Vegetarianism verses meat? Read first to understand my question!?

Question

I have been a vegetarian for many years. I first time was 20 years ago and the after 5 years went back to eating meat. I have been a vegetarian now for over four years. One of those years I was a strict vegan (too hard and disciplined).

My question: Why have I started to crave meat again.... not all the time but every now and then I just feel like eating a burger or something... BUT (this is the catch 22) I know that if I do eat meat of any type I will be physically ill and projectile it all back. How do I know? because I get a visual of the animals face when I eat it.

Knowing this why does this feeling creep in?

Answer 1

I have the same problem sometimes. I have been vegetarian for about 2 years and I have given in to the cravings twice. Both times I have gotten sick. My cravings seem to be tied to the smell of the sauce on the meat, rather than the meat itself. I find that I miss the taste of, say, wing sauce, or some such thing. I have learned to make the sauces for tofu and that seems to satisfy the craving.



Maybe it is the same for you and meat. Try making a vegetarian version of what you are craving (use seitan for steak, a nice Boca burger for the hamburger, etc) and see if that helps.

Answer 2

Sixcannonballs and Marika gave some great advice. Sixcannonballs, thanks for some mature, great advice from a non-veg. On this forum, it's rare. That's why I like veg*n oriented boards better-- No idiots like two of the answers. I craved funky things when I was pregnant and it was something that I thought I was missing from my diet.



I have been veg for four years. I have also come to think that if meat is so great, why are there many sauces and marinades for them? (Well, I guess the same can be said for tofu, but I do eat that plain.) I have gotten wing sauce for my baked potato, for instance.



Also, there are vegan sources of omega-3s, like walnuts and flaxseeds. I buy Smart Balance Light and it's fortified with omega-3 and vegan. Personally, even the site of raw meat disgusts me now. (Ironically, even when I at meat, I didn't like to touch it raw.)



Oh, yeah. Morningstar Farms veggie sausage is also very good. As well as Boca's veggie brats. I dont like the texture of the brats, but the spices are really kicky and great on a charcoal grill. They were one of the things my husband, the omni, liked first with veggie meats. He didn't grow up with the healthy options that I did, so was a bit hesitant to try more healthy foods. Even now, he doesn't eat the veggies I do. Even though I grew up eating meat and dairy and eggs, I had more veggies and fruits than junk growing up, so it might have been easier to make the change. As it is, we're both into giving our 17-month-old daughter real food and healthy treats like parts of fruit and grain bars from Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.



I hope this has been of some help...

Answer 3

Eating fish as an excuse to omega 3 is useless - it can be found it flax seeds (you can buy them grounded or whole or in oil form), walnuts, pumpkin seeds, leafy green vegetables(small amounts, but a good omg-3 to omg-6 ratio), hemp oil, olive oil, soybeans, soybean oil.



The craving for meat, is likely only in your mind, it is not physical. If it is physical, then your body is craving something that you would get in the meat like iron or fat or protein. Not meat, especially as there are so many natural alternatives.



Hate to break it 2 ya but - dairy cows are killed for your consumption - about 5 years old when they are deemed useless for their milk - their bodies cannot take all the false inpregnations artificle etc., so in theory, and fact, you are contributing to the meat industry and the demand. Just a fact, so you can make an informed decision. I needed to celar that up so you would not be making a decision based on a theory that many veggies have.

Answer 4

Eating fish, even sparingly, does make you a pescatarian, not vegetarian. Just an FYI. I also want to let you know that things like flax seed and chia seed have significantly higher concentrations of omega-3 (one serving of flax oil has 3x the amount of omega-3's as one serving of fish oil...plus it has omega-6 and omega-9 and no cholesterol or saturated fat. One serving of chia seed has 20x the amount of omega-3's as one serving of fish. If you are looking for DHA specifically, cut out the "middle fish" and consume the algae where the fish get their DHA).





Anyway, your body can be confused with tastes. I don't know why you'd be craving meat (I don't and haven't since I went from omni to vegan), but when you do, just cook yourself up a portabello mushroom cap and treat it like you would a burger. Here's a recipe I made for vegan chili burgers:



CHILI

15oz tomatoes with diced jalapenos

15oz beans seasoned for chili

1 small can fire roasted green chilies

1 small can sliced black olives, drained

1/2 cup cubed polenta

1/2 packet of your favorite taco seasoning



Combine and heat through.



BURGER

1 large portabello mushroom cap, cleaned

Dab of olive oil

Garlic powder

Red pepper flake (optional)

Bun

Hummus

Spring mix salad

Green olives stuffed with garlic



Drizzle oil on both sides of mushroom cap, season with garlic and red pepper. Cook until warm (I had to use a nuker, as I was at work at the time).

Spread both sides of the bun with hummus and top with halved olives and the spring mix. Add mushroom and the heated chili, and enjoy.



Of course, you can add whatever you'd like to you burger. :)



Here's a picture of the finished product: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v391/strawberryp0cky/recipes/ChiliBurger2.jpg



You can always hit it with some BBQ sauce and/or steak seasoning, too. Portabellos are meaty mushrooms to boot.

Answer 5

Meat has a lot of iron in it. For women who have just gotten over their period, their body requires more iron. Try taking extra iron for a few days. or whenever you feel the craving for meat. This would be a very simple and cheap solution.

I'm curious why you don't see the face of the fish when you eat it?

I'm an omnivore but I can't eat frogs. I identify with them somehow.

Answer 6

You are describing a mental symptom that many people have if they feel they are giving up something they like.



Its just a mental situation and there is no physical reason.



If you concentrate on expanding your horizons to excellent veggie food you will have no problem. See it as an opportunity to try more foods, not as a restriction from meat.



edit: I think that the fact you reference "tofu in a stir fry" as an example of non-boring veggie cooking says a lot. That is VERY boring. Please take yourself to a decent veggie hotel or resturant and sample real veggie food. try this place:

http://www.lancrigg.co.uk/



Or at least look through thier menu



As for your comments on dairy and eggs I think you might be confused. Unfertilsied eggs can only become rotten eggs, thats it, they will never be anything else. Dairy requires the death of many animals to make it economical.



I think education will be your key to sucess.

Answer 7

not if it does not grow to be a substitute requirement for righteousness and an argument of salvation. you may not use food plan to overlook touching directly to the autumn of guy; plenty as human beings seek for to remedy the human undertaking of sin with nudity or faith or the different human practice. If it grieves the in probability of see you consume meat then abstain out of charity. even if people who consume and are self righteous over vegetables at the instant are not susceptible yet proud and legalistic spirits; an distinctive rely.

Answer 8

Our bodies crave things because of the nutrients we may be missing. That doesn't mean you have to give in. You may just be having a minor protein deficiency. Try peanut butter or if you're not vegan anymore, maybe a couple of hard boiled eggs? I'm not a vegeterian but I'm preganat and get strange cravings and most can be attributed to something I'm missing in my diet! Good Luck and don't give up on your principles.

Answer 9

i was a vegetarian for 3 + years... i gave it up after my cravings took the best of me. i was also tired of losing weight.



its been about a year since then and its been okay. i kinda miss having to actually plan and think about what i will eat before i do. now it seems like ill eat anything... oh well...



btw, you wont get sick... maybe just gag a little because youre grossed out... in that case, you shouldnt eat meat until youre comfortable again...

Answer 10

Perhaps your diet has become a little bland? Try mixing things up and using more tofu and quorn when you feel the desire for something of a more meat texture. Personally, i never feel cravings.

If you feel your morals are slipping why not give PETA's videos a wath on their website?

Answer 11

cause meat is good your body wants it its un natural not to eat meat