Starting to eat meat again...

[spidersandbees]

I've been vegetarian / pescatarian for around 5 years now and thoughts have been creeping in about starting to eat meat again. I'm finding it difficult cooking for myself and then separate meals for my DC. Have been having cravings for meat and life would be so much easier if I could just make one meal for all instead of cooking various dishes. Has anyone transitioned back to eating meat again? I feel anxious about taking those first steps but if I'm honest I don't feel as well as I was when I was eating meat.

I usually live alone. I stopped eating meat a couple of years ago: not a conscious decision to become a vegetarian but a growing distaste for the cruelty in the way meat is produced.

However these past 6 weeks my adult son has been living with me most of the time because I've been recovering from a broken leg. So because he is a meat eater I've been eating meat to make it easier for him.

I never had cravings for meat when it wasn't part of my diet. I'm feeling uncomfortable again about eating meat now - I'm very conscious I'm supporting an industry I dislike. And I'm really looking forward to reverting to a meat free diet .

So if you are a vegetarian/ pescatarian by conviction will you really be able to feel comfortable about eating meat again?

I was a pescatarian for 20 years, then a nutritionist suggested I should start eating meat again to help with my energy levels. I started with chicken then progressed onto red meat. I loved it all immediately. I took a digestive enzyme the first few times at the nutritionist's suggestion, but I'm not sure if that was really necessary.

Yes, I was a vegetarian for 10 years and now do eat some meat and fish, although not a lot. Only a couple of times a week on average. I will eat higher welfare, good quality meat. Usually grass fed beef and steaks. Very occasionally a free range, organic chicken or some lamb. That's about it. I still can't bring myself to eat pork due to the intelligence of pigs and the fact they're usually gassed to death.

No, never. Vegetarian for 20 years and really couldn't eat meat again. It's the inherent cruelty involved that made the decision for me. A local farm has open days around Easter so children can pet lambs I just itch to ask if they're choosing which leg they're going to have.

There was a community project in Glasgow a couple of years ago whereby a couple of animals - I think lambs- were acquired. And the local people and children were invited to go along and pet them. Then it became known that these lambs were to be slaughtered for food. That was the whole point of the exercise : to show especially children the relationship between real animals and the meat on their plates. Well the outcry locally was tremendous. A petition was raised to stop the slaughter of these " pets".
I don't know what happened in the end. But to me it just highlighted the total disjunct people have about associating the meat on their plate with an actual live animal .

Ooh really interesting thread OP. I was vegan for a few years but now am veggie with very occasional fish. Keep thinking about reintroducing meat but I haven't yet. I thought about ordering wild meat online, pheasants, venison, etc. as I have a friend who is veggie generally but will eat wild caught meat.

I can't get over the cruelty of the fishing industry. Seaspiracy was an eye opener.

Vegetarian for 10 years then started eating meat after joining RAF as the vegetarian opinions were pitiful! I mostly eat and prefer vegetarian food (think 70% of the time) but will not turn down meat. I started by introducing fish, then white meat, and will have a steak once in a blue moon. I feel better for it and it certainly makes life easier. I feel its a good balance.

I was veggie for about 20yrs but got waylaid by a sausage roll.

I don't like the taste or texture of meat (sorry ethical veggies) but I do like a sausage.

I live alone and rarely eat meat tbh. I prefer veggies but it wasn't a massive decision tbh. Just go with what is right for you.

Been having similar thoughts for years. Haven’t eaten meat for 34 years.

I gave it up because I didn’t like the taste or texture though. Now that most veggie food is made to imitate meat, I’m thinking eating meat is easier, but I just can’t bring myself to because I probably won’t like it.

Are you tracking your nutritional intake on Cronometer? That'd be my first port of call. I'd be concerned about why you don't feel great - are you undereating? Because there is nothing special in meat that you can't get from a balanced veggie diet.

Meat doesn't register as a foodstuff anymore - I'd no more eat a steak than a shoe. But you're not me. Just eat what you want and get on with your day.

My DNiece stopped being vegetarian about 15 years ago after 20 years or so. She only eats high quality meat and not a huge amount

I just ordered some beef from Farm2Fork. If I don't like it then DH will eat it, but increasingly I am craving red meat 😶‍🌫️

I gave up meat 36 years ago. I haven't eaten it since and l never will, the thought of it makes me feel physically sick.
To be honest l was never that keen on it before that, I never liked red meat, only ever had it as a child, the only thing l miss is bacon (I'm told that's pretty usual though!).
I currently work on a checkout (retiring soon) and l can't wait.
I hate handling meat in any shape or form. The longer l've done this, the more uncomfortable it's made me feel.
Today l had a customer with a basted chicken, and the bag leaked all over my till. My supervisor came across, cleaned up, and sent me straight off to wash my hands. I didn't ask her to, but she knows l'm veggie. It was very kind of her.

You might be interested to read this - Morgan Spurlock (Supersize Me directo) his gf at the time got quite famous for her vegan diet but after a number of years revealed she’d begun eating meat again.

https://www.alexandrajamieson.com/alex-jamieson/im-not-vegan-anymore

I think being vegan or veggie is as much an identity as anything. Lots of things are cruel to animals and/or bad for the environment including vegan alternatives. If you go too far down that road you’ll become a breatharian.

Personally I think meat in moderation is healthy and not buying it too often means you can buy more ethically sourced if that’s a consideration.

I had been a vegetarian since I was 9 but reintroduced meat when pregnant as I was struggling so much with low iron. After a diagnosis of a chronic illness I started again but only beef (for the iron!). I only ever buy from a butcher where the meat is sourced locally. I feel better for it.

Vegetarian for 10 years but have now been eating meat and fish for 15 years. Stopped when pregnant as craved meat while anaemic then carried on eating meat and fish as DC1 was allergic to milk, eggs, nuts, soy and sesame and I had to cut them out of my diet too while breast feeding him. Couldn't be bothered cooking multiple meals so carried on eating them.

I'm fussy though. Would often prefer or choose a veggie option and opt for high quality meat and fish. I do enjoy them now though in moderation.

Not all of us are veggie for ethical reasons.