Meat eater all of a sudden not eating meat

Since I have returned to a healther life style.   I have noticed that animal protein has all but dissapeared from my diet.  Not that I feel it's bad. I just don't see it fitting into a heathy lifestyle.  But, here is my delima.  I feel like I have to have it.  Not that I want it.  Not that I crave it. I've just grown with it being the center of every meal. I feel like I've not have a "real" meal without.  And I should be hungery.  But I'm not.  Anyone else gone through this transiton?

Well, I usually only have about 200 of my 1700-1900 alloted calories going towards meat.  I love meat...a LOT, but I would rather spend my calories grazing on carrots, veggie soup, apples, and other fruits and veg! I'm more of the constantly needing something in my mouth type and meat doesn't fulfil that need.

Anyone know why I developed that?  I was never a smoker, so it seems weird to me!  I'll chew on straws and water bottles if I don't have gum or food around!  

 

It's probably just an adjustment period.  When I first went veg it was hard thinking up meals without meat since that's what I ate my whole life.  It was hard not to view veggies as just "sides" and meat is the main dish... meaning no meal was complete without meat!  So I started making more one dish meals such as stir fries and casseroles, which made it easier to view as a complete meal, even if they did not contain meat. 

If there comes a time when you really feel like you want or need meat, though, there is no harm in using the occasional meat substitute (Boca, Morningstar, Quorn, etc.).  I've been veg for about 6 months now and no longer have any desire for meat, so I think that does eventually pass for most people.

You also might do some research into the health benefits of not eating meat.  I, too, used to think meat was needed for a healthy, balanced diet.  Then I did some reading and found that was not true.  Getting the facts might help you with the mental aspect of this!  Good luck!

You dont need to eat meat, but you will need to replace the vitamins/minerals and protein/fat etc. with another source. So dont just cut out meat, try adopting a proper vegetarin liestyle or you may end up low on iron

I only really eat meat when i go out, but I make sure i have plenty of nuts, beans, seeds, good qual veggies, and dont waste my cals on chocolate/junk much.

I've seen the opposite.  In losing weight and lowering my out of control blood sugar, I shifted away from eating excessive amounts of carbohydrates, which came mostly from vegetable sources.  I've replaced then with more proteins, from both animal and plant sources.

I feel the way you do, but towards carbohydrates.  I feel like I have to have them, but not because I'm hungry.  I crave big servings of pasta, rice, and bread.  Something that gives me the stuffed feeling that only starchy food can do.

Well there are good carbs and bad carbs.  Good carbs = whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. and Bad carbs = processed foods such as white bread, pasta, white flour, cookies, crackers, etc.

Even though they may all be from vegetable sources, I wouldn't lump them all into one category, as they are vastly different, health-wise.

I'm a real perfectionist when it comes to what I eat.  I pick foods that are highest in fullness factor and highest in health factor from www.NutritionData.com

I really like the choices like asaragus, bell peppers, cauliflower, ect. It's good that the super foods are also tasty! I'm not a big processed carb guy. I do like corn tortilla's and whole grain snacks like Wheat Thins.  And I'm a huge fan of dairy. I drink at least a glass of 1% milk a day.  And yogurt is like ice cream to me.

 

fuzzys, I didn't say that there was anything healthy about wanting a bunch of high GI carbs. I was in trouble blood sugar wise precisely because I was stuffing myself with them, and I'd be in trouble if I started doing it again. But that doesn't mean I don't miss the feeling of being stuffed.

When I started eating healthy, I noticed the same thing (the lack of meat).  I don't particularly miss it.  I also don't avoid it.  Now that I've started looking at the ratios of where my calories are coming from (fat, carbs, protein), I've noticed that my diet has a dismally low protein content...I'm at about 15-20% fat, ~15% protein, and 60-70% carbs :-(  I read that athletes should eat around 30% fat, 30% protein, and 40% carbs.  Not that I'm trying to be an athlete, but I'd like the physique of one. :-)

I should probably eat more fish and chicken. :-\

thhq, I know, I actually thought the opposite - that you were lumping vegetables into the "bad" category just because they were carbs.

Hmm... I dunno, one day I just said to my parents, "I am going to be a vegetarian," and never looked back or ate meat again. 

Original Post by josielynn:

I'm more of the constantly needing something in my mouth type and meat doesn't fulfil that need.

Anyone know why I developed that? I was never a smoker, so it seems weird to me! I'll chew on straws and water bottles if I don't have gum or food around!

I am exactly the same way.  I've never smoked either, but I did suck my thumb until I was nine.  I believe I have an oral fixation and I think it came from sucking my thumb for so long. I spend A LOT of money on gum just so that I don't shove food in my mouth constantly.  I find I always need something in my mouth or I don't feel right.  I chew straws, waterbottles, plastic cups, ect. if I don't have gum or am not eating.  It's terribly annoying.  I just thought I'd let you know that you're not the only one.

