A list of things I will miss when I become a vegetarian...

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Big Tastys
KFC
BLT sandwiches
Homemade lasagne
Bratwurst at christmas...

Sigh.

I've been doing some research and have decided that becoming a vegetarian is the best option for me. Goodbye meat. Our friendship can no longer continue.

You'll probably miss being able to look at a menu and choose what you wanted to eat from the full range, rather than having to have the often single suitable option.

MsRinky

That, too. Wahhh.

Do you have to be vegetarian? Home made lasagne and bratwurst at Xmas can't be that bad. Why not give up KFC to start with and do meat free mondays and see how you go?

Do you have to give up completely?

I think I do have to give it up completely.

I did some research and watched some documentries and it's put a few thins into perspective. I'm annoyed that meat is a tasty commodity in the first place.

@78, I've been phasing out meat for a couple of months now. On the whole it's ok but then every now and then I remember how good it was.

The sensation of bloody beef steak in between your teeth and on your gums.

Drools

Being veggie is easy, especially these days! My mum makes the best veggie lasagna using veggie mince, once all the herbs etc are in it you can't tell the difference. Eating out is also easy. I've been vegan for years now and even that is a doddle. You'll be fine! Get on Pinterest and search for yummy veggie alternatives!

You'll probably miss being able to look at a menu and choose what you wanted to eat from the full range, rather than having to have the often single suitable option.

That’s pretty unusual now. Vegetarian has gone pretty mainstream.

I’m still wrestling with going vegan. Cheese and eggs are the big sticking points.

There will be a point, far sooner than you imagine, when you won’t miss it. Being vegetarian is simply part of being me now- I don’t feel the need to tell everyone or convert people to it, it’s just part of my life. I’ve been vegetarian for nearly 30 years. The lentil Dahl, naan and mango chutney I had at lunch wouldn’t have been improved by adding meat.

There will also be a point, a few months in, when you’ll smell cheap meat cooking and wonder how you ever ate it. The chemical smell from cheap meat can be overwhelming. I cook meat for DS and DH, but only the stuff I can stand the smell of!

I went back to eating meat after 17 yrs as vegtn. I didn't miss any food when vegtn but It's a lot easier being omni.

maybe 10 yrs ago vegtn friend organised a meal out for us at posh restaurant (=small portions, prettily presented). The only vegtn main course on menu had blue cheese in it. I loathe blue cheese. So glad not to be vegtn.

Purple I'm guessing you live in a reasonable sized town? We moved from a city to a small town a few years back and went from having a few veggie options right back to a single option if you're lucky. My DH is still offered fish as a veggie option at times. It's much much better than it was...but it can still go a long way.

My mum makes the best veggie lasagna using veggie mince, once all the herbs etc are in it you can't tell the difference.

You bloody can!

You won’t be choosing from the single vegetarian option. I’m vegan and often have lots to choose from so as veggie you will be fine! There’s lots of lovely food out there!

I gave up meat a couple of years ago (Not a veggie as I still eat a bit of fish and seafood, although planning to start phasing that out too) and after the first few months I really didn't miss it much, and now I've got to the point where I really don't think I could eat it at all, it makes me feel a bit weird. Things that are very good if you're missing meat: Linda McCartney Mozarella Burgers, and Hoisin 'duck', Vivera kebab 'meat', Quorn scotch eggs and 'steak' pies.

Good luck!

Also. Just don't go to McDonald's. There really is no point!!

I am a vegetarian and have been for nearly 20 years. I eat a 'meat' based diet. The only thing I miss (very, very occasionally) is corned beef but it's about enjoying what you have not missing what you don't.

My 'last meal' would be a fake bacon toastie. I absolutely love them.

I don't like most vegetables.

I had lots of fear about missing meat and I'm Polish, I used to live on sausages and ham. Been veggie for three years now and am amazed how rich and varied the diet can be. You can find great meat substitutes and I would recommend yeast flakes for umami hit. Perhaps the only thing that is tricky is gravy, but we have fun experimenting.

I did try a meat dish about a year after I'd stopped eating meat. It was not enjoyable at all.

I'd say it's worth giving it a go. I am still surprised at how easy it's been.

And yes, restaurants have moved on tremendously (at least in the UK), long gone are the times of goats cheese awfulness as your only option!

Give up on take-away chips or anything else deep fried that says vegetn. Almost certainly done in hydrog. fat to take the high temps, which is horrific to your arteries.

i would miss there being things that I really fancy on the menu and having to just find something that sounded OK. Some restaurants are good for vegetarians but most not, and the majority of veggie options appear to be mushroom or goats cheese based, which are both disgusting.

This is why I can never seem to go fully veggie without failing at some point, and I just settle for flexitarian.

I've been veggie for nearly 50 years, it's really not hard. I can't remember eating meat though so it's not as if I miss it.

Just enjoy experimenting with lots of new foods. If you start to wobble, watch a documentary about animal slaughter or something to keep you on track.