I want to eat meat after 10 years of vegetarianism/veganism

My DB & SIL were vegans for well over a decade but started eating dairy and fish when my SIL was pregnant- and it’s stayed that way since then and TBH - life is so much easier - when we cater for them and when we go for meals. Just so many more options.

So don’t be worried about telling people- you’ve done amazing but do what you would like to do now. We are allowed to change our minds, our likes and dislikes so you do you and get ready for the chops! 😆

Enjoy!

@TurtlesDoNotPetsMake may I ask if working in a slaughterhouse “turned” you veggie/vegan?

Rowntrees fruit pastilles are vegan and they taste fine. However, Marks & Sparks vegan wine gums are foul.

Like a PP suggested, why not start by reintroducing dairy and eggs and see how you feel about that before trying meat. I’ve been veggie for nearly 20 years and whilst I’m not planning to eat meat, I would worry how my stomach would react if I did.

@Iwantasteak - I have been a vegetarian, than a pescatarian. While pregnant I couldn't force fish down - so I ate poultry, as wanted babies to develop on balanced nutrition. After that stopped chicken for a bit. Now mostly eat pescatarian, and occasionally chicken.
Cook a lot of red meat as kids love it - but don't crave it myself.

No one cares what I eat. Unless you used to preach and judge - no one will wonder why. And of anyone asks - you can always say it changed in pregnancy for you....

I was veggie for nearly 20 years but went back to eating meat in almost exactly the same circumstances - a young child at home (who ended up being diagnosed with ASD and is incredibly fussy about food), a husband who loved his meat and me - I could see us easily going down a three separate meals route, which I just didn’t want.

A couple of friends were really surprised, and I think my best childhood friend was particularly shook (we had gone veggie together when we were 13!) but no-one ever said anything to me about it.

To me, certainly. The gelatine versions are kinda...bouncy? somehow not as tasty either which I think might be to do with how the vegan ones dissolve & break down differently.

Ahhh I'm really craving some vegan sweets now 😭

OP I know loads of vegetarians and especially vegans who revert to eating meat or fish after a long time. Several vegans I know were told to by their GPs. It's hard to keep your nutrients up without meat, fish and dairy.

DS is a strict vegetarian, but he takes iron supplements daily and eats a range of eggs, cheese, tofu or lentils every day at every meal.

I was a vegetarian for.about.12/13 years. Then babies arrived and all went out the window! I think your body changes after you give birth and the cravings for meat etc.. just come.back and your body just kind of forces you to follow the cravings!

FWIW, I don't eat much meat. Some meat I can no longer stomach. But i do have a tuna jacket potato, a burger or a piece of chicken every now and again!

I was veggie for ten years aged 14-24. It was cool and I didn’t even like meat. But I started eating bacon sarnies then progressed to cooking chicken for my boyfriend then I started eating rare steaks and low carbing and never felt more healthy or connected to nature!

This
Also, why are you so bothered what other people think?
If you want to start eating meat/fish again, do so.
I recently have for health reasons, so I kind of get what you mean about "identity." It does feel strange at first.
If your body's wanting it, listen to it.

Do what you like, it's your life.

Eat locally and organically if you want to carry on helping the environment.

It's not like you're gonna eat a pig a week - just eat little, locally, and well.

Enjoy!

I was raised a vegetarian as a child in the 70s.
My mother was hardcore about it, and I didn't have a choice.

At the age of 17, I ate meat for the very first time - I was with friends, and I just wanted to try it.

A couple of years later, my mother lapsed - after 20 years of being vegetarian. She then went back to meat eating, and was a regular customer at her village butcher.

I still love vegetarian food, because it's what I grew up with.
But, it's puzzling that my mother moved from vegetarianism to eating meat after so many years.

This happened to me. It is part of your personality that is difficult to go back on. Sounds like your body wants meat. You have grown a baby, you deserve to eat what you want. You buy and cook meat anyway, so it's not like you are saving the planet if you don't. You didn't sign up to a religion so just do it. I honestly think there are some nutrients you just can't get otherwise.

You have to own your choices. For me, I always think that if I feel guilty about something, maybe I shouldn’t be doing it. We all make choices and this something you have to be comfortable with. It shouldn’t be about anyone else’s opinion. What you should understand is that some people here love threads like this, not because they want to help you, but because they want to make vegetarians and vegans look bad in some way for their own agendas.

Do what you think is right.

I will say (as a not-vegetarian) that the vegan haribo piss all over the normal ones, all vegan chewy sweets are superior as you're about to learn lol

Aside from that, do exactly as you want, you're not beholden to anyone, just take it easy cos they are proteins your body won't be used to processing. You might just get it all out of your system and go back to being veggie, you might not. But I see no value in denying yourself things you are really craving, we don't live long enough :)

I’m finding your OP confusing. You say you’ve got a baby and ate meat during pregnancy but then said you can’t remember what it’s like to eat meat. You’re not a veggie, more a flexi anyway so what’s the question?

Everyone to their own. I feel sick at the smell of blood when I pass a butchers and couldn’t eat meat if you paid me and I used to love it so much. Been 34 years for me now so I see what you mean about it being part of your personality. You do you.

It sounds like you've made up your mind already.

I've been a vegetarian since my teens. I actually considered eating meat again due to severe anaemia, but I couldn't face it.

Maybe go back to vegetarianism for now?

If I'm catering for friends I pretty much always do veggie with a vegan option, and that's because I can never remember what other people eat - and that's for friends I have known decades. Some go through times when they are veggie and times where they aren't - I've never seen that as a problem bevause so have I. Make your own choices and don't worry about other people's opinions.

I was veggie for 25 years and then I started wanting to eat meat. TBH I’m bored of meat now (10years later) and now I’m mostly a veggie at home - sometimes meat eater when out - veggie food from restaurants can still be very dull. Home cooked is fabulous though.

Eat what you want, it’s your choice nobody else’s. You may get some comments but just say what you said here