In early August I watch the movie Forks Over Knives. It was right around that time that I decided to participate in a week long meatless challenge with some of my friends. My whole life I’ve always been one of those people that claimed there was no way I could be a vegetarian. I made it through the challenge no problem and decided to continue with it.
**After the 1 week challenge was up, I decided that I would still eat seafood. I’ve never referred to myself as a vegetarian or a pescetarian.
Dane is an awesome cook. I thought I had some skills before we got together but I quickly realized that I had nothing on him. So, he does a majority of the cooking. He also loves meat. His eyes light up at the mention of steak and if it was up to him, I’m sure his pizza would be layered with pepperoni and sausage. Over the past 4 months, he has been amazing at coming up with different dishes (primarily dinner) that don’t include meat. Even though he was still eating meat, most of the time we would eat the same thing for dinner.
He made this on a whim last night. Lightly breaded tilapia along with some veggies and baby potatoes. It was delish!
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not creative at coming up with new dishes. We tend to eat a lot of the same things over and over again. Up until this week, I hadn’t really thought about meat much. The site of it didn’t gross me out, I didn’t criticize anyone else for eating it and I seemed content. Until this week. For some reason, I’ve been missing it these last few days.
Here are a few of the reasons I’m considering adding meat back into my diet a few days a week.
- I have been extremely tired. Even before I had surgery, I would sit down on the couch after dinner and be asleep within a matter of minutes. I just don’t feel like I have the same energy level as I had before.
- I’ve been eating a lot more carbs and sweets in particular. I don’t think this is a direct result of me not eating meat, just something I’ve noticed.
- Planning meals seems to be a lot more difficult. Dane’s parents were in town for a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving and every day every one was concerned about what I would or wouldn’t be able to eat. So very nice of them to even consider me, but I hated that everyone didn’t just eat whatever they wanted.
Those are just a few of the things that come to mind right away. I miss chicken most of all because we used to eat it all of the time. I miss throwing a few chicken breasts and some salsa in the crock pot and calling it a day and I miss the awesome Buffalo Chicken Salads that Dane used to make.
So, that’s where I’m at right now. I think I’m going to try adding it back in a few days a week and see how I feel. See if my energy levels increase at all.
Opinions? Thoughts?
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Yeah I mean Im sure meat isnt the greatest thing but I think lean meats are fine, espically for one or two meals a day
Lauryn recently posted..Skinny in the bed and a chubby in the kitchen
I’m on just over 4 months of sort of being meat free. I also don’t say I don’t eat meat. I do eat seafood as well, just like you. What I’ve noticed is I am also more tired. I know I am not getting enough Iron. I have decided to not beat myself up over if I do eat it once and a great while. I had turkey on Thanksgiving. I mistakenly ate pepperoni twice. I tried the chicken noodle soup I made the other night….I needed to know if the seasoning was right. Now when I taste meat, I don’t love it. It’s there and I sometimes miss what it used to taste like to me but I actually don’t like the flavor as much as I used to. You might find that to be true for you too
I figure that if I’m eating meat even 1 time a week only, that’s a lot better than eating meat twice a day like I used to be. Something is better than nothing!
Sarah J recently posted..Our attempts at a family picture
Well said..thank you!
Kim recently posted..Missing Meat
You need to do what’s best for you! Listen to your body. I will personally never give up meat. I know that it’s part of my lifestyle. I also read in a book by a nutritionist, who used to be a vegetarian herself that after 18 years of practice, *every single* female client she saw had low vitamin D, dry skin, poor thyroid and autoimmune functions and often suffer from depression.
Of course, that is a generalization from one practitioner. A lot of people can eat heatlhfully and feel satisfied as a vegetarian. So it’s just a matter of finding that right place for you. ;0-)
Carrie @ Season It Already! recently posted..My Birchbox Contents – December 2012
It doesn’t sound like your heart is in being completely meat free. That’s totally fine! You should eat what you enjoy! If you are worried about the treatment of the animals which you are eating, try grass fed beef and free range chickens. They are treated very humanely and might make you feel better about your decisions.
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