Lovelyish

Nope, you’re not a bad veggie. Maybe you’re craving because you’re actually missing some vital nutrients that meat provides. Usually, that happens.

I eat meat but only about 1-2 times per week. It’s usually chicken as well. So I try to help those poor cows out. However, I cannot resist an In-n-Out burger.

I’m not a vegetarian, but burgers gross me out due to the possible 100 different cows mashed up into ground beef, which is similar to bologna or hotdogs. I highly prefer the delicious and tender, kobe steak

dude, i thought i was the only one. sometimes i crave chicken.
occasionally i’ll indulge in a small piece of it like a boneless wing
from work (i work at applebee’s).

i’m a vegetarian that still eats fish and seafood. some people criticize
me and say i’m not a “real” vegetarian. whatever. i don’t think it
makes you a bad person to crave it; i think it makes you that much
better of a person that you don’t put that stuff in your body.

Mmmm, this entire thing made me want a thick, juicy steak so badly.

I don’t think you’re being a bad vegetarian. You could be deficient in some nutrients meat tends to provide. I’m lactose intolerant so if I’m not taking Calcium and B vitamins I’m almost always prowling for dairy.

Or, it seems you’ve only been a vegetarian for a short time so maybe it’s because of that.

Omg, I want ribs now. (is not a vegie)

I don’t think it makes you bad at being a vegetarian, but I cannot relate. Among my own reasons for choosing a vegetarian diet is that I hate the taste of meat, so I don’t crave it. 

That’s not a bad thing! My friend is a vegetarian as well and admits to me that sometimes she wants a bite of my steak, haha. I could never do it. Even just seeing livestock grazing in the field I think about how tasty they’d be smothered in spices and thrown on the grill.

You could always go on a modified diet where you eat chicken or fish/seafood a couple times a week (for a couple weeks) to fulfill whatever cravings your body is going through.  Like others have said, you might be deficient in some key nutrients, which is why your body is craving meat.  A trip to the doctor (not just the health center) to have a blood test done might clear up the issue for you =)  They DO say that you SHOULD consult a doctor before embarking on any major diet changes anyway, to make sure that you don’t end up depriving yourself of anything essential.

You aren’t alone. I’ve been a vegetarian for two to three years, and I keep having a reoccuring dream where I am eating, chewing and spitting out a string strip of turkey. It’s irritating…especially since I used to really like turkey.

story of my lifeeee. except i dont really crave red meat, i crave chicken once in a while. especially when i see my friends having chicken ceasar salad :/

No, you’re not bad! I do the SAME THING, and now I only eat chicken every so often. Sometimes, I can’t resist a little bit of red meat, but, on average, it’s like maybe twice a year. 

No you’re not a bad vegetarian, you’re just not in a place that has enough vegetarian options for you to feel satisfied with your lifestyle change.

I feel sympathy for the animals. Some of you may be rolling your eyes, saying, “Whatever, they’re going to die anyway!”, but if I continue on my vegetarian path, I will save 100 lives this year! I don’t agree with that at all, how exactly are you saving lives by not eating meat? The animal is already dead and any meat that wasn’t bought will just be thrown in the trash.

Maybe you could eat meat whenever you’re craving it, if you’re willing, and maybe the cravings will go away? I’m not a vegetarian at all, but I despise meat and I can’t eat most of it without gagging or feeling sick, same with milk and eggs. So I can’t relate about the cravings, but anyways, yeah, maybe giving in with organic meat or whatever it’s called would work? Good luck!

I agree with you completely on the meat industry! I am so glad others care about this too! <3
I especially can’t stand the way chickens are being treated (especially for KFC and restaurants like that!). I’m no crazy PETA representative, but come on, that’s so wrong and so cruel it would break anyone’s heart to watch that.
I eat meat sometimes though… I will buy organic (expensive, sadly) meat, maybe once a month. Or any meat that I know was raised and killed humanely. Other than that I avoid meat and I’m vegetarian. I guess you can’t really call me a vegetarian lol, but you get the idea. 

Buy or create vegetarian meat substitutes with seitan, TVP, etc. to satisfy your cravings (in moderation — the processed stuff isn’t very good for you).

What it sounds like to me is that you don’t necessarily crave the meat itself, but rather the sauces and other things that go along with it (buffalo sauce, red wine sauce, mushroom sauce).  I quickly discovered that was the case for me.  I absolutely love things like barbecue sauce and buffalo sauce, and I find veggie things to put them on.  I don’t miss the meat.

