Converting from meat-eating diet to vegetarianism?

Question

lol i dont know if vegetarianism is a word but I recently picked up this book called "Skinny *****"... I am 5 foot 8 and 150 lbs but wanted to lose about 10 lbs, heard the book was good and #1 bestseller... I read horrible things about the abuse of animals in factory farms and it made me cry. I love animals, and I don't want to contribute to their suffering by eating meat anymore. And I am a person who could eat roast beef sandwhiches EVERYday I love it so much! I REALLY want to try and cut down on my meat intake and eventually not eat any meat products all together because I have been reading up online and through other books and finally know the truth about what I'm eating... not only is it unhealthy but it's heartbreaking. I just wanted to know if there are any tips for people like me who want to make the switch? I have a lot of natural and organic food stores (like Trader Joe's) nearby. Also, are there any meat producers who are humane? I heard Chik-fil-A was.

Are there any ways to get politically involved in STOPPING this horrible torture of animals?

Answer 1

Yes, vegetarianism is a word! :)
I went from an omnivore to vegan literally overnight and have been for eight years now. There are many vegan and vegetarian meat substitutes out there (but please be careful with too much processed foods). Boca Original is a very tasty vegan burger. Tofurky makes a lovely roast with gravy and it's sooooooo YUM! (They also make keilbasa and Italian "sausage" that makes a wonderful "sausage-dog".) Tofutti makes a vegan ice cream line that is DEEEE-LISH as well as a sour cream and cream cheese that is to die for (not low-calorie, though. Use sparingly.)

There are many ways you can become influential in the community and help animals who are tortured through factory farming, domestic animal abuse, etc. Look online for your particular state, city or county. Also, look on Amazon.com for vegetarian cookbooks -- there are many, and the recipes are mostly really great! Becoming vegan and/or vegetarian opens you up to a whole new world of ethic foods that you may never have known existed. And you're doing a good thing for yourself and the animals!

Many people say they don't like tofu, but there are great ways to cook it. Buy a block of it and freeze it (it makes it more "meaty-textured" after defrosting!). Defrost it, gently squeeze as much water out as you can. Cut it into fairly think slices and put a few drops of soy sauce on each, allowing it to soak in. Coat them in Shake-n-Bake mix (any kind; I like the kind for pork chops) and cook in the oven. YUMMY!

Oh, and if you find a vegetarian or vegan product you particularly love, email and tell them. They will usually send you coupons for free or discounted product! Good luck and happy eating!

Answer 2

Take a look at the back of "Skinny *****." There's a long list of vegan foods that you can find at your local natural foods store (go to www.happycow.net to find restaurants and natural foods stores all over the world). Of course, there have been new items coming on the market since then, and companies do change their formulations, but it's a good start.
Also check www.vegweb.com for recipes and resources.

There really is no such thing as "humane" meat, only less cruelly produced meat. "Skinny *****" quotes fairly liberally from "Slaughterhouse" by Gail Eisnitz, a book that chilled my blood when I read it. You may want to check this out if you have a chance.

And we can stop this cruelty by not eating meat. The more people who go vegetarian, the less demand there will be for meat, and the fewer animals suffering. And if you never read "Fast Food Nation," now is a pretty good time to do so.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Vegetarianism *is* a word, and congratulations on being inspired to make a healthy lifestyle change. There are many positive benefits that I have discovered from not eating meat, and one of them is that I find it easier to manage my weight, but I think you are already at a healthy weight! Since I stopped eating meat, my energy level has soared, which obviously helps me stay more active, so that's another perk for you.

When switching to a veg diet, I think the most important part is variety. It's easy to get stuck in a rut... just like maybe you used to eat roast beef sandwiches every day. :-) So experiment with other protein sources such as lentils and beans, cheese and cottage cheese, and soy products like the veggie burgers. Also, I would try to eat whole grains and fruits and veggies rather than junk food so that your diet change (from meat to no-meat) involves other healthy choices as well.

I was also inspired to not eating meat by my concern for the treatment of the animals. Unless you can personally witness the life (and slaughter!) of an animal, I would be scant to say that any particular "big" meat processing company is wholly humane...

If you really want to get involved politically, of course PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is the king. www.peta.com. The website is packed with info, but be prepared to be saddened at what you'll see... It's just the truth but it's "hard to swallow." Also, there is a free and helpful Vegetarian Starter Kit available here that I would recommend: http://www.goveg.com/order.asp

Best wishes and happy, healthy eating.

Answer 4

I have been a vegetarian for almost a year now, and did it for the same reasons you are considering. I have lost over 60 pounds and couldn't be happier.

The EASIEST way to get started is to eat your favorite non-meat things. Eat things like grilled cheese paninis, meatless pasta - alfredo, cheese ravoli, nachos, ect. Also, splurge on your favorite fruits, I go for berries. If you make it fun for yourself for the first few weeks you won't miss it as much.
Then you can start to incorporate meat subs like Morning Star and Boca Burgers. Personally, I HATE tofu, so I stick to morning star's black bean burger.

You can find some free cool stuff by searching "free vegetarian" online. I have found coupons, shirts, books.
Good luck!

Answer 5

This link helped me make my decision and I hope that you find it helpful for you as well: http://www.biblelife.org/vegan_debate.ht...