At some point a few weeks ago, I found myself craving a chicken sandwich. It was getting bad; I dreamed about eating meat, flipped through cookbooks in my spare time, watched Linda Dee’s step-by-step cooking videos until I drooled. I’d been a vegetarian for four years, so it was natural that I would have cravings, but this time, they were severe. One afternoon, after staring long and hard at a plate of hot wings, I decided I would try it: I would eat meat (albeit only poultry) for a month and see how I liked it.
I started out slow, only a few bites of chicken or turkey a day, and honestly, I wasn’t too impressed. Granted, it was nice to be able to go to a restaurant and order something other than a house salad, but it generally tasted bland and made my tummy rumble. It made me feel bloated.
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After a few days, I adjusted to the taste and feeling, and I started integrating more meat into at least one meal a day, usually dinner. Chicken made soups a little heartier and turkey spiced up my sandwiches. I began to fill up faster and feel more satisfied after meals, and I certainly felt I had more energy. There was no longer a need to stock up on beans and tofu to get enough protein which, although I love them, can get a bit mundane after a while. Oh, and I had more options at the dining hall—which is a big deal.
However, I still couldn’t get myself to sit down in front of a block of poultry and nosh on it. I started to miss my vegetarian meals. The turkey sandwiches quickly became boring and chicken breasts dull; I had no need for the extra meat. I even diverged from poultry one night and had a bit of a hamburger, but that was no better. My stomach was consistently experiencing nagging pains.
I have no opposition to people eating meat. It is our natural instinct to eat what we hunt, and humans are omnivores by nature. Meat is an integral part of our diets and, while some choose to omit it, most thrive on it. Ideally, we should all be eating farm-raised, cage-free, and grass-fed meat; the beef industry alone is an immense contributor to global warming, and the cruelty involved in animal slaughter is irreparable and disgusting. But human beings will continue to eat meat, and while they do, I will play my part by continuing to be a vegetarian.
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I feel better without meat. I feel cleaner. I feel morally sound and justified in what I eat. Yes, sometimes it gets a bit old, but really, there is no shortage of options for vegetarians. It’s true that I have to work a little harder for my protein, but there’s nothing some yogurt and almonds can’t fix. Heck, I love tofu. The transition back to vegetarianism was seamless, and in a way it felt like I was back in my element, eating what I loved and feeling ethically and physically better. Eating meat was enlightening but not convincing; I care more about animals that I do about my dinner options. For now, you can find me in the veggie section.