For a long time most of my closest friends have thought I was a vegetarian until we’d go out to eat and I’d order chicken or salmon and confuse them.
“You’re not a vegetarian?!”
“No, why would you think that?”
“Because you always are cooking tofu and beans on your blog.”
That’s fair. And confusing. Not many people who eat meat ate as much “meat substitutes” as I did. But 2 weeks ago I made the big switch to the V word.
Even though I’d been teetering on vegetarianism for months, maybe years now, it was one moment that put me over the edge. I was at my internship during the lunch shift(I work in a restaurant) and one of my jobs for that day was to clean the soft shell crabs for a pasta sauce. The crabs had just come in from the shore and were still alive, which is important that the restaurant use only live crabs or else we couldn’t verify how long they’ve been dead which creates a risk for disease. Professionally, I really didn’t mind doing this, and I’d probably do it again; it’s just another job at the restaurant that had to get done. But personally it had a big impact.
I never had to kill an animal for food before those crabs. Nowadays it’s normal for people to never see an animal be killed or even bones in their meat, and I wasn’t an exception for the past 20 years. Having to cut the crabs made me question whether I’d want to be the one killing all of my food, how I felt about that, and if I’d go through with it. In short, I decided I’d rather become a vegetarian. (Actually, I decided I’d follow suit with Mark Zuckerberg and only eat meat that I killed myself, but you won’t see me running outside with a crossbow and arrow any time soon.)
This was something that had been in the back of my mind for a while. I’m positive if I weren’t highly allergic to gluten I would have made this transition already, but eating out has always presented a challenge. It’s not uncommon that the only gluten-free option on a restaurant menu be a grilled chicken salad. I’m not sure that I’ve actually figured out a solution to this yet. I just know now I’m a strong enough person to deal with both when I need to.
Will I miss meat? Definitely. In fact, writing this all down is making me miss it more than I ever have, so I should probably wrap this up. You just can’t replicate the juiciness of a roasted piece of chicken or seared steak. I will happily roast a turkey for Thanksgiving and ham for Easter for my family just so I can get that smell to permeate the house. But I won’t eat it; I’ll just stand by the oven whiffing.
Do I think I will eat meat again? Probably. Actually, I’d bet on it. Statistically, about half of all vegetarians go back to eating meat at some point. And there will surely be a time when I’m out, starving, and the only thing I can eat is a slab of chicken. That being said, I’m committed to doing what I can, when I can and being happy with that. It’s easy to be happy in a world where chocolate is (usually) vegetarian.
If you have any thoughts, comments, or questions on the topic, leave them in the space below.
Do what you feel is right – I support you 🙂
Ugh. Cutting the faces off live crabs would make anyone less excited about lunch. Good for you for asking yourself what you’re comfortable with and trying to stick to it. 🙂
Good for you- congrats!!!
I think one of the reasons I was always so drawn to vegetarianism is because I grew up in a family that hunts a lot– seeing those ducks was always so tough for me. When I was eight, my dad wanted to take me hunting…but I told him I would only go if he didn’t take a gun! So we sat in the duck blind and drank hot chocolate and watched the ducks instead of shooting them…I guess I’ve always been a bit of a vegetarian at heart 🙂
Congrats on making the change!
I want to go hunting with you and your dad.
YAY! Welcome to the club. 🙂
In all seriousness, I rarely call myself a vegetarian, even though I choose not to eat meat. I just focus on the WHY: I eat real, healthy food because it makes me happy.
If I ever want meat, I’ll eat it and won’t feel guilty.
Great post Evan! I’ve been reading your blog since the dawn of time (well, I guess the dawn of your blog..) and I think you are making a great decision. I can’t imagine having to actually kill an animal before eating it. It would totally change my perspective, even as a vegetarian I think I would feel more committed. though I don’t want to feel restrained by that label and I think I will eat meat again eventually, and it’s okay. It will just feel different. I’m glad your going with your gut and doing what you think is right.
Congrats on your vegetarianism! When I first became a vegetarian, I felt the same way. I craved meat. But it gets better. And I really liked the last part of your post. So many vegetarians/vegans think they have to be perfect, when really, It’s just about doing what they can.
