Should you ease back into meat after being vegetarian for years?

Question

I've been a vegetarian for about 3 years now and I am planning to go on a 4 week wilderness survival course. As a part of this course I will need to learn how to slaughter an animal (probably cow or deer, dark meat).

I have been informed that the majority of the food for the final weeks of the course will consist of this animal, so basically eat meat or starve.

I wondering if I need to ease myself back into meat for a while before eating it for most of my meals for a few weeks? I don't want my body to react by getting really sick miles and miles from civilization.

Answer 1

First of all, you don't "need" to learn how to slaughter an animal... especially during something like a survival course that I'm assuming they are charging a ridiculous amount of money to participate in.  Ugh.

Second, it has been routinely proven that most "hunter/gatherer" tribes subsisted on plant materials with very little big game in their diet.  Hence, if this was a true survival course, it would be teaching you how to scavenge/forage for plant food and not slaughtering a deer.

Finally, even if you do wean yourself back into a meat diet, there is no guarantee that the food you eat on the trip won't make you sick.  There are a handful of stories that come down the newswire every year of stupid hunters out in the wilderness eating the animal they killed and getting ridiculously ill due to parasites or poor preparation.

Answer 2

You should be fine if you keep the meat to small portions. Your body doesn't forget how to digest meat any more than it would forget how to react sexually after a hiatus. Even for meaters, meat is probably no more than 1/3 of their diet anyways so keep it to that level or less. If you have any upset stomach or anything you're probably feeling guilty. Guilt manifests itself as a stomach ache just as it does for fear and anxiety.

Answer 3

Why in the **** are you going to a SURVIVAL course that teaches you to SLAUGHTER? That is dumb as h**l.

Eating meat after being a vegetarian for 3 years will disgust you and it would be difficult to ease yourself back into it.

My suggestions are don't go, learn to forage, or pack veggies discreetly.

Answer 4

Personally, I wouldn't go on a course that involved something so barbaric.

I mean, if you were really starving in the wilderness, (something I highly doubt would ever happen to an average person in their lifetime), I think you would be better off using your time to trying to find civilisation. Maybe that's just me...

Isn't there a course you could go on that doesn't involve slaughter?

Answer 5

You should be fine if you keep the meat to small portions. Your body doesn't forget how to digest meat any more than it would forget how to react sexually after a hiatus. Even for meaters, meat is probably no more than 1/3 of their diet anyways so keep it to that level or less. If you have any upset stomach or anything you're probably feeling guilty. Guilt manifests itself as a stomach ache just as it does for fear and anxiety.

Wow the jealous kid is hot on my trail...LMAO! What? Get bored of your "grand scheme" over in S & D! The Dr. name you gave yourself fits you.

Answer 6

I am kind of surprised that there would be no information on gathering plant food. If they do gather plants, try to make your meals mostly that (to help your stomach).

Yes I would ease back into it. That much meat when you haven't had it for three years.... I would expect it to shock your body a bit.

At least if you try meat now, then you'll know if it will make you sick or not.

Answer 7

that sounds great!

i think if the animals are wild and therefore free range it'll be easier for your body to handle. the one thing i'd say is make sure you still eat plenty of veggies and expect a little constipation!

have a fab time x

Answer 8

A lot of people that are used to a veggitarian diet do tend to have troube switching to a diet with meat.  I would recommend increasing your protein first by eating more peanut butter and more dairy.  Once you've had a few days to adjust to that, add lean meat, such as skinless chicken, and seafood (sparingly), slowly working up untill you can eat a full portion of the leaner meat.  You'll also want to increase your intake of iron before going directly to red meat.  When you first start eating red meat, Go for the leanest cuts you can find, such as sirloin of flank steak, and make sure you trim all of the fat off.  Basically, do the same as you did with chicken with red meat.  As a final step you'll want to try a full portion of a "Fattier" red meat such as a ribeye to make sure your body can handle the change.

Answer 9

That doesn't sound like a wilderness trip a vegetarian (or former vegetarian) could find enjoyable.  Have you committed to do it already?

Answer 10

In the first place, I don't understand why did you choose such a 'survival course' which requires such killings. I wish you're bluffing. you should not go for such a course after going through 3 years being vegetarian. I'll suggest to remain the same and reject such course.

Answer 11

you shouldn't eat meat period.