Hello! I am not a vegetarian, but I am trying to decrease my at home meat consumption for economic and health reasons.

I've been trying to make my usual meals without meat, but it ends up feeling like some flavor or texture is missing. Some essential part.
Is this my cultural conditioning as a person raised on meat with meat in most meals, or is there something I can do to make my dishes more fulfilling? Is it normal to struggle at this part?

I like to make a lot of soups, stews, rice and vegetable dishes, and 'throw everything with potatoes' type food. How can I make those better while making them vegetarian?

Can you please help me out, for personal reasons I can't say it's my first time cooking (yes very embarrassing) but i also wanted to be vegetarian. Can you please help me out on what easy recipes i can do or anything else that i need to learn (maybe a lessons or warnings) for a beginner like me.

hi! as the title suggests I have been slowly transitioning to being a vegetarian/ flexitarian for harm reduction regarding the environment and as a quiet protest against livestock farming as someone who grew up on a farm lol.

However, I find my lack of knowledge around nutrition and where to find protein and iron sources are holding me back a little. I’m worried about developing anaemia and tend to centre my diet around carbs IN GENERAL even pre making the decision to be vegetarian. Currently I try to get iron from spinach, broccoli (leafy greens?) and red dried lentils + tinned green ones. I don’t like tofu/ have not been successful at cooking tofu so my protein source is mainly chickpeas, low fat greek yogurt and different kinds of beans. Is there any other ways I could boost these?

Any tips for cooking tofu would also be appreciated but i think i just don’t like it.

I've decided that tomorrow I'm going to see if I can maintain a vegetarian diet. However, animal well-being isn't the primary driving force for my decision, being practical in the kitchen is.

I already eat little meat: I don't like fish or chicken, pork depends on the cut and prep. Beef I like in most iterations. Probably 80% of my current meat intake is with bouillon rather than flesh. My entire mental cookbook can be very easily altered to remove all meat, I think I always had a low-meat diet already so the transition will be painless.

I think switching to a vegetarian diet means I don't need to worry so much about cross-contamination, I won't need extra cutting boards, knives, serving utensils. I won't need to fret about doneness and possibly making myself or someone else sick if meat isn't done properly. Almost all of my meals are home-cooked, so it will make my cooking way easier.

Meat is also relatively expensive and takes relatively more prep to be tasty/exciting. For a $30 steak I could get a bushel of peppers and make a few quarts of roasted red peppers in oil, herbs, balsamic, something I'd already find a lot more appetizing than a steak. I'd save a lot of money and my food would go further since we mostly buy whole foods anyways: fruits and vegetables are cheaper.

While I do have concerns about the ethics of consuming meat, I want to go vegetarian to eat more exciting, save money, become more self-sufficient, and in a way, be challenged. If I can do that while also contributing less to the meat industry, that's awesome.

Let's say you're having a birthday party at a restaurant. Would you pay for the meat-filled dishes of your guests? I've been thinking about planning events and I'm not sure how to approach these situations. Already, there have been multiple times where I have felt pressure to buy meat products for my family, which I think is morally the same as eating meat myself. How do y'all deal with this problem?

Rant
WHY do so many people ask me this?! I say I don’t eat meat, then I get this response. How is fish not meat people?! It is an animal!
End of rant

Im 18m and have been vegetarian for a couple months now. i was a vegetarian as a child (5-12) and started eating meat at 13 and stopped again at 18. i am doing it becuz i really cant morally accept eating animals but ive been wanting to eat meat so bad. i only ate chicken even when i did eat meat. no red meat but i dont want to go back to eating meat. any advice on how to stay on track?

I am not a vegetarian and don’t plan to switch but I do have some questions

1. Why did you become vegetarian?
2. how strict is your vegetarianism(I’ve heard of vegetarians who eat meat every once in a while)
3. What are your thoughts on people who eat meat?
4. How do you supplement the nutrients that are in meat?
5. most importantly: is your favorite dinosaur a herbivore as well?(im really curious about this one)

Thanks!

Hi All! I’ve been vegetarian since before my teens, over 20 years now, I’ve recently been trying to be healthier - started running again and watching what I eat.

I’ve noticed that I seem to be averaging the correct amount of things my body needs apart from protein, which I’m getting about half of my recommended amount.

I haven’t used protein powder or bars yet but will look into them. Is there anything other than these, like snacks or easy meals/ingredients that you find helps?

Read the whole thing before crying about our scriptures promoting non veg!

Reason of becoming a vegitarian...if you are seriously a hindusim believer... Question - General when shri Krishna says "all human and animals are equal to him" it means for him humans = animal...