I’ve been a vegetarian for over 5 years, and I’ve accidentally tasted meat here and there.  (It’s always a mix up from a restaurant.)  It’s gross and it makes me nauseous if I swallow it.  I don’t know how I ever liked meat, especially bacon.  My stomach and taste buds have changed so significantly that even if wanted to eat meat, I wouldn’t be able to without serious discomfort.  You may find you become the same way after a couple years.  Your cravings will diminish over time.

The problem you’re having is exactly why I’ve never managed to stay vegetarian longer than 4 months – and I’ve tried, like, 8 times. Lol. So no, you’re not a bad vegetarian. You’re a much better one than I’ve ever been.

It does sound like you might be deficient in a nutrient.  Being veggie, especially if you are dependent on foods that come from a university cafeteria could leave you  deficient in protein, iron, and vitamin B12.  I also think it depends on how much you like meat. I like, but I don’t love meat, except for sea food.  I don’t think that there is anything wrong with having some meat every once in a while especially when you are trying to transition.

I think you just miss the TEXTURE of meat. I am a vegetarian too and guess what is just as satisfying as meat? Seitan (you can barbeque it, marinate it… it is SO good) tofu comes in second.. but i think you need to try soy protein substitutes instead of just filling up on vegetables and calling it a day.

@lovelyxbones_x3@xanga - You’re pescatarian if you eat fish but not other meats. Vegetarians don’t eat meat, and vegans don’t eat any animal products.

To the OP: try buying veggie burgers and vegetarian meats if you’re craving meat. There’s usually coupons on the official websites of Boca burger and Morningstar Farms products. They also have ground crumbles, “chicken” nuggets, corn dogs, etc. I’ve been a vegetarian for about 4 years now, so I don’t really crave meat. It wasn’t that hard for me, for some reason (I used to love meat though)

I agree with vegetarian meat substitutes.  But also, if your concern is the meat industry and whatnot, why not find options to buy your meat from direct sources.  Granted it’s more expensive, but if you buy it from people who hunt the meat themselves or sources that buy from very clear sources, at least you’ll know its natural.  But maybe your moral reasonings are too strong to do that.  

if u crave meat go to a vegetarian restaurant. im not sure how many vegetarian restaurants there are out there but there was one where i used to live. it was a chinese vegetarian restaurant and they had dishes that you could find at a regular chinese restaurant except they would use fake meat instead of real meat. i tried their chicken nugget and it tasted like real chicken nugget. 

If you’re craving it, you need it. Meat isn’t chocolate or ice cream; you need protein, you need animal fat. Vegetarians need to be extremely cautious of what they eat; don’t rely on junk food and such.

Going by your concerns, your being vegan is about the meat industry, so I’d just buy free-range meat if I were you. Sacrificing your health when there are options available to you doesn’t make sense.

I’ve been a vegetarian now for about 5 years now, and in all that time, I don’t think that my meat cravings were worse than in the first year or so of being a vegetarian. I’ve now gotten to a point that meat no longer really does anything for me. My husband often make chicken, and thinking that it smells good, I will occasionally steal a small bite. Inevitably, it will not taste nearly as good as what I will have been expecting, and the texture will completely turn me off. I never realized how distinctive the texture of meat really is until I stopped eating it. Anyway, all that is to say, ride out the cravings, and within a few months, they should pass or at least subside to the point where you’re not dreaming of cheeseburgers. Good luck!

I’ve been vegetarian for about 3 years now, and I still feel cravings for cheeseburgers, and meat pies lol.
Surely it’s just natural – wanting something you can’t have etc.
I find the reasons I don’t eat meat, to be more important though than a cheeseburger and manage to stay on the vegetarian-wagon

btw some countries now have a product in the supermarket called “quorn” which are in the freezer – basically a fungi is used instead of meat in these “sausage rolls”, “Lasagne” etc, and honestly I think it tastes nearly spot on! so something like that could help your cravings.

Also being vegetarian certainly doesn’t mean just pastas.. try cooking and being adventurous??

I’m a vegetarian too, although it’s mostly because meat really grosses me out. I mean, I can’t think of biting into a formerly living creature’s flesh and not be creeped out about it. But I sometimes crave meat too, and have had dreams about eating meat when I was particularly deficient in protein.

