A 'semi-vegetarian' diet?

[yasmina1706]

Hey everyone,

 

Well recently I have become a kind of semi-vegetarian. Over the last 6 months or so I haven't felt much like eating meat and now eat it around once or twice a week (generally one burger and one chicken breast). I care about animals and don't like the idea of them suffering but I do believe that humans are naturally omnivorous and I crave meat if I go for more than 3 days without it. As I am a student and can't afford to buy free range and humanely slaughtered meat all the time, I just do so once or twice a week and for the rest I am 'vegetarian'. I have learned to cook many filling vegetarian and vegan meals and do really enjoy them, but at the same time I feel the need to eat meat as well. I am just glad that for those days that I don't I am making a bit of a difference. Does anyone else do this?

 

I am going home soon for my summer break from university, and am not sure how to explain my diet/beliefs to a very carnivorous family who disapprove deeply of vegetarianism. I do want to share meals with my family, but my mum prefers to buy in bulk, and as cheaply as possible. The idea of eating huge plates of cheap meat is already upsetting me, but I remember once trying and failing to persuade my mother to spend a little bit more on a free range chicken. I just think its better to eat little and humane/good quality meat than loads of cheap meat killed and kept inhumanely. What to do? If any vegetarians are sympathetic to this even though I am not a true 'vegetarian', how did you talk to your families about this? I am confused and a bit dreading going home.

[Ronni_W]

Sometimes it's fine to keep your personal decisions private...even from (especially from?) those who would try to argue you out of what you've decided for yourself. And there's never any need to give your moral reasons for whatever choices you make. Those are your own business, and you can keep it that way

 

You could just tell your family that it is for health reasons: You find that your system does not digest/metabolize meat as well as it used to, and eating too much of it leaves you feeling sluggish, unable to focus/concentrate, forgetful, without energy, etc. (For some, eating meat does that.)

 

Give it like good news: You'd started having those probs but you FINALLY found a solution that is working, and aren't they really happy for you??? Bonus good news is that you actually do feel better when your diet consists mostly of plant-based protein -- so they don't have to worry about that. You've also learned to cook some tasty dishes that you can't wait for them to try. EXTRA bonus good news is that they don't have to worry -- you can still enjoy meat once or twice a week.

 

If they try to insist that you eat loads of meat, just gently remind that you cannot because it makes you feel ill afterwards...and you're sure that is not their intention or goal.

 

BTW, I read that how you're doing it is ideal; that eating meat once or twice a week, or when your body starts craving it, does have it's benefits. Apparently, this type of craving is the body's way of messaging you want it needs (in terms of nutrients.)

[xpaperxcutx]

I went vegetarian 2 years ago, but have been sticking with an ovo pescatarian diet since. It's a lifestyle choice and for those who don't understand and try to bring me down, I really don't care for.

 

Like you, my family are mostly omnivores and likes meat. When I told them that I was turning vegetarian, they thought I was being picky with my food ( which is considered disprespectful in my culture). All I could do was give them time to accept me, which they did eventually.

 

You can't convince your family with reasoning if they're stubborn, but you can give them time to accept you for who you are.

 

The meat craving is normal. Just slowly cut out meat like you have been doing.

 

What I did when I was craving was cutting out red meat and easing into white meat like turkey and chicken, and then eventually sticking to fish. Try to replace your diet with more protein from beans, egg whites and other naturally organic foods.

 

Nowadays, I can't stomach meat but when I still crave it ( which happens rarely) I'll eat fish. I'm trying to go full vegetarian.

[2sure]

My daughter is trying on being a vegetarian and I support her especially since she has done her own research regarding nutrition and menus.

 

BUT - at her Dads house, they were basically insisting she eat meat. Who knows why. But I told her when asked why she will not eat meat (at least until she is grown enough to enforce her own decisions) to tell her dad that she seems to have an allergic reaction to the hormones used in meats .

 

Cant argue with that.