If killing a human is paap...

Killing an animal is equivalent to paap...hence, it's equivalent to a murder in shri Krishna's eyes...

Why would I ever be a murder?

I used to be non veg Eater until I got to know this!

(all meat eaters are here to justify how God devotee...they can be with killing animals!)

It Carries Karmic Consequences: Every action has an equal reaction (Karma). Because animals possess higher consciousness and feel pain, fear, and suffering during slaughter, eating meat involves absorbing that negative energy. Harvesting plants causes far less cosmic disturbance and pain.

It Affects Your Mind (Gunas): The Bhagavad Gita classifies meat as Tamasic (heavy, dark, and promoting ignorance). While it builds muscle and raw physical power, it is believed to cloud the mind, making meditation, calmness, and spiritual awakening much harder to achieve.

It Depends on Your Duty (Dharma): Dietary rules in Hinduism change based on your profession and stage of life. Warriors (Kshatriyas) were historically permitted to eat meat for strength and aggression. (but, you aren't in army, you aren't going to yudh...you are killing someone for the shake of your tounge!) However, priests, teachers, and spiritual seekers (Brahmins) are strictly required to be vegetarian to maintain mental purity.

Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva): This epic text contains clear warnings against eating meat. It states that the sins of violence against animals shorten a person's life and bring negative karma, advising those who seek welfare to avoid meat.Bhagavad Gita (Chapter 17, Verses 8–10): Lord Krishna categorizes foods into three modes of nature—goodness (sattva), passion (rajas), and ignorance (tamas). Pure, wholesome, plant-based foods are placed in the mode of goodness and are said to promote health, purity, and a calm mind.

Tirukural (Chapter 26): Though a classical Tamil text, it is deeply revered in Hindu traditions. It powerfully denounces meat consumption, asking how a person can practice true compassion while eating the flesh of another creature.

The Puranas (Padma Purana and Garuda Purana): These texts emphasize that ahimsa (non-injury) is the highest religious duty (dharma). They teach that harming animals binds the soul to negative karma and suffering.The Vedas (Atharva Veda 19.48.5): Vedic verses praise noble souls who protect all animals and practice meditation while avoiding harm to any living being.

So im 15f and my mum just casually dropped at the dinner table with my grandparents that shes gonna be vegetarian from now on. Shes said for a while that she hates the smell and taste of meat and that it makes her feel sick. The conversation just sorta moved past it, but its clear she actually meant it. I personally think eating meat is probably morally abhorrent, and have genuinely considered it before, being not that opposed, but I do really enjoy the taste of meat. Lots of my friends are vegetarian, and they say it isnt bad. I am concerned about the nutritional aspects of it, and like going to the gym, so idk if that would be affected. To any vegetarians, whats it like and to everyone do you think I should also go vegetarian?

Bacon was my favorite and I've been vegetarian for 3 months. I went completely cold...tofu? on not eating meat and dropped it all in one day. While I don't miss it, I do think about how nervous I am trying vegetarian bacon BECAUSE it used to be my favorite. I don't care about looks or texture, I really just want the classic taste and affordability!! I don't wanna think I have to miss out on my favorite foods just because I don't eat meat anymore, and that anything can be made vegetarian

Hey everyone, I’ll admit, I am not vegetarian YET, but it is something I want so badly for myself and animals. I’ve decided to cut out all red meat to start, and to only consume white meat for awhile, and to then cut that back. I’ve also tried cold turkey completely, but I always find myself failing. I barely eat meat, but when I do it’s usually because it’s cheap, or someone bought it for me. I don’t buy meat products myself anymore. I’m struggling finding food I actually like, I don’t like any of the impossible meat, and I don’t like bean burgers. I also HATE tofu. I also live in an area where vegetarian food isn’t very accessible. Once in awhile I travel to this vegan restaurant that I really love, but not much is accessible near me, and I am not one to cook much. Does anyone do any meal plans online that they like? Was there anything you did to help? Did anyone struggle as much as I did? I feel so horrible every time and I get to a point where it repulses me! I know being a vegetarian is not for everyone, but I do know it’s for me!!! I just need some advice to make this transition easier for me. TIA! I am trying!

Curious.

Before I was vegetarian I actually ate very little meat anyway, but I now explicitly say sure lets find a place with veggie options, or can we order another dish since I cant eat that?

It felt somewhat different in the beginning like I was inconveniencing people but eventually I got over it being an inconvenience because at the end of the day I fully switched over for the animals.

The other thing is people ask me quite a bit why are you vegetarian?

