I was a Vegetarian for a day!

    Yesterday I ate no meat at all! No eggs, no cheese, no fish...

So I guess I was a vegetarian for a day and I liked it!

So this gets me thinking maybe one day I could be a vegetarian?

But what makes it hard, is when people invite you out for dinner and stuff and they make a big meal and it's centered around meat or turkey? How do you all deal with that? Or when you go out to a restaurant?

I know I could do it on my own..(I think...I enjoyed what I ate yesterday..and I got enough protien..I even got an "A")

Anyone got any suggestions for me, on how I could make the switch?

For a lot of meat eaters, it is initially easier by first switching to meat substitutes and then over time finding other vegetarian options and cuisines that they may have never known existed.

Thai cuisine, Ethiopian cuisine, chinese and Indian cuisine and even Italian food have a lot of vegetarian options that taste delicious.

Read my post on Tasty Vegetarian Lunches for Young Professionals for some ideas on meals.

Good Luck!

Good for you! I'm glad you enjoyed your day as a veggie :)

I've found that when I get invited to dinner at someone else's house I bring along a tasty dish of my own (to make sure there is something there I can eat), plus other people there usually try it and like it as well! Other than that I eat a lot of vegetable side dishes, my family knows that I don't eat dairy as well, so they serve butter on the side :)

Good luck!

Don't worry so much about the label "vegetarian." Instead, just try to incorporate more meat-free meals or days into your routine.

I've never quite understood why meat-eaters feel they need to eat meat all the time. Even when I used to eat meat, I rarely ate it more than 2-3 times a week. How about start by becoming a "pseudo-veg"?

Good luck!

I met someone who called themselves a Fregan. I've not heard this term anywhere else, but I really appreciate its sentiment.

This person had just gotten back from volunteering in Africa. Meat is a luxury item there and because the people he was helping were so appreciative they frequently slaughtered their best animals to serve in his honour. When someone makes a big sacrifice it seems extraordinarily rude to term it down point-blank.

To solve this problem he decided to be a fregan. When he's in control of the situation (grocery shopping, ordering at a restaurant etc.) he always goes vegan, like wise if he's at a friend's house who knows that he is vegan. However, if he is somewhere where it would be seen as rude, cumbersome etc. he eat's what he's served.

I know a lot of people couldn't do this because your body becomes intolerant to meat products, but I think it's an interesting take on that dilemma.

Thanks everyone!

I'm eating vegetarian again today!

I am liking it so much! :-D

And I already eat veggie hot dogs and burgers because of their low fat content, I can't eat high fat, I get sick to my stomach if I eat the real thing.

It's funny...my husband and I have chosen not to eat meat for a while. At first it was just for two days...but we are enjoying it so much. We have had so much fun looking for new and interesting recipes. I am loving it! Especially the clean-up afterwards:)

Yeah, I never thought about the clean up, there is alot less dishes!

And I am having another vegetarian day today! YUMMY! :)

the clean up is definitely an extra benefit.  My kitchen might be cluttered, but the ceiling and walls are not coated with that fine layer of animal grease that results from cooking meat. ::big smile:: ~ Lost Artist
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Guess what?

Another vegetarian day for me today!

I think I may be becoming a part-time vegetarian - at least!

I had a veggie hot dog for lunch, and quinoa and tomatos and spinach salad and veggies for dinner, and a good breakfast of course and good snacks, I got an A- today!

I say part-time for now because I have some meat in my freezer that I just can't throw away, and I plan on having my Mom over for dinner and I already bought the ingredients for the casserole, sorry everyone - it's not veggie.... :(

But I'm getting really close!

Just have to collect those yummy recipes!

I'm on my way! :)

good for you! even if you dont become a full veggie, atleast you are trying! you will be opened up to sooooo many different food options. good luck!

I went the other direction. After being a vegetarian for over 10 years, who ate dairy and eggs sometimes, I ate meat for over a month. My doctor told me that although my iron levels increased with meat, my protein levels decreased. I also got constipated and gained weight by eating meat. With so many vegetarian meat substitutes available, I wonder if there's really a need for humans to eat animals. I confess I liked the taste of the meat and that it was exciting being able to order anything at restaurants.

I was a veggie for months after a frightening episode involving a live lobster at a pricey restaurant. (maybe I'll explain later - maybe not)

I really like the fregan idea and I may incorporate it into my own home. You see, my hubby was raised to believe that a meal isn't a meal unless there is meat. One night this week I made loaded baked potatoes - lots of veg, cheese, etc. I had to add bacon b/c he kept asking me if that "was all" we were having. Argh.

I don't like cooking meat, and I rarely ever want it. I'm thinking maybe when it's my night to cook we'll be veggies. When it's his night to cook I'll be fregan. Nice compromise.

i have been a vegetarian for around 4 years and i feel so much better now than i ever have b4 when i ate meat. i am so glad you enjoyed ur day and when it comes to eating a big dinner don't be afraid to make a dish to bring. there are plenty of recipes that even a meat eater would enjoy and plus u wouldn't be sittin there watchin everyone else eat. congrats!!!

i'm being vegetarian today...but i didn't really plan it like that. i had fruity cheerios for breakfast, a salad and soft pretzel for lunch, apple as a snack, and i'm having a Smart Dog for dinner. i didn't even realize it until now!

Being vegetarian is actually really easy (for me, anyway).

Many Asian cuisines will have a whole slew of vegetarian dishes, due to the influence of Buddhism there (which prevents the killing of animals). European, especially French and Spanish cuisines are pretty tough for vegetarians, and even harder for vegans.

There are some FABULOUS veggie products out there, including Boca Burgers, imitation kielbasa sausages, tofu salads (in many organic food stores), "Gimme Lean" has lots of fake meat products as well. (just a warning: tofurkey.....not such a great substitution). Also, seitan, tofu, and beans are great for protein.

If there is a Trader Joe's or Wholefoods Market nearby you, you should be set (they have TONS of veggie substitutions)! Good Luck!

Pffft. It's not just being a Veggie for a day!

You still had meat/milk whatever in your system and in your guts.

Wait till you've been vegetarian for a week, month, etc and you'll truely feel the awesomeness!

Go to a vegan/vegetarian restaurant. Tons of delicious (and usually healthy) choices.

If at a regular restaurant/get together, I'll get salad w. olive oil and balsamic vinegar, fresh fruit, a baked potato, and/or a veggie burger.

Haha- I was just thinking about that 'fregan' idea and realised I've created a hybrid in my friends on 'fromnivorevegans' lol.. or something like that.

They ate everything I cooked for my 21st party, the baked potatoes and apple-ginger cake went in minutes, with no complaints about nothing containing meat, eggs, dairy, honey or meat. Only one of them has been game enough to cook for me though..

I really like the term "fregan" as it is pretty much my own philosophy, although I am vegetarian not vegan, I jsut didn't have a word for it! Living in Japan and travelling a lot I sometimes find myself in situations where I am offered hospitality by wonderful people who don't really understand the concept of vegetarianism and I cannot bring myself to turn down that hospitality, even though eating meat really doesn't sit well with me. I will not offend people for those principles.

For example I was in a small town in Syria a few years ago (in spite of the image you get of this country in the media, the Syrians are the friendliest people I have come across after travelling in 37 countries) and my friends and I were invited to lunch by a Syrian family- spontaneous hospitality is very common there. Lunch was a kind of chicken stew- I wouldn't have dreamed of turning it down.

I am hoping to visit Mongolia next year, although meals without mutton are pretty much non-existent there- freganism will be an excellent strategy I think!