of baby cows (i.e. veal). So, stop drinking milk if you want to stop supporting the veal industry.

Are your vegetables being grown in a manner that uses manure for fertilizer. If yes....find another supplier or you're still supporting the beef industry. Are you getting any methane supplied from the cattle industry? Check it out or perhaps you're still supporting them. Are your vegetables grown without pesticides? If not, you're killing birds.

Answer 2

I am vegan, but my husband is a HUGE meat eater. He has cut down, but still craves that meaty taste. I have found a recipe using Tempeh (an Indonesian fermented soy product. You can get at Whole Foods or the like. I like the tempeh that also has grains in it). You marinate it using the following recipe and can then grill, bake or fry it. It gives a very savory taste. I made it into a cheeseburger for my husband and he liked it.

Marinade (just throw random amounts in, no specific measurements):

-Soy sauce
-Balsamic (a little bit in proportion to the soy)
-spices (I use Montreal steak seasoning)
-nutritional yeast (good source of B12 and aminos too! Make sure not to use brewers yeast)
-seasme oil

All of these ingredients give a nutty/savory/"meaty" taste. Feel free to drizzle the excess on the finished tempeh

For a quick meal (even quicker than that easy marinade), you can always get garden burger, etc products. There are even fried chicken patties made of fake meat. Sometimes you just need the taste of meat. Depending on where you live, there are also restaurants that offer very good fake meat meals. One is the Veggie Grill in Irvine (veggiegrill.com). Check out the menu for ideas you can adapt into your daily life.

Good Luck!!!

Answer 3

I would suggest cutting back, and not going "cold turkey" (pun intended).

The hardest thing to give up, in my mind, was the denser, fattier meats..beef, for example. So, I cut beef out of my diet first. Then I went to eating vegetarian twice a week...then three times a week. Then I cut out pork...then fish...and only ate meat once a week and only chicken/turkey. Finally, I cut out meat all together.

I've been a vegetarian twice in my life. Last time was for about 10 years. I stopped when I got really sick and the only thing I could eat was chicken soup. When I got over being sick, I had a massive chicken craving, and the rest was history...as was being a vegetarian.

Answer 4

After a while you start getting used to not eating meat. That pepperoni pizza that used to look so tasty really doesn't seem that great anymore. If you last 1 month without meat it just gets easier and easier until you can totally ignore it.
If you really want to eat meat then just think about what the animal went through just to satisfy your meat cravings. Or just simply think about how it was living and breathing and how you are going to be eating this animal that was alive not too long ago.

Answer 5

Your problem is highlighted by the way you are phrasing this question.

You are seeing giving up meat as a struggle or reducing your choices.

Perhaps think more postively about just how great veggie food can be. Rather than think "i'm giving up meat", think " I'm opening up so many new possiblities"

Go buy a few veggie cook books and live with them for a month, you'll be amazed how quickly the meat thoughts disappear.

Best of luck with it, it'll get easier I'm sure.

Answer 6

If you care about the suffering of animals, you will make the change. Being a vegetarian also helps the environment and your health will thank you too!! You can find some great information and educational videos at my website. Good Luck to you.

Answer 7

There are lots of analogues out there that you can buy--veggie crumbles, veggie burgers, veggie sausages, veggie deli slices, soy nuggets, and so on and so forth. You're sure to find some you like, and they are an excellent substitute for those who like the taste of meat but not all the associated problems with it.

Answer 8

Moral issue? The moral issue is spolied westerners asking and arguing about what to eat when the rest of the world is asking is there anything to eat at all.

You miss meat? Well tough. You made a lifestyle choice so live with it. There is always the other alternative and you know it.

Answer 9

Go to peta or youtube and watch the Meet Your Meat videos if you haven't already. They'll definitely help turn you off of eating meat.

Answer 10

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5932123060214126731&q=meat+industry&total=334&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=3

If you care at all about animals, you'll become vegan. Vegans don't contribute money to the dairy and egg industries, wear leather, fur, or wool, buy products from companies that conduct non-required animal toxicity tests:
http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/companiesDoTest.pdf
Or frequent zoos, rodeos, circuses, or other places where animals are held in captivity or forced to perform.


Good luck!