-_- This one's a double whammy. My mom's making fried chicken. (As if staying vegetarian when at home isnt hard enough.)I made myself some delicious curried chickpeas and chapatis for lunch and the leftovers are for dinner, but really, the scent of fried chicken makes me want to go and pig out. This was easier when I was out of the house, but even after having been a vegetarian for almost 2 years it feels like i just started last week ):

Anyone else have meat cravings? And if so, how do you keep them down?

I am not vegan/vegetarian, but I know a lot of people fight cravings by reviewing just how animals are treated by the factory farming industry:

http://www.goveg.com/factoryFarming_chickens.asp

Thanks for the reminder, Amanda.

- From one who also fights cravings!

I have dreams about chicken I know what you mean. I saw this wendy's commercial for a spicy chicken sandwich and literally drooled. I have horrible will power. One thing that helps me fight cravings are knowing that being a vegetarian means no meat whatsoever. It helps having no flex room for me. Also, I ate cheese dipthat I thought had no meat in it. I was very sick after this since I havent eaten it in a while. Thinking of it as a moral desision rather than a health one sometimes keeps me on the veggie track. Hope I helped. Good Luck!

I *think* I crave fish, almost every day. But as soon as I see some, the craving is gone and all I can think about how the fish got to the market/restaurant/plate. Then the "craving" is gone.

At first I figured it was meat withdraw, but after all these years it can't possibly be. I really like seafood but can't bring myself to put it in my mouth.

I always wish I had advice for people with the problem, but the smell of cheese even makes me wanna hurl these days. Someone is always microwaving KFC in the work microwave, I'm half thinking about making a complaintd to HR about the smell making a hostile work environment. mandalinn82's suggestion is one I've heard a lot of people use. After watching Earthlings over a year ago I don't think I'll be watching any of those videos ever again, those images are burned into my brain for life now, for better or worse.

Yeah Earthlings is a good reminder. I don't have meat cravings at all, the smell of eggs makes me sick and even cheese doesn't seem appetizing.

The only thing I still struggle with a bit is some chocolate but I can always have my non dairy chocolate.

Wow yeah just knowing the death and torture that the animal went through to just "smell good" does it for me. If you really are struggling then it may be time to watch some videos and read about how the animals are treated for meat, dairy and eggs.

Although it's only been two weeks since I became a vegetarian but I gave up eating red meat three months ago and sometime I want this burger from jack in the box. It's this sirloin steak burger on sourdough. I use to eat that almost everyday. I miss it. And today was my first serious test because my dad bought me this chicken salad I use to love from costo because still thought I ate chicken. I wanted to eat it so bad but I just had to walk away from it. Why couldn't he have bought me this two weeks ago when I still ate chicken. Dam* it! I should do what mandalinn82 suggested and watch those videos.