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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to quit vegetarianism after 10 months?

63 replies

Crystal15 · 05/10/2016 11:34

Please don't flame me if you're a veggie! But I'm seriously considering this now. My health is in a bad way, I have low iron and low b12 despite supplements.

My doctor didn't push me into anything but my health made me realise we as humans can't survive in optimal health without animal products. I mean there is no decent substitute for omega 3 at all from fish. Our bodies without certain nutrients will fail us won't they?!

Although I now see this there is still a block in my mind, sadness for the animals suffering I guess. If I could afford organic free range meat I would feel at ease but that's not an option on my income hmm.

So, should I eat meat? Would you? I'm aware this is my decision but it's driving me insane trying to decide by myself.

OP posts:

Dontyouopenthattrapdoor · 05/10/2016 11:41

What about limiting yourself to organic free range meat once a week? It doesn't have to be all or nothing.

DeliveredByKiki · 05/10/2016 11:42

What are your reasons for going veggie? I'm predominantly plant based but it's an environmental thing so my conscience survives once in blue moon eating a fucking expensive pasture raised local egg...

FeelingSmurfy · 05/10/2016 11:43

I am a vegetarian, I would never flame anyone for eating meat, whether they had tried to give it up or not

I do disagree that humans can't survive on a vegetarian diet though, it may not be right for you but that doesn't mean it is not right for humans

I can't really suggest anything as I haven't been in your situation, but I have known people who have been vegetarian for years and then gone back to eating meat, it hasn't bothered me in the slightest. If they had suggested that I should be eating meat, I would have had a problem with that

olderthanyouthink · 05/10/2016 11:45

I'm not a veggie but it always concerns me when people end up harming them selves in the pursuit on vegetarianism. There's always some saying we can get all we need from veggies and nuts and stuff, but it's always so much effort and you need some thing like 7 eggs to get the same protein as a steak.

Perhaps you could eat some meat/fish so that you are getting what you need but aren't eating as much and posibly then you could spend more on the organic/free range stuff.

specialsubject · 05/10/2016 11:45

I'm an omnivore - but humans can survive on a vegan diet with supplementation. The only thing you can't get from veg is vitamin B12, so you either do what the ancestors did or take a supplement/eat fortified food.

you can get iron from veg but you need to eat a LOT of it.

vegan or vegetarian diets need good balanced intakes and extra work, but it is perfectly possible to be healthy without meat. Organic meat still means dead animal.

specialsubject · 05/10/2016 11:46

which is basically what older said - you can be veggie but you need to work at it. Don't be a Paltrow!

SecretMongoose · 05/10/2016 11:47

B12 is found in all dairy products so there's no reason someone on a vegetarian diet should suffer from low b12. If you've been taking supplements the whole time as well and you are STILL low in b12, your gp should be checking out why. There are a couple of reasons for low b12 due to absorption problems, could be pernicious anaemia, could be coeliac. B12 and iron levels are very closely linked.
So I'd thoroughly explore that first (and eat meat in the meantime if you want to).

Kimchi · 05/10/2016 11:48

Dietitian here... Aside from B12 supplements, vegetarian can absolutely meet dietary requirements. If you are keen to continue then you could speak to a dietitian for some tailored advice for you.

This totally sounds like a sales pitch but I really just came on to reassure you that it is entirely possible.

dovesong · 05/10/2016 11:49

It's untrue that you can't survive on a veggie diet - I've been veggie for 16 years now and am just as healthy as my meat eating friends. If you want to give up because you'd rather not make the effort to change your diet etc, then fair play - there's no point in doing something inconvenient if you're not particularly into it.

SpidersFromMars · 05/10/2016 11:49

I'm an omnivore, but I eat a small amount of high welfare meat and fish (3 x a week ish) - is this an option?

scaredofthecity · 05/10/2016 11:49

I'm the same. Personally I cannot live healthly without meat. I have tried and been ill multiple times. I am fairly tall and have an active life, I really think I just need animal protein.
I try not to worry about it too much now as my health is more important.
If I like you could afford high welfare meat then I would but at the moment I can't. Maybe it's something to aim for the future.

Kimchi · 05/10/2016 11:50

I meant to say B12 in relation to vegan!

lborgia · 05/10/2016 11:50

Depends on how you feel about every kind of animal I suppose.

If you are happy to eat sardines eg, that would be a great way to get your omegas. Maybe just add fish to start with?

What about under-the-tongue B12 tablets - they work almost immediately, my kids have gone from feeble (from long illnesses) to bouncing like tigger.

iron is a tricky one.

I've been trying to get my levels up (with meat and offal and everything) for years, and have ended up having an iron infusion because I can't in fact absorb it in my gut, so I'm envious that all you'd have to do is eat meat!

Maybe start with the fish and B12 ? Your foggy indecision is quite likely to be helped by feeling better!

HarleyQuinzel · 05/10/2016 11:51

You can eat meat occasionally you know, you don't have to be a ravenous carnivore or strict veggie.

