It’s been about a year since I posted about how I was thinking of quitting being a vegetarian. It’s something I had been thinking about for a while. To say I only intended to eat vegetarian for a week, I did it for a pretty long time. A year and 11 months.
Most of the comments I got about the post were pretty positive and saying that I should do the best for me.
I didn’t start eating meat for a long time after that because I wanted to be sure. There was also something inside me that made me feel like a bit of a quitter if I decided to start eating meat again. Even though I knew it wasn’t going to be something I did for the rest of my life.
I thought about it long and hard. For around 8 months.
I decided I was going to start eating meat again early December. I put a date on it about 3 weeks in the future to make sure I was prepared mentally. I know that sounds weird, but I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it.
Would I feel upset? Would I find it difficult? Would I find myself with a slab of meat in front of me and be unable to eat it? Would I feel guilty?
It’s so weird, even writing this, I do feel bad. I know that most people eat meat. I visit many of your blogs and you review restaurants that includes meat in your meal. But for some reason, going from vegetarian to eating meat feels like something that might leave me open to attack. Although most people that don’t support the animal industry and all the vegetarians and vegans I know are very respectful of other peoples views, there are those that are not so respectful and can be vicious about it. Sadly, those are the ones that are most vocal.
That’s why I didn’t talk about it back in December. I was afraid of getting negative comments. But I’m not afraid of that anymore and feel it’s something I want to talk about because it wasn’t an easy decision to make. I hope that it helps other people in similar situations feel at ease with whatever they decide to do.
That’s not to say I think that YES, TOTALLY, YOU SHOULD EAT MEAT AGAIN.
It’s more that if you want to eat meat again, that’s okay and though you might feel a lot of pressure or that you are going back on your commitment, you have to also remember that only have one life and if something isn’t working for you, you have the choice to change your mind.
People will always have opinions on what you do, but you have to decide what sits right with you. Does killing an animal so you can eat it make you feel sick? Or are you able to deal with it without guilt? It guess one thing to do is to inform yourself of the industry of all animal products because it’s very easy to separate a packet of minced beef in the supermarket from a cow that was once wandering around a field minding its own business.
Don’t be ignorant towards it. But do be sure.
So, anyway. I decided I was going to eat meat again and my boyfriend made me a lamb dinner. I thought I would be nervous to eat it and would feel bad about it. To be honest, I didn’t feel anything. It felt like I had never stopped eating meat. I expected to feel ill like many people say will happen when your body isn’t used to processing meat, but I didn’t. I did do a little research which told me it takes quite a few years without meat to be at the point where your will basically get the shits. So I was cool.
Another thing that helped me is that I told people before that I was going to be stopping, which helped when I sat at work and ate a bacon sandwich. Nobody was critical of me at all.
I’m really glad I spent some time in my life as a vegetarian, but I’m also glad that I stopped and can enjoy food again.
So there you have it. I am no longer a vegetarian. Openly.
I totally relate to this. I was a veggie for four years and then I’d had enough. Turns out I just don’t like chicken. I think when I became a veggie at 17 that I was trying to conform and put a label on something, when really I just was a girl who occasionally ate some meat. It’s much easier to just eat what you want when you want, without a label.
I was vegetarian for 8 years before making the decision to go back to eating some meat and fish. 5 years of that and I still feel odd about it, but it definitely works out better for me!
I think it’s amazing that you are speaking openly about this, as although I don’t ever see myself going back to eating meat; I think it’s great that there is someone out there saying ” i tried it, it wasn’t for me” because I know you won’t be the only one! I completely understand your being wary about sharing your decision too, which is a shame but I’m glad you did.
I’ve been lucky in that a plant based diet has been absolutely perfect for me and I probably enjoy food more as a veggie than ever before, but at the end of the say you have to do what’s right for you regardless of what anyone else thinks 🙂
Love always,
Anne
I think the main thing is to be happy with your choices. If you are happy eating meat, then it’s nobody’s business what you do.
I obviously can’t relate to that, as you know, I’m vegetarian and I’ll always be a vegetarian. Beside the core reasons, I find meat not pleasant at all. I enjoy my food a lot, so many wonderful things to try. For me, deciding to stop eating meat was one of the best things I did. But that is me and my story. It didn’t work for you and you stopped, that’s fine too. Some people will always make comments, if you eat meat or if you don’t, leave them be.
