Thinking about going back Vegetarian...?
 

I was a vegetarian for about 5 years through high school and beginning of college. I loved how I felt, but I just couldnt keep up the lifestyle through all the late nights and eating out in college. Recently, through trying to lose weight, I've been trying to decide if a vegetarian lifestyle would work for me again.

Anyone out there ever "gone" back to eating vegetarian after a long absence? Any ideas or tips?

I was vegetarian for almost six years before I met my husband. He's a meat lover and I eventually began eating meat again.

Two years on, I've decided that eating meat isn't really for me. I don't like it and it makes me feel sick when I eat it. I've started cooking meals that I can easily substitute meat (ie curry with lentils instead of chicken) and its working well. My husband really hasn't missed meat yet.

I went back...wasn't really anything different than the first time, I just stopped eating animals. :) I wish I had thought it out more. My husband and I talked it out and just went cold turkey (no pun intended!) with the next meal. If I had planned it out better, done some research, read some cookbooks, and cleaned out my cabinets in advance, then I probably would not have packed on about 20 pounds. :lol: Toooooo much pasta, tooooo much french fries, too many cheesy veggie casseroles!

So my one bit of advice is get some cookbooks and find a healthy way to do it before you find yourself planning meals on the fly.

Good luck!

Jennifer, I think that is great advice. Planning definitely is key. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables and whole grains and try to limit dairy fats. I love this way of eating.

I was veggie all through school then gave up when I became an idle uni student. I went veggie again when I got together with my current OH who has been veggie all his life. He wouldn't kiss me if I'd just eaten bacon :D I've now been veggie for 12 years straight!

I found the toughest thing was that I tended to eat quite high fat to start with, in order to get enough protein I was putting away lots of dairy. I've now weaned myself onto soya milk and half fat cheese and learnt how to cook tofu. Things are much easier and I feel better for it. I also had to teach myself to eat beans. I used to loathe them because I associated them with baked beans and school dinners, but now I think they're great! (not baked beans though - ick!)

I guess my advice would be - try and cultivate an open mind when it comes to new flavours and textures, than transition will be easier. Good luck!