Any vegetarians/vegans that are craving meat?

[sabtom]

I'm vegetarian and I just want a big juicy steak! But I know I'll feel bad about it afterwards. It doesn't help when your OH is a meat eater too Also, how have you managed to get more protein in your diets, I used to eat lots of eggs, but now I'm kinda having an aversion to them.

No! Always worried there might be a Phoebe from Friends scenario if I became pregnant. .. but I've been even more turned off by the meat + fish DH eats than before!

I struggled with beans & nuts & eggs too in 1st trimester.. but I find that it helps to incorporate in other foods such as pancake batter, bananabread, smoothies, soups.

Yes, this happened to me! While pregnant with DS I had such strong cravings for meat that I started to worry it was something my body needed to support the pregnancy so I started eating meat twice a week. I also had an aversion to eggs as well as anything milky during pregnancy which didn’t help.

I was a vegetarian during both my pregnancies (now vegan) and I had the most unholy craving for fish. I told myself that if the cravings hadn't subsided by my second tri then I'd think again about eating it, but they did pass fairly soon. I took fish oil tablets though during both pregnancies because I freaked myself out that craving fish was a sign of some deficiency. I don't believe that any more though, I don't think most cravings mean anything special.

If you want to bump up the protein in your diet then beans and lentils are you best bet. My son is really protein adverse but I often do things like hide ground hemp seeds in his porridge. You can get all sorts of protein blends from the supermarket or health food stores which are basically just ground seeds and nuts. Great for adding to smoothies or cereal if you aren't a big fan of eating beans every day.

I was waiting for a meat craving because "what baby wants, baby gets" and I would have given them any meat I was craving.

I never wanted any meat so I stayed veggie through my pregnancy still.

If you're happy to give it to your baby, I would say it doesn't count as they obviously need something in it. Nobody can judge you for that. It's like a cheat day.

If you're, understandably, not happy with this then sorry! No idea how to resist.

although I did get my DH to agree to not eat meat on days that I would, if that was to happen.

Maybe your husband will do a swap now and then? (Just like Phoebe and Joey in friends as a PP mentioned)

No me neither! 😂 Always thought I might have to eat chicken or something when pregnant to get enough protein but I’ve made it to the end without! I have been taking the max strength vitamins that contain gelatin though and I’d never normally do that but felt like if I didn’t I’d end up having to eat meat. Protein yoghurts have been getting my protein up. The arla ones are 20g. I try to have that, eggs some days and quorn or a meat alternative.

I caved and had my big juicy steak. It was all i could think about! Actually it wasn't that great, I felt a bit sick afterwards, and I haven't had any similar mad cravings since.

Maybe just once would get it out of your system? (But might be a slippery slope- you know for yourself which it will be!)

What if you buy organic, the highest welfare possible meat?

This happened to my friend, vegan for 20 years and then pregnancy cravings, she has eaten meat ever since!

are none of the meat substitutes hitting the mark? A really decent realistic veggie burger?

Have you considered iron deficiency? It might not be the protein you are missing.

If you want to eat meat do, but if you want to stay veggie and are worried it is your body telling you you are missing something there are other things you can try.

I craved McDonald's, so much. I used to constantly Google the nearest McDonald's and try to work out if I could get there in-between meetings. Never went through with it though, I kinda regret not using the get out of jail free card of being pregnant. I did eat subway out if gerkins on my way to the station each morning though

BTW I got pregnancy cravings for curry pot noodles which I hadn't had since university, so I am not convinced cravings are all about nutrition deficiencies!

I’m vegan and I have definitely thought about it but think it’s more of a fantasy as I really don’t think I could bring myself to eat it. I’m 34 weeks now and have managed without so far!

I’m taking preganecare and 2 sachets of spatone with orange juice everyday to keep on top of iron levels which have been fine throughout.

Don’t beat yourself up if you decide to eat whatever you want too in pregnancy.

Also! Impossible burgers, Richmond meat free sausages, fake chicken bits, quorn pepperoni/ham slices/chicken slices! Ohhhh yeeeeaaahhhh

I had meat cravings for a few weeks and just ate it but I had always been a vegetarian because I didn't like meat rather than the moral side of it. After about a month and maybe 10 meals with meat I went off it again and haven't wanted it since.

Nope, actually not craved any meat at all. I'm not convinced that we crave things we're lacking in our diet already... I've been craving a deep pan margherita pizza from Pizza Hut for much of this pregnancy (haven't had one of those in about 15 years!), can't imagine there's real nutritional value in that..!

I make dishes with beans in, lentils, or I add some Quorn mince/chicken style pieces. I also haven't gone off eggs, thank goodness! And I eat quite a lot of cheese... Possibly more than I should! 🤭 Some of my dishes are pretty low in protein though, I just hope I make up for it on the other days!

No but I often miss cheese :( so much cheese, so many different types!! Especially when going by a nice shop with special cheese…. Even the word…. Cheese… you delicious beauty. But I don’t cave as feel better going with vegan

Nearly 30 weeks and have been craving lamb and mint sauce this week. I hated lamb when I ate meat so don't understand it. Getting enough protein is easy...I have been eating lots of tofu which is super high in calcium too

Nope if anything repulsed by the smell.My friend who eats meat actually gave up whilst pregnant because she couldn't stomach it or the idea of it

The opposite has happened to me… just the smell of a Beyond Or Impossible burger makes me gag.