So I know this may be an emotive subject and obviously I don't want any friction with anyone, I've just had a spell in hospital and occasionally I think about my food, and I had a bit of a joke in my head
(Yes my sense of humour kicked in)
And I asked what was the main meal,
" steak and kidney " pie, and then I said as long as it isn't my kidney, I had problems with mine.
so I've been around animals in my younger days, worked on a small holding with animals , and often wish I could be a non meat eater, but like with drinking alcohol and now having non alcoholic drink is similar to buying non meat food products, my nagging question is why try to imitate things you don't want to be associated with, is it a marketing ploy to sell you something that you are trying to avoid?
I've always been a meat eater, and yes there's days when I wish I could break this habit or is it drummed in from childhood to take eating another animal,but then I have to think that most pets, dogs and cats are fed meat.
I'm really stuck some days and yes a wave of guilt overcomes me, but soon as a roast joint is cooked I'm back to the caveman scenario and never a thought about eating this creature, I'm fairly careful how I word things and I'm a careful thinker,and I truly don't want to upset anyone with this conversation, thoughts and no doubt some answers might settle this nagging feelings I have, hope everyone is doing well 😀
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Cb1963
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I can only state my own experiences. At the age of 16 without ever having given it any thought before, I stopped eating meat. I do eat fish though so am a pescatarian.
I remember it well. It was my turn in my family to pick the last remains from a chicken skeleton. As I was doing so I saw a blinding light in my head like a lightbulb and suddenly thought this chicken was once alive and running about like me.
I was completely disgusted with myself and stopped eating meat from that day on. I have never gone back to it and am now a pensioner.
I despise cruelty to animals of all sorts and won't even wear leather and fur is a definite no no.
And yes I loved meat but could never eat it again.
Its each to their own though and I never try and dictate to others or convert them. My choice.
Oh and apart from dodgy lungs caused by smoking and spinal stenosis I am otherwise robust and healthy.
I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this.
I'm obviously at " crossroads " in my life, and I'm generally into deep thinking about numerous subjects or things that could or would affect me, I think how long I've got left on this planet, and even though I eat meat and please don't be offended in how I feel that the oceans have become a free for all in sucking all the fish up with these super trawler factory ships that process thousands of fish in a matter of hours. However I wonder how long the planet can take such abuse from us so called humans extracting everything that we need to survive, I look at how oil is taken from our inner planet and that to me is like drawing blood from a patient, perhaps I've got a strange mind on how things are happening, and sometimes my wording may not suit everyone who has come across me, but I wouldn't want to harm a living soul, but I'm deeply critical on how I try to deal with my own inner thoughts, it's like having a split personality, and perhaps I'm stuck in trying to evolve into a person who won't eat meat again, that's my quandary, I've given up alcohol and wouldn't fancy even trying the false artificial drinks that resemble alcohol and now thinking can I " escape " this carnivorous act that I've been accustomed to, brings me to the conclusion I can't decide, yes I have pangs of guilt eating meat and then saving a bee that's fallen into a tub of water, boy my head runs riot on subjects that folk just take for granted, I really perhaps don't understand myself at time's and maybe I'm stuck trying to climb out of the same pot of water in distress like the bee, I'm really confused but trying to explain I don't know if I have the answer and can I look at the animals grazing or chickens running around the farmyard without a care in the world knowing they haven't murdered anyone, and yet " mankind " has a lot of explaining to do, please forgive me as i don't know yet if I'm not quite ready to leap into the world of freedom for animals and myself is part of the process which I struggle with makes me feel a hypocrite, that's how I feel, and maybe this doesn't answer your questions, but part of me has caused untold animal cruelty during my 60 years on this planet , and can I change, the guilt has consumed me at times all for eating animals that we take for granted just like filling your car up, we don't give a second thought, and perhaps my thinking hasn't thought enough at the beginning of my life, perhaps we need a reduction on what we eat, the planet can't respond to the act's that we destroy on a daily basis mankind has numerous problems ahead in the future and its like a steam train that hasn't any destination that comes at full speed at us, sorry for droning on, it just my head in my own world nobody would wants my crazy thoughts I suppose, thanks for listening 🫡
I have listened to your thoughts and they are valid because you think them.
