I want to stop eating meat alltogether but this seems like an impossible feat. I crave meat so much, it's so accessible in fast food restaurants, they offer no meat substitutes (veggie burgers, etc...) or anything. I like to work out so i need meat for protein. I do drink protein shakes, but it never feels the same as eating red meat. Can anyone offer some advice? Check into a flexitarian diet. You get to eat all of the food groups including some meat.
Google flexitarian diets Start with eating more vegetables and less meat. Eventually reduce meat to zero and all vegetables. Hope that helps. eat mushrooms, they take the edge off the craving, brush your teeth when you get a craving.
As for protein, eat lots of spinach, romain, avocados, all nuts and seeds! You get more protein without eating meat! Don't try to go cold turkey. You'll fail. Try substituting a vegetarian meal one night a week for dinner. Look into meat substitutes. TVP (textured vegetable protein) can be used in a variety of dishes. They offer plenty of protein and are available in health food and Adventist stores, as well as regular grocery stores. Also, try to stay away from fast food as much as possible. You'll stay healthier and save money. If you can't avoid fast food because of time issues, get a salad. Try reading vegetarian cookbooks. Also check out the Vegetarian Times magazine and website for tips for first-timers. Good luck. It's not an easy life if you're not committed to it. I was lucky in that meat started literally turning my stomach...I seemed to have a natural aversion to it most of my life, and it got to a point where I just couldn't stomach it. If I loved meat or even liked meat, and had no issues with eating it- I wouldn't be vegetarian today. There were meat dishes I did love like sweet and sour chicken and donairs, those were about the only meat dishes I craved, but the disgust at the idea of having an animal's flesh in my stomach far outweighed any craving.
If you're trying to do it on morals alone (as a lot of people do- successfully) it's bound to be harder...and harder yet if you're only doing it for health reasons.
On the bright side, after you get through the first 2 months, you really start to settle in to the lifestyle- I'm at 9 months, and I'm finally pretty content with my choice. At 8 months I tried to start eating meat again, it tasted disgusting, and I knew I just did not want it at all anymore. If you have the resolve to make it past the 2 month point, I think you'd be well on your way. Too many people go overboard. Vegetarianism isn't a bad thing, but with all things in life, people tend to take it too far.
Perhaps you're not meant to be a vegetarian? I personally find a balanced diet to be more fulfilling than going one way, or the other, and its a lot better for you then taking all those substitutes while only eating yer veggies. After all, there is absolutely nothing wrong with eating meat, we were meant to eat meat, as well as 'veggies'...we ARE omnivores after all.
But if you insist on being a vegetarian, perhaps you should indeed stop eating take out for awhile. Make the temptation to eat that 'burger' less available. Go to a store and buy 'veggie' burgers, or other such meat 'substitutes' to help curb your craving while seeking out your desired new lifestyle. In essence, you need to treat meat like its an addiction....either ween yourself off of it....or just go cold turkey (no pun intended).
You also need to take into consideration what sort of 'vegetarian' you want to be. Many vegetarians still eat meat, just not red meat. Poultry is often considered acceptable. While vegens won't even touch anything meat related...and that includes milk, cheese, eggs...etc. learn from the zebra As admirable as vegetarianism is, I dont think it acheives much. It won't stop the production of meat products if a few people refuse to eat it. I was a vegetarian for several years. Eating fast food while being a vegetarian is harder but not impossible. Burger King actually has veggie burgers and you can always order salads at places. You don't really need to eating too much fast food anyway.
As far as the craving go... they never went away for me, but I still can't touch pork or ground beef. Only steaks and chicken. You can get protein from beans and peanut butter and other sources. You will be surprised at how much heathier you feel when you start eating all of those good veggies instead of greasy hamburgers :-) I craved meat for the first month or two after I became vegetarian, I never gave in though. Don't let yourself have any, then you'll never be able to stop. Anyway, it was hard for me too, but after awhile it gets easier and easier to the point where you don't even want meat anymore. I don't crave meat anymore, and I've only been a vegetarian for eight or nine months. Everyone went thru this process, and I was worst still.
