To quit my vegetarianism and become a hypocrite instead?

[OverTheHammer]

Became a veggie back end of June. Had wanted to do it for years but always thought it would be too difficult. Anyway after watching numerous PETA videos the guilt got too much and I became a veggie. I've since shared PETA videos on Facebook trying to encourage others to follow suit.

Anyway it was piss easy at first and I was telling everyone how easy it was but 2 months later I'm struggling. I've totally lost my appetite. The thought of anymore quorn makes me feel sick. I'm anaemic and never even thought about how vegetarianism would effect my (already extremely low) iron levels. I've also joined a gym and am struggling to eat enough calories to actually keep me going.

My appetite has always been dodgy, I'm also a fussy eater, a shit cook and busy person so can't be faffing every night making lentil this and lentil that ...

Most of the recipes I look at call for meat. Restaurant veggie choices are limited and shit - it's just so fucking difficult.
Then to top it all off, I watched a video last night showing how chickens are mistreated when used solely for egg purposes. I still eat eggs. So really, I'm a hypocrite anyway aren't I?

WIBU to go back on everything I've been saying these past two months and just start eating meat again?

Doing it for ethical reasons, whether veggie or vegan maybe take into account also the effect of palm oil and soya production on animals. Palm oil is added to almost everything, even though there are substitutes which used to be fine, and veganism relies quite a bit on soya.

Twoweekcruise I quite like the quorn sausage patties, 'chicken' crispy things, steaks and picnic eggs.

I'm OK with mince in chilli or bolognaise but don't really like the 'chicken' pieces or fillets. I don't know if it's healthier than meat, that nice Mr Farah says that it is, or if there are any hidden frankenfood issues. I just buy them when I see them on offer in the supermarket, which seems often.

2week - no you're not - I love Quorn (not plain, obviously)

OP Would you find it easier to be pescatarian: eat fish, but no meat? My DD wanted to be vegetarian, but after doing some research, decided she would be healthier if she ate fish. She justified it to herself by quoting the Bible where Jesus feeds the crowd with fish and bread.

The only thing here that is stopping you eating meat is how zealous you were. Trying to convert others by sharing awful PETA videos (and even going promoting PETA) isnt going to work and makes your look like one of those crazy veggies/vegans.

Had you not done this, your choice would not be a problem.

Personally i eat meat. Small amounts and always locally sourced. I also get eggs from a neighbour who has their own chickens who have great lives. Its better for the environment in general.

However somewhere along the way i will be doing something that doesnt help the environment. Like having an egg butty in a cafe that uses battery chickens (i dont ask where their eggs come from).

I dont go round telling people who buy meat in the supermarket that they shouldnt and my way is the right way and that everyone else should do it that way.

I eat a mostly plant based diet, but don't label myself as anything as I will eat fish, meat and dairy occasionally. My primary driver is healthy eating, rather than the ethical issues, but I aim to buy products that are reared to higher welfare standards where possible.

I found that I needed to think about meals differently. If you are used to a traditional meat and 2 veg meal, then the vegetarian alternatives can be limited. On the other hand, if you plan your meals around vegetables or carbs, you will soon realise that you have a lot more choices and that meals are more interesting.

The starch diet website is worth a look. I don't accept all of the science pedalled there, but I like some of their recipes.

Have a look at 'Amy's Kitchen' foods; you can buy them at Waitrose and I think Sainsbury's and they are very tasty - some dishes are vegan or gluten free. I am lazy so I rustle up salads a lot and eat nuts.

Or maybe substitute fish - not net-caught.

I suppose you're only a hypocrite if you're constantly pushing vegetarianism or veganism down other people's throats instead of just quietly getting on with your life.

I don't know why people feel the need to 'announce' being vegetarian/vegan. Cooking at home or eating out, you just buy/order your own food. If you're pre-ordering food, you select the vegetarian option, but not everyone who picks the vegetarian option will do so because they are vegetarian, maybe it's just what they prefer?

Although it's surprising the number of people who notice if you pick something that doesn't have meat in, assume you are vegetarian. Several people have watched me eat a black pudding and bacon sandwich for breakfast the day after I had spinach and ricotta canelloni (another favourite and plenty of calories and spinach for iron) or falafels, hummus, salads, pitta etc and said 'oh, I thought you were vegetarian' when I'm nothing of the sort and have never claimed to be.

I suppose the only time that it's necessary to tell any one that you're vegetarian is when you are going to an event and have been asked a general 'do you have any dietary requirements' which is a bit shit because that's when you're most at risk of getting something crap that you don't like because the host may think 'it's not got meat in it so it will be OK'.

Could you have a vegetarian diet 90% of the time and have meat 10% of the time but really decent quality; check that its high welfare standards etc (yes I know its a bit of a contradiction). That way you can keep yourself healthy and happy, as well as keeping to a pretty much vegetarian diet.

I'm a veggie because after the worst gastro ever in March I just can't eat meat or poultry or fish and now I am loving it (after the initial shock!) I'm not fussed at all on Quorn but like a lot of Linda McCartneys substitutes and Sainsbury's also do an amazing mock duck like the one a pp mentioned. I do eat some lentils but not that often I like stir frys, pasta, currys or risottos. For iron I love kale and savoy and will add to whatever I'm making. We are lucky to have our own hens for free range eggs

I'm not veggie or vegan (and won't ever be, I'm a committed omnivore), but I do make choices about the sources of the animal protein I buy, so I'm supporting non-intensive farming and organic agriculture. To me, doing that makes a lot more sense than eating industrially produced fake protein products like Quorn or Soy derivatives. I eat lots and lots of leaves and veg, avocados, nuts and seeds etc so plenty of variety, it's not all meat!