For me though its a lot more simple. I think eating meat is disgusting though I will admit if I was starving to death and there was no other food then I would eat it. I am nothing if not practical lol
Also while I agree with you on fish at least they have a free life until caught which is more than pigs, chickens etc. do. I have always wanted to stop eating fish too but I don't like cooking and you have to compromise to stay healthy I guess.
I abhor all cruelty to animals and this is what makes me stay stopped mainly.
My life, my choice and my compromise. Everyone has to find their own way and I wish you success in finding yours.
My youngest is an Empath. At age 5 he figured it all out. We were eating all the animals he loved, because at 5 he loved everything. He thought long and hard about this for a few days. Literally he then said he liked cow too much! As for the world, I am right with you. So hard to live knowing we are destroying this beautiful world.
Yes my friend daughter took the leap of faith into not eating meat, and I'm not here to judge anyone, I'm glad I've had so many replies and it helps me understand people's own experiences, and I'm very happy your child has worked out the world so quickly, like I said I wanted people's opinions and trying to keep this conversation may have caused some distress to other people, and thankfully the replies have been very sensible and offered genuine help and I respect all the answers given, it was NEVER to upset anyone, well done with your child!!
I still find it strange that my core beliefs were formed in my childhood and mid teens. Ok they have been modified over the years but the basics remain.
Not because I really thought long and hard about anything but some things I cannot agree with. It was just instinct with me, but they have been proved to be right for me.
I don't judge others though as their core beliefs are right for them too. Each to their own.
It is indeed an emotive subject! I am a meat eater, but far far less than i used to be though. I was raised on a dairy farm and i suppose became used to cows and pigs being used for food. I am conflicted because I have an overriding love of animals, so not sure where that leaves me?
Knowing quite a lot about farming, if suddenly everyone became vegan or vegetarian all the cattle and livestock would die, the land would become barren and unkept, because farmers would not be able to survive, and they most certainly would not be able to keep their pastures in good health, and why should they or be able to, the countryside would suffer greatly.
It is a very fine line to tread. I suppose the only way I manage my thinking is when i buy a joint of meat i dont see it as an animal, for if i did i wouldn't eat it. I tend to eat mostly chicken and fish, although even then it fills me with dread if i think about it, and i cannot eat fish if it still looks like a fish.
I have tried to eat non meat meals, but I actually couldn't stomach any of it. As I've already said, i do eat meat, but far less.
But please respect everyone's preferences and not turn this into a fight because i have been on the end of some bitter nasty trolling in the past and it is not conducive to ones mental health. Respect.!
Great post Secrets, I’m not a big meat eater, I could actually live without it it, but as you say it’s not just about eating meat, there are so many other issues involved . To each his own I say ,
Yes I know it could be a sensitive subject and I'm glad people haven't drawn out the daggers on this subject, it's all about personal feelings and I've tried my best to keep it rational and didn't want anyone getting to upset or angry, I hope you're feeling better, I had a brief stay in hospital and need further investigations, maybe the health scare has found something I didn't know I had, anyway take care a few thanks for your reply 😀
Nice to see we can discuss it rationally, sorry to hear that you’ve not been well either, I came home yesterday after two weeks in IC, to my own bed , they found some more probs for me too, that thankfully can be treated, hope you feel better soon
Oh no, that's awful, it's difficult try to understand things especially when they need a follow-up, I've already read my discharge papers from hospital and I'm slightly concerned about a couple of things found on my scan, obviously I now need further investigations and I'll have to see what happens next, yes I hope things turn a corner for you and things improve, yes I was hoping that my post didn't upset anyone or caused are distress, it was just a general enquiry on how people felt about their own eating habits, best wishes!!!
It's seems like a sensible debate as i know it could open up a can of worm's , and thankfully people have understood the question, I wasn't here for a heated debate I was asking just a question on people's own personal experience and how , and if they managed to transfer over to becoming non meat eaters, i wanted to see how they coped with a total new change of diet , and obviously we all have this issue of eating animals we've not seen until in the butchers shop, and now even the word " butcher " is a word that's even got me thinking , I've a vision of the big hatchet chopping up meat, I'm seriously thinking of quitting meat, and I feel guilty knowing I'm part of the killing process, perhaps I'm a bit to sensitive and look ti deep at things but that's how my brain works, and I can't help that, thanks for your reply and comments!🫡
Back in 2021 when the media were mouthing off about meat shortages we decided to cut down on meat here and tried out some quorn and quorn tastes like chicken and doing things like sweet potato with chickpeas!
