Accidentally Becoming Vegetarian/Vegan?

[NotQuiteCockney]

This year, I appear to no longer eat meat. If I cook meat, it smells "off" to me (I know it isn't). I can cope with reasonably spiced meat, and maybe fish is ok? And bits of pancetta are fine. But big pieces of meat are ... ugh. And the smell! And the smell on me, and the smell on the kids!

What is going on here? I've been not-fond of meat sometime in the past, but not for ages ...

[bran]

Perhaps your body just doesn't want meat anymore. I find that cow's milk smells and tastes off, whereas goat's milk doesn't, and cow's milk makes me very gassy so I don't think my body can digest it properly.

If you don't like it, don't eat it. You know loads about nutrition so I know that you're having a balanced diet anyway.

[UndeadOnMumsnet]

Similar for me. Having lived with a veggie and had mainly veggie friends for years, each year I seem to give up one new thing. I haven't been able to have milk for years either, and have gone off strong tasting meats like lamb, and anything gamey.

The best thing to do is to listen to what your body tells you and go with it isn't it.

[NotQuiteCockney]

It's tricky, though. I do think it's good for the kids to eat meat, or at least to have the option. And DH feels rather strongly about having some meat in his diet. He's happy to eat vegan in the evening most days (thankfully, as that's what I appear to be serving).

I might try more with fish and seafood. I think hamburger is particularly bad, as it's so fatty and strong-smelling.

[MamaGhoul]

oh yes fish & seafood great, I eat some form at every evening meal just about.

My kids eat meat though, and DH does sometimes

[TooTickyTheAppleMuncher]

A vegan diet is super healthy. Just enjoy it

[NotQuiteCockney]

But I don't want to be vegan .

Tonight we are having some cheese in our food. And I really doubt I'll be actually vegan, just vegetarian at most.

[TooTickyTheAppleMuncher]

Why? Is it the reputation that bothers you? We're not all dangerous mink-releasers you know...

[motherinferior]

I wouldn't worry, sweetie. As Bran says, you're so clued up about eating and food that you're not exactly likely to suffer.

Speaking as someone who went the other way and now loves to sink her teeth into a blue steak

[NotQuiteCockney]

Hmmm.

1. Everyone already bloody well thinks I'm vegetarian, based on haircut, food choices, etc. I like being the woman who looks like a lesbian vegan but actually is a meat-eating straight woman.

1. I do generally like meat. Well, I used to.

1. I like having lots of food options. I've been working on destroying my few remaining strong food dislikes - I think I have got myself around to liking non-watermelon melons (I liked watermelons all along). I don't want to quit an entire food group.

1. I am not cooking separate dishes for DH, and he does mind being vegan/vegetarian. I guess he could just eat meat at work lunches ...

[TooTickyTheAppleMuncher]

1. There are other ways to surprise people.
2. But you don't any more.
3. Thereare still LOTS of options.
4. If he wants it, he can cook it

[BettyBatShapedSpaghetti]

NQC -thats how I felt as a teenager (meat just smelled rank, didn't like meals where the meat was a lump of meat on the plate eg.roast or chops, but would eat chicken tikka, chilli).

Then, as a student I rarely ate meat due to cost and lack of motivation to cook. When I started seeing a guy who was veggie I didn't make a conscious effort to stop eating meat but it just happened -that ws about 16yrs ago!

It sounds like deep down you've probably never really liked or enjoyed it?

[NotQuiteCockney]

No, while I was pg with DS2 I was mad for meat, ate loads of it. And actually for quite a few years between being pg with DS1 and being pg with DS2, I quite liked meat. Rare steak, the whole thing.

I don't know what's changed, but meat is just not working for me at the moment. I'll try leaving out non-cured red meat, and see if that helps.

[TooTickyTheAppleMuncher]

I'd do what your body tells you - there may be a reason, especially if you're eating non-organic meat.

[NotQuiteCockney]

No, the meat we eat is nearly always organic free-range. I sometimes lapse on some fruit and veg (variety more important than organicness, I think), but on meat, no. (Butter, cheese and eggs are also always organic free range) If I can't get organic free range, I don't buy it.

[hulababy]

Why be vegetarian or vegan? Why not jsut eat what you fancy, when you fancy it? If you don't fancy meat - don't eat it. If you prefer to still have some meat in your diet - do so.

I don't eat meat as I really don't like it - taste, texture, etc. haven't done for many years. I do eat fish and shellfish though as I do like that. Both DD and DH eat meat.

[pointydog]

I've got a dh who used to be vegetarian and is still a bit funny with meaty meat like roasts and stuff. DD1 verges on vegetarian at times 'cause she hates the smell and texture and thought of it.

I can understand what you;re on about. Meat can be unpleasant in many ways. I'd just cut out all teh stuff you don't like for a while. Not like you're stopping anyone else from eating it if they want to.

[pointydog]

And what haircut have you got?

[NotQuiteCockney]

Good point, hulababy, I'll eat what I want to, and not make any decisions about things. (Also, if I announce I am vegetarian, people will fuss more about Xmas etc and it will annoy me.)

I have a brush cut, have had for years. Along with not wearing skirts, and not wearing makeup, this apparently makes me obviously a vegetarian lesbian ...

[bran]

Well it would clearly be disastrous if people were to stereotype you correctly. I think the only thing to do until you go back to liking meat is to grow your hair and wear pretty Boden skirts whilst having a lesbian affair and being strident whenever any meat come within 2 metres of you.

(btw before I offend anyone with my non-lesbian stereotype, I know lots of very feminine lesbians, but I've NEVER met one who wears Boden.)

[nikkie]

I used to only eat chicken/sausage/bacon over the last year I have just about dropped them all although I have some about once a month (BLT, Zinger burger , sausage bun!)

[mumandlovingit]

i turned veggie at age 10 by my own choice, my mum is veggie.my dad eats every meat there is and my sister eats meat.when i was prenant with ds1 when i was 20 all i wanted to eat was chicken and crab sticks and tripe! i was the same with ds2 and since then, 4 years ago, im still eating it but not alot to be honest, i tend to only eat chicken pies or sausages.raw meat makes me feel sick with the smell.

dont worry about labelling yourself, just eat what you like and dont eat what you dont.both my kids eat meat but even they dont like alot of meat,even if they're surrounded by meateaters.

most meals can be adjusted for meat or without meat.cooking for meateaters and non meateaters at teatime isnt very demanding as long as you choose meals that are versitile.

im tending to go back towards the veggie ways but i know i'll never be able to give up all the jelly sweets i eat so i doubt i'll ever be a proper veggie again like i was before.