New Vegetarian

I am going to try being a vegetarian for 30 days. Why? Because I read the book Skinny Bitch, and it told me to =). Then of course I did some research on the PeTA website and found out some amazing things. I know that vegetarians usually consume dairy, but I am going to avoid it at all costs and probably end up being a vegan down the road. Yesterday I went out and bought some Silk unsweetened soy milk. I feel better already. But I still have like a half of a half a gallon of milk that I should drink, and probably will, because I have no money. But cow's milk is so bad for you-from what I've read, of course.

It just so happens to be that the holidays are coming up just as I want to become a vegetarian. What am I going to do, you ask? Well on Christmas I am going to eat meat =( but a lot less than I normally would. Because I have just started like yesterday, I don't know if I am going to stick to it, or how long it might last. So I haven't really told anyone except my mom, dad, and brother; who think I'm crazy. So there is no way in hell I am going to tell my grandmother right before Christmas.

My aunt and cousin are vegetarian, too. But they eat fish, which doesn't make sense to me at all!! Because fish are still animals and still suffer, right? They also eat dairy. Remember, once I get rid of the milk, cheeses, and butter in my fridge I am going to buy soy-based products. I'm not going to be like a hard core vegan, just a vegetarian who stays away from animal products as best as I can. I figure it's better than doing nothing at all.

Another thing, my diet right now consists of Slim Fast 2x/day and then a meal. Plus fruit and other things I munch on. The Slim Fast is powder, of course, so I can easily switch to soy milk. I did this for breakfast & lunch today. And then for dinner tonight I will be having leftover Chinese food: rice and mixed vegetables. I don't know how many calories are in them but I guess I won't eat that much.

Right now I am so caught up in what foods I can eat and I am missing out on the fact that my diet consists of one real meal a day and slim fast =D (and things I snack on like crakers & fruit). So I need to stop stressing over everything and chill out.

Is it OKAY to eat meat & dairy for Christmas dinner? I know I really don't want to but I know I don't have a choice. My aunt and cousin actually stopped comming to Christmas dinners a couple years ago! I can't have that happen to me!

edit:  I was talking to my mom earlier today:

Me: there is a girl at work who is a vegitarian so I'm going to ask her some questions

Mom: ok, ask her if it is ok to eat meat sometimes

I did the same thing, except I went veg about 3 days before Christmas so I didn't tell my Christmas dinner host and I just ate around it (unfortunatley all the veggies were smothered in cheese and sour cream and the salads too - LOL! I would warn you though, I had a bad stomach ache afterwards even with only a few days. You'll find you'll probably become lactose intollerant fairly quickly, so be aware and maybe take some lactaid with you just in case.

I was surprised at how easy beging veg* was ... really there's a animal free option for nearly everything. They don't taste the same, but your taste adapts and they are actually quite good.

Good luck!

Hey thanks! Now I feel a little better, knowing that I'm not the only one that has been, well in my case is, in this situation. And I've noticed that everything has a replacement, but I am going to talk to my aunt & cousin about the tofu thing. It's a little scary to me lol I'll try it sooner or later =D

Original Post by brandy947:

My aunt and cousin are vegetarian, too. But they eat fish, which doesn't make sense to me at all!! Because fish are still animals and still suffer, right? They also eat dairy. 

not everyone is vegetarian for the same reasons! when i first became a vegetarian it was because i felt uncomfortable at the idea of eating meat because i was worried about food poisoning and undercooked meat etc.. however this fear did not extend to fish and dairy.

i read skinny bitch and attempted veganism for a little while but my mum didn't agree & thought it was too restrictive so i started consuming dairy again, then eventually fish because of the health benefits. one day i'd like to be vegan but at the moment it doesn't really suit me (and i don't think it'd be healthy since i restricted so much in the past).

i also have a friend who doesn't eat meat but eats fish, she is only vegetarian because she doesn't like the texture. 

i just wanted to explain possible reasons why people might eat fish and dairy haha. :)

I've been a vegetarian for 20 years, and it started simply because I just didn't like it.  It becomes quite second nature to attend a big meal and scope out the meat-free stuff.  My family is so used to it and now that there are other family members the same, that we always make sure to make two different versions if need be - one with meat, one without.  I'm not hardcore, I don't avoid gelatin, or dairy, etc, because I could see where it would be so hard to maintain. 

I've been a vegitarian for nine years now. I started because a Vegan pretty much convicted me.  It wasn't all that hard for me and my family is very used to me eating meatless.  My family makes stuffing without meat and gravy without meat. As for the dinner. I couldn't not possibly count the calories on thanksgiving and christmas. There must be a day to cheat and I think that those days should count.  and most the time omnivors (however you spell that) love veggie meals because we definitally know how to use our spices and seasonings.  I have enjoyed being a vegitarian and (being that I live in Cali) it hasn't been so hard when going out to still eat a whole meal.  I am sure if you really want to be a vegetarian you can stick to your guns!! suerte amiga!

Brandy- Im glad you posted this.  We must be on the same wavelength because I read Skinny Bitch too and I was feeling the same way.  My husband's family has traditional English Christmas with Roast Beast.  I will probably eat a bit but I really have no desire to.  I have been taking a lot of slack for trying to go Veggie, let alone Vegan.  At any rate I want to make that transition as well since I know it really is better for me.

Your post made me feel like im not the only one and I hope you know you aren't either. 

I have been a vegetarian for about seven years, and my family too thought I was crazy when I decided to stop eating meat. They thought that I wouldn't last, that it was a phase I guess.  I really believe that animals weren't put here to be slaughtered  for our consumption especially when we can survive on a vegetarian diet.  When I first started out, I was vegan. That  lasted for 9 months. It was really hard for me, and I'm sure I wasn't getting enough nutrients. Products that weren't vegan were very tempting, and eventually got the best of me! After I decided to call it quits with the whole vegan thing I gained like 10 pounds because all I ate were cheese products which I missed so much.  So be careful if you decided to become vegan "down the road". Make sure you're doing it the right and healthy way! Being a vegetarian is alot easier for me and I feel that I'm healthier now than I was when I ate meat and when I was vegan.

I think your family should accept your choices and if they don't then that's their problem and you should stay true to what you believe in. Maybe one day they will accept it (like mine did) and not have a problem with it. Besides, it doesn't affect them.

It is ok to eat meat on Christmas, but I think that if you really want to become vegetarian, and you're not doing it because a book told you to do it, then you shouldn't eat it, even if your family doesn't agree with it! You DO have a choice!

P.S. Tofu is really good, if you season it right! Don't be scared of the tofu.