Back to the OP-- I have found that meat has disappeared from my diet as well, except about once a week.  My boyfriend is a huge meat eater, but I find I like the taste of tofu better than meat, I'll even eat it plain.  But since he is a huge meat eater, I will have meat about 1 or 2 times a week.  I, however, never crave meat, so I can't really help you.  It took me about three weeks to get over my cravings for sugar, so give it a couple of weeks.  Or just have meat once a week, that should kill off some cravings at least!  Good luck!

changing eating habits is hard. there so much linked to how & what we eat. personal tastes, what our individual bodies need, culture, how you were raised, how you view food, what type of activity you, genetics, etc.

i've was a veg for 9 years & about 3 years ago started eating fish. i grew up around fishing though so it was somewhat natural for me to go back eating fish. but i really try to limit my fish and i only eat fish once a month (for some reason totm) and i only buy sustainable. once in a blue moon when i go out to eat, i will eat fish sushi.

but for the rest of the 27 days per month i make sure to get enough variety of beans, different kinds of rice & other grains that have really only become available/popular in the last 10 years or so in food shops in western countries. you still can't be asian food for vegetarians, in my little opinion.

When we think of meat as being the center of the meal, and all the other foods as sides, of course it's hard to bend your mind around a meal with no meat.  At first the table seems chaotic.  I think that's why the fake meat products are so popular.  But as you become more experienced, you'll find that you'll accept a meal that is many dishes of different foods with no "main course."

When I was cooking for my family and some of us were vegetarians and some were meat eaters, I treated the meat as a side dish, almost like a condiment, to be added by those who wanted it.

Instead of the slogan "Beef.  It's what's for dinner", my slogan is "brown rice and carrots and spinach and leeks and and beans and broccoli and tomatoes.  They're what's for dinner (and lunch too)"

You don't NEED it unless you can't get all your nutrients from your current diet. Even then, it's possible to get your missing nutritional elements from other foods. How do you think vegans do it? :)

Just out of curiosity, are there any professional athletes that are vegans?  It'd be interesting to know what their diet consists of.

I've always been a big meet eater, and I really enjoy my meat - it keeps me full, and I love the intensity of flavour that many meets have.

However, several months ago I travelled to India, where I ate absolutely wonderful vegetarian food for a week. This really opened my eyes to the fact that you can cook vegetarian food that will satisfy the taste buds. Since I returned home, I drastically reduced my consumption of meet - from several times a day to several times a week. I am happy with that.

While I have not had any meat for 12 years except fish starting 3 years ago, I think people who want to eat meat can still eat meat responsibly (let's not split hairs on what exactly is responsible, but im sure y'all know what i mean by that word). 

As with anything, its not always possible for everyone to do it all the time, but every little helps if we can all do something, even if its just starting to be more aware. There's a book out called "The Compassionate Carnivore" that gives quite a good few pointers. I have just browsed through it as I'm not planning on eating meat (except fish) every again if I can help it.  There's a few things on the web if any cares to look it up.

But its good for anyone who eats eggs & dairy as well.  Unfortunately I can't seem to find too many sustainable milk products like I did in SF, but my fiance is more of a dairy person than I am, as I cannot take too much.

http://www.chow.com/stories/11022

 

Original Post by qpx:

Just out of curiosity, are there any professional athletes that are vegans?  It'd be interesting to know what their diet consists of.

 hmm, seems to be a whole load of them according to wiki

• Peter Brock (deceased Australian touring car driver) [70]
• Mac Danzig (professional mixed martial arts fighter) [71]
• Tony Gonzalez Professional American Footballer[37]
• Scott Jurek (ultramarathon runner) [72]
• Carl Lewis (track and field star) [73]
• Mike Mahler (Professional strength coach) [74]
• Edwin Moses (track and field star)
• Martyn Moxon (English cricketer)
• Thomas Micklewright (amateur kickboxer)
• Salim Stoudamire: Professional NBA basketballer [38]
• Ed Templeton (Professional skateboarder) [75]
• Desmond Howard (Former Professional American Football Player) [76]
• Ricky Williams (Professional Football Player) [77]
• Ken Bradshaw (Professional Big Wave Surfer) [78]
• Prince Fielder (Professional Baseball Player)
• Kyle Takahashi (Hawaiian Big Wave Surfer) [79]

Original Post by laceypierson:

You don't NEED it unless you can't get all your nutrients from your current diet. Even then, it's possible to get your missing nutritional elements from other foods. How do you think vegans do it? :)

 Here is a list of just a few items that when combined will give you a complete protein from Vegetable sources. I like them all!  

cereal + milk as breakfast cereal and milk

pasta + cheese as macaroni and cheese

rice + milk as rice pudding

wheat + peanuts as peanut butter sandwich

beans + wheat as baked beans and brown bread

peas + rye as split pea soup and rye bread

beans + corn as refried beans and tortillas

soybeans + seeds/nuts as trail mix

Here we go again.  Protein combining has been debunked.  Also, there are other nutrients the human body needs other than protein.