I started vegetarian for no cause, but from the inspiration and support from V&V fans, now I'm a contemplated Vegan. It's already been 4 years...Ish.
Believe me...Me and my daughter with zero medical leave (touch wood...), my bmi 23, passed medical screening, physical fitness passed (for uniformed officer).
Nowadays, my wife cooks very delicious vegan cousines, and
we always addicted to the cooking...including my guesses. Go to whole foods, they have tons of vegetarian options..good luck! Have you tried Quorn? It's a good substitute for meat and valuable for new vegetarians.
If you're out and about, try to by-pass fast food restaurants and go somewhere where you can get properly fed AND have a vegetarian option.
Have a look on the below website. it might be able to help you. Why are you so hard set on becoming a vegetarian? A little meat here and there isn't going to hurt you, our bodies have evolved for it (lean meat in the African Savannah) and there are no substitutes for its muscle building protein.
Instead of not eating meat altogether, why not start off by eliminating bad, fatty meats like burgers, (ground beef altogether), sausage, hot dogs, and pork? Then you can still enjoy lean steaks, chicken, turkey, etc. Your question is like asking "How do I kick my heroin habit when I am constantly craving heroin?"
You just need to break yourself of the meat habit.
Protein is an important part of your diet when you're building muscle. But animal protein is an INFERIOR source of protein to plant protein.
Here's a link to some info I posted a while back regarind quality protein. It's got a long quote fromDr. T. Colin Campbell who is a leading nutrition researcher: http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-a_sMf3Y7f...
Here's an article by a vegan bodybuilder:
Vegan Athletes... How do you get your Protein?
By Robert Cheeke, Elite Vegan Bodybuilder January 7th, 2007
If there is one question vegans get more than any other question, it is, "How do you get your protein?" I often respond by asking the individual if they know anyone with a protein deficiency. One thing to remember is that protein is found in nearly all foods and is one of the easiest components of nutrition for our bodies to find in food and use for mechanical functions. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are abundant in fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and other vegan foods. Eating a wide variety of healthy foods supplies all essential amino acids which is necessary for optimum health.
As a vegan, I do not consume meat and avoid all animal products and abstain from using anything animal derived or tested on animals. This is for a number of reasons, but primarily because I don't want to cause harm to animals and because I want to be healthier and focus on consuming plant-based foods.
Vegans take in all required vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose. We eat a wide variety of healthy foods including fruits and vegetables, grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, and other plant-based whole foods providing the healthiest foods for our bodies.
As a vegan bodybuilder, I enjoy typical bodybuilding foods such as oats, rice, broccoli, yams, protein powders and bars, providing energy and strength for exercise and the heavy lifting my sport requires. I take a few supplements to enhance my athletic performance but I don't believe they are necessary to consume and compete as an elite athlete. They can help give you an extra competitive edge and can aid in muscle recovery and energy output. The few supplements I use for performance include: multivitamin, meal replacement powders, L-glutamine for muscle recovery, and hemp-based protein powders. Vitamin B-12 and essential fatty acids are included in a hemp-based meal replacement I take. It is important to remember these are not necessary, but in most cases they will boost performance and recovery from exercise, achieving an overall greater level of fitness and health.
