Just wanted to say thanks and lend my encouragement. Even just by posting in this sub, you guys are making a difference.
A little over two years ago, I just sorta stopped enjoying my meals. There was this little voice in the back of my mind that kept questioning the ethics of eating meat, and I eventually realized that doing so just didn't fit in with who I was becoming as a person. I decided to give vegetarianism a try, and I haven't looked back since.
But when it came to giving up eggs and cheese, I just couldn't fathom it. It seemed like a huge overreaction to me. However, as I was browsing through the veg subreddits, trying to find new recipes and such, I noticed that r/vegan had many more subscribers than r/vegetarian, so I started hanging out here more.
Reading all your posts here, I learned a ton about the egg and dairy industries that I'd never known before, and it wasn't long before that little voice in the back of my mind started up about any and all animal products.
I made it my New Year's resolution to go vegan, and Wednesday will officially mark 6 months without any (to the best of my knowledge) animal products in my life.
You guys have been incredibly friendly and helpful. I come here every day, and every day I learn something new. Five years ago I would have laughed at the thought of even a single meal without meat or dairy in it, but thanks to all the posts here I've given it all up. So keep it up guys. Your posts convinced me to go vegan, and they'll convince others in the future as well.
Posted Jun 29, 2015, 5:01 PM UTC
Thanks for posting! Congrats on the 6-month mark. I am just entering my second month, so every day still feels like a major milestone to me. Stay planty!
Thanks! The first couple months were hard for me, cause so much of my vegetarian diet was based around eggs and cheese. I was way more terrified to give up cheese than I ever was about meat, but just the other day I realized that I hadn't even thought about cheese in a couple months. Good luck with your new diet! Keep hitting those milestones!
Cheese was a small but important staple to make my meals more flavorful... I've since learned about seasonings and other ways to make flavor! I don't even miss it. I don't really remember what it tasted like now.
I wasn't vegetarian, but I've never eaten pork and I only ate red meat a few times a year. No eggs.. not really big on milk, but chicken was a big staple for me. That was my crutch. I still feel anxious about eliminating chicken entirely but I kind of figure... well... I basically haven't eaten red meat for 5+ years, so... all those things (iron, etc) are things that I haven't been getting in chicken anyway. So... I already have this track record behind me of not eating cow... and I'm okay.. never crave it or feel like I need it... and chicken doesn't appear to be very nutritious anyway... soooooooooooooooooooooo I'll probably be fine...
That's how I soothe myself.
Chicken is pretty bland and the texture is easy to recreate. What specifically do you miss about it?
I actually don't miss the flavor or anything. I have a guilty pleasure for chicken nuggets and I found an alternative that really satisfies that desire, so I think I'm good. It's just the psychological aspect of not eating meat and really relying on plants for everything.
Reducing consumption doesn't make me anxious.. because there is still consumption... but absolutely no consumption? That just makes me feel a little anxious to make the full commitment. Honestly, I don't think I would be able to eat meat again, unless it was a survival scenario. So if this doesn't work out for my body and I get sick... well that's what my life will be, then. It doesn't help that there are numerous stories of "been vegan 10 years - finally had to eat meat again" without much of an explanation as to why exactly these people have had to go back to eating meat.