I remember at primary school there was one teacher there who was vegetarian and did a vegetarian cookery class on a Friday afternoon when it was craft afternoon and my father said she was stupid for being vegetarian and when I use chickpeas it brings back memories of the vegetarian cookery class back then!
I don't mind meat free meals myself say like sweet potato soup as I feel it doesn't hurt to try out different things!
Nowadays it's rare we do steak and chips up here!
Today it's swimming at 3pm and thankfully I have finished my job applications nice and early so it's been a busy but peaceful morning this morning not like yesterday morning when I had to go to the jobcentre and my routine got interrupted and thankfully I managed to step back and keep my cool as its not fun when you are in the process of doing things and you get interrupted especially important ones like that but thankfully no harm done as I achieved everything I wanted to achieve yesterday even after that hiccup!
Yes. I can't eat a fish which looks like on either.
I understand your comments the use of the land but if everyone stopped eating meat it would be used instead for other non meat products.
I have had many non meat meals and they have all been delicious. I thoroughly dislike like tofu and soya ie meat replacements though as they don't taste nice.
Basically if you love cooking and are good at it then its much easier to be more selective in your diet but still ensure it is a healthy one. But like I said I dislike cooking so take the easier option.
Eating meat or not is neither right nor wrong. It depends entirely on the values and principles of the user. I would never criticise anyone for their choices as its up to them how they live their lives.
One thing I will say though is I do find it very strange when so called animal lovers go past a field of gambolling lambs and go aren't they cute? Then they go home and eat them with mint sauce.
Thanks, I perhaps need to look into recipes that get my taste buds going, I enjoy salads already and don't eat meat every day, I'm not ready to transfer to a total vegan diet as I enjoy eggs and cheese and I don't feel this impacting my head, as chickens lay eggs regardless of the outcome, and cheese is a by product of milk, I just don't want people thinking I'm neither one or the other I just don't fancy the artificial meat product on my plate as I feel this isn't my way forward for my plan to make this work, thanks so much for your thoughts 👍
Those artificial protein things aren't that nice so you won't be missing out on anything leaving them out!
Main thing is that we tried those other things rather than turning our noses up at them saying I'm not doing that!
I get infuriated myself when others are allowed to say they're not doing things but when I say that I get told off and asked why not.
Many years ago I had decided that I didn't want to work one Friday evening in the silver service training restaurant by the canteen I was working in at the time.
The line Manager was fine and said how I can't be available all the time when I turned it down as I wanted some time for myself which is a good reason!
Then other staff found out I wasn't working that Friday evening and had asked me why not and I had been honest and had said that I didn't want to and they wouldn't take no for an answer but I stood firm and another colleague told them to shut up and that they couldn't force me if I had made it clear that I didn't want to!
Then the line Manager asked to see me in the office as someone had told her what was going on and she had said unless I put in a complaint myself there was nothing she could do about it and she had told me I didn't have to do anything I didn't want to do and that it was none of their business what I did or didn't do!
I never did do that Friday evening shift anyway!
I find it extremely infuriating when these aggressive people won't take no for an answer but I stood firm and never did do that Friday evening!
Today it's leftovers day and dinner is free tinned ham along with leftover red cabbage so a ham and cabbage hash which was delicious!
Last night it was rumbledethumps of ham, red cabbage and leftover swede which I enjoyed!
I really enjoyed my swim and catch up with my sister in law today who says she is proud of me!
Yesterday morning they were clearing out one of the other flats where someone died a couple of weeks back and asked us all did we want any leftover food from there and I was absolutely horrified when I saw the family sized freezer full to the brim just for one gentleman and confirmed to me we are right in running down our cupboards and freezer every so often so nothing goes to waste!
I got some free tinned ham, tinned macaroni cheese, a quiche, squash, some chicken, horlicks, ice cream and some tinned peas which will put us on for a bit!
I did notice there wasn't any fruit and veg of any kind around whereas here our freezer is full of those items as they are affordable for us and handy when you have been busy all day!
Yesterday the lady who offered us the free food asked me what are tateys when I said how the tinned potatoes would come in handy for stand by so I explained tatey is northern for potatoes!
I had said how I had found out her brother in law had died after a day out at Tredegar house and the village hall at Old St Mellons watching some plays in the evening and how I wasn't surprised but it was still a shock to come home to though!
