What, you thought I would really just let it end like that?!
I learned a lot about vegetarianism/pescetarianism and about myself during this 41 day/almost 6 week challenge. I mean, really, a LOT.
- Vegetarian diets are very gassy.
- It isn’t impossible to eat out (as a vegetarian), but it is a big hassle unless you’re OK being “that girl” who has to ask a million and two questions about every dish that you maybe could eat… this will make you appreciate being a non-allergic/non-restricted person if you go back to eating meat. Also, even though it isn’t impossible to eat out, there will be excursions with your meat-eating friends that you just can’t justify attending because there will be absolutely nothing for you to eat.
- There is such a thing as too many vegetables, and it will make you appreciate the fact that you’re probably eating at home because of the previous paragraph… therefore much closer to the comfort of your own bathroom.
- It is virtually impossible to subscribe to a low carb ethic. You need carbs to fill you up or balance out your meal (because there IS such a thing as too many vegetables – just trust me on that one, ok?) a little bit.
- Vegetarian diets are very gassy.
- Especially initially, as people find out you’ve given up meat, expect people you don’t know very well to say jerkfaced things to you and/or act like you just announced your intentions to raise your babies, conceived with an alien, alone. “What do you MEAN, you’ve given up meat? WHY?!” Yes, even my temporary hiatus had people reacting like this. People that I didn’t know very well and wouldn’t have told about the hiatus except they were around while I was struggling to find something to eat at a gathering at someone’s home.
- Also, the first thing people will tell you if you say “I don’t feel so well,” (if they know you don’t eat meat) is to eat meat. Or take supplements. Sometimes both. Even after you explain that you won’t eat meat or take supplements, they will tell you that you are silly and you can’t have it all. I did. You can (if you so choose).
- Vegetarian foods or all vegetable dishes tend to be a bit bland and/or boring. They lack a lot of umami (I realize I didn’t have a lot of tomatoes during this time – they’re not in season, and contain a lot of umami flavors), and…
- I now understand why my vegetarian buddy, and why a lot of vegetarian foods, are spicy or meant to be spicy. It kicks things up and keeps the palate interested.
- Vegetarian diets are very gassy.
- It is possible to eat a completely vegetarian meal and feel not just full, not just satisfied, but completely sated and happy.
- I don’t need to eat meat at/with every meal, though I don’t think I’ll begin a strict vegetarian diet – in fact, this weekend promises to be a meat-atarian one – but I can definitely stand to start dropping meat from a few meals each week.
- Keeping vegetarian tends to require a lot of advance planning in order to eat well and nutritiously, otherwise you’re SOL and have to resort to eating pizza or soup or other random crap that isn’t healthy, like french fries (which may or may not be fried in oil that has also been used for non-vegetarian foods), onion rings (ditto), or piecing together meals from the most random of things.
- The general food world is not ready to be completely vegetarian friendly.
- Vegetarian diets? They are extremely gassy.
I’m sure there’s more, but I’m going to leave it at that for now.
Have a wonderful Easter weekend!!! I hope everyone relaxes, eats well (that’s always!), and has a fabulous time.
keite says
Gassy? Really? I’ve been a vegetarian for over 15 years, and my meat-eating friends produce far more frequent (and by far more unpleasant) gas than I or my veg friends do. Maybe your body didn’t have enough time to adjust to a new diet.
Nicholas says
15 years… that explains it, your body is just accustomed to it by now (as explained by alton brown on pantry raids: the lentil lol)
SkippyMom says
Well done my friend! 😀 I have a question – Did you save money doing this? I find if I cut out meat from our weekly budget [2/3 times a week] I can save a lot of money.
Anonymous says
First, who cares about having more gas or not? Second, there are a ton of restaurants with vegan food–American, Italian, Mexican, Indian, Middle Eastern, etc. Third, vegetables is just one food group of many. If all you are eating is vegetables, you need to re-examine the food pyramid. Yes, you eat a lot of carbs and you should. Carbohydrates are essential to your body. Furthermore, if friends are mean to you because of your diet, then they are not your friends. People who tell you to eat meat whenever you don’t feel well, need to go back to high school health class. Continuing, vegetarian/vegan dishes are not bland as you claim. They are far from it. Check out the restaurants I just mentioned. Go to many websites such as tryveg for great vegan recipes. As for your claim that vegetarian diets require a lot of planning to be nutritionally sound, I have to say no additonal planning is needed. The same amount of planning should be done if you eat meat or not.
Meat and dairy are not healthy. They lead to heart disease, diabetes, high chloresterol, etc. It is harmful to our environment. It causes pollution and uses up our earth’s resources more than meat.
William says
If anyone is interested in switching to a plant-based diet, check out http://www.tryveg.com, http://www.vegcooking.com, and http://www.hsus.org/recipes for delicious recipes.
Gar says
Although I’m a pescetarian, I’m always part of the ‘everything in moderation’ club. If you like meat, it’s ok to have a few ‘meat’ meals a week, but just mainly concentrate on more greens mostly of the time.
I don’t think vegetarian meals are bland at all. You should check out the restaurant “dirty candy”. Heard it serves some awesome veggie dishes and definitely not bland at all. Fried hush puppies anyone? 🙂
Use natural spices. That’s how I spice up my dishes. As for the gas problem, that’s probably because you’re not used to comsuming so much fibrous food suddenly, so it’s just something to let your body get used to.
A vegetarian lifestyle doesn’t translate into a junk food junkie. I think the options are definitely out there. Like the previous bloggers, a lot of cuisines feature delicious vegetarian dishes. Hats off to you for taking this challenge though. 🙂
Ange says
6 & 7 are the only ones I have found true in my experience.
Niko says
Hmmm.. I am surprised at your list. I suppose if you are full-on vegan and have no meat of any kind in your diet you have to work at it a bit but I think you overstate how hard it is to get your daily protein and other requirements as a veggie. If you include fish you are set… I’ll have to go back through your posts… Next challenge: Eating desserts only for a week 🙂
BS says
congrats on making it!
and seriously, can someone investigate this gassy thing, because it is TRUE.
Nicholas says
Niko, I tried that… but for 3 weeks, and let’s just say it doesn’t end well
Anonymous says
Nice! What an interesting task. Thanks for documenting and sharing. I agree with you that when eating veggies and only veggies those carbs will help shut your stomach from grumbling. On Good Friday I went to BFs parents’ for dinner. They found out I wasn’t eating meat that day and cooked alot of veggies (little did they know, I COULD have eaten seafood but BF failed to inform them). I kept eating and eating since the veggies weren’t filling me up. Finally I piled a mound of rice on my bowl and downed it to make the hunger stop.. and yes there is such a thing as too much vegetables. I had a very “uncomfortable” night out afterwards…!
Lizz
mesogeia says
I have been on Orthodox Lenten diet (no meat, no dairy, no eggs, no fish, but crustaceans are ok) for about 6 weeks by now and I cannot agree more with you about the gassiness. My husband is experiencing the same. I wonder if it gets less gassy when we get used to the vegetarian/vegan diet.
I am happy to be able to return to omnivorous diet after the Orthodox Easter.
Rochelle says
🙂