I’m not a vegetarian but 90% of the meat I do eat is organic…as in, I or my husband shoot it myself (deer, turkey, fish [catch, not shoot hah]). I have my red meat, lean meat, and reaaaally lean meat that way. All fresh and chemical free! When we buy chicken or sausage, we go organic. I don’t mind paying extra for keeping the “extras” out of my body.

There’s a lot of products out there that taste like meat but really aren’t meat.
Like veggie burgers or vegetarian black bean burgers
although you might want to try out a few different brands because some of them don’t taste that good
I personally like the vegetarian black bean burgers a lot, and beans contain a lot of protein so it’s a win-win for vegetarians
I’m not even vegetarian, but I have a lot of vegetarian friends who tell me these things.

I don’t think I can help you with your steak cravings or short ribs craving though, sorry.

However, there are a lot of vegetarian foods out there that taste good, if not better than meat.
You might want to look into recipes from different countries around the world because I find that other countries tend to have more recipes containing no meat compared to American cuisines.

No you aren’t a bad veggie. I applaud you for going vegetarian…I wish I could…although we’ve started introducing substitutes into our house. I could never go vegetarian…although I wish I could.

your not a bad veggie, for craving meat. but a bad veggie if you are not finding good healthy replacements to meat and making sure you are getting all your vitamins etc. 

find really healthy equally tasty foods/meals that dont contain meat. start craving something that doesnt contain animal
or if you really want meat… have meat! just eat organic, free range, locally farmed stuff maybe? 
goodluck!

Before I write, let me give you my credentials: Several years ago, and for quite some time, I was a hardcore vegan food blogger and activist, to the point where I was literally offered a job with PETA. Since July 2009 I’ve been eating meat. I’m on the path to becoming a nutritionist.

When I was vegan, I never “craved” meat, but that’s because I was eating plenty of legumes and tofu, which accounted for my protein intake. A common misconception with vegetarians and vegans is that they don’t get enough protein. The fact is, only 1 of every 10 calories you consume needs to be a form of protein. In other words, an average woman needs 1,600-1,900 calories per day — of that, only 160-190 calories need to be from protein.  If you have a couple slices of grilled tofu for dinner, you’re hitting that mark. 

As far as using meat substitutes – don’t use them. I know that you’re ethically against eating meat, but here’s the truth:  artificial meat substitutes are worse for your body and the planet than eating meat. I know that a lot of people are going to get upset at my saying this, but it’s true. Big corporations like Con Agra and Kellogg’s are the makers of the meat substitutes — the same companies that contribute to animal abuse are taking your dollars. In addition, the isolated soy protein that makes up the better part of the faux meat has been attributed to cancer (http://www.myvegancookbook.com/blog/?p=117). Some also contain Casein, which is essentially a food safe “glue” that holds the proteins together. Also, imitation meats made from seitan (wheat gluten) are bad for your body as well. Many people are allergic to gluten, but some studies have shown that increased amounts of gluten (such as seitan) are bad for everyone. http://www.basic-keys-to-natural-health.com/Gluten-free-information.html

As someone who is making a conscious effort to improve your diet, settling for mass-produced heavily processed foods seems like taking a step back.
My advice, as a former vegan and current nutrition student is this: if you’re craving meat, eat it. There are plenty of humane sources for meat out there. Talk to a local butcher or farmer. I buy all of my meat at a local butcher shop. All of the meats come from locally raised animals that are treated humanely (cage free/free range) and are never given antibiotics or hormones. All of my eggs come from a local farm that is literally 15 minutes from my house.
Go to http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/csa/csa.shtml and find a local community-supported agriculture group. They can provide you information on locally grown produce and ethical meat solutions. 
I know that eating meat would be a big step for you, and certainly take my advice for what it is, but I thought as a former vegan with nutrition knowledge, I could give you an unbiased opinion.

@admslvrsn@xanga - Thank-you for the great information.  And I completely agree about supporting local agriculture.  Go local and support your area farmers!  Small family farms are practically extinct in this country because they usually don’t make much money or get snuffed out by huge factory farms and hog confinements that raise hundreds, sometimes thousands of animals at a time so they can make the most money for the least cost.  There are still people out there that raise animals on smaller scales and in ethical ways, and supporting their efforts makes it possible for them to continue doing it

I don’t think that’s bad, I think it’s normal.  I’m toying around with the idea of trying to go vegetarian again, but the problem is that it allows me to justify myself in eating boatloads of carbs, which is where my real problem lies.  I went veggie for 5 months in college and actually gained weight because of that.

