Vegetarian problems. Please assist!?!
Vegetarian problems. Please assist!?
I really want to become a vegitarian because I am a young girl (Twelve) and I really care about Earth, so how do I get my mind off of meat? I like it too much, but if I have a good way to keep my mind off of it, I might be able to become one.
Answers:
There are a lot of companies that make vegetarian "meat," like hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, chicken patties, ground meat (for tacos, spaghetti sauce, etc.), chicken nuggets, and ribs. Some companies include Boca, Morningstar Farms, Gardenburger, and Quorn. They are available in most grocery stores (in the frozen section), and at health food stores. They taste really good, although you might think they taste different from real meat. (I've been a vegetarian for half my life, so I don't remember what real meat tastes like anymore.)
You can also remind yourself that you're doing a good thing by not eating meat. Over the course of your lifetime, you'll save a lot of animals from being killed.
Just be sure that you're eating a healthy diet. Take a multi-vitamin; eat a variety of foods; and eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and beans. Good luck!
Don't stop eating meat it's good for you. I eat meat and I love animals and the Earth. Just think if everyone stopped eating meat, the animal population would rise so much that it would eventually harm the Earth.
If you want to become a vegetarian beause of the destruction factory farms cause, then when you want meat, think about that destruction.
Think about manure lagoons.
Think about methane gas.
Think about deforestation.
Think about polluted streams and rivers.
Think about the ecoli in that meat.
Think about the fact that America alone kills almost 12 billion animals a year. Almost twice the population of the entire earth.
Think about that fact that while humane waste, the waste of about 2 billion people - is required to be refined before it is dumped back into our oceans and streams. But all that animal waste is NOT.
Think about the children, like yourself, who are starving to death because their nations want money so they ship their grain to us for our cattle rather than feeding their own people. It takes 22 pounds of grain - enough to feed a family for a week, to produce 1 pound of edible beef.
Then make yourself a nice healthy alternative.
The first thing that comes to mind to me, is to find other food groups that you really enjoy; and find creative tasty recipes, that fill you up. You would need to find foods rich in protein which you'll lose from your lack of meat consumption. There are plenty of other food groups that offer healthy alternatives to eating meat! And, if that doesn't work, gradually go from red meat to poultry and or fish; until you are able to totally change your eating habits. If all else fails, you're still young and can try it again later in life. It's totally up to you!
you can believe in saving the planet and its resources without having to become a vegetarian , mother nature supplied all that is needed to sustain life , so i say eat what you want
the animals you consume are bred for just that purpose , i think a better aspiration for you is to find ways to make earth a nice place to live without violence and hatred
giving up meat is not going to save the earth
please read what it means to be a "true vegetarian" before going thru with it ..... its not just about giving up meat....it changes your whole diet
ivan dog
A good way is that when you go to the grocery store meat department instead of just seeing packaged slabs of meat think first that this meat came from a living animal and also educate yourself on how was this animal not only raised but also butchered. For example used to buy Veal until I found out that Veal comes from Baby Calves who as soon as they are weaned are taken from the mother and put in stalls just large enough to stand in-during its life until slaughter the calf Cannot lie down ,never smells fresh air,feels the sun and is purposely kept anemic(not enough iron) to have its meat have that very pale color.Go to www.Peta.com. I too once enjoyed meat but the more I learned of the real horror stories of slaughter houses and how animals are raised the more I turned away from meat -sometimes while eating could not finish.Most people never associate the meat they buy with the animal that died .Animal waste from the large scale ranches where animals are raised for meat(Not in pastures as the Happy Cow Ads from California but stalls and most never even see a meadow or taste fresh grass) also contributes to global warming-the waste produces gases.I commend you for wanting to turn veggie because you care.
Truthfully, I'm a vegetarian and I'm 13. I started 4 years ago but it wasn't easy to change to vegeterian ways. I had my mind on shrimp and chicken all the time. Before the four years I would love to eat lobster and shrimp. I was always trying to find substitutes like veggie burgers. (your lucky now there are many meat substitutes like steak and chicken strips, burgers, lasagna, chili and other good things. But if this doesn't help or taste like the real thing, think about how many animals you're saving because you're doing this (a lot.) What I mean is that when you start thinking about nice juicy chicken think about the Earth and the ways that you're saving it. I know this is really hard but first you can start to break the rules when it's too overbearing then you will probably start having less taste for meat and give it up.
It will be very hard. As for me, I cheated once in a while until I had no taste for meat. It cann take a while but you gotta be patient.
Soemtimes when people see the struugle and hardship that you did to becoming a vegetarian, they will be so inspired that they might convert or lessen their meat intake.
Get vegetarian meat.
Another easy way to get protein is to eat lots of beans (any kind of bean you want to eat - like kidney beans, black beans, and the like).
I have the same problem. Im younge (14) and became a vegetarian. Its getting pretty hard, but I always think of a slaughter house or the killing of the animal when I see meat. I think of the worst things of meat and the life lost of the animal. Some meats are not cleaned or fresh or the environment its made in. I think of that and became more away from meats.
sorry to be blunt, but if you want one good way to keep your mind off of it....
imagine someone slaughtering the animal you're about to eat !!! that should work well.
and use the internet to find out more about the inhumane treatment food animals get
when you crave something like meat,, your body is really saying it needs a certain nutrient,, be sure try a bunch oh new vegan things so your body really knows what to crave
I went vegetarian at your age, and 3 years later I'm a vegan with almost perfect bloodwork and sporting a size 1 pair of jeans (but I'm short, so I don't look anorexic).
I know that I had the willpower to go vegetarian, and later vegan, and if you really care about the Earth, you, too, can do it. Have confidence in yourself and try the new foods. You will find that you like them just as much (or better) than the meat and you will (I promise!!!) be able to leave it behind. Do some serious research and you'll dig up amazing facts and figures and some great nutrition guidelines.
Most likely you're still addicted,hun. But good for you for trying!
A LOT of it is will power,at first. After the first few months,you'll wrinkle your nose at meat. =) Boca,Morningstar Farms,Amy's and Gardenburger are all fairly easy to find vegetarian 'meat' products made from soy. I suggest you sit and taste-test what you can find (or what sounds interesting) and have fun doing it. Remember what you like...and voila.
It's hard at first, you've already learned that. When you're tempted, remember WHY you're doing this--is that hamburger really worth all the pollution and wasted grain and suffering? And honestly, after a few months you won't miss it at all. You'll smell meat cooking and wonder why it ever appealed to you. This craving is only temporary. You'll get through it. And then you'll look back and realize you're a stronger person for having overcome the temptation. That strength will serve you well as you meet other challenges later in life.
It's really admirable that you've come to an understanding of how your food choices affect the world beyond you at such a young age. Most of us don't make that connection until we're adults. You're obviously a very special young lady and you will do very well at anything you set your mind to.
Good luck!