I know you can get b12 and iron injected if you're still not getting enough but that's a bit drastic. What's your issue with fish? Maybe start eating fish?

I've never eaten a steak or fish in my life (I just don't like them) and I do wonder if I would feel better if I did.

hellsbellsmelons · 05/10/2016 11:51

You do what you want and what is right for you.
I was veggie for 2 years a while ago.
I didn't get ill but was nowhere near as energetic as I was.
So I went back to my 'normal'
I'm not a huge meat eater anyway.
Would be a pescaterian work for you?
Fish but no meat?
You do need to investigate and do it properly to become a veggie.
Jodie Marsh won body building competitions and she's a veggie.

Mozfan1 · 05/10/2016 11:52

I've been veggie for 18 years but honestly do what's right for you and your health, I have a friend who had similar problems when she took on a veggie diet and feels much healthier now she eats meat again. As long as you're healthy that's all that matters

WorraLiberty · 05/10/2016 11:53

Unless you were vegan, you were still contributing to the suffering of animals anyway, so I wouldn't focus on that too much.

You have to do what you think is right for you and your health.

lborgia · 05/10/2016 11:53

Prize to you, dovesong for the most PA post of the day... did the OP really sound as if she can't be arsed?

Original poster

Crystal15 · 05/10/2016 11:55

I wasn't suggesting that Veggies should eat meat because our bodies are wired to survive that way. Well I guess it did sound that way oops. If your a veggie and can be so in optimal health great. But for me despite all the protien substitutes, the leafy greens and the beans I still became ill. I've never had low iron before, it's at 18 atm and any tablets the doctor prescribes to combat this makes me so sick.

My reason for becoming veggie was the whole process of farming these days. I've always believed we need animal products, but let's face it we aren't hunting animals to survive anymore. They are born to suffer and die, no quality of life. Some only see daylight through van doors on the way to an abattoir. I guess that's my internal dilemma. Most meat is farmed in a way I don't ethically agree with. I think if the animals had a quality of life and we're well looked after I'd not struggle with my decision.

Sorry if my post is a bit disjointed, major sleep deprivation today!

OP posts:

dovesong · 05/10/2016 11:59

Iborgia - I didn't mean it that way! Got tone wrong. I'd like to be vegan but would rather not make the effort - it's no big deal and nothing to be judged about, it's just a personal choice

MrsJayy · 05/10/2016 12:02

The reasons for you being vegitarian are of course valid but if you are not coping then of course your health is more important i was vegie for 5 years i craved meat in pregnancy and starting eating it again i dont eat a lot of meat but do eat it btw my iron levels were at its highest when i was vegie my b12 is always teetering on low side i just take supplements.

Mrscog · 05/10/2016 12:06

Most meat is farmed in a way I don't ethically agree with, I generally agree with this, but lots is not - my parents farm lamb and it's not got any 'labels' of organic/free range etc. but they have a fantastic life and just end up in the normal supermarket/mcdonalds food chain, so maybe this might ease your conscience a bit? I don't know. I've toyed with going veggie myself for environmental reasons, but I've decided to just cut down instead, and I try and buy as ethically as possible.

Original poster

Crystal15 · 05/10/2016 12:06

It's not a case of not been arsed!! I've spent 10 months trying supplements, b12 flakes in My food, adding spinach to just about everything. I managed to sort my b12 but my iron just won't budge. I have two children and a baby on the way. My doctor told me this can be dangerous when I deliver my baby hence the iron tablets. But unfortunately the iron tablets are making me sick and exhausted due to the sickness. Which isn't goof for me during pregnancy or as a busy mother. If I'm honest I've tried my very best with the meat substitutes. I don't miss meat in particular but I am suffering with my health and I can't ignore that.

I guess this is only something I can decide. Thankyou all for the advice, definitely given me something to think about :)

OP posts:

6demandingchildren · 05/10/2016 12:07

I was a veggie for 3 years. The past few weeks I have introduced meat into my diet about twice a week due to my iron levels being low and it was advice that I didn't have to take from my gp.
I'm starting to feel a bit better

littlepeas · 05/10/2016 12:09

There are lots of different ways of supporting animal welfare - being a vegetarian is just one of them. Supporting ethical methods of farming and giving some thought to your role as a consumer is a really good effort towards this, just from a supply and demand point of view. For example - many people eat dairy quite merrily, without giving it a second thought (as it doesn't involve the death of the animal), but conveniently forget that veal is a natural byproduct of the dairy industry - I suspect a huge number of these people would not dream of eating veal, as they consider it a cruel practice. You could argue that eating ethically raised rose veal is actually a better choice than eating no veal at all, if you wish to continue eating dairy, as this supports the best farming method for this type of meat.

Sorry, that turned into a bit of an essay, but what I am saying is that it isn't just black and white, vegetarian or non-vegetarian, you can care about animal welfare and still eat meat.

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