You can eat what you want and don't need to explain yourself or make excuses for changing the way you eat, or for backing away from a diet lacking in animal products, if you choose to do that.
I am wondering tho, if you are struggling after a relatively short time, if you are not getting enough fat in your diet- I think (going by the vegetarians I know), there's a tendency for those cutting out animal products to gravitate towards very high carb diets and to protein sources that are typically very low in fat (and a lot lower in protein that the meat equivalent), unless they are cheese fiends!
Maybe you just need to up your fat intake - avocado, nuts and seeds, coconut milk, coconut oil would all be good veggie/vegan additions, that could be used in a lot of dishes for variety and flavour. I love a good Mexican or Thai dinner, with or without meat (sil, and both pil are veggie so I'm quite used to making family meals they can also eat). Plenty of avocado with/in the Mexican dishes, plenty of coconut milk in the Thai dishes- yum!

You do what is best for you and fuck what anyone thinks ! My uncle went vegan and preached all over the internet. It didn't last . My only advice is don't think that because you have chosen something it is right for all . Just do you .

Try spatone to up your iron levels without becoming constipated. Excellent stuff.

You were wrong to try to persuade others. That's awful.
It's also bollocks that you can't get enough calories etc. You're just finding it tough and want an excuse to backtrack. Do what you want. You are answerable to no one, just like those you tried to convert aren't answerable to you. There are pro athletes who manage vegetarianism btw e.g. Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Carl Lewis etc.

I have at various times in my life followed a vegetarian diet, now cooking veggie around 70% of the time and don't eat red meat at all.

I find the thing is not to try and find meat substitutes. Quorn has never featured in my diet. Instead i'll cook Indian, Thai & Italian food. Dhal is a really quick easy meal my fave Indian cookbook is Fresh India at the moment. There's some great dishes in 30 Minute Vegetarian too.

I think if you really feel you need to eat meat, you need to remove the preachy shared items off Facebook and do it gradually.

I tried various diets over the years to try and stabilise my weight and cravings. Eventually someone introduced me to the book Nourishing Traditions which is based on the research of a dentist called Weston A Price in the 1930s. Totally enlightening. He studied cultures all over the world and compared dental health to diets. The only people he found without access to animal products became cannibals.

Not unreasonable no. But maybe next time you have a 'cause' you'll lay off on trying to convert other people

But maybe next time you have a 'cause' you'll lay off on trying to convert other people

*This!

I think we all know that vegetarians and vegans are more likely to try to convert omnivores than vice versa - but just as a matter of interest, do vegetarians and vegans try to convert each other?

I think you should steer into the U turn and start posting meaty recipes, Ron Swanson memes, and videos of how to cook the perfect steak.

I was a vegetarian for 17 years. Then for my New Year's Resolution a few years ago, I decided to start eating meat and fish again.

I decided that this world is full of rules and regulations and I didn't need any more self-imposed ones.

Literally nobody cares.

I think you need extra support and meal ideas - you felt guilty for a reason enough to make you go veggie, so you would likely feel guilty again. Are you on Facebook? There are numerous Facebook groups where you can share recipes and experiences of restaurants etc, (I am sorry I don't know specially for veggies but) to name a few 'what fat vegans eat' London (or wherever your from) vegans', vegan uk, what broke vegans eat

@DJBaggySmalls there are many incidences of animal abuses and welfare failures filmed by U.K animal welfare organisations. (PETA is also based too).

Have been veggie since I was 9 years old with a couple of years break in my late 20s. Am now almost 36. I rarely eat quorn or any meat substitutes as really don't need it, I eat a varied and yummy diet, none of my favourite foods would need meat to make them better (big tasty salads, roasted veggies, pizza, pasta, curries to name a few).
If you want to do it you will find a way, if you don't you won't. Simple as.
Also I have better skin, am healthier and have more energy than all of my friends and colleagues. I am veggie for ethical reasons but aside from that it is an extremely healthy way to live - you only have to read the most basic academic research to know that.

You can be a junk food vegetarian or you can be a healthy one, depends on your motivation and effort.

I was vegan for 10 years, then vegetarian, I now eat meat.
Like you OP, I was anaemic, poorly very often. I tried really hard to be a vegan. I supplemented iron (even spatone made my stomach upset), and took a host of other supplements but I was so run down, no energy, constantly ill.
I eat meat and fish now- but good quality and not too often. Maybe or twice a month. But I feel so much better for it.
I would be vegan if I could do it and be healthy, but I can't. So I've made my peace with this now and don't care what anyone else thinks.

As I said earlier, I know a number of people who became quite sickly and pale and ill all the time after going vegan.

@wellthengreat

Sorry for the double post but i also just watched 'what the health' on netflix and I found it very interesting

What an absolute load of bollocks that was. Particularly the bit where the 55 year old obese woman who had Asthma, Diabetes, IBS, Arthritis, and Depression, (and had had all these ailments for 25 years,) was miraculously 'cured' of all 5 ailments after TWO WEEKS on a vegan diet.

I am not disputing that eating a lot less shit, and eating a bit healthier, would improve someone's health, but when they said she had been cured of all her ailments in two weeks, (that had been stuck with her for 25 years!) I just laughed. As if that would happen.

All this film 'what the health' was, was a load of vegan propaganda.

As I said in a post the other day, I know a number of 'vegans,' and 4 of them aren't even genuine vegans; they eat cheese and have cakes and lattes on the sly when they think no-one is looking! Yet these still preach and waffle on, and put PETA videos on bloody twatter and suchlike.

Fucks me off royally!