Taking a break from eating meat

JonRGV250

JonRGV250

JonRGV250

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I kinda figured that having a cooked breakfast every morning, along with a ham/chicken etc sammich for lunch, then a roast dinner most nights had to stop at some point as it probably isn't the healthiest way to live...

So i knocked that routine on the head and stopped, and switched to fish as a replacement, with pasta and salad for lunch and cereal for breakfast.

The first few days were great, and i felt less lethargic and had a bit more energy.

Cut to today..

It feels like my entire body has crashed into a wall, and as well as having zero energy, my insides feel like the inside of a spin dryer at full RPM.
The idea was to maybe have a week on, week off from meat, and maybe i'll get used to it after a while, and maybe i will, but at the moment i feel i could devour a live cow or three.
In fact a Desperate Dan cow pie would be in order (if any of you are old enough to remember the Dandy?)
 
JonRGV250 said:
I kinda figured that having a cooked breakfast every morning, along with a ham/chicken etc sammich for lunch, then a roast dinner most nights had to stop at some point as it probably isn't the healthiest way to live...

So i knocked that routine on the head and stopped, and switched to fish as a replacement, with pasta and salad for lunch and cereal for breakfast.

The first few days were great, and i felt less lethargic and had a bit more energy.

Cut to today..

It feels like my entire body has crashed into a wall, and as well as having zero energy, my insides feel like the inside of a spin dryer at full RPM.
The idea was to maybe have a week on, week off from meat, and maybe i'll get used to it after a while, and maybe i will, but at the moment i feel i could devour a live cow or three.
In fact a Desperate Dan cow pie would be in order (if any of you are old enough to remember the Dandy?)
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Are you getting enough protein? You need around 60gms a day. Very easy to get from meat, not so much a veggie diet. For example, a regular 8ox sirloin steak gives 50gm, nearly your whole RDA. Stick a couple of eggs with it and you’re well over.

Azazi’s recommendation of two pork chops is also 50gm of protein.
 
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I feel like you may have gone a little extreme. looks like you just need to cut back a bit.

Have cereals in the morning, some pesto pasta/salade/similar thing for lunch and then have a couple of nice pork chops for dinner.

This is just an example but I think better than just cutting it out altogether!
 
robfosters said:
Are you getting enough protein? You need around 60gms a day. Very easy to get from meat, not so much a veggie diet. For example, a regular 8ox sirloin steak gives 50gm, nearly your whole RDA. Stick a couple of eggs with it and you’re well over.

Azazi’s recommendation of two pork chops is also 50gm of protein.
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I keep chickens, so that shouldn’t be a problem.
Going at it “cold turkey” probably wasn’t the best idea.
 
I tried being a vegan. Lasted a few months.

I know that i myself have got to cut down on meat. I had chicken thighs today and during eating it i felt yucky! A feeling of 'what am i doing!'...

Thing is, i love my meat!
 
koolpc said:
I tried being a vegan. Lasted a few months.

I know that i myself have got to cut down on meat. I had chicken thighs today and during eating it i felt yucky! A feeling of 'what am i doing!'...

Thing is, i love my meat!
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I could never give it up. The thought of life without a nice steak or leg of lamb literally horrifies me
 
I’ve no intention of giving up meat, just cutting back a bit, I just need to find a reliable way of doing it.
And yes, the thought of no more roast lamb with mint sauce is utterly terrifying.
 
Like a curry? We have a cauliflower lentil curry just made with a few spoonfuls of curry powders, stock and then throw some spinach in at the end. Lentils are high in protein/fibre and I love it.
 
Liquid_Entity said:
Like a curry? We have a cauliflower lentil curry just made with a few spoonfuls of curry powders, stock and then throw some spinach in at the end. Lentils are high in protein/fibre and I love it.
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Must admit, I used to be a big meat eater in younger days, seems a bit easier to do (cutting it down) the older I got, but the curry quoted here would be well nice and ideal to break up the meat eating!

Used to quaff at one of my mates years ago for eating Sag curries - lol, now I love them!
 
We've been cutting back on the quantity of meat we eat, but increasing the quality so cost wise it balances out but the quality of the meat has increased substantially. Most difficult part was finding produce farmed locally. Im not that fussed on organic, but as a family we are trying to support local farmers and local producers, finding a proper farm shop (not the poncey stupidly expensive ones) was a challenge where I live, but weve found a couple. For the non meat days pulses and eggs are your friend for protein and there are loads of dishes that you can create. Venison is in season just now and is a great substitute for beef mince if you have a local source - kids dont notice the change which is also a bonus.
 
koolpc said:
Can u email me a bowl please?
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I've uploaded a photo of it :) went a bit crazy on the flaked almonds haha



and this is my home made takeaway kebab converted from real meat to Vivera kebab meat free alternative, lettuce leaf instead of pitta/bread and rice instead of chips and home made mint/garlic sauce. All the taste of a take away kebab without the grease, calories and stodgyness hours later.

 
To be honest, if you want to eat less meat then pick recipes that just don’t have meat in them and build them into your normal routines. We went from 1 meat free day per fortnight to 3-4 a week without even really noticing.

I’d specifically avoid substituting meat based recipes with ‘fake’ meat products, they’ll just make you want to eat proper meat.

I’d strongly suggest Tom Kerridge’s range of recipe books, they mainly low calorie themed but the recipes and good and don’t require a lot of skills or expensive ingredients you never need again. Likewise they are suitable to have daily with proper portion sizes and they are not packed full of calories. Lots of vegetarian options as well as meat across a wide range of cuisines and styles.
 
Vegetarian is easy and many cuisines have a plethora of veggie options. I always recommend Italian, as most people are familiar with it and it's pretty easy with which to get started.
 
Thanks all for the advice (especially ref protein).
I'm going to have a crack at some of the recipes in these books a vegetarian friend bought me a while ago when i was thinking of cutting out meat altogether.
If nothing else, they're amusing to read and he swears by them (pun not intended)..


**Images removed due to swearing**
 
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