Evan, it’s definitely journey and I’m so glad you shared yours. When I first started reading your blog, I had just turned vegan, I thought you were vegetarian. And then one day you posted a burger shot, or something, and I was shocked! LOL
As someone who travels quite a bit, and has some sad, sad options in small restaurants in the middle of nowhere, I’ve still been able to eat and now have an animal product. I don’t have a gluten-intolerance, though, so I don’t know about that complication (but Ricki Heller does, I’m sure you read her vegan, gluten-free blog Diet, Dessert and Dogs) You’re a fabulous chef so cooking at home will be super easy for you. When I’m heading out to an unknown dining experience I always have nuts or seeds on me so that, worst case, I can sprinkle them on a bland salad or a plate of vegetables. And remember, you can always eat when you get home 😉
Keep us posted on how it goes for you!
I always carry a bag of cashews in my pocket. I think people think I’m crazy for it but it works!
I am one of the 50% veggies who went back to eating meat, but now I’m back to being a veggie! Really I just go through phases where I don’t like meat. I never much cared for it growing up, then one day I had a craving for steak (it smells so good sometimes) and I just gave in. Now I’m back, after 10 years, to not really caring for the taste/texture, and I crave all things veggie! Even when I was eating meat, that was the smallest portion on my plate. So as a newly re-vegetarian I say Welcome!!
I have a similar beef with eating meat (hah?) — we’re so removed from where our food comes from, but that problem is especially disturbing regarding meat for reasons we all know but don’t talk about a lot. That said, I do eat meat, and I applaud what you’re doing.
Way to go for a wonderful change. I don’t think you’ll find it as taxing since you eat mostly vege anyhow. I have cooking mainly vegan, then made the plunge to vegan a few months ago. The worst part is eating out at restos where there is a very limited selection, unless I head to a vegan-friendly resto.
I’m one of those ex-vegetarians that started eating meat, gave up eating meat, and eats meat sometimes now.
I became a vegetarian sometime around the age of 10 when I proudly proclaimed to my parents that meat was gross. I didn’t eat meat again until I was 18.
In college I ran cross country, and I was exhausted. My protein was out of whack, because let’s face it I was a freshman in college. My food choices were severely limited. However, it was affecting my performance big time. My coach essentially gave me an ultimatum, and I started eating meat 2-3 times a week.
I stopped again after college for almost 4 years when I got pregnant. Suddenly my body wanted chicken and beef and bacon {ah bacon}. So I ate it when I felt like I needed the protein.
Now today I almost never eat meat. If I do it is less than 1/2 serving. It’s never really been my thing, and I prefer tofu to chicken. I can’t give it up completely again, because well…bacon.
I was a vegetarian for 12 years. Mostly because of the animal cruelty aspect. I wasn’t a healthy vegetarian though. In fact, I was 250+ pounds when I was a vegetarian. I lost the weight and when I started running I began to crave real meat. I tried tricking it with faux meats but my body knew the difference. I’m a full-fledged meat eater now but I still dislike prepping meat in anyway.
This is a really powerful post, Evan and I’m so glad you wrote it! (and that you are an official vegetarian now)
Now that I’m official do I get a sticker and a badge?
I can definitely see how that experience at work would shift your view on eating meat. Like a lot of people above said, do what is right for you. Don’t be too afraid to have meat now and then, though, if you’re really craving it.
that picture of the crab and the scissors makes my heart sink 🙁
I’m vegan, so of course I support you. Great post! 🙂
Wow. I have never had an experience like that. My choice to become a vegetarian came after watching all of the videos that they have of animal cruelty in vegetarian starter kits. They moved me to tears, and after that, I could not eat an animal. I made the choice to become a vegan after less than 24 hours. Although I’ve played with the idea of putting seafood and eggs back into my life, ultimately the seafood phase didn’t last much longer than a couple of months. I am now back to a vegan diet. I hope that you are happier with meat out of your life, I know I am! Great decision Evan. Vegetarianism is a beautiful (and delicious) practice. Have a great holiday weekend!!
p.s. I love the new bannahhh
Great new blog layout, btw!
Congratulations on coming to this decision. I’ve been wondering how your internship was going and am interested that this has been one of its impacts.
You may know I’ve been veg/vegan pretty much my whole life, but my husband is an omni, and much of the meat/fish he eats is stuff he hunts/fishes himself. I usually help. I missed helping him pack out the bear he shot a couple weeks ago because I was at a writers’ conference. I also cook for him every day. Meat at least twice a day. So I relate to your ability to do it ‘as part of the job.’
My experiment with animal products happened when I was living in essentially a permaculture community and the meat was mostly local-raised sheep (I helped to butcher, hated the taste), feral pig (even worse), goats and cows I helped to milk (hated cow dairy, liked goat ok) and eggs from chickens I helped care for. (Eggs are the one animal product I still leave open the possibility I’ll eat–they did me a power of good at one point). I couldn’t conceive of ‘just eating meat’ without that conscious connection.
