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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To suddenly and very reluctantly be vegetarian?

143 replies

Carnivorenomore · 14/04/2019 21:12

I love meat. I've always been one of those people who never even considered not eating meat. I made jokes about bacon. Then I suddenly went off it completely. No idea why. I haven't eaten meat for three weeks now, I can't even think about eating meat. I gave away my favourite crisps because they have dried chicken in them so I can't even say it's a flesh thing.

I bought Quorn today. I've had to admit I'm probably a vegetarian now. I've started feeling a bit funny about eggs and milk. What the hell is happening to me?! I genuinely have no desire to be veggie, nowt wrong with it but it's not me.

Has this happened to anyone else? Is it likely to stop? I don't know myself anymore

OP posts:

livinglongerwithcalgon · 14/04/2019 23:32

I see you’ve already potentially made a subconscious connection to the gory stuff you’re seeing. But another one here to say it can be hormone related - hence the pregnancy questions but it could be other stuff too. I’ve always liked meat, I know people who feel they need to have meat at lunch and dinner every day but that’s never been me but I would eat some form of meat most days. However, I find during any kind of hormone peak - pregnancy, yes, but I’m not regularly pregnant but certainly during ovulation for instance - I go particularly off meat. I might still have a little, but I usually find it hard to stomach.

Having said that, I seem to be increasingly withdrawing from meat as I get older. Not to the same extent as some here, but I ate far more meat 10 years ago than I do now and increasingly seek out vegetarian meals when looking for recipe inspiration or in restaurants. I’m particularly finding chicken difficult, which is odd as it has always been the ‘bland’/‘easy’ meat in my eyes! Just seems to be one of those things.

RaymondReddington · 14/04/2019 23:32

I just stopped too. Not planned, didn’t cut down, just stopped. I was a big meat eater.

Never looked back, until this weekend... I’m absolutely craving chicken! I haven’t had any but have been close as DC still est meat, First craving in 18 months. Strange.

IncrediblySadToo · 14/04/2019 23:51

I had wanted to be vegetarian for a long time, but living at home it wasn’t an option, then when I moved out I booked a vegetarian meal at an Event and that was that. NEVER ONCE looked back, craved anything or have been even remotely ‘tempted’ by anything

I don’t eat Linda McCartney or anything else that seems too much like meat. I tried a Greg’s Veggie Sausage Roll but couldn’t get more than one mouthful down me, they’re too real. Well as much as I can remember as it’s been 30 years!

I don’t eat Quorn - I don’t like the list of ingredients, it makes me gassy and it makes a LOT of people ill.

Cauldron sausages & marinated tofu pieces are good.

ltk · 15/04/2019 00:03

Being veggie is a wonderful and healthy thing, but I would just caution that any major and somewhat inexplicable change in your appetite might be a reason to visit the GP.

CanuckBC · 15/04/2019 00:56

That makes sense when you think about what you are seeing at the hospital. You are subconsciously linking it to the meat you eat and the process they go through.

You may or may not grow out of it. If you are ok with the new first go with it, if not, some counselling to deal with the stresses of your work may be a good thing. It’s good either way toward off PTSD due to the traumas you are seeing.

I worked in the police environment and some things stick with you. It’s best to get counselling for them to help you let them go.

LovelyJubbly67 · 15/04/2019 01:15

Well it is Lent OP... report back after Easter

UAreMyMummy · 15/04/2019 01:40

Have you had a nasty cold/illness recently? Friend of mine went off meat after bad flu which lasted 2 weeks.

florentina1 · 15/04/2019 08:06

Thanks for starting this thread. I have just bought two vegetarian cook books by Rose Elliot.on the recommendation . One of my DiLs has a birthday soon so, I think I will ask her if she would like one.

Ihatehashtags · 15/04/2019 08:46

Strange but really, who care, just do what you want. Carnivores aren’t more virtuous than vegetarians or vice versa.

thebabessavedme · 15/04/2019 09:01

I have ulceritive colitus and during my last flare 2 years ago I just couldnt eat meat as it really caused me issues so I just stopped eating it , now as time as gone on I find I just can't bare the thought of it, I don't think I could actually put meat in my mouth now without gagging. I dont think it will ever change now, my body just doesn't like it.

MotherOfDragonite · 15/04/2019 14:28

Just don't worry about it and enjoying being vegetarian!

I totally agree that omni food writers like Diana Henry, Ottolenghi and Nigel Slater have some cracking vegetarian recipes too. I also love Madhur Jaffrey for Indian food, Meera Sodha, Bosh for hearty tasty stuff, and classics like Rose Elliot and Mollie Katzen.

cricketmum84 · 17/04/2019 09:12

This is so interesting. I've been the same the last week or so and seriously considering going full vegetarian. I stopped eating lamb just because they are cute but then it got me thinking why just lamb? Why is it ok to kill and eat a chicken? Or a pig? And the more I think about it the less I want to eat meat.

I think it could be difficult though as the rest of my family are firm carnivores so it's going to be a case of making something different for me most nights.

