Becoming vegetarian if you love meat - are there any Alan Carr-type books?

[CaminoPlanner]

I keep thinking I'd like to become vegetarian. DH and I eat a lot of veggie meals normally - we try to cook veggie food at least 4 out of 7 evening meals a week, all breakfasts and most lunches too.

But we do still eat meat and fish about 3 or 4 times a week. Although I do really enjoy the taste of it, I am getting increasingly uneasy about killing animals unnecessarily just because I like a flavour. It seems grotesque and two-faced as I think of myself as an animal lover.

Do any ex-meat-lovers have advice on how to stop completely? Like a veggie equivalent to Alan Carr's How To Stop Smoking book?

If you are fairly new-to-vegging then sites with meal plans can be helpful eg:

https://ohmyveggies.com/meal-plans/
https://www.budgetbytes.com/category/extra-bytes/budget-friendly-meal-prep/vegetarian-meal-prep/

And this book as its designed for meat eaters sharing with veggies and migrating veggies:
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1848992653/

One of my DC bought this book for their in-laws who are meat eaters but happy to eat veggie and found “mixed” recipes useful. I think it works because it starts with techniques and recipes familiar to meat eaters.

For vegetarian books focus on books written by actual vegetarians eg Rose Elliot and ignore the token veg book done by celeb cooks. Honourable exception here is the Hugh FW veg books which are great (although I've heard him say he eats veggie a lot of the time which may explain it).

Of the “all rounders” who do well in their veggie recipes look at writers such as Sally Butcher, Nigel Slater, Diana Henry, Madhur Jaffrey, Claudia Roden et al. who make use of regional produce and cuisines

Join the relevant topic here as well as there are plenty of old and new veggies and vegans with experience to share.

You might also find this thread useful as many of the “old” books mentioned have more practical veggie recipes and advice than many of the modern books with a zillion hard to buy ingredients.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/foodandrecipes/5017053-old-fashioned-vegetarian-food?

Edit to add - sorry didn’t explain how this was addressing your main point but most adults I know who have converted to veg food found it easier if the meals had a sense of familiarity initially

Alan Carr's weight loss book essentially promotes a vegan diet.

I didn't know that.

I became vegetarian in 1989 after watching a documentary about factory farming. It contained some undercover footage and I was so horrified I vowed I'd never eat meat again, and I haven't. Excuse the pun but I literally went cold turkey! You could watch something similar, such as Dominion or Cowspiracy but I've heard they're pretty hard hitting.

The first vegetarian recipe book I bought was the Cranks Recipe Book and I still refer to it sometimes for simple, more traditional recipes. In my opinion you absolutely can't beat their nut roast recipe!

Most recipes with meat can be vegetarianised (for want of a better word!) and you don't have to faff around with special ingredients you wouldn't normally buy. Back in the day there weren't nearly as many vegetarian "convenience" foods but you may find the transition easier if you use meat substitutes like Quorn for things like chilli, bolognaise, shepherds pie etc, for example.

You're already halfway there by eating veggie for half the week, so just try increasing that a day at a time.

August 31 I watched on netlfix the film 'What the Health'.

September 1 I became vegetarian. About 2 weeks later I became vegan.

TBF DH is vegetarian and has been for some years. He became vegan around the time I did as I said to him 'you have to watch this film'.

If it makes any difference I am 52, DH is 72 and he used to hunt, shoot and fish. His main reason for being vegan is he could no longer reconcile his love for animals with killing them. My main stumbling block is that I love cooking and love eating and love meat.

I very genuinely have not been able to stomach the thought of meat since watching What the Health. It's like a switch flipped in my brain.

I've not yet managed to watch the very famous Forks Over Knives- but it is available free on their website.

Yes absolutely loving animals conflicts with killing them.you could try the very meaty veggie alternatives like beyond burgers etc if you like meat but not the deaths.you just choose what to buy and there's now so many alternatives out there there's no reasons left for eating meat.a good one to watch is Simon Anstells carnage I think it's called that was very good.you can also be 'plant based' rather than going 'cold turkey's if you see what I mean every little helps and every meal you choose veggie is a positive for the animals but if you accidentally slip don't despair and give up just keep doing your best.

Ive had alot of fun experimenting with plant alternatives to meat.

The McDonalds McPlant IMO needs added pickled cucumbers and vegan mayo and a bit of mstard, so I take it home and add those things.

The Aldi plant range is amazing- good tofu nuggets and a really decent vegan battered 'fish'.

Tofu is my ultimate go to though- but I have always been a mega fan of tofu. Currently I am doing alot of ramen with tofu, and tofu schnitzels which I smear tofy slices with vegan mayo and breadcrumbs. So good. Even DS1 who is 15 and very fussy likes that alot.

Thank you. I don't mind hard hitting. I'd rather know the truth and be put off for life.

Thank you for this tip. That's what I need to watch.

Which brands and types of tofu do you use? The only one I know is The Tofoo Co but I'd like to try some others. I had smoked silken tofu in Japan. That was lovely but no idea where to buy something similar.

Watch earthings and peaceable kingdom.

@CaminoPlanner , I buy Sainsbury’s own brand tofu, it’s very good; I gather the Aldi own brand is great too.

The Quorn chicken pieces are very good.

I agree Sainsburys is currently my favourite brand for tofu.

Also- although I have not yet tried it, I was in Tesco yesterday and they had a really large variety of tofu brands, tempeh and Seitan. I have never cooked with either Seitan or Tempeh myself but will experiment with it in the next few weeks or so.

Before I became vegan (or vegetarian) i used to quite often thinly slice smoked tofu and use it in sandwiches with lettuce, dijon mustard, tomatos and pickles. Very good.

Have you watched Cowspiracy? I actually haven’t but am vegan already &
don’t want to.

there’s another one I can’t remember the name of right now, but I think that’s the kind of thing you mean rather than recipes? The kick of what’s wrong with meat rather than how to cook without it?

Clear spring do a good silken tofu, and there’s a Japanese brand too I can’t remember the name of (also do noodles, miso, etc., whereas Clearsping is UK health food brand so usually in different sections in supermarkets)

Yes - that's what I want. To find out more about the meat industry to put me off it.

Such a bizarre ethical position. If you drink milk or eat dairy products you need cows to have a calf every year. Not all those calves will be female and those that are won’t all need to be kept for replacements. The males and superfluous female calves will at some stage be slaughtered. If you want milk you need a meat industry. Similarly, if you’re eating eggs you are necessitating the slaughter of hens at roughly two years of age (they may less frequently after this and are not economic for farmers) and of male chicks at time of hatching. If you go vegan you necessitate lethal pest control and habitat loss. You don’t get to eat if you want a clear conscience. My advice: focus on the ethics and sustainability of food production. Buy organic, and eat less meat farmed more humanely and sustainably.

There is a book I have as well called How to Go Vegan. It is a fairly easy guide and has a section on' the why' which deals with animal issues and the environment as well.

https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/how-to-go-vegan-book-veganuary-trading-limited-9781473680968?sku=GOR008830767&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17416831122&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIACyXlRVIR9F4ADWANt4P05f&gclid=Cj0KCQiAiebIBhDmARIsAE8PGNKw5ejBiDJrD8RHgVwK3HkQO_h6vtmOaCDk4SiCBxnmwWdWGf8DLFIaAlRiEALw_wcB

In terms of recipes, I also have had this book for years which makes exclusive use of traditional Italian recipes that are already vegan.

https://www.reddit.com/r/vegan/comments/11plekn/what_are_the_best_documentaries_about_meat/

a few listed here. Dominion comes recommended