I want to eat meat after 10 years of vegetarianism/veganism

[Iwantasteak]

Another thread running right now has inspired this but I've been thinking about this for a while now. I feel so guilty to say that I'm considering going back to eating meat.

I have been a vegetarian and then a vegan since early teens and I feel like it's a part of my personality at this point. I don't know how people who know me will react, it would be so embarrassing to tell people.

I have a baby, who I'm not raising vegetarian, and I want to eat family meals together. I've also just been getting random cravings for meat and the eggs I let myself eat during pregnancy. I cooked a pork chop yesterday for my baby to have BLW style and it smelled so good. She loved it too.

Maybe there would be health benefits too? I don't know, I haven't eaten meat in so long that I don't remember what it's like.

I want a tuna baked potato.
I want fried eggs/dippy eggs.
I want a steak.
I want an egg salad sandwich.
I want a pork chop.
I want a proper roast dinner.
I want a chicken salad.
I want some haribo.

Tell people you're flexetarian instead, and only if they ask?

What you eat should not be a source of feelings of shame.

Eat what you want and enjoy it.

You’ll feel like a new woman….nourished!

Do it

It is up to you what you put in your body.
Don't let others thoughts of you stop you eating what you want.
You don't need to tell anyone.
You can vairy diet and still feed DC your favourite vegan/vegetarian meals along side a pork chops or steak
If you decide to become a meat eater again I hope you enjoy eating everything on the list.

You don't owe anyone an explanation. Hopefully you weren't judgy about others.

You could make an effort to stick to higher welfare produce if that makes you feel better. Just eating meat a couple of times a week is way better for the planet than twice a day, etc.

Fillet steak and lobster with a nice glass of red at Miller and Carter.

Do it!

Eat what you want. Fwiw I know someone who was vegetarian for years and started eating meat...I didn't think anything of it really. Most people aren't going to be hugely interested in what you eat to be honest.

It's fine to want to go back to it, it might taste different to you now though! I haven't eaten red meat for 40-odd years and a year or so ago I tried some beef as I wanted to raise my iron levels, but it just tasted of metal and I hated it! Hope it won't be like that for you though. Chicken could be a good way to start going back to it.

You need to care for your post-partum body, just as you did for your baby, by following your cravings IMHO.

No, I've never been a judgy vegan. My family, friends and husband all eat meat.

I was veggie from age 11-23, when I realised it didn’t mean the same to me anymore as it did when I first made the decision, and that I was limiting both myself and my family in terms of diet (places to eat out/cooking multiple meals each day to suit) so I gave it up. I never looked back. I’m actually eating an oven ‘meat feast’ pizza as we speak!

That is helpful to know. It just feels like a massive deal to me, but no one else will care.

This is how I feel too. I'd like more freedom.

I won't repost what I wrote on the other thread, you can read it there. But it's fine. Go ahead.

I will repeat - there is no moral purity. Every position includes compromise.

An ethical meat eater souring meat only from high-animal-welfare sources and avoiding UPFs is probably doing less harm than some vegans whose choices may involve all sorts of complex industrial processes.

could just craving protein, have you tried eating 100g a day of vegan protein (high protein yogurt, scrambled tofu etc)?

Three of my friends have stopped being vegetarian this year. Unless you've been very loud about your veganism, I don't think anyone will react negatively. Basically my best friend got a dish in a restaurant with mean in it and she just said "I've been re-introducing meat into my diet". Same with others, we were picking what to eat and they said "no need for veggie version for me". Just find a natural moment.

Also, go slowly!

I'm veggie, kids are pescerarian and get hassle from (meat eating) friends. I always say draw the line where it is right for you. You don't need to explain your choices.

I eat as high protein as possible but I'm just not enjoying eating vegan protein sources anymore.

If you prefer not to eat meat for ethical reasons, then it might be worth checking you're not running low on something, calcium, B12, iron, and the cravings are telling you something? Then you could supplement if you'd rather stay vegan. If it's about taste, are you getting bored? Could you mix up your menus? Would the fake tuna, tofu egg and vegan gummy sweets help? If you really want to eat meat again, them obviously, go at it, but after all this time I'd ease in gradually starting with prawns, then chicken before hitting the red meat as it might make you feel a bit unwell.

I've not eaten meat for nearly 40 years but get where you are coming from. My household are all meat eaters and sometimes I just want to make 1 meal. Also would be an easy way to up my protein. But I just don't fancy meat anymore but now do ear fish.

Go for it, but go easy as your digestive system may get overwhelmed

Fake tuna and tofu egg 😑OP you’ve done your bit. If only for the good of your bones, give in and enjoy some flavours again. We were born to be hunter gatherers after all!

Having a baby had the same effect on me, I just don’t want us to eat separate meals so I’ve agreed with DH that I will eat some meat meals as long as the majority of our meals are vegetarian and we don’t give our son processed meats which is working well as a diet compromise.

You should listen to your body. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Pick something and give it a try. If you have ethical concerns you can still eat a largely plant based diet. Don’t let perfection get in the way of good.

Im currently trying to expand my
own diet and eat some foods I have long set as off-limits. I’ve found the easiest way is just to see something on a restaurant menu where parts look appealing and realize that it would be so very exciting to not have to eat one of my few safe options.

Trying something that is safe for my body to eat but I have simply chosen not to eat means I don’t have to eat yet the same thing from the menu I have to order at every restaurant because it’s the only item that meets both my medical and personal choices. I don’t always love the things I’ve been trying, but it’s new and different and that makes me happy.

Your friends will probably be relieved that they no longer have to consider if there are vegan options on menus when you go out to eat together or that they have vegan snacks/milk substitutes when you go to their house for a cuppa!