I am also disgusted by the big corporation meat industry (fast food, chain grocery stores, mass slaughterhouses, etc.).  And I am a big softie when it comes to animals; if I think about the concept of meat while I”m eating it, I usually can’t finish it.  I grew up on a farm that raises hogs and cattle, so the only meat I eat comes from there.  It tastes better and is higher quality than most stuff you can get at a grocery store, and I know for a fact that it only came from 1 animal and I know it was raised humanely (I even used to help feed the baby calves with bottles and always petted them and treated them nicely, lol).  I try to avoid fast food burgers at all costs and I absolutely will not buy hamburger from the store.  So if I ever ended up moving out of state, I probably would become vegetarian or do some research to find another source for high quality, humanely-raised meat.

Your not a bad vegetarian, its just that humans are omnivores so of course you are going to crave some meat here and there. Since you have decided to be a vegetarian, though, try what some of the other posters have suggested and find some healthy alternatives that give you the flavor and texture of the meats you crave.

Dont listen to these other people saying that you have to eat meat for protein. What if you were to crave Taco Bell everyday? Does that mean your body REALLY needs freakin Taco Bell? No.

There are soo many meat substitutes, some have even more protein than actual meat! Morningstar veggieburgers baked in the oven for 20 minutes are DELICIOUS. I don’t know if you enjoy tofu.. I didn’t enjoy it until I learned to cook it myself. Usually when restaurants or Chinese places cook it, they leave it soft, which to me is disgusting. It makes me feel like Im just eating a hunk of fat off of a steak. If you cook it yourself you can give it a harder texture, somewhat like turkey.
I’ve been a vegetarian for 6 years now, and my meat cravings have gone away completely. Yes, it does take awhile.. but if you stick with it it will happen (: Good luck!

OH! I don’t know if youre in the NY metro area, but if so stop by Montclair NJ. Theres this AWESOME vegan Chinese restaurant called Veggie Heaven. Its the only contradiction to my previous statement of restaurants sucking at using tofu as meat. It was so real that it actually weirded me out a little bit to continue eating it XD

I eat a paleo/primal diet.  The only beef I consume is from free-range grass fed cows (yes it’s more expensive so I don’t eat beef too often), my poultry is free range.  There are ways to eat as friendly as possible and by supporting these farmers who treat their animals well makes a difference.  If everyone today decided not to support industries that abuse animals (factory farms) then they would start making changes quick… things are already starting to change.  We can make a difference

Does anyone care?

You could try…eating meat.

do you crave ALL  meat or just certain types that you used to LOVE growing up ? many times cravings are associated with childhood memories, or memories of happines, etc. so if you are craving a cheeseburger because you used to eat it at times of celebration, or going out or something, then emotions are attached to the food and you just may be associating that food with an emotion. 

make sure you are getting proper nutrition (include LOTS of raw veggies and fruits in your diet, as well as nuts, seeds, and sea weeds, and legumes) .. and try to figure out if you are having an emotional craving instead of a biological one. hope your meat cravings subside much love!

@needmoreink@xanga - glad to see there are people who think like you do on here! i completely agree, and if i where to begin eating meat again i would ONLY eat 100 % organic grass fed free range humanely killed animals from local farmers .. that goes for dairy as well .. (and try to find raw cheeses and raw milks .. although raw cows milk is illegal) .. 

There are a few reasons you could be craving meats. I was a veggie for ten years. I found that I would get meat cravings if I wasn’t getting enough protein or iron in my diet. I guess it could signal other missing nutrients as well. I’m sure it could also be that you enjoy the taste of meat and just miss it based on that. That doesn’t make you a bad vegetarian though. You would only be a bad vegetarian if you claimed to not eat meat, but ate it when nobody was looking. I had a friend like that. She thought nobody would notice her eating meat every now and then, but we definitely did.

It’s probably because your body is telling you that you need the nutrients in the meat (such as protein). 

if u want to save life, eat rocks. u think that broccoli u pop in ur mouth is not life? just because that broccoli can’t scream doesn’t mean it won’t die.