I applaud you for speaking openly about this. I haven’t had the courage to talk about my food choices openly and in full on my blog because I’ve seen the backlash you can receive when you have a different diet to others.. Nowadays I try to eat food where I know every single ingredient that has gone into it, I’m moving away from processed foods and my body is loving me for it! I feel I could go vegetarian but I’d want to do more research before I did the switch. I think it’s about what make your body happy 🙂 Em xx
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I think it’s great you’ve written about this on your blog! And I applaud you for trying vegetarianism in the first place. Horses for courses, my granddad always says; some of us can be veggies, some of us can’t. Life is too short to worry about what you eat. I say if you like meat, eat it. If you don’t, don’t!
I think people should be allowed to eat however they want! Some people need meat in their systems, others don’t. My sister was vegetarian for about 9 years, but due to a medical issue, the Dr insited she started eating meat again. She had a bacon sandwhich now and then to help with the issue, but she’ll never fully come back to the ‘meat-side’ as she doesn’t agree with it! Each to their own, I say 🙂 Tania Michele xx
I applaud you for speaking openly about this, Corinne, each to their own and we MUST be respectful to other’s choices. I have gotten a hate comment on IG before by a vegan because I posted a home cooked steak dinner but I just blocked her instead of giving her what she wants, a petty argument. You just can’t win with people like that.
I’m so glad you wrote this. I decided to go from vegetarian to vegan last year and honestly, I’ve never felt so miserable. I don’t enjoy food anymore, I dread going out to eat because there are hardly any, or more often than not no vegan options in restaurants and my stomach is constantly bloated and painful because of soya. I’ve expressed my feelings about not wanting to be vegan anymore and whilst most people such as my family and close friends have said I should do what is right for me, I still can’t help feeling guilty about wanting to eat dairy again.
I know I would be so much happier eating vegetarian again as opposed to vegan, but I can’t help but feel guilty after seeing films/documentaries about the dairy industry and I just don’t know what to do.
I was vegetarian for about four years before I started eating meat again, and though there was a little guilt to begin with (and still occasional flashes of it now!), I think I made the right decision for myself and I’m sure you have too!
How did u tell yr friends and classmates about it. Honestly the vegetarian diet makes me feel dizzy and light headed all the time and i think i should stop it…. But idk how to tell from classmates and friends as most of my classmates have already recognised me as a vegetarian
Your honesty is really amazing and brave so well done. For me I could never go back to eating meat. The reasons for being vegetarian in the first place far outweigh anything as little as a few moments taste on my lips. In fact I’m aiming to be vegan but finding certain aspects very difficult. Either way I am happy with my diet.
I think as long as people know where their food comes from and what the animal goes through to end up on there plate then that is totally fine if they want to eat it be it a chicken, cow, dog etc. Informed decisions all the way!
Glad to see lots of respectful comments! I stopped being vegetarian because it wasn’t convenient. I completely understand the people who will say ‘it’s not convenient to an animal to have its motehr ripped away and killed!’. I get that, which is why I see vegetarianism in my future, but not now. I missed the ease of going out for lunch and picking something off the menu without having to ask about its ingredients. Every restaurant seemed to have three options: goats cheese tart, stuffed mushrooms, or plain tomato pasta!
I found this really interesting because as a vegetarian, who wants to become a vegan, I have always thought that there was no way I can go back on my decision partly because of my pride. However, even though right now I am certain I will not be changing my diet I do not believe in making people feel bad about their choices, especially if they are fully educated on the matter. Although I don’t agree with the animal industry and people’s decision to eat meat I understand that it is everyone’s choice how they decide to live it and I wish you the best of luck with your endeavours!
Loved reading this post! You Did a brave thing and should be proud. I can’t relate I’m afraid because I love meat and couldn’t go without it, but you’re the first person I’ve seen who has confidently gone back to eating meat and I’m sure your blog post has helped and inspired lots of other people who were afraid to do the same!
Well done!
X
P.s I love your blog!