How hard would it be to convert from meat eater to vegetarian?

Question

I like meat, but i feel sorry for the animals and i sometimes feel guilty about eating them. I don't eat a huge amount at the moment, mostly none through the week, but my family are huge meat eaters and i'll go for sunday lunch or bbq every week. Do you think i'll be able to make the transition. I'll still have eggs/cheese/milk though.

Answer 1

It is very easy to be a vegetarian now there are so many veggie foods available. You will not have a problem with lack of nutrients if you continue to eat dairy products.

Answer 2

If you really want to you will be able to do it, the most important thing is to have a ton of vegetarian recipes that you like that you can make instead of having meat. AND to get enough protein so that you're body isn't starving and craving meat. Most vegetarians don't take this into account, and they look sickly. Its very important to get proper nutrition, and if you slip up once in a while it is not the end of the world, the important thing is that you are trying.

In my opinion, eating some BBQ meat that has already been bought and cooked for others is not killing anything, just eating what is there.  I think that it is more of a sin to throw away perfectly good meat that an animal has died for than to eat what has already been cooked.

I was a vegetarian for over 3 years but I have such a fast metabolism that I was sick, anemic, and could not gain weight. So, I started eating again for health reasons but it still grosses me out sometimes.But that's just me, I'll probably get a bunch of thumbs down from veggies but oh well

Answer 3

I think its gunna b hrd as youll need 2 find a way 2 replace the vitamins and nutrients etc. that you get from meat. if you reali want 2 change u shud b able 2. good luck!

Answer 4

It's simple. Cold turkey, just need some will power and the heart to do it.  Its easy, just familiarize yourself with morningstar and boca, and you shouldnt have trouble at all, they make great foods!

Or you could watch "Meet your Meat" on youtube, that'll do it for you.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VIjanhKqVC4

Good luck and good for you, you will feel better than ever, morally and physically.

Answer 5

Its not hard at all when you consider how much good you will do your body and the body of many animals a favor you just gotta take your time with it and progress slowly

Answer 6

It wouldn't be very hard to do so at all, as long as you get plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet you should be fine. Soy milk contains vitamin B12 and a lot of other things, my favorite is vanilla-chai soy milk. You can use some soy and tofu versions of everything once in a while as long as you don't eat too much.

Answer 7

Easiest way is to say NO to the meat..

Answer 8

easiest way is to get your self a vegetarian cook book and stop telling yourself how much you love meat

Answer 9

some people gradually cut down meat, others cut it out completely overnight.

i transitioned overnight as i didnt see meat as a nesesity anyway. my family are big meat eaters too, but they were supportive and i let them know the day i became vegetarian so they were prepared for me eating with them and stuff.

good luck!!

Answer 10

I agree with Boogie: watch "Meet Your Meat." It will change your life. The things you'll see are 100% factual. I have seen them in person myself while working on a documentary film in factory farms and slaughterhouses as a film student.

I don't think you'll have any problem with the transition. It was very easy for both myself and my boyfriend.

Answer 11

As long as you are really committed to this change, I don't think it will be too difficult.  There is such a wide variety of vegetarian products out there these days.  Veggie burgers, fake chicken nuggets, veggie ground "beef" -- you won't even miss meat.

Answer 12

Its easy to do if u feel passionately enough about it. I haven't eaten meat for 12 years all u gotta do is just go cold turkey. theres the quorn range out which is great coz you can use it ti make just about anything that a meat eater would eat just without the meat =]

Answer 13

It's up to you, really.  If the only meat you eat is at those Sunday meals, you're doing better than most.  But if you really feel you should give up meat (and don't worry about the meat going to waste; I'm sure someone in your family will say, oh, more for me and/or they'll just cook less), then do so.  Either eat before you head over to see the family or bring a veggie dish along.  When someone offers you meat, just say "No, thank you."

And learn about all the tasty analogues out there--veggie burgers, veggie ribs, veggie sausage, etc.  It will satisfy your tastebuds without the cruelty.

Also check out "The Vegetarian Meat and Potatoes Cookbook" by Robin Robertson.

Answer 14

I thought that it would be virtually impossible for me to become a vegetarian, as i ate meat almost every day! I was really surprised when i became vegegeatrian, as after two weeks, i couldn't stand the thought of eating meat. I still eat fish, but i am thinking of stopping eating fish. It was also really hard for me as i didn't like most vegetables, but i am doing really well now. I still feel sick every time i think about eaing meat!

Answer 15

The actual transition won't be hard, but you'll have to find substitutes for certain nutrients. And a big part is gonna be ignoring what people say about you. That's the hardest, I guess. But just stick to it.

Btw, I'm an omnivore. Opposite of your situation. But I know what I'm talking about.

Answer 16

it just can't happen in one day SPECIALLY if u love meat. I say stop meating meat gradually....just don't do it all at once. This way you won't feel overwhelmed and ur body too will have time to adjust to the change in ur diet. =]

Answer 17

Anyone can make the transition.  It's not hard if you feel strongly about why you're doing it.  I woke up a meat eater one morning, went to bed a vegetarian, and 21 years later I've never looked back.

Just stop eating meat.  Use a variety of vegetarian protein sources instead, like soy food, legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains.  Eat plenty of fresh produce.  You can worry about fine-tuning it as you go (learning to avoid slaughter byproducts like lard, rennet and gelatin.)

For Sunday lunches or BBQs, bring a dish to share with everyone or a couple of veggie burgers for yourself.  It shouldn't really be a big deal.

p.s. A great book on vegetarian nutrition is "The New Becoming Vegetarian" by Brenda Davis and Vesanto Melina, both registered dietitians.  You'll find that there's nothing, nutrient-wise, that's not readily available on a vegetarian diet... and you'll learn how to do it as healthfully as possible.