First day without meat. (Go me!) Am I doing it right?

ty!

I use Nature's Own, they're readily available from chemists and health food shops and possibly some supermarkets...

Hey, so yeah, just wanted to update.

It's been a week and I haven't knowingly eaten meat.

I've been making a few soups and I even made a vege lasagna. It was amazing.

It really hasn't been that hard at all. There are so many food that are yummy that don't require killing animals. More than I imagined.

In reality I'm eating muc healthier now then I was before, I've been sleeping heaps better and my mind seems to work better (I wrote a 6,000 word essay in 24 hours.)

I don't feel ill at all and if I do it's normally because I'm trying to drink a bit of vitiman C with each meal (to help wit the iron) and forgetting to drink water. So I drink water and feel fine.

I'm still a bit timid when people ask what made me go vegetarian, I just mutter 'animal cruelity'. I have however had a few chances to make some sly comments. One of my older female friends was asking whether I'd eat meat (chicken specifically) if I had the animals on the farm. I began by saying that I don't think it's necessary for us to eat meat, but yes, I would be more inclined to since the chickens wouldn't be feed growth hormones and slaugtered a 6 weeks old.

Another friend asked about fish, implying they had no feelings. I responded by saying ' I think that anything could feel it's bladder explode with the change of pressure and you know, if the fish was unlucky enough to live through that, I think prehaps he felt the slow suffication that would be the end of him.'


I think perhaps these conversations will have more impact than me standing on tables screaming at everyone.

The only thing that has been bothering me is when people make me a vegetarian meal but then but the extra meat (that would be in mine) in theirs (or the rest of the peoples).It's times like that where I feel like my efforts are in vain. It's a meal where no animal was saved.

So yeah, if anyone is reading this that isn't a veg yet, it's really not as hard as you'd think.

lasagne rocks! if you want to try something a little different (cut down on the cheese) I make a really runny potato mash for the very top layer, with some garlic and pepper in it. It tastes great

When you first make the change, alot of people will question what made you do it, don't feel intimidated by that. Be proud! Just tell them that you no longer wish to contribute to animal suffering. People will get used to it

Just because you aren't eating meat, doesn't mean your family should be compensating for it? That's weird.
Maybe offer to start cooking dinner a few times a week, and make really tasty vege meals. I know that's what changed my mom's mind about my eating habits. She ended up looking forward to my meals! haha.
By doing that at least you're stopping meat consumption for those meals.

Jessum, you are doing amazingly well!

I wouldn't worry too much about the fact your family are consuming the same amount of meat as before you went veg, they're probably getting used to your new lifestyle too - or they may just think its a fad.  But once it sinks in I'm sure they'll start buying and cooking less meat.  You could always have a quiet word to whoever does the shopping and request they buy less meat and a few more veg items for you.

Having polite discussions with people about being veg is definitely more favourable that being too full on with people.  But on occasion you may not be able to help yourself, it can get frustrating and people can really try and push your buttons.. but don't let them get to you, just remember why you are doing what you are doing... for the animals

I meant more for my motivation. Like, I'd prefer it if they took the meat I'm not eating and save it for another meal and then in turn, they'd be buying less meat.
It's not my family, I cook all my own meals and buy my own groceries. I just mean, like I can see when I don't go and buy meat how that's making a difference, but when someone cooks a dinner an cooks the same amount of meat that they would if I was eating it and then they all eat my share of that meat, where they would be happy to eat less, it just seems like it's not making a difference, because, its not.

I don't expect anyone to change or anything, it was just the only thing that I've found difficult.

=)

That's what I meant by compensating, even though you're not eating the meat, they're eating your share still.

Oh, sorry, my bad.
I thought you meant, like I shouldn't expect them not to eat meat just because I am.
Sorry

Exactly what I was going to say! Jess, well done!  

I did an assignment on Do Fish Feel Pain? at Tafe years ago. Studies have agreed that they do feel pain.

http://www.fishinghurts.com/fishfeelpain.asp