Many years ago when I was 16 my father had come back from work and had found out I had slept with my boyfriend and had gone on the pill and had shouted I didn't expect to come home to this!
Point is life is full of things you don't expect to come home to!
My father should have had my life with all the things I have been through like that recently and getting evicted and then he really would have had things to shout about and crib over!
I said about how I had been called vile names by snobby girls about going out and about solo and she said it's nothing to do with them and how they are above themselves thinking they are God going around laying down the law telling people what they can and can't do and I was right when I defied them and it caused trouble!
Hmm, sometimes things happen in life, and obviously I've had many problems, some self inflected, but others forced upon me, I try not to hold onto the past, but then if we didn't keep certain memories we can struggle to forget who we are and why we are, I can sometimes talk in riddles but not intentionally, its perhaps who I am making the person I am today, each person has had life changing situations along the way, and it can affect our attitude towards other people, I try to make light of my posts and inject some humour, but not everyone who visits the forum can't get a handle on me, but like with anything it takes time to navigate the forum, and trying to understand people who have different problems I then tend to look in and see if I can offer any genuine advice,it's trying to offer help, or just having a laugh along the way, either way I can be serious, kind or empathetic , and I don't see the point in arguing over something that will blow into a full scale riot, that's why we all eat different foods, and we're all different, we are ALL individual, have a great night 🌙 😊
interesting as i have switched my large chest freezer off, it was absolutely full of stuff, some had been at the bottom for several years, and then i threw most of it away, so now i just manage with the small freezer at the top of my fridge and its debatable whether i will buy a small freezer as i'm managing quite well without.
If you don't feel buying yourself a small freezer is warranted then don't get one!
Had a great day out today at the Barry Island sea Shanty festival and went there and back on the bus and resisted the temptation to have dinner out in the hungry horse pub nearby as I had defrosted quiche and sweet potatoes for dinner here which I enjoyed!
If I died and they were clearing my freezer they would be impressed with the amount of frozen veg in it!
I said to a very big lady about doesn't she find it's always the way that the delicious foods are bad for you yet the nutritious ones don't look very nice and she said to me how she doesn't care about what she eats!
Thankfully I had the manners not to have made a rude comment about the not caring what she eats!
Thursday just gone I had had a frustrating morning and had gone to treat myself to breakfast out before the depressing trip to the job centre and I had got myself a large breakfast as it was going to have been an active day that day and it was as I had swimming later on to look forward to after the depressing job centre trip!
Anyway I got a rude comment directed at myself someone's hungry this morning and those kind of comments drive me insane with rage as they are rude and insensitive and whys it anything to do with them what I put on my plate!
Yesterday myself and my friend at the sea Shanty festival decides to go for am early lunch at a cafe on the Barry Island and we ordered the same thing large cooked breakfasts from their before 12 menu and I said about last Thursday and her response was how its no one else's business how much I put on my plate or not and she would have asked them whys it any of your business which is right and not to let stupid people like that put me off going out to eat and if you want the large breakfast you want it and that's the end of the matter!
Point is yet again where there's no sense there's no feeling is there?
Our ancestors were omnivores, so anything non-toxic was on the menu, if you could catch and kill it. Today we have the choices, and many more of these. Much of our salads are grown hydroponically in enormous greenhouses.
My son is diabetic, and having looked carefully at lists of ingredients in foods, I am going to stick with what I know best; I did look into vegan foods, but the amounts of additives, especially sugar and salt, would not be good for him. He is off sweet stuff as he needs to lose some poundage, carbohydrates and salts have been reduced too. We eat well, but simply, lots of salads and veggies, and some meat or fish, very little highly processed foods. We do allow ourselves a take out once a week.
I have no problems with those who don't like to eat meat, each to their own preference.
Down the road from the flat in the village they have a place where they do urban farming and hydroponics where I had an interview for a job there a few years ago.
If I hadn't been to the interview I never would have found out about hydroponics and urban farming so nothing was wasted by going there!
This afternoon I had kittens when I saw that the old place I was thrown out of last year is up for sale for £800000 for the 5 flats!
When we were there back in 2021 they had tried to sell the place for £345000 and the estate agent had claimed no we weren't all getting thrown out and I had said we will see what happens!
That plan fell through when the potential buyers changed their minds and pulled out!
That was a lesson in trusting instincts as how right I was when I suspected we were all getting thrown out in due course!
