Let me say first that I love meat... or I used to, I don't really know any more. I grew up in an environment where meat was eaten regularly and a lot of it. I ate veggies out of necessity rather than a real desire. The last few years, my taste buds have changed where I eat veggies because I truly love them.
I've started to read "Super Foods Rx" which is a really good book and explains which foods are really really good for you and why. They do include meat in it, including Turkey, Chicken breast, Wild Salmon and other fish.
I also have to say that I've been influenced by a vegan "meal" product that I found and really enjoy. It is called "The ultimate meal" which I buy at vitamin shoppe but the website for it is really good (
www.ultimatelife.com). Of course, the website discusses reasons for veganism as well the ultimate meal product. I eat this every morning for breakfast now and I may use it for lunch sometimes now that I've stocked up on it.
I think really though I've lost the desire to eat meat which is something I don't think I could've ever said before in my life. I find meat tasty but also I think it is high caloric/high fat for what you get. I want to reduce the amount of saturated fat in my diet and I want to obtain protein from other sources. I still will include chicken, turkey and fish in my diet. I will even include beef occassionally. My DF likes my plan and he said we will become "halfterians" which is amusing but really I want to slowly ease my dependance off of meat.
Last week, I had the first day I remember in my life where I didn't eat meat or meat byproducts. (Ok not entirely true, I've had other days where I've gone liquid for a few days with no meat products but I didn't eat anything else really either) I think in the past I've been put off by going veggie even part time because most vegetarians I knew looked sickly. The exception would be those that are culturally vegetarians rather than by choice. I figured though that I can do it healthfully as long as read up on the nutritional aspects.
So far, I'm enjoying it greatly and I do feel a lot of freedom from not having to eat meat. Last night I made a veggie pizza on whole wheat dough that had eggplant, garlic, onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, skim milk cheese and lots of tomato sauce. I rarely eat cheese but what is a pizza without cheese?
I have been using soy milk for quite a while just because I think it is a better protein choice than milk. I tend to dislike products that are made from soy and try to imitate meat. I'm not sure how I'd feel about soy cheese, but I might try it one day. I did find a store that carries roasted soy nuts which are really good. I also like tofu enough that I'll be adding it more often to my menu.
Anyway, all and all, easing myself off meat is going well. I think the next thing I will do is find a decent veggie cookbook for myself.
Easing into it...
