The Vegetarian Project

Via Strictly-Vegan.com

It has been about 10 years since I read Fast Food Nation, an in depth look at the fast food industry with a heavy focus on the beef industry. Memories of what I read about the process of slaughtering the animals that ultimately become our burgers and steaks still causes a near Pavlovian response whenever I go past the beef section at the grocery store. (I'll spare you the details so as not to thoroughly gross out anyone who would still like to enjoy a juicy burger once in a while.) I even experimented with a vegetarian diet after reading the book. After a steady diet of veggies, fruits, beans and "fake meat" I pronounced my experiment a failure at the 3 month mark and moved back to the world of omnivores.

I was always a smidge disappointed in myself for not giving the vegetarian lifestyle a better chance. My problem was that I didn't do my homework. I didn't look into all of the healthy alternatives to meat, you know, the ones that aren't found in the frozen/processed food section. In late September of 2011 I made a decision to give it a second try, but this time I put some time into researching what I should and shouldn't be eating. I read several books on the topic and borrowed some vegetarian cookbooks from the library. I looked at vegan websites and blogs, cooked some vegan recipes and talked to a few long-time vegetarians before making my final decision. The first week of October the experiment began again.

Now that I'm at the 3 month mark again I thought I'd write a post about my experiences, both pro and con, and what I've learned up to this point.


Pros

-(Let's just get this out of the way) Regularity is not a problem.

-I immediately started feeling "lighter" and didn't experience that heavy feeling I sometimes get after eating certain entrees.

-My skin looks clearer and smoother.

-PMS symptoms were lessened. (Not gone completely but the wrath of Karen was much less pronounced this month, thank you very much.)

-My weekly grocery bills are about $20 lower since I'm no longer purchasing as much meat and using lower cost sources of protein.

-It forced me to be more aware of the protein content in the foods I was consuming.

-As a person who doesn't relish time spent in the kitchen I was more eager to try different recipes rather than the same repertoire of 8-10 entrees I usually fix. (Part of that could be the newness factor.)

-I was able to find a vegetarian choice at every restaurant I dined at during the 3 months, even a steakhouse. (See the con's section)

-Learning how easy it is to make black bean and split pea soup was a pleasant surprise.

-My energy level is off the charts.


Cons

-No weight loss (But no weight gain either, I guess that could be a positive too!)

-Not all cities are created alike when it comes to vegan-friendly dining.

-Reaction of others when you tell them you're vegetarian. (Translation: Some people felt the need to defend their choice to eat meat and I felt as though they thought I was judging them. Not so.)

-The selection of vegetarian entrees is pretty small at most American restaurants. You're often limited to items that contain little protein like salads, soup or pasta coated heavily in sauces or butter.

-Insults to your intelligence from people who ask if you know that you're going to have to watch your protein intake. (That got on my last nerve.)

-Not all vegetarian meals will appeal to every family member. If you are the family cook you must be willing to fix a separate meal for yourself.

-There is virtually no decent vegetarian choice when fast-food is your only option. (Although there's no decent choice for meat lovers either!)



What I learned

-Ethnic restaurants are a good choice when dining out. Asian and Lebanese restaurants are especially good.

-Not all protein is created equal. The faux meats in the freezer section contain preservatives just like its neighbor, the Hungry Man TV Dinner.

-Vegan cheese is apparently an acquired taste. If eating dairy doesn't bother you it might make you consider staying on a vegetarian diet for a longer duration.

-When invited to dine in someone's home it's a good thing to let them know you're limiting yourself to a vegetarian diet and offer to bring your own dish or one to share.

-It is entirely possible to gain weight on a vegetarian diet if you're consuming large portions or limiting your protein consumption to high calorie/high fat sources like cheese.

-Most Americans get more than the daily recommended amount of protein in their diets. There is quality protein in Greek yogurt, vegetables, whole wheat breads and pasta, beans, peas and legumes and plenty of other non-meat sources.

-While you may become BFF's with your container of Bean-o in the beginning you body will eventually adjust to the addition of more beans. Be patient, it won't happen overnight.


Conclusions

When I started the vegetarian diet I planned to reassess my choice after a period of three months. Since my experiment started and ended just before and just after the holidays I was busier than usual and didn't spend as much time as I might otherwise have looking for recipes and reading more about the lifestyle. I was eating a lot of raw produce, salads with beans and other sources of vegetarian protein, Greek yogurt and homemade soups. While I found these foods satisfying I was getting a bit bored with the monotony of eating the same dishes so often but I hung in for the 3 months.

To break up the monotony of eating only vegetarian I considered adding chicken and turkey back to my diet one or two meals per week. However, I changed my mind after consuming a portion of the roasted turkey breast that I prepared for my family this past Thursday evening. Within 30 minutes I felt like I'd swallowed a brick. That "heavy" feeling was back. Over the next hour my stomach started feeling mildly nauseous and the heavy feeling persisted throughout the evening. I assumed that my body wasn't used to digesting animal protein that way it did 3 months prior and that that type of reaction would subside if I continued to consume meat on a regular basis.

Final conclusion: I'm sticking to the vegetarian lifestyle for the time being. As both an animal lover and a health enthusiast it's a lifestyle that I can stand behind.