Vegetarian vs. non vegetarian

[MarkPoppen]

So, I've been a vegetarian for about 20+ years now. My main reason was when I was around 10 years old, I saw a guy on TV stabbing a pig that was hanging on a tree, and all the guts just splashed out. I was disgusted, and told my mom never to eat meat again. That's how it started. Then, as I grew older, I learned more about the bio industry in Holland (where I'm from, originally), which firmed my decision to stay a vegetarian.

Now, after living in Canada for over 5 years, I obviously know that the guts that fell out of the pig I mentioned earlier are not for consumption, and living in Saskatchewan around farmers and hunters, I know where the meat that my wife is eating is coming from. My brothers-in-law are avid hunters and share deer meat with the family each year.
In short: the reasons why I became a vegetarian are pretty much out the window, but because I'm so used to the diet now, there's something holding me back from eating meat.

Perhaps some people here can help me out. People that switched from a vegetarian diet to "all meat": Did you feel more/less energetic, how is it for running, how was the transition etc. etc.

I can use all the feedback I can get.

[grimskot]

I can't help you with the transition from vegetarian back to carnivore so much. Thanks to my daughters, I've gone the other direction. Not a vegan or vegetarian like they are; more of a flexitarian these days as I do still eat meat occasionally. But from their experiences and my own, I offer one suggestion: take your diet changes slowly. Don't jump on the meat wagon all at once and heap steak on your plate at every meal. Instead, maybe try something simple one meal once a week. Then see how you feel, and how it affects your running. Conversely, nothing saying you have to completely give up vegetarianism either. Keep a few meals or whole days vegetarian even as you introduce meat back into your diet. You've probably got a few favourite dishes you'd like to keep eating. It doesn't have to be all one way or the other. Good luck whichever way you end up.

[getfit]

You should watch the documentary Forks over Knives, it might give you a few more reasons to remain on your vegetarian diet I saw this documentary a couple of years ago and it convinced me that eating meat/dairy is not all it's cracked up to be. That being said, I'm not a total vegetarian, I still eat a small amount of chicken and fish. I tried cutting meat/dairy completely out of my diet and I just found it too hard to come up with meal ideas for both myself and family. Now I try and concentrate on a plant based diet, lots of fruit and veggies and very little processed food. It's a work in progress, I still indulge in chocolate cake / butter tarts occasionally, but that's the exception not the rule.

[ultraslacker]

Before he retired, my grandfather was an Alberta beef farmer. I saw how his cows were treated and what they ate (in fact I fed them from my own hand and went out in the tractor with him). He grew all their food himself, delivered the calves himself, etc. My grandmother also had a big garden where they grew much of their own food. As a result it's hard for me to identify with the stories that I hear about big meat production. Don't get me wrong, I know that there are bad things going on, especially as the production gets bigger and bigger... I just can't make it work with the picture in my mind of my grandpa's farm. :/ So I am a meat eater, but I do occasionally buy organic (when I can afford to) and I do buy free range eggs.

I second the suggestion to start slowly... maybe with some fish and poultry, add it into things a bit at a time. Sushi is an awesome way to get more fish in your diet, though I don't imagine there's much access to fresh sushi in SK.

[eme]

I was vegan for a year due to stomach problems. While I had no problem with staying vegan, it was not practical with my meat eating family.

My advice is that if you want to start back on the omnivore route, is to start slowly to give your body time to adjust.

My first meat was a small piece of BBQ bison. I was eating quite low fat when I was sick (gall bladder in the end) and I wanted a lower fat meat to start with. Start slowly and small amounts and work your way up in variety.

I still eat some veg foods and I am considering more veg dishes to my weekly diet, since it forces me to eat cleaner.

Good luck on you transition if that is the route you decide.

[MarkPoppen]

I wasn't planning on going from being a vegetarian to eating meat 5 times a week. More along the lines of: when we BBQ, I'm not going to bother with veggie burgers and, when meat smells good, just eat it (my mother in law makes a killer roast, apparently. It smells delicious).

Hey, for all I know, I won't even like meat at all!

[eme]

I wasn't planning on going from being a vegetarian to eating meat 5 times a week. More along the lines of: when we BBQ, I'm not going to bother with veggie burgers and, when meat smells good, just eat it (my mother in law makes a killer roast, apparently. It smells delicious).

Hey, for all I know, I won't even like meat at all!

Sounds like a good plan, do what works for you!

I have to tell you, when we BBQ'd those Bison steaks, they tasted really good

Good luck with the transition/testing things out.

[ultraslacker]

I love caribou meat.

[Habs4ever]

Moose burgers are the best.

[AjaxRunner]

So, I've been a vegetarian for about 20+ years now. My main reason was when I was around 10 years old, I saw a guy on TV stabbing a pig that was hanging on a tree, and all the guts just splashed out. I was disgusted, and told my mom never to eat meat again. That's how it started. Then, as I grew older, I learned more about the bio industry in Holland (where I'm from, originally), which firmed my decision to stay a vegetarian.

Now, after living in Canada for over 5 years, I obviously know that the guts that fell out of the pig I mentioned earlier are not for consumption, and living in Saskatchewan around farmers and hunters, I know where the meat that my wife is eating is coming from. My brothers-in-law are avid hunters and share deer meat with the family each year.
In short: the reasons why I became a vegetarian are pretty much out the window, but because I'm so used to the diet now, there's something holding me back from eating meat.

Perhaps some people here can help me out. People that switched from a vegetarian diet to "all meat": Did you feel more/less energetic, how is it for running, how was the transition etc. etc.

I can use all the feedback I can get.

A good Dutchman is raised on "vlees en aardappelen" Oh and how can I forget, broodje haring, kroketten, bitterballen, lekkerbekjes and of course: rijstafel.

I may actually be drooling now.

On the subject: change your diet slowly...introduce meat slowly. Try and start with a lean meat first. Ostrich is one of my favourites.

[turd ferguson]

Moose burgers are the best.

Not as good as baby seal.

[pts]

I really resonate with your post. I have been a vegetarian since I was 19 (first time on my own at university). My mom tells a story about serving fish when I was young and we had a fish tank and when I put two and two together I refused to ever eat fish again!

My husband and kids eat meat and we know the ecological farmer who raises the pig, chickens and cows that we eat. I don't have any issue with that at all. I have eaten meat while in the Arctic while sharing food with Inuit hunters (although I am not as enthused about meat from 'big game hunters' depending on the circumstances). My kids started out vegetarian but my son (4 years old) LOVES meat and he really bonds over meat with my husband. For example. they had pork curry when I was away this week. We only have meat very occasionally and visit the farm that the meat came from so one day the kids can make the connection and decide for themselves. I am not opposed to eating meat but honestly it just doesn't really appeal to me. I know that my choice to eat dairy, even organic dairy, is feeding into the meat industry as well.

Anyway, not sure if that helped but I just wanted to share my personal experience.

[drghfx]

Yeah, if you know a good responsible organic farmer with free range, life is pretty good for an animal until they fatten up. However large producers really should be charged with animal abuse. Cows/steers stuck in small stalls for their lives, force fed with food and antibiotics etc. Hens shipped in unheated trucks in the winter for hours or in non-air conditioned trucks in the middle of summer is someone no living animal should go through, inho.

[n_fraser]

BACON!!!!!!!!!!

[Darth Tater]

Moose burgers are the best.