I was veggie for 3 years when I got pregnant. I got horrendous meat cravings I’d never had before. I ate an entire bucket of KFC chicken and didn’t even care. It turned out I had that extreme craving because my body needed it. After I had my son, I went back to the veggie lifestyle. I was veggie for another 2 years. Then I got the cravings again. I keep wanting to try again…but damn I crave boneless buffalo wings now….can’t imagine if I were veggie again….

Give in to temptation… it’ll feel good to be bad- the Dark Side is waiting for you with a plate of baby back ribs.

jk. I’m sure you will find a way to compensate for those cravings as a vegetarian. I’m pretty sure there’s meat substitutions you can get.

Dude, it’s perfectly natural considering you ate meat for years and years. You’ve conditioned yourself to want it.

It gets easier and easier over time, believe me. And it won’t take as long as you think for those cravings to lessen. I’ve been veggie again for, I don’t know, two- three years? And the smell of meat makes me nauseous. My boyfriend cooked a microwave meatloaf earlier and I wanted to puke.

I understand completely your struggle with finding veggie options. I eat a lot of salads and veggie grinders myself. You can also stock up on things like yogurt, fruit, pita bread and salsa, nuts… I don’t know what you like. It seems hard at first but you will discover more and more options for food as time goes on. Also, a lot of places now have Garden Burgers.

it was so easy to be a vegetarian at my college- I’m thankful for that.   I almost never ate pasta my four years there, on or off campus.    I sometimes am like, “That smells good” if someone has something with sauce (like chicken wings) but otherwise I really am not tempted in the slightest.  I have had a few dreams where I accidentally eat it but in my imagination it always tastes like flavorless, cardboardy taco meat so it’s sort of a nightmare.

@aclvsh@xanga - uh, but brocolli doesn’t have nerve cells, or a brain, so it can’t feel pain or really know it is dying?

@bAbiiExxPiNay@xanga - In n Out was what killed my vegetarianism.  =P

Those burgers are just too damn good.

If you can, try making friends with a local, organic, hippie farmer who sells meat.  You could probably justify the occasional burger to yourself if you know it came from a good place.  (On the other hand, you might get to meet the cow that becomes your burger, but maybe that would curb your cravings!)

It must be frustrating, because veg. “meats” just don’t taste the same. If you don’t want to give up being a veg, splurge on the higher-priced, higher-quality fake meats once in a while.  Maybe that will help.

@ScarletMoth@xanga - by your logic then one can kill and eat an animal if it is unconscious before being butchered?

the fundamental reason of pain is the threat of death, and therefore pain is irrelevant when compare to life. if taking an animals life is “wrong”, why does taking an plant life is not “wrong”? all life are equal, some are more equal than others?

I’ve been a vegetarian for almost a year & a half now and I still want meat sometimes.  But then I think of all the reasons I became vegetarian (many are the same as yours) & I don’t want it as much.  Get creative with your dining halls & you can come up with some great, pasta-free meals that give you enough protein.  Also make sure you are getting enough iron, that could be a problem too if it’s red meat you are craving!

@aclvsh@xanga - Haha so if all “lives” (which by the way I only put that in quotations because broccoli are only alive in the most technical sense of the word) are equal are you saying that it is equally wrong to kill a person as it is to “kill” broccoli? 

@Callan - how is a broccoli’s life inferior than that of a human’s? for one thing, broccoli don’t pollute the environment, human do. or because human can destroy broccoli easily…? that only make human more brutal, but more superior? and then at the end, we all become ashes.

and absolutely, if one claim killing an animal is as wrong as killing a human, then killing a broccoli is just as wrong… which i found to be quite absurd, and therefore i do not subscribe to that, i m merely extending the logical implications of those who make such claim.

I’ve been a vegetarian for 10 years and I still crave meat sometimes. And it’s always really BAD meat too… like dirty water hot dogs, and big macs, and taylor ham on a bagel with egg and cheese. Yup. Want.

@aclvsh@xanga - @Callan - I came into this argument late, but… broccoli isn’t sentient…

@theflowerstem@xanga - I thought the exact same thing when I read that portion of the post.

@aclvsh@xanga - Lol I never said that killing humans and killing animals were analogous. I said I don’t agree with killing animals, not that it was on the same level as killing a person.  

@Lost_In_Reverie@xanga - sentience can mean a lot of things, do u have a particular aspect in mind…?

@Callan - i agree, u never said those 2 are analogous, did i say u have make such claim?

Just make sure you’re getting all your nutrients.

