Veggie for 30 years, just eaten chicken

[RosiePeel]

Vegetarian since I was 9, never really craved or liked meat. Been sick with a cold all week and last night I asked my DH to put roast chicken on my plate which I ate. I then got home and stuffed more cold chicken into my mouth. Aside from one tuna sandwich when pregnant which I didn’t enjoy I’ve never eaten meat before since turning veggie. I don’t recognise myself?!

For context. Turned 40 recently. Had low iron issues before so know the signs and my iron feels ok right now (for me). I am going to the gym a lot more in general and doing things like body pump. I’m also suddenly wanting to eat fish but definitely not red meat.

Is this a midlife crisis, illness - possibly something awful? Or is the fact that my own mortality is on my mind causing me to want to eat more nutrients?

You probably are lacking something, so try not to beat yourself up over it. You may have 30 years of being a veggie behind you, but your body need’s different things now. Just ramp up your vital nutrients and move on.

@Dotcheck yeah I’m wondering if it’s a sign of aging. And change of mindset perhaps?!

Are you needing more protein if you are going to the gym?

Possibly, I’m not sure I’m really up to speed on gym type diets @LameBorzoi - the thing is I have usually always been quite active but was more running until about 18 months ago

Veggie since age 16 here, now mid 50s. Have accidentally eaten meat on occasion, and a couple of times out of curiosity, but mostly I struggle to disassociate it from the flesh it is so I prefer to stay vegetarian. You're under no moral obligation to remain vegetarian if you decide to stop. Plenty of people do.

If you've recently increased your exercise intensity and have been dealing with illness, you'll need all the calories you can get. Plug your daily food intake into Cronometer to see if you're in the right area calorie-wise and sort any deficiencies with plant-based alternatives.

@useitorlose thank you. I just feel so weird about it because it’s never happened before. But I’m still repulsed by the thought of eating red meat.

Thanks will do that

I've heard of people having strange, or out of character food cravings with covid.

I was going to say this. You need a surprising amount of protein if you are exercising.

I'd guess your body is just craving protein, especially with you doing weights etc.

I too fell off the veggie wagon with chicken.

Never looked back!

Ok thanks hadn’t considered protein will
look into it

I’ve been vegan for 21 years, vegetarian for 12 years before that.

I do lots of running, weights and gym classes but I eat lots of protein so I’ve never had this issue. Obviously you need to increase protein when you’re exercising more, surprising how many people don’t realise that.

It’s possible to get protein without animal products if you want to be vegetarian again if you want to, or obviously you can not be vege anymore. Either way, a good time to learn more about what you’re body needs to be healthy.

Hope you feel better soon.

Thank you. Might start by trying non veggie options to increase protein and see if it helps

Your body is just craving protein because you are exercising more than usual.

Flexitarian, my mainly veggie dd gets occasional meat cravings. Same as above assume it’s protein or iron requirement.

I went vegetarian at 10. Had no desire to eat meat and really pretty militant about it! At 40 I started craving tuna and am now pescatarian. All I know is my body was obsessed with it (and now my nails are amazing 🤣).

For the last few months all I want is a chicken sandwich 😬

I think it’s either body craving specific nutrients (there are doubtless veg options for anything lacking) or just a nostalgic food craving. Regardless, we both did a good stint for vegetarianism and I’m still veg 5 days a week. 🌱 🥦 🥕 🥒

Bear in mind that women have huge hormone fluctuations our whole lives, it might be a craving.
But you have had a cold so your body is probably telling you the exact nutrients it needs to build your immunity back to fill strength. Chicken is a quick way to do that!

It sounds like it was your body’s way of getting something it needed.

I have never really liked milk and the thought of drinking from a glass makes me 🤮. However, when I was pregnant with my second I loved it and drank 2-3 glasses a day. I also ate the stalk of broccoli raw which is equally gross. I went with it, presumably I needed the calcium. I can’t stand milk now though, not as a drink.

Thanks everyone these comments are helping massively

I went veggie about 10 years ago (early 40s) because I hated the thought of eating flesh, it just turned my stomach. Then I started eating tuna and prawns occasionally so people would say I'm pescatarian now I guess altho a lot of my meals are dairy free and plant based.

But. When OH makes a bacon sandwich, I have to leave the room because I just want to scoff it...same with a ham sandwich...my mouths watering here!!

But I knew if I took a mouthful, I'd not be able to swallow it cos I'd just see a little piggie in my head!!

I've never considered that it's my body/brain telling me I need more protein though? I've just considered it as 'oh I used to love the taste of that when I ate meat' and don't think anything more about it.

A friend of mine started going through peri menopause around 40, she had been veggie for 20ish years. Started craving some meats. Its apparently common for you body to need more protein while going through this change. Could just be that OP. Maybe get some veggie protein shake stuff or up your protein intake and see if it stops. Unless you aren't bothered about eating meat. Then just continue as you are.

Is this a midlife crisis, illness - possibly something awful? Or is the fact that my own mortality is on my mind causing me to want to eat more nutrients?

You're overthinking, you just wanted to it. There's nothing wrong with that.

I've been vegetarian for 35 years and, thankfully, have had no cravings.

Body knows what it needs, suggest you listen to it.

I would guess you're lacking in protein, especially if you're poorly and trying to rebuild.

Ex vegetarian here. I started eating meat again due to cravings in pregnancy and losing too much weight when breastfeeding as I couldn't eat dairy and was essentially vegan.

Anyway, if you want to continue eating the occasional bit of meat, don't beat yourself up. Thinks of all the good for the planet and animals you've contributed to over the years.