QOTW * comment on Katie's post

[Guest guest]

Katie,

 

     Your reply to the QOTW intrigued me:

 

" ...My tips to new vegetarians is to hang in there for at least the first month

and don't cheat; not at all. Meat eaters are physically, phychologically and

em Most meat eaters are addicted to the additives they put in meats to make us

want it.  In the first week our bodies are telling us that they NEED it and we

get cravings and want it so bad, but within about a week we get all of the

chemicles and additives out of our bodies and most people just stop wanting

it.    If you cheat at all, your body has to start all over getting it out of

your system and next time you try it will bring on even stronger cravings than

the first time.  A week to 10 days is enough, if you don't cheat, to beat the

physical addiction, but there is also the phychological addiction. 

I strongly advise people to stay away from the soy meat replacements, at least

until they learn to cook full meals without using them.  They can be a crutch

and keeps your mind in the meat replacement, rather than meat, thought

patterns.   After you learn to be satisfied without it and get over the

phychological addiction, you can eat it if you wish.   I don't, because I don't

really trust a lot of soy products, but that is a personal bias.  

Katie ... "

 

 

      We went in the direction of eating soups for main meals in the cool months

of the year--did that several years ago--and " meal-salads " during the warm

months.  DH was insistent that he didn't want to regain weight he'd lost earlier

and he forbade me from making my usual " winter month comfort foods " , namely

meat-potatoes meals or starchy, fatty (and meat-filled) casseroles. 

 

     I was crushed, at first; I love to cook and making all the different

" casseroles " was my consolation for enduring the cold, dark winter months!

Then, I got my thinking-cap on and came up with the idea of eating only (or

mostly) soups.  They fool the mind into thinking one is eating a lot more--the

ideal " light meal that doesn't feel like you are eating less " !  And we had

" meal-size salads " in the summer.  We didn't give up eating meat, but with soups

and " meal-salads " , the amount of meat, compared to all the other ingredients is

much less than in a " traditional " meal that has meat as the " centerpiece " .

 

        The " evolution " of our diets is now going more and more toward

vegetarianism.  DH traveled to west Africa 2 years ago and came back with the

realization that many people in the world eat almost NO meat and still are

healthy.  We in the " west " are over-consuming of so many resources--DH agreed

readily with me when I suggested we " try " eating less and less meat this year. 

My " need " to feel creative when I cook is well-satisfied with

vegetarian cooking, and, 9 times out of 10, neither of us has any desire to

" add " meat to our foods at all--it tastes better without it.

 

       I have to admit, we still do eat it occasionally.  (Usually, when we are

away from home and there seems to be no convenient alternative.)  While on

vacation this past month, however, I was surprised to find " veggie " options in

many places and took advantage to try them out.  We also have some things in our

freezer (from " before) that I won't waste or throw out--it just won't be

replaced with more meat-stuff.

 

       For me, I think the hardest might be when all the broth and " freezer "

additions I kept for future soup-making are used up (the meat-chicken

ingredients, that is).  I also have not gone toward using " meat-look-alike "

foods very much.  I have mixed feelings about those, but who know? I never even

considered Boca sausage before this spring and now I prefer it.  There are

always new things to discover, so this " route " seems like a good one to

follow--wherever it leads us!

 

      Thanks for your post--it gave me some " food " for thought!

 

   Peace and blessings!

--Laura B., in Illinois