I'm happy up here now and have made friends here who told me how those snobby girls had no business in telling me I am crackers for going out and about on visits on my own!
What type of cracker are you ,is it a Jacob's cracker 🤣 I suppose its better than being called" a nut job" 🤣 then I'd be listing all the type of nuts that I could manage to list 🤣
Thanks Midori, I just thought I'd throw the conversation out there to see how people managed eating a meat free diet, thankfully the responses have been very useful and informative, it was never a point to drag people into a heated debate, it was asking how people cope, and how they managed, and I'm glad of all the positive replies, this is probably the best conversation I've had on the forum for many years, without people getting upset or angry, and sometimes if things are worded carefully possibly it gives people the chance to say things on how they feel, words can be highly emotive and I thought long and hard how to post this particular comment, thanks for your reply, best wishes!!!
Like I said its up to everyone what they choose to eat.
I have found that after 54 years of not meeting meat its always those who do who love to try and ridicule those who don't.
If I had £1 for everyone who had said to me 'What do you eat then - lettuce?' followed by a silly giggle I would be rich. Or those who try and trick me into eating it - had several of those over the years too.
I now say I leave you alone so leave me alone too.
I think it's a personal choice....and yes...some people want to have the main course feeling with fake meat, and nowadays, a lot of it is very good. It's just a bit more substance in a hamburger to have something to bite into rather than just lettuce and tomato, a veggie burger can be quite nice....
I was a lacto/ova vegetarian for over 13 years, and eventually just needed to get the two proteins in meat that veggies just don't provide for me according to my doctor. I did miss fried chicken and ribs to be honest...but it was about the animals thing. Most of us couldn't knock a cow in the head and dress it for a steak....we only see the mostly guilt free version sold at the counter wrapped nicely.
Yes I've eaten the veggie burgers and actually I quite enjoyed them ☺️ and I'm glad all the responses have had detailed insights on how people choose to sort out their dietary requirements, I was half expecting a barrage of abuse; but thankfully everyone has been thoughtful and explained how they decide on what to eat, it's all about freedom and making choices that suit individuals. Yes working in the meat industry must play with your emotions, I used to deliver newspapers as a kid and the cattle were starved the day before they were put into the "slaughter" house, now even that word disturbs me, you just know its going be gruesome, and I have bad memories because we could hear the cow's mooing in the yard the night before, perhaps I have a vivid memory and this plays badly on my feelings, but I don't have a problem going fishing in my days gone by, even though I'm now B12 deficiency and apparently meat is a good source of this vitamin, I try and support my diet with other foods that don't need meat as much to boost my intake , I'm at the stage where meat is getting expensive, and perhaps I'm ready for a change over of dietary requirements, thanks for your insights, and hope you have a pleasant evening 😀
I like the idea of nutritional yeast. I have to take a Vit D/Calcium supplement daily due to age, and I love mushrooms , so that seems like a good addition.
Yes, I'm not a massive meat eater and could probably do the transition of changing my diet with some willpower, I haven't thought about this at the moment in great depth, I was wanting people's opinions and thoughts if they managed to swap diets and how easily they found it, I could embrace the future regarding this, and I'm glad I've had some excellent replies, it's just all about learning, and I've gathered some more information in small but manageable bits of information, it's not like a book where things are thrown at you in a large format, and remembering little snippets makes this a lot easier to digest, excuse the pun, thanks for your reply!!!
I'm not a massive meat eater either, but i doubt i could go completely vegan or vegetarian, bearing in mind i have just eaten Raspberry roulade smothered in double cream. 😁
Oh dear 😳 bang goes a few calories then 🤣, I'm partial to cheese and biscuits as well, never used to like Stilton, but my taste buds have acquired this taste especially with a water biscuit cracker over the last 20 years or so,not struck on the creamy type cheese from France, its smells like the ammonia and is a bit to strong for me, well that's the smells it gives me, obviously people give different smells and tastes different wording , I enjoy my food to much probably to go on a life changing regime of new " diet " think my favourite fruit is strawberries when in season, but even different countries taste different, Scottish strawberries are particularly very nice 👌 😋
Oh yes, i love cheese and biscuits to, with a little bit of pickle, in fact you have made me go looking in the fridge. I enjoy a tasty cheddar , i also like stilton with grapes. Now what have you done, bang goes my diet.😁
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