Turning vegetarian was a lot easier than I thought.

[More Than A Feeling]

For a long time I thought it was this really big deal that would take a lot of willpower every day to get through. Then one day, about four months ago, I just stopped buying meat. I don't exactly how long its been, because I've forgotten exactly which day, and even which month, it was. That's how little of a deal it was. It's not even something I think about very much, and it was a month before I told anyone what I had done. Partly its been easy because I'm not out to be a pain in anyone's ass. When someone else is cooking, and it'd be a hassle for them to do something vegetarian for me, I eat the damn meat and don't make a fuss over it. It's not like one time on one particular day, or even a whole week, is going to cause me to renounce vegetarianism. I don't miss meat at all. I'd go vegan, but I can't afford to drink soymilk on a regular basis.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

[flvegan]

1. Good for you!

Going veg doesn't have to be a lifestyle nor religion. It can just be a daily choice. Every vegetarian day is a good one.

[Critters2]

2. It gets easier all the time.

I just got back from a convention where I staffed an exhibit booth for the Christian Vegetarian Association. One of the things we noticed was how easy it was to eat veg meals. The convention center had a bunch of sports bar-type restaurants around it. Every one had gardenburgers or boca burgers or veggie wraps. When we were pressed for time, we'd run across the street to Blimpie's for a vegi max. The nice thing was that we could go into any restaurant with the meat-eating delegates and continue conversations over meals.

So, it's becoming easier to eat an ethically principled diet all the time. I hope that will make more people consider making the switch.

[NMMNG]

3. Kudos

And if prices are a problem you may find that bulk buying is the way to go. If you can get a Costco membership they sell their Kirkland soymilk in cases of 12 quarts for about $11.49 . I stock up that way and save big time rather than paying anywhere from $1.50 to more than $2 per quart for other brands.

[peacebuzzard]

4. hello and congrats!

to a new beginning!

It actually becomes much easier to shop! Just one stop in the produce, over to the grains, (bread, pasta etc.) and when you decide, to the soy area. Done!

P.S. I grappled with the soy/milk issue for a while, thought I could never give it up. When I gave it a whirl, I never went back and away went many health problems!!

[CrispyQ]

5. Congrats on a compassionate & environmentally friendly decision!

It's a journey. You make the best decision you can each moment & don't beat yourself up if you slip up.

I ate Jr. Mints for years after becoming veg. I never would have guessed that a peppermint/chocolate candy would contain an animal product: GELATIN!! The anti-Christ of vegetarianism. ;)

Good luck to you!!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[More Than A Feeling]

6. Gelatin, eh? Hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the heads up!

And thank you to everyone for your warm comments!

[Goblinmonger]

10. Damn you, Gelatin, you are everywhere.

When my daughter was in preschool, they gave her some yogurt (they knew she was ovo-lacto vegetarian) and she said she didn't want it because it wasn't vegetarian. The teacher said "Sure it is, honey, it's just yogurt." My daugher (4 at the time) told her to read the label and see if there was gelatin in it. Sure enough there was (my daughter LOVED--and still loves--yogurt, so she knew which brands we ate at home). She's 14 now and her "smartiness" is causing more and more problems for us.

[Dervill Crow]

7. I've found that even eating with carnivores, there's usually other stuff I can fill up on.

I've always been a meatlover, but it has zero appeal now. Cheese was hard for me to give up, but in the past week or so there has been a show on the History Channel or Discovery about how it is made. No more brie for me.

I friend of mine advised me rather than saying I'm a vegan or a vegetarian, just say, "I don't like to eat meat," if anyone comments on my diet.

[More Than A Feeling]

8. Bratwurst was my favorite treat, since I got it so rarely.

Like you, i have no desire to eat it now.

Some people I've talked to think that "meat" means just cow. I'm pretty sure it means chicken and fish, too. Anything that isn't a plant or from a plant.

[Dervill Crow]

9. Yup. I actually have always had a harder time eating poultry and fish.

I am SO not a farm girl.