Becoming a Vegetarian
March 19, 2013 in Diet, Health, Nutrition, Vegetarianism by Samantha
First of all, I must stress that, nutritionally, each person requires different variations of a balanced diet. Just by reading from this community of bloggers, this point is clearly demonstrated. While I believe that no human requires meat to survive (i.e. myth that animal protein is essential to health and survival), I ain’t no docta.
In late October/early November of 2007, I became a vegetarian. I completely quit eating meat cold turkey (heh heh). It was just before Thanksgiving, and I told myself I could go back to meat just once for the holiday of dreams… but I didn’t. I just couldn’t do it.
My then roommate at Penn State had recommended and then let me borrow her copy of Skinny Bitch.
I don’t remember much about the book, so I wouldn’t forward the recommendation without a reread. However, there was a chapter on factory farms and animal cruelty. Like most Americans, I was vaguely aware of the situation, but like… burgers, you know? Once I read this fairly short chapter, I was done. It isn’t even as graphic as many other resources on the subject are, but it was enough.
I really, really, really love animals. All animals. As a passionate lover of animals, I have a hard time understanding how one could say they love all animals and then eat a bacon cheeseburger.
Okay, I’m starting to preach, and that is so far from my point.
While my reasons for becoming a vegetarian were based on animal welfare, it very quickly turned into a huge benefit to my health. I was no longer tempted by fast food, fried chicken fingers, greasy bacon, etc. I’m not saying I was strong enough to go from an unhealthy diet to swimming in fresh, whole foods and frolicking through pools of quinoa like our extremely successful health junkie, Matt Maggiacomo. It was definitely a good start, though.
Are any of you a vegetarian? I know we have some vegans in da house. Has anyone ever considered vegetarianism and doesn’t know where to start?
Last week, I finally watched the documentary Forks Over Knives. It’s available on Netflix instant, so if you have an account or you can get your hands on a copy, then that is your homework! Go watch it! It’s so interesting and informative. I loved it. Let me know if you do!
I really have to watch that documentary; I’ve heard so many good things. I became a vegetarian after reading “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer. (I would highly recommend that book btw!)I never in a million years thought I would ever become vegetarian, but I am so glad I did.
For people who are considering becoming vegetarian, the transition might be a bit tough at first, but just remember you don’t have to be perfect. Slowly start incorporating more veggies into your diet. In my case I felt SO much better that I had no desire to go back at all.
I have “Eating Animals” as well! The book started giving me very vivid nightmares (seriously – every night) so I had to stop reading it. Either way, I also highly recommend it!
I’ve been a vegetarian for about 3 years now, though before that I barely ate meat (I actually was raised a vegetarian and never even tried meat until I was 8), and I love it. I too decided to officially become a vegetarian again after watching/reading many sources about factory farming. But I also had a moment while I was fishing with my grandfather when I realized that I just couldn’t kill anything with my own hands. Anyway, after I decided to quit meat once and for all, I found that being vegetarian has many more benefits than just fighting animal cruelty. It’s good for my personal health and for the health of the environment. Because I never really had an appetite for meat, it was not hard for me to give it up at all. So for me, being vegetarian is just one little thing that I can do easily that makes a positive impact on the world. For anyone considering this lifestyle, I really recommend it. But if you have a hard time with it, I recommend doing little things like Meat Free Mondays, or only buying locally raised meat. Every little thing helps, so why not give it a try!
I agree! If anyone has an interest in vegetarianism, it’s worth trying. With all of the resources we have regarding where the meat comes from and how the animals are treated (including being pumped up with hormones and other junk) as well as the environmental impact it makes, making the transition shouldn’t be terribly impossible.
“swimming in fresh, whole foods and frolicking through pools of quinoa like our extremely successful health junkie, Matt Maggiacomo.”
Know what’s funny? I actually DO THAT. Frolick in pools of quinoa. I just like the way it feels on my bare feet, ya know? Only problem is the stockpeople at Whole Foods are getting tired of me emptying out all the bags of quinoa onto the floor.
I can totally imagine you doing it. Like… really.
PS. I haven’t really posted about ALL the reasons I’ve gone vegan yet. But there are so many reasons. Any time I feel my will slipping, I pick a reason from my arsenal of many reasons and I get myself back on track.
I WANT ALL THE REASONS.
Hello fello vegetarian! I was vegetarian until the age of six, when my best friend *coughSamcough* introduced me to the wonderful chicken rondelet… and ham sweet ham. I then had a couple of stintsas a vegetarian in high school, then became a VORACIOUS meat eater in my early 20s. About a year or so ago I went back to vegetarianism. Maybe for the last time? Admittedly, it was very easy for me for three reasons: 1 – I was raised in a household with quinoa, bulgur balls, tofu, and every vegetable under the sun. 2 – I am not a picky eater. I love almost every food. 3 – I live in the city.