Many people are scared to adopt a vegan diet because they think they will lack protein, but protein is easy to find and little is required for maintaining health. A standard is 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight for athletes and 1.5 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight for bodybuilders and other athletes interested in bulking up and adding mass. Eating consistently throughout the day makes it easy to consume that amount of protein if a variety of foods are consumed. "How" should not be the issue, but "where," is a valid question. In an animal protein based society, we grow up believing the only sources of protein are from animals. As a vegan athlete I outline meal programs that are protein-rich and plant derived to show exactly "where" and "how" vegans get their protein. I pay special attention to protein and my main protein sources come from hemp, soy, tempeh, nuts, beans, lentils, grains and a variety of powders and bars including complete meal replacements, adding up to 200-300 grams per day. Tofu, a soy product, typically has 10-20 grams of protein per serving. Soy also has a Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score (PDCAAS) of 1.0, which is the highest protein rating for a food to have, and it scores higher than beef protein. Hemp is one of the best sources of protein, period. It is alkalizing, packed full of nutrients, and is grown from the most sustainable methods, making it arguably the best resource. We often hear about protein combinations to make a complete protein. This is an accumulation of essential amino acids. Combining sources such as hemp, rice and pea provide a powerful amino acid profile for enhanced biomechanical efficiency. Taking in large quantities of protein can be taxing on the liver and kidneys so it is important to drink a lot of water when you're on a high protein diet. Drinking water helps your body's organs process large amounts of protein. In addition to the high protein foods, I also eat a significant amount of fruits, green vegetables, and eat raw and organic foods whenever possible. Raw sources of protein can be found in nuts, seeds, seaweed, broccoli, spinach, kale, and other veggies and are some of the most potent and most beneficial sources of protein available on the planet.
The bulk of my diet consists of fruits in the morning; protein sources such as nuts, protein drinks and bars for snacks; green vegetables, beans, tofu and other protein and calorie-rich foods for lunch, and a variety of fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and grains for dinner. A typical meal for dinner may include a lentil soup with chopped of veggies, steamed or raw broccoli, tofu, and brown rice. Potatoes, tempeh, beans, and nuts are also staples of my diet and are often consumed around dinnertime. I typically just drink water before and after meals but for dinner I may include soymilk, almond milk, or natural fruit juice.
I focus on eating every 3 hours to stay in an anabolic state with a positive nitrogen balance for maintaining and building muscle. Taking in nutrients every 2-3 hours ensures that your muscles will always be fueled and nourished, providing the best opportunity for growth and achieving desired results. Eating every 3 hours may sound challenging but if you prepare your foods for the day in advance, it is really quite simple. You don't have to eat an entire meal, just take in protein, carbohydrates and fats every 3 hours and it will add up to a sum of calories that will not only maintain muscle but build muscle, combined with a weight-training or exercise program. Drinking water every two to three hours will also keep you well hydrated, assist with processing of protein foods, and will help you accumulate a gallon a day which is a minimum goal for most bodybuilders.
A vegan diet is often a topic of concern when it comes to athletics, but those concerns may be unwarranted. A vegan diet is typically healthier and more compassionate than an omnivorous diet, which although popular, can be more detrimental to overall health. Eating fruits and vegetables and other foods provided by plants and trees and fields, comes natural to me. These are the healthiest foods for us, yet as a society we are slaves to our taste buds and consume heavily processed, altered foods with addictive sugars, chemicals and other un-natural additives. That dangerous practice leads to poor health and often leads to increased medical costs for medications and treatments in an attempt to reverse problems created by poor diet.
Focus on plant-based foods and reap the benefits of optimal health through natural sources of protein.
http://www.veganbodybuilding.com/rob/
There are a lot of athletes who do not get their protein from meat. Like Carl Lewis. Brendan Brazier is an advocate for vegan athletes.
"Active people need more protein than the average person does. Often when animal products are eliminated from the diet, so is a large portion of the protein. Without adequate dietary protein the carbohydrate consumed will enter the bloodstream faster, causing insulin levels to rise quickly (spike), and then a short time later decline (crash). With protein and snack added to each meal a "sugar crash" will not occur. Protein will complement the carbohydrate, allowing it to enter the bloodstream at a steady rate, thus delaying the onset of hunger and sustaining energy levels.
Protein, a vital part of an athlete's diet, is used in the rebuilding process of muscle tissue broken down by training. During endurance training at a low heart rate (60-70% of maximum), fat is the body's primary fuel source (90%) with protein second (10%). Because Ironman and other endurance training requires the body to be efficient at using fat as fuel, long rides in this zone are necessary. A six-hour-ride, for example, would burn nothing but protein as fuel for 36 minutes.