Have you all noticed any differences?

I never really liked meat to begin with but since I grew older I realized how much harm can be avoided if I just stopped consuming it. Ever since then I wanted to become vegetarian, but I’m 17, spend my weekdays with my grandma who preaches about the “greatness” of meat to me daily, and weekends with my dad who literally forces meat down my throat. I know I could cook for myself and substitute the meat for other things, but I’ve had eating problems in the past and my family takes me not wanting meat as a form of “restriction” which I’m obviously not allowed to have. What can I do? I really want to start cooking plant based and stop eating meat, but how can I do that for the time I still live with them?

Hey guys!

I love all food! But im not liking what im learning about our food industry.

Who has gone vegan and why? How do you feel, health wise?

Who went vegan and came back to eating meat, and why?

I know my decision is mine alone but would love to hear your thoughts!

Oh, and what the heck is vegan meat made from!?

Hello fellow vegetarians-I JUST started being a vegetarian-I've been going strong for 24 days now..I will admit I've had some slip ups..last month when I was day drinking with friends and I was SO hungry i gave in and got a hotdog and chicken strips..I did feel guilty thinking about the poor animals..and I was mad at myself for a few days..and another time beginning of August, when I was on a roadtrip with my parents, and I got chicken tenders. But since then I learnt from my slip ups and have been more vigilant on avoiding meat. I love being a vegetarian because it feels good knowing im doing my part in not consuming something as gross as meat..any advice for me to NOT give in like that ever again?

This will be my first camping trip as a vegetarian. I don't mind bringing my own food, or at least the protein sources, but my main question is we'll be "primitive" camping (camping with horses, no hook ups, whatever we bring in is what we have), so everything will go in a cooler with ice. Its only 1 or 2 nights- but - will something the tofurky slices, and say a bag plant based grilled "chicken" stay okay as such? Should I prepare it before hand (from frozen state) and then just keep it cool? Or take it frozen and cook it as we go? I don't want to make a big fuss, especially since it's only a short trip.

I’ve been vegetarian for four years and I realize for instance gelatin is not vegetarian and present in jello.

But as I do more research I realize things like even marshmallows arent vegetarian!

Please give me other ones!! I mean I found some like

Rice krispies

Parmesan at times??

Whats good to look for on the ingredient lists

Edit : thx for the responses

Heres the ingredients you all gave me, alphabetically if it helps someone!

Animal rennet
Bone char
Bonito flakes (miso soup)
Bovine collagen
Caesar sauce
Carmine/ E120
Chicken bouillon
Chicken broth (more obvious ingredient)
Cochineal
Collagen
Confectioners glaze
Fish paste
Fish sauxe
Gelatin
Isinglass (in wines)
Lac resin
Lard
Pharmaceutical glaze
Shrimp paste

My bf eats beef while I just eat egg and am completely Veg. We've been together for 9 months and he just told me he eats beef. I dont hv a prob if he eats other meat since I also hv plans of switching to meat once I get to college. But I'm a very devotional person and Hindu culture bans from eating beef. He said I can't change his opinions on eating beef and I'm also a person who would not tolerate my bf or future husband eating beef, but I also love him a lot. What are some changes we both could do from our sides or try understanding from our sides, or is it not worth? I see Virat Kohli also who used to hv meat and beef but stopped it all when he realized the importance of Hindu culture with Anushka Sharma. It's not like my bf aint Hindu, he is but he eats beef which pmo

I'm moving toward a vegetarian diet in my life, gradually. I was vegetarian for a while as a teenager, but that went up in smoke because of this one issue: whenever I start trying to be vegetarian, I get intense hunger and cravings that will not subside. I eat a varied diet with plenty of veggies, fruits, beans, rice, lentils, etc. Right now I still also eat some amount of chicken. However the more I move in this direction, the more maddening my hunger gets. All I can think about is eating savory, meaty, satisfying foods. I'm not gonna lie... vegetarian food is not satisfying to me. It can be good, but it's not satisfying.

So what can I do to combat this? I know some of it is a sort of detox and I should just wait it out, but it never fully goes away. I just... don't LIKE vegetarian options as much as options with animal products. I'm still starving for something after I eat a bowl of rice, beans, and leafy greens, no matter how well seasoned it is (and believe me, I looove my seasonings). I want to fully commit to a vegetarian diet, at least like 90%, but it's so hard. :/ I could use some advice.

I'm mostly adopting this diet for my health, for the environment, and for animal welfare so it is important to me. Am I just weak willed? Or are there things I could do to combat this?