Category: Memoir

Existing meat substitutes are not as affordable as real meat and not similar enough in taste. And they have not been proven to be healthier than real meat. So many consumers cannot justify spending money on plant-based products in order to help the planet.

The Big Bet on Meat Alternatives Fails — https://www.newsweek.com/big-bet-meat-alternatives-fails-1805425#Echobox=1686529746

I just had my annual wellness checkup. I’ve reached the point in life where all of my doctors are younger than me.

I’ve gained 4 pounds over the past 2 months. Trips to Colorado, Texas and Owasso might have had something to do with it. SugarSaltFat. I’m not panicking. Yet. Over time I’ve gotten much calmer about my sudden bursts of weight gain. Just need to eliminate the causes and get back to doing what worked in the past.

I am an omnivore, and my diet is not meat heavy. I feel better eating less meat and tend to gain weight whenever I overindulge in meat. A few weeks ago I kept a food diary. Between 66 and 75% of my meals are meat-free. Remember that what works for me may not work for you.

I stopped buying and eating fake meat products quite some time ago. The rise and fall of bleeding plant burgers doesn’t surprise me. What surprises me are vegetarians who return to meat eating ways.

It’s not as though the ethical concerns that first drive people to vegetarianism magically disappear when they decide, for whatever reason, to eat meat again. This kind of dissonance between our values and our actions can be super uncomfortable, and most of the people I spoke to often feel guilty about eating animals and polluting the environment, or struggle with the ick factor when they have to handle or cook meat. “When I stopped being vegetarian, I was very upset with myself and felt that I was betraying my values and the animals,” says Sent. “I spent at least a year eating meat, fish, and eggs in secret.”

After Years of Being Vegetarian, They Couldn’t Help But Eat Meat Again — https://www.bonappetit.com/story/vegetarians-eat-meat-again

I loved being plant-based. My running idol (besides my own father – hi, Dad) is the one and only Scott Jurek, and he’s vegan. And there are plenty of things I owe to my vegetarianism. First, my awareness of my personal environmental impact. Second, the acknowledgement of my privilege to choose healthier vegetarian options when for some it’s not as accessible. And lastly, the understanding that my choices don’t make me a better person, nor make anyone else a lesser person. The biggest barrier halting me from transitioning to an omnivore diet was shame. Practical concerns aside, I was afraid of what other people who had only known me as a vegetarian might think of my sudden change of plan. I was wracked with guilt for even considering breaking my vegetarianism.

A Vegetarian Runner’s Quest to Become a Meat Eater — https://www.outsideonline.com/food/food-culture/a-vegetarian-runners-quest-to-become-a-meat-eater/