When I was a vegetarian, I had dreams where I would eat meat, realize I was a vegetarian and then spit it out.

I was a vegetarian for six years, but the human body kind of needs meat. I love animals and all, but since I’ve started eating meat again, I’ve been feeling fuller and I rarely get sick anymore. If you’re doing it for ethical reasons, good for you. Soymeat just doesn’t compare though…

@lovelyxbones_x3@xanga - they’re called pescatarians. i’m one too.

I’ve been a vegetarian for three and a half years, for basically the same reasons you are, and I still crave meat sometimes. It’s completely normal. You just have to work through it. It gets easier as time goes on though, I promise. :]

@theflowerstem@xanga - Supply and demand.

@MoonFaeEyryan@xanga Stop spouting out “facts”.

I was a typical, southern ‘meat eater’ for ~16 years, and one day I stopped. Never looked back. I don’t miss the taste of meat, nor do I crave meat (the smell, once wonderful, is now a turn off for me.). Whatever you crave (ribs, burger, etc.), find a vegetarian substitute. Wal-Mart always had some frozen faux meat stuff and I lived in a relatively small town.

I was a vegetarian who craved meat.

So I started eating meat again.

You only live once.

I agree you only live once.  Eat the meat if that’s what you want.  I’ve read some comments about people being “grossed” out over the taste of meat.  If they don’t like it and don’t want it, then that’s up to them. This is my first ever post and I give the people props for intelligent answers and not getting on your case.  I worked w/a guy who overheard a co-worker discussing venison recipes as buck season was about to open.  He shuddered and said to us, “I could never eat anything w/a face”  All this while he stood there in his high priced leather shoes and briefcase.  I’ll bet his BMW had leather seats too. I guess {in his mind} it’s not good to eat them, just ripping their skin off is OK.                                        

The only type of “…terian” I could be would be a insectatarian.  Those scorpions on a stick and big juicy grubs I’ve seen them eat on the Amazing Race just make me cringe. So I can understand other peoples not wanting to eat certain things, but to each his own. Good luck w/your dilemma.

You should listen and obey your cravings for meat. Eat that cheeseburger – you know you want it. It’ won’t kill you. But seriously though, I don’t think it’s bad that you crave meat, I think it’s only natural that you would. 

@aclvsh@xanga - all life isn’t equal.   I think it is, indeed, less cruel to kill something if it is unconscious, even though I personally would still not want to be responsible for the death of something that can think and feel.   But this doesn’t mean all life is equal- I think killing a human is a worse crime than killing a worm.   Being a vegetarian or vegan doesn’t mean you consider all life to be equal- it just means you don’t consider all life other than humans to be completely expendable and not worth your time.  

@ScarletMoth@xanga - i probably have mistaken ur point of view with others such as peta, who equate animal life with human’s as i understand. if so, i apologies.

the essence of “feel” and “think” is to receive and process information, which plants are capable of doing as well, but in a different mechanism. the “sympathy” u have for animals spawn from ur relative similarity with them, resulting in u favoring one over the other, which i can understand but disagree because fundamentally the two are the same. let’s just say it’s two different point of views and neither is right or wrong.

@aclvsh@xanga - http://theveganomaly.com/2011/05/13/5-smartass-answers-to-5-dumbass-questions-about-veganism/ Read number four. Most plant crops are used just to feed livestock. Vegetarianism reduces the amount of plant deaths as well.

@inthemillions@xanga - then not eating would save the maximum number of lives?! one sacrifice in exchange for many to stay alive, or rocks would be an alternative…

fortunately i subscribe to cycle of life instead of no killing whatsoever. 

watch this and you won’t crave it anymore. http://www.meatvideo.com/

I’m one of those too, except for I’m a vegan and I have weird cravings all the time. Usually I crave weird combinations of food, like Chinese food with Taco Bell sauces, but I also crave things of the non-vegan variety. Usually it’s not full-on meat, although a few weeks ago I had a mad craving for a meatloaf sandwich. The other day, and this is more normal, I was craving fried eggs, and a few days before that I wanted a BLT and a chilli dog. Very specific craving: in a tiny little almost-ghost town outside Atlanta there was a restaurant I stumbled upon. Best of each I had ever eaten. But since I’m really into cooking I tend to make things in attempt to recreate some of whatever flavor I’m craving when I’m craving. It’s not terribly difficult since tofu and the other soy products tend to absorb herbs and flavors pretty well.