Hoppinggreen · 17/04/2019 09:19

Dd became a veggie about a year ago, she is allergic to Quorn so we don’t use that.
I used to make a separate meal just for her but then I started to make
the same for all of us most of the time with an occasional bit of meat for me and DH. The less meat I ate the less I wanted and now eat it maybe once a week, it’s not an ethical thing I just don’t fancy it much. I have also gone right off eggs. We went out for brunch the other day and I ordered eggs Benedict, which I used to love but I didn’t enjoy it and felt it sat heavily in my stomach for ages afterwards. I never much liked milk except in tea and coffee anyway.
Tastes change and while I will still eat meat if I fancy it’s not our default option any more

outpinked · 17/04/2019 09:22

Happened to me when I was 12. I’d never had much inclination towards meat anyway, I loathed the texture but I woke up one day and just couldn’t eat it anymore. I haven’t had a drop of red meat since. Have tried chicken during my pregnancies (for some reason it was always a craving) but won’t eat it otherwise. Really weird.

Sexnotgender · 17/04/2019 09:27

Lovely chilli recipe here, I absolutely love it...

www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/veggie-chilli/

londonrach · 17/04/2019 09:27

Google how quorn is made before you eat it. Im not veggie and eat a full diet but have sister in law and aunt who are veggie and without using quorn they makes the most amazing food. Theres lots of advice and receipt out there now and restaurantsare getting good on veggie food. Run with this but like others think you might be pregnant

April241 · 17/04/2019 09:32

I went off meat when I was pregnant and although I started eating it again its a lot less than what I used to. I think about going vegetarian a lot but I just get stuck in the rut of meal rotation. Spag bol, sausage and mash, chicken and chips. I eat mostly chicken and fish, not a big red meat eater. Could probably cut that out totally.

I like quorn mince, lovely for Spag bol!

LaurieFairyCake · 17/04/2019 09:33

I've been veggie as a teen but have gone back to it in my 40's

I've gradually excluded animals for specific weird reasons. I refuse to eat calamari (octopus) after watching videos where they were as smart as 3 year old children and can cheat at cards and form relationships- who the fuck wants to eat that?

And pigs, as smart as dogs this time and with completely individual personalities

In fact I think that's what's got me - the individual personalities of these animals

So I've cut out pork, chicken (I've not eaten chicken since I kept them as pets almost 20 years ago) and octopus.

In fact the only meat I eat (very occasionally as steak) is beef. About 4 times a year.

So if someone could make me think of cows with personalities and interesting lives I'm then totally veggie ....

notacooldad · 17/04/2019 09:34

I think it could be difficult though as the rest of my family are firm carnivores so it's going to be a case of making something different for me most nights.
Dont make life hard for yourself!
I am the veggie in our house. I've also ended up doing most of the cooking.
Most of the meals I do are veggie but a lot can be adapted with a little adjustment. The part time vegetarian book mentioned a couple of days ago is good.
Many every day meals are veggie by default for example macaroni cheese, (just check the cheese)pasta pesto ( with roasted veg) and asparagus and pea risotto are three we've had this week.
I made the mistake 23 years ago of making individual meals but it gets wearing do had to find an easier way!

cricketmum84 · 17/04/2019 09:41

They all laughed at me last night when I said I would be going veggie! They reckon I won't last a week without my steaks!
I'm doing a Nando's style roast chicken thing tonight with lots of veggie sides so was thinking I might roast some chickpeas in spices for me. Tomorrow is chilli so I'll do a small portion with quorn mince. They all have to have meat or fish with every meal especially DH so I will definitely have to do something different for me most nights.

Original poster

Carnivorenomore · 17/04/2019 09:52

Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to this thread, I've had some real inspiration as well as feeling a bit more normal!

I've been really thinking about where this came from and realised a few things have been going on that probably influenced me subconsciously. I've been slowly reading the book Sapiens (when I get a minute between exam revision and uni placement). I picked it up last night after a few weeks and the last bit I read was about intensive farming with a pic of a little calf in a cage. This didn't really make an obvious impact at the time but I wonder if - combined with the physical stuff at the hospital - it's influenced me.

Anyway I've decided I'm happy to be veggie, I've made some delicious meals and feel generally better. It's been bad for my wallet though due to the book recommendations on here

OP posts:

Original poster

Carnivorenomore · 17/04/2019 09:53

cricketmum84 my lot laughed at me too, they have joined me in lots of my veggie meals though

OP posts:

AliceAbsolum · 17/04/2019 09:56

Have you been watching YouTube video's about the meat industry?

Original poster

Carnivorenomore · 17/04/2019 09:56

LaurieFairyCake I saw a video on FB of a pig doing a kid's jigsaw puzzle, the vid said they are as intelligent as a three year old child. Stuff like that never ever used to bother me but it's made it easier to accept not eating meat!

OP posts:

Roomba · 17/04/2019 09:56

Google how quorn is made before you eat it.

Tbf, a lot of food is made in a pretty disgusting looking way. Cheese, for example - especially ones with mould.

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