If dietary protein needs are not met, muscle tissue will be catabolised; in turn, strength will decline. A 4:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio has been shown to yield the best muscle glycogen recovery results. The small amount of protein (25%) combined with a high glycemic carbohydrate (sugar) has been shown to improve recovery over the conventional "sugar only" approach. Sweetened soy drink is a good provider of this ratio."
Read this whole thing from him. It's an excellent guide: http://www.vegparadise.com/otherbirds510...
The reason meat substitutes aren't available in (many) fast food restaurants is because vegetarians are a small part of the population. The crap at fast food restaurants is just that: CRAP. Nasty, nasty crap.
Clearly you care about your body or you wouldn't be making it stronger. Once you start learning about how important nutrition is to how your body works you will become addicted to learning more and there WILL be a day when you look back on your days eating meat and wonder what the hell you were thinking putting that junk in your body.
My advice to you is to google the hell out of the topic of meat and where it comes from and the sanitary conditions of slaughterhouses and meat packing houses and what the animals eat whose flesh you're ingesting and how meat is linked to disease...the list goes on. That stuff is nasty on so many levels and science has PROVEN that it's not good for you. Here's a good place to start: http://www.pcrm.org/
I also suggest a book called BECOMING VEGAN for a good overview of how to change your diet so you stay healthy (well, you'll actually be getting healthIER once you cut out all the animal products). Good luck! Sometimes when you believe in something, and want to do something, you need to make sacrafices. A craving will not kill you. Just try to keep your mind off of it. If you do end up eating a little meat, don't panic. Try looking up some websites for some good recipes.
Here is one of my favorites. I am not a vegetarian, but I love it. Its filling, and more or less tricks your mind into thinking you are eating meat. Of course its not the same, but its good.
Chicken fried portebello mushrooms
2-4 Portebello mushroom caps (the larger the better)
2 cups flour
1/4 cup your favorite bread crumbs (get a flavored one)
1 large beaten egg.
tablespoons butter and olive oil
(optional)
1 minced garlic clove
1 small shallot
Mix the flour and bread crumbs together in a shallow bowl, or plate. Wash the mushroom caps with a damp paper towel, dry throurally. Preheat a med.-large skillet over med-med. high heat, with the olive oil and butter. (you need both so you can heat the butter to a higher temp.) Add the garlic and shallots if you desire. Only cook them for a few minutes to flavor the oil. Put aside and save for later. Dredge the wiped and dried mushroom caps in flour first, then egg, and again in flour. Get it well coated. I sometimes have to do this a few times to get a good coating.
Then put the mushrooms in the pan with the top side down. Cook untill golden then flip. Usually about 4-5 minutes. Just don't let the pan get too hot.
If you want to make a gravy afterwards. Get an extra mushroom, dice up half of it. Saute in a pan with a couple pats of butter, and the reserved shallot and garlic. Sprinkle about a table spoon of flour, and let cook for a few minutes. Afterwards add 1-1/2 cans vegetable stock. Whisk vigurously.
I serve this with mashed potatoes, my favorite veggies (broccoli or assparagus) and a salad. Its very filling. It can be a bit tricky to get a hang of the rou for the gravy, but you can always get a store bought one.
Defintly look up other recipes. This will help you. Also, many restaraunts, even fast food restaraunts do have vegetarian options (like veggie burgers) they just don't always advertise them. Just ask. dont cut your self off all together, start by one week not eating cow, the next no pig, turkey, chicken, fish and so on, it makes going vegatarian much easier. You'll probably need to be stronger than a simple craving. you shouldn't be one then! You just gave yourself a dilemma when there shouldn't be any.. Life is complicated enough without having to spend an inordinate amount of time on such things as what to eat.. Many people in the world don't even have enough to eat much less a choice of what to eat.. you dont lol |