Hi there. I’ve been a vegetarian for almost three years now. The “if you’re craving it, you need it” argument doesn’t hold up. Meat *can* be like chocolate; it is normal to crave it. You do not need to eat meat to have a healthy diet. That being said, I don’t know what your actual diet looks like, so you may, in fact be missing one or more nutrients. My best advice to you is…eat a variety of foods. Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and–this is important–LEGUMES AND BEANS *every* day. Also, choose whole grains over refined ones: choose whole wheat pasta and bread over white, brown rice over white, and don’t be afraid to experiment with grains that may be unfamiliar to you, such as tasty quinoa, buckwheat, or millet. I know it’s tough being a vegetarian on a meal-plan at college–I was stuck in that boat for two years myself. It bites. Try to cook, if you can. Don’t live on peanut butter and spaghetti! If you try it, you will make yourself sick. Seriously. Consider taking a B12 supplement, since that’s the nutrient you’re most likely to be missing out on, although you can get it from dairy and eggs. Also, they make cereal, oatmeal, soymilk and the like that are fortified with this vitamin.

As far as your meat cravings…Well, there are a lot of vegetarian meat substitutes you can experiment with. Also, I can tell you that those do decrease with time if you stay vegetarian. You can also look into buying more humane meat, although it tends to be expensive and may not be a viable option for a college student.

I hope this helped. Take good care of yourself and be healthy! Good luck!

shutup.

You do realize that cheese comes from the same animals that are stuffed in cramped disgusting factories, treated inhumanely, then slaughtered?

I’m not a vegetarian, though I have tried to go without meat before and it’s tough. Props to you for stickin to it. But, I just wanted to point out that you can eat meat that comes from local, organic farms where the animals are not tortured or treated inhumanely, though, granted they may be hard to find! It would take some perseverence but if you were really interested, you could look around and even go and meet and talk to some cattle or chicken farmers, learn a bit more about the process and one of the beautiful things about local, organic farming is that the farmers usually care for their animals so sincerely, it’s like there’s this innate understanding that they are animals and we are animals and that the energy and nourishment they give us is NOT taken for granted. When you get to know someone who raises cows or chickens or pigs, you can see how much they care for these animals. Finding farmers like this address your first two concerns when it comes to eating meat. Unfortunately, the last one is a little tougher. One of my old high school teachers is a vegetarian and she said she became a vegetarian because she realized she could never kill an animal herself and then eat it. And so she decided that the only thing that made sense for her was to not eat anything she would have to kill because she wouldnt be able to. I think about this sometimes and wonder if I could ever kill an animal, even if I have my own farm and care for them sincerely, I still don’t know if I ever would. The world we live in today is so different from the way it used to be, where caring for these animals and farming crops and such was something everyone did.

This has turned into quite the tangent, but I just wanted to point out that even though the nasty, corporate industrial farms have monopolized our source of meat and most crops, a small town farming culture still exists thorughout the country and the world and understanding how these people treat their animals can really open someone’s eyes in the relationship we have to our planet and the energy flow that connects us all. Nonetheless, props to you and your vegetarian-ness. You’re doing a lot of good for the planet by not consuming the meat that comes from these nasty, pollutant factories. Just wanted to spread the word that there are sustainable, safe, and humane options if you ever do decide you might want to include some meat in your diet.

Hey my friend is a vegetarian who is persuading me to eat like her. That’s right she proudly enjoys her meals of veggies, grains, and fruits. She feels healthier than she has ever been. However, I do not think I can become a vegetarian quite yet. I think I must go through this process slowly. Therefore I think your cravings are pretty normal and there’s nothing to worry about.

Have you heard of the soy meats that Morningstar produces? Yes they are tv dinners but vegetarian style. This delicious company has soy chicken, beef, shrimp, etc. Anything you can think of I am sure Morningstar has made it. My vegetarian friend loves their foods.