I did it becase of the energy it gives me. I feel great and I am able to exercise every day. I actually had to force myself not to run today because my body needs a break from all the activities I’ve been doing. The environmental and humane reasons are secondary for me. Ideally, I’d like to be vegan, but pizza. Also it’s hard for me to keep weight on so I need some fattening stuff in my diet.
I LOVE BEING VEGETARIAN! !!!!
IS THAT TRUE?!?!?! The only memory involving any of this is that I thought it was soooo weird that when I came over for dinner, we ate ToFu. omg.
I vividly rember you frying up slices of deli ham and american cheese in butter on your stovetop and eating it like a stir fry. We were probably 8. I was impressed that you could cook something that sizzled.
I am a huge pizza snob, and I miss Brooklyn style pizza dearly, but I’ve found pizza with Daiya cheese to be a decent substitute. Not that Daiya is particularly healthy, but it’s certainly less unhealthy. Ha. Also, a cheeseless pizza with fresh tomato, caramelized onions, mushrooms, and something marinated like artichoke hearts or olives… The savory flavor of the onions and mushrooms combined with the tanginess of the other ingredients sort of eliminates the need for cheese.
At least, this is what I tell myself to get through the day.
I’ve been considering becoming vegetarian for sometime now.
Without getting into specifics, I can’t justify eating meat, but I want to make sure that I’m not hurting my attempts at getting healthy at the same time. My family is also very-pro meat, so even though I’m fairly independent, that support system is lacking. I’ve been considering trying it for one week and seeing how it turns out, how I feel, what changes I need to make and then making the decision to do it for whatever length of time/for good.
I have a special loathing reserved for the “Skinny Bitch” phenomenon (fat shaming and body hatred, anyone?)but it’s inspired a lot of people to ditch the meat (and eggs and dairy too) which is great.
I’ve been vegetarian for a decade now and I think I’m fortunate to have gone veg so young because as I learned to cook without animal products right from the get go. People going veg: Get some cookbooks or find a couple of great online recipe sites/blogs to work through! You’ll enjoy your veg life so much more if you learn to cook for yourself rather than relying on vegetarian convenience foods.
I became a vegetarian as a dare with my friend a little over a year ago. He gave up after the first two days- I kept going. I found that without the option of meat, I was choosing much healthier options for my meals instead- not only did I feel better about myself and my eating habits (I played that whole game of eating a ton of terrible stuff and hating myself afterwards), but I also felt a lot better physically, had more energy, and I honestly just felt happier in general.
So when people ask me why I don’t eat meat, I tell them the simple answer: I feel so much better, in every aspect, by not eating meat. I’ve learned to love and appreciate food again, food that is good for you. I find myself having cravings for fresh vegetables and fruits, instead of fried chicken sandwiches (probably the number one staple of my diet prior to this), and that feels awesome. I’m eating all these new healthy things I’ve never tried before, and so by limiting my diet, I’ve actually become a much more adventurous eater.
I’m still working on giving up all dairy products (cheese is my downfall!), because on the days when I eat vegan, I feel even better than I do normally.
Anyway, I recommend vegetarianism to everyone! At least trying it for a week and seeing how you feel. I’m so glad I did it!
I am very very fond of animal protein. But I’ve come to realise that I NEED vegetables. It’s just a shame that I dislike hem so very much
I wrote and awesome long reply re veggies up there but I made a mistake and only the first two sentences posted.
Will not rewrite as am on phone and it’s too late here
Main point is that eating veggies make you MORE ATTRACTIVE!!!
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17289399
;-D
I couldn’t become, I just could not do it.
Sorry for changing the subject and being off topic but my friend wrote a sweet letter to Evanna Lynch and he has tried for a while to get her to read via twitter but hasn’t because she has tons of fans tweeting to her. Would anyone like to try to help me out here. I’m trying to do something nice for my friend and he doesn’t know that I’m doing this so it would be a surprise to him if he woke up one day and found out Evanna read and replied to his letter. He would appreciate it so much because he is in a lot of stress right now with college exams and work he does. So he would really like it.
Here is the letter if you guys want to help out or just check it out: https://twitter.com/Nas_Daoud/status/314776601244090368/photo/1
I could become a vegetarian but I choose not to.
In regards to your friend, yea it would awesome if he woke up and found out she read his letter which by the way very beautiful. I got emotional at the end of it. She would love and if I was friends with Evanna I would so help you out but I’m not sorry. There’s bound to be someone who would help.