Pondering veggies. . .

I have wanted to go lacto-ovo-veggie for a couple of years now, but have never been in an environment where I could. I kept getting roomies that cooked meat and threw a fit if I wouldn't eat their cooking, or a now-ex who made merciless fun of vegetarians while refusing to eat anything but peanut butter (Trying to lose weight. He was nuts.).

Now I think that my husband would be supportive. He's very carnivore, but I have no intention of making him go with me. I have no particular moral problems with meat, though I would prefer it free-range or hunted if I must eat it. I just think that it's wasteful, how much food goes into the animals as opposed to how much meat we get from them.

I'm thinking hard about easing into a veggie diet, preferably local/home-grown. I'd start by favoring dishes that didn't contain meat, and maybe cooking the meat on the side so my husband can add it as he likes. Maybe I can get some tofu recipies and sneak those into our diet.

Is it true that after a while as a veg, you can't stomach meat anymore? Any advice?

 

I think it's great!

The only advice I would give is to go out and look around in stores and places to find some creative veg foods (maybe some meat alternative foods if you want) and whatnot. You need to really determine just how creative and confident you are in the kitchen. I know with me, it was kinda like, alright so I'm going to cut up a ton of veggies, make rice, put it all in a pan, toss some sauce and spice in and see what happens...and I still do that all the time. If you can be really creative and you know exactly what you like and don't like and what is mixable then you should jump in headfirst. I do that, and I don't eat a lot of alternative meats and things because I find they're just no worth it when veggies are cheaper and better for you...I ramble.

Anyways, the local/home-grown idea is also pretty great as well. It's always a good idea.

And the thing about being able to stomach meat...Well, I've heard stories of veggies going to the hospital and I've heard veggies being completely fine. I think it depends on the person, how long it's been and how strict they are with their diet. But it's kinda hard to do definitive research considering the fact that a very small percentage of long-term veggies would even think about trying meat again...Over time, you'll probably lose all desire for it anyways...Even the things you loved.

 

Quitting meat is much like quitting smoking. You don't realize the offensive smell until you've moved away from it.

All meat has the smell of death to me (Vegetarian 25+ years, and I've never converted a single soul)

When I go into a supermarket, I can find the meat dept by smell alone. I smell the blood. Vegetarians most likely get sick from the repulsion rather than anything physical.

One exception might be stomach acid. Vegetarians have weaker acid than meat eaters so if they do eat meat , it might give them an upset tummy.

As a general rule, we have less stomach problems because of this weaker acid.


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And for the record, I don't like tofu.

Try one of the ground beef substitutes. Make some chili or something, and don't tell anybody.


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That's something I never knew, really interesting...I wonder if going veg would help my friend's stomach ulcer...

 

Meat eaters have much stronger stomach acid because meat is tough to break down.

In some cases (a big steak) you actually expend more energy digesting it than you get from it. Your body can only digest a few ounces at a time, the rest of it sits there and ferments and releases toxins into your system. Bleh.

Ulcers are caused by a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Maybe some yogurt would help ease the pain? I know an elderly lady who stirs some cayenne pepper into a glass of milk for her discomfort.


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Hmm, I have acid problems too. I've also read that it can lower your diabetes risk. I'm an extremely high risk, my whole family gets it before age 50. If they don't die from complications, they go down from heart problems and Alzheimers. Alzheimers I can't really do anything about.

I opened the topic with my husband, and even after I told him that I didn't expect him to go with me he suggested that we both cut all red meat as a first step and that he would stay at least that far. He pointed out that we don't eat very much meat anyway, and that it wouldn't be too far of a stretch for him.

I am so excited.

 

Good for you. Red meat is the major problem. The production of it has a very large carbon footprint too. Pork should be in your sights next.

You'll face many temptations in the future. Be strong in your discipline. It will repay you with improved health.


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I think you have a good idea there! Its definitely a great choice for many reasons. And I don't see anything wrong with eating meat thats free range or hunted. My boyfriend does that, he is mostly vegetarian but eats free range meat sometimes if he's sure its ethically raised, along with all animal products.
Its a good choice for yourself and for the world!

 

Five months, and still going. My husband has almost phased meat out of his diet: he only really eats bacon bits on potatoes and when we eat out he eats a steak or burger pasta (well, so much for red meat ;P). At home, he forgets that meat exists most of the time. I have to remind him.

I have discovered Taco Bell sans beef, tofu in marinara (YAY!), and edamame soybeans. I love edamame. My huband spent so much time working for a movie theater that the smell of popcorn makes him sick, so edamame has become the ultimate movie munchie.

Although, my family hasn't caught on yet. I didn't do a formal "coming out of the pantry," or anything. I don't think anyone has told my uncle: he mailed me a mountain of pork from Burger Steakhouse for Christmas. My husband pounced on the bacon, giggling, but he doesn't generally care for pork. We know enough people in the newly-laid-off crowd, though, that the colossal ham and six days worth of steaks found loving homes for Christmas.

My mother is panicking that she doesn't know what to make for Christmas Dinner: the tradition is a huge pot of vegetable soup. She only knows how to make it with beef in it, and I am the only veg in the family, so I understand. I told her that I still love her potatoes and her green bean casserole. My father think's I'm nuts, but I told them about avoiding diabetes and they calmed down. For my in-laws, I think that I will have to go off the wagon for one bite. My uncle-in-law's chicken and dumplings are fanous throughout the family. I cannot, as a new addition to the family, refuse.

I'm making it known that if I get sick it is not a comment on his cooking. I just got that rare side effect. After 2 weeks, I could no longer stomach meat, though I still love the smell. The thought of eating it is making me gag a little, though. However, my lactose intolerace seems to have been cured. I can find no scientific reason why, as it is a genetic condition, not a disease. My husband is the same way. Maybe that's why he's phasing meat out slowly. Who knows? My garden will be FULL of dinnerish nommies this summer, though. Fresh veggies are expensive, and I prefer to grow them organically. They taste better that way.

 

a couple years ago, i went a month without meat. the exact same thing happened with my lactose intolerance (i have irritable bowel syndrome). i was really worried because i knew that many alternatives to meat served in restaurants contained cheese. after about a week off meat my stomach was fine. i was eating all the ice cream and cheese i wanted, and it was great. i'm really glad i read this post because i had forgotten about that fringe benefit, and it will certainly help me now that i'm trying to be vegetarian again.

 

I don't suppose that your doctors could figure out why?

 

i'll have to ask my doc next i see him. it definitely makes me curious