I wasn't sure if I should put this in the Introduce Yourself forum or this forum since I'm new the boards and to Vegetarianism. I hope I picked right. :worried:

Anyway, like the subject says, it’s been about one month since I went veggie. I didn't mark the date or anything because it wasn't like I woke up that day and decided. It just sort of happened, as strange as that sounds. I've wanted to go veggie for years, and finally I realized there really was nothing stopping me. Especially since I do all the cooking around here anyway. *g*

My family and friends have been really amazingly supportive. Since I still live at home, I cook for my parents, so I felt kind of bad about pushing my new diet on them, but they haven't seemed to mind especially since I've been much more enthusiastic about cooking since I went veggie. I've also been making much tastier meals IMHO. ;)

One of my best friends is also veggie and working on going vegan, so I've had support on that end too. I've been very fortunate all around.

One aunt did say "Oh, you'll go back. Vegetarians always do." Which, dumb, yes, but it got me thinking, what are some of the ways you made the switch long term? It's easy to give up meat for a week, but harder to make it a lifestyle.

Personally, I'm just trying to replace meat with a wide variety of food and plenty of protein rich foods to cut down on meat cravings. It seems to be working. I've found myself more likely to be craving pasta with zucchini more than meat. Hee.

Welcome to VB! :hi: And congrats on making the switch and keeping to it for a month! :up:

Trust me, if you continue to work at it (and it looks like you're doing fine so far), it will get easier over time. I found that it was true for me. It also helps that have supportive people around you (for the most part - ignore your aunt) to help you on your veggie journey. Continue to cook for them and show them how terrific vegetarian meals can be! :yes:

Well done! :nana:

Way to go! I also cook for my parents most of the time, so they've become simi-vegetarian. :) I'd just ignore your aunt.
I'm a new veggie too, so I'm not much help on the long term part of your post.

Congradulations! November 18 will be one year for me. I didn't mark it on the calendar, either, but I have a very good memory and I can always remember that I went veg. exactly one week before Thanksgiving, which was on the 25 last year.

I've had a lot less support than you're getting so it has been difficult for me. I still miss the taste of meat but obviously I can live without it. I don't miss the extra weight nor the feeling of always being tired. AND I'm happy that in the last year I've saved about 95 animals from dying! :) Plus just recently I tried fake meat and amazingly it tastes ok to me. I tried it right after I went veg and it was horrible! I guess now that I can hardly remember what meat tastes like I can't compare.

Since I still live with my parents and brother, and they claim that they "can't live without meat" I've hardly done the cooking around my house. I LOVE to cook and used to do it often but I've officially been booted from head chef to head baker :( I'm only allowed to cook meals every once in a while. It seems each time I start to make something for the family, like tacos or spaghetti, my mom comes in and starts cooking the hamburger. It's frustrating but I'll be moving out soon so I'll be exploring more with my foods then. For now I'm sticking to eating out often and having my mom cook more veggies for dinner (along with the meat :grr: ).

Your aunt is just plain wrong, there are many lifelong vegetarians in the world. Like most of the country of India.....

Since I still live at home, I cook for my parents, so I felt kind of bad about pushing my new diet on them, but they haven't seemed to mind especially since I've been much more enthusiastic about cooking since I went veggie. I've also been making much tastier meals IMHO. ;)


Don't feel bad. Even if they do miss steak and other atery-clogging, cancer causing carcinogens, a vegetarian diet is one of the best things someone can do for their health and well-being! You're doing them a huge favour, even if they don't know it.

Wow. Thanks to everyone for the support. :)

Don't feel bad. Even if they do miss steak and other atery-clogging, cancer causing carcinogens, a vegetarian diet is one of the best things someone can do for their health and well-being! You're doing them a huge favour, even if they don't know it.

Hee. That's what I told my dad today. I refused to cook with chicken broth and when my dad complained, I told him I was saving him from cancer. (It runs rampant in his family, it's really scary and part of why I chose to go vegetarian. :worried: )

Congrats on becoming a veggie and welcome to the boards. There are lots of great supportive people here :up: :sunny:

Congrats! Its great that you have a zest for cooking! That will help you stick with the veggie diet, because you'll be able to create delicious and nutritious meals, and wont feel the need for meat. My husband and I have been vegetarian for years and are never going back. Keep up the good work! :-)