Happy Eating!:)

Ugh don’t listen to any of those damn comments telling you that you need meat if you’re craving it. YOU ARE WRONG PEOPLE!
However love, you are not wrong for craving meat. You have grown up eating meat and you still remember how it tastes not to mention you are new at the game.
Your body does need protein but you can get it so many other ways. I personally love eating peanut butter and have more than my recommended protein intake. If your body needs the protein then you just need to do some research on the best foods that have protein in it other than meat and eat that.
And if you’re really craving the taste of meat start trying Morning Star meat alternatives and other types of tofu style meat. The fake types of chicken tastes the most realistic and are the most satisfying.
And no worries, you will stop getting all those cravings as often with the longer you are a vegetarian. Hold in there!

you could possibly be missing some type of nutritional value, which is why you crave it and you can easily find something to supplement it. also, you’re only 7 months in.

i’m not a vegetarian, i tried being one for 6 months, 7 years ago… ended up not really being able to do it all the way. i eat everything but “red meat” as in cows/pigs. beef actually ended up making me sick and caused headaches/stomach pains for me, which was why i tried to be a vegetarian. i still sometimes crave some type of burger or brat even after 7.5 years, but then it’s because i’m missing something in my diet and usually when that happens i’ll try almost everything to figure it out – then you’ll find that 1 type of food and it’ll seem like it’s the best thing in the world, because its what your body needs & has been craving.

@SoapPolice@xanga - Uhh…is there a problem?

See, I think it’s easy or me to be a vegetarian because1) I’m rather small and don’t need many calories 2) meat has never been on my list of favourite foods. Ever- and I think that’s a big part of giving something up. If it’s something you like, it’s harder to give up; if it’s something you’ve been avoiding since you were four, it’s simple.

Those kinds of cravings usually mean that you’re missing out on some vital nutrients that meat provides, and from the limited options you have, I’m thinking that you aren’t getting the kind of diversity that vegetarians need.

You are a human individual capable of rational thought and possessing a soul. Why would you sacrifice your wants or needs to a cow? If you’re concerned about unsanitary conditions in slaughter houses, purchase your meat from a trusted butcher. Go free-range, grass-fed, etc., but don’t ignore what your body’s telling you.

Not at all! I went through this when I first went veg which scared me cuz I was never a fan of meat. I don’t know if it’s the texture, the taste, or the fact that an animal suffers because of me, I didn’t really like it. There were only a few meats I would eat before going veg.
Try eating soy “meats” and see if it will trick your stomach into thinking it’s real meat. I recommend the Morningstar brand. I find them very tasty. And all in all, it comes down to will power. If I’m craving some meat, I usually just ignore it. If that doesn’t work, I think of the animals, what they go through and is a few minutes of eating what you want really worth another life? I don’t think so. Just stick with it. It gets easier.

That is CRAZY.  I have only been trying this veggie thing for a week now and I am having dreams about steaks and ground beef too.  I REALLY miss eating beef but I can’t bring myself to eat the meat.  I’ve tried the meatless alternatives and they are not the same.  I was wondering if I’m missing some sort of nutrient that can only be found in real meat or something.  I am going to keep looking for answers but glad to see someone else is having dreams! Ha!

I’m the same way.  I’ve been a vegetarian for 5 years now and am glad that I still am.  I have a huge craving for fried chicken (I notice it happens only when I’m hungry).  When I’m full though, I still think about it, but the fact that it was once alive with the cooked blood just kind of grosses me out now.  I never use to think that way about chicken on a bone or ribs as another example.  Now, just realizing that I’m eating “cooked blood” grosses out even if there’s no bone.  In my mind, if you eat meat, you’re inviting yourself to be the “graveyard” for that dead animal.  Strange perhaps, but yeah, I still crave many meat products when I’m ready to eat.  Veggie meats hold me over, so I’m all good.  And to those who wonder about why vegetarians eat fake meat.  The answer is simple: we rather not kill for the taste, but if that taste can come without guilt, all the better.  Before I became a vegetarian, I never thought of where the meat came from cause it’s there ready to be prepared or already cooked.  Now, the more you know, the better.  Our body does react after all to what we put in it.

So to answer your question, no, don’t worry about it.  Be proud that you choose to be a vegetarian as someone who craves meat.  It’s empowering, and a lot of people “cannot” do what you are doing.  We are saving many lives and helping the environment more than we know.  Just think of how much it takes to feed the animals meant for food before it goes on the plate.  Sad really.  Good luck and enjoy some veggie buffalo nuggets!

@sassij - I LOVE QUORN! I discovered it in England, but now that I’m back home in Canada, I can’t get it anymore. I know they sell it in the States though.

That’s the only satisfactory meat substitute I’ve ever found. I even stopped eating it once when I got it from my school cafeteria, because I thought there’d been a mixup and I was actually eating chicken- it’s that good!