Really want to be veg*n
Hello,
I'm definitely a wannabe vegetarian here. I've sort of tried a couple of times to reduce/cut out my consumption of meat, but I've always messed up by ordering something with meat at a restaurant or eating some dish with meat that my boyfriend made or something like that.
Basically, I suck at quitting cold turkey, but vegetarianism is something that I really want to adhere to.
So, I've come up with a plan.
For Lent this year, I'm giving up meat. Getting through 40 days meat-free will be an awesome way to jumpstart my attempt. And once I've gone without meat for that long, I'm not going to want to mess up my efforts by giving into a craving for BBQ.
To be perfectly honest, though, I'll probably eat some fish on the first Sunday or two; I've got a bit of fish left in my freezer and I always feel really bad throwing food out.
But this my official I'm-going-to-be-vegetarian-for-reals-this-time game plan. Yay!
Good for you. Everyone is different, so I can't tell what will work for you. When I first went vegan I made it a rule to eat 100% vegan at home (well almost, I had to replace some ingredients as I used them). If I wanted to eat something nonvegan I had to go out to eat it. My budget was very limited, so I wasn't able to go out much. I would pick at nonvegan things at friend's homes. After doing this for a month or so, the nonvegan things became less and less appealing. The hardest thing for me to give up was cheese, but within about a year I found smell of cheese revolting. I guess the moral of the story is I had to learn how to cook all over again and allow my taste buds a chance to adapt. If you are determined, you will make it, cold turkey or not. I enjoy my food much more than I previously did in my nonvegan days. I've almost reached my 10-year vegiversary. was raised on ground beef and white flour. If I can do it, anyone can. Welcome to the tasty world of veganism.
I think the best tool is information: the more you know about where the other stuff comes from/ what was done to get it to your plate, the less you'll want to eat it!
If you're a reader, check out Skinny Bitch, Eating Animals, or Fast Food Nation (there's some stuff in there about the meatpacking industry that will make you NOT want it, I promise!); watch Food, Inc. if you'd rather have video; or just google 'why vegetarian' & read what pops up...
At this point, it literally turns my stomach to smell beef or pork cooking, or to find that the soup I was about to eat has milk in it... blech! Just like your brain is your main sex organ, it's also (to a great degree) what sets your taste preferences... so put the info in there, and the diet transition follows naturally!
Welcome -- have fun embracing a new way of eating!