Being madly allergic to gluten too, I hear you on the eating out thing. I try asking if they can do the salad minus the grilled chicken, snoop around to see if there are beans or guacamole elsewhere on the menu that they might put there instead…
Congratulations and good luck!
Well, personally, eating meat that is raised as humanely as possible (organic, grass/grain-fed, no hormone/antiobiotics, etc. etc.) is FAR healthier than eating sugar-laded desserts.
But I respect that you are doing it out of the goodness of the animal. I just think people get a little ‘too’ sensitive at times though as well?…I don’t know – who am I say!
Great for acknowledging that that’s where you are now in your life – not necessarily the future – because trust me – change does and will happen! (as you know). The only thing you can do is simply do the best you know now and how you feel.
As for your salad…um, pass me the chicken? 😉 – lol – maybe one day they’ll have your tofu on the menu! 🙂
Hey Evan! Thanks for sharing this part of your journey. I know it can be tricky navigating this as someone who doesn’t eat gluten — that was part of the reason I was overwhelmed by the thought of another “restriction” on my eating habits. But, I realized the time was right eventually, and that I was eating mostly vegetarian anyways. GF vegetarian eating is actually a lot easier to navigate than most people assume (as it seems you already know)… It’s the dining out experience that can be unfortunate. Congratulations on this decision — it sounds like you made it with a lot of forethought 🙂
What a post, Evan! I kind of saw it coming, but then again, never knew if you’d pull the trigger and take the leap precisely b/c I know you DO like meat, I know you like to grill your grassfed burgers and such and you enjoy it and have blogged about it, but I think it’s great that you had some epiphany moments.
I also think this is important too “Actually, I decided I’d follow suit with Mark Zuckerberg and only eat meat that I killed myself, but you won’t see me running outside with a crossbow and arrow any time soon”
And that you also gave yourself the permission to return to eating meat if it’s the right choice for you.
You will NEVER see or hear from me as one of those vegetarians (ex-vegan) who is pushy or lofty or preechy that this way is the only way. To each his or her own and I am glad you are finding your path.
And just like when I got pregnant, I CRAVED a drink like never before b/c I couldnt have it. And like when i went GF + full vegan, and soyfree, all within about a month time span, I craved gluten and dairy like never before.
It’s natural I think but passes quickly (probably!)
Inspiring post and interesting story! I feel the same way about my vegetarian ways. I do not miss meat everyday, but at times I will want salmon or shrimp, and I will not deprive myself from enjoying them. I agree-thank g-d chocolate is vegetaria!!
Thanks for sharing! 🙂 I love the last part of the post that talks about doing what you can. I’m right there with you as I just made the change about a month ago as well.
Growing up I was always aware of where meat came from thanks to my dad. I fished, caught crabs, and we raised rabbits for food. It was a horrible experience knowing my favorite pet rabbit could become dinner at any time and witnessing slaughter days as a kid. I’ve always struggled with eating meat and when I started dancing with veganism, I found it felt right for me and gave up meat completely almost two years ago. Congrats on your change!
Welcome to the vegetarian club! I really agree with your reasoning. I should show this post to anyone that wonders why I don’t eat meat!
This may sound strange (not to mention hypocritical) but I’m proud of you for being able to do that at work. If I had to kill those crabs, I don’t know what I would have done. Maybe sang them to sleep and then hit them with a hammer? Or drown them in wine? Pretty sure I would have gotten fired anyway.
Life is all about difficult decisions but you are doing great! Congrats on not eating animals
congratulations on your decision 🙂 you are making a huge positive impact !
This was such a fabulous post to read, as I’ve been inching closer and closer to vegetarianism lately as well. Talk about a timely post. 😉
I’m glad that you’re able to do what you feel is right and to stick with it. Looking forward to many, many, many more delicious recipes! 😀
Just wanted to wish you luck because the first few months are always the most challenging. 🙂
Congrats on the transition! I also decided to go vegetarian (no meat or fish) a couple months ago. I was similar in that most people already thought I was a vegetarian, and usually only ate meat on weekends when I visit my parents. It has posed a few challenges so far, mostly when eating as a guest at someone’s house, but nothing too inconvenient. I agree with your reasoning behind it. I feel it is so important to really believe in why you make the decisions you make.
good for you for doing what is best for YOU! you know i will support you whatever that is. unless you become a fruitarian. i have to draw the line somewhere.
Chocolate is technically a fruit…