I don't talk about them much but I have a lot of STRONG OPINIONS about shit. I just never voice them because I don't want to be that obnoxious, arrogant guy who ambles around telling other people about his opinions on how to be a better person and making other people feel guilty for DRIVING A CAR or EATING MEAT or something.

Anyway I am not a vegetarian because I really really love meat and I really really dislike a lot of vegetables. To the point where I cannot actually put things like Tomatoes/Cucumber/Courgettes in my mouth without freaking out and feeling like I'm going to be sick. I've always put it off with lame excuses like "I would be vegetarian, but they're gonna slaughter and kill the animals anyway so I may as well not put the meat to waste!" This isn't really acceptable for me anymore.

But due to some recent events I would like to make the effort to at least take some steps towards Vegetarianism. This is mainly from my trip to the farm and actually seeing how poorly these animals can be treated, but also because it's something I've always believed in but have never really had the willpower to do.

STEP 1: Was cutting out red meats, this was easy. I'm down to chicken and fish and I could probably live with this quite comfortably, but I don't want to eat just chicken and fish every day for the rest of my life. I need some OTHER MEALS that don't involve Tomatoes/Cucumber/Courgettes. I know some of you guys are avid HEALTH COOKERS so what kind of meals can you suggest to me that taste good and will help me make this transfer from meat lover to vegetarian quite painlessly? (that don't involve tomatoes/cucumbers/courgettes!)

Also I want to ask if anybody knows about any reason why being a vegetarian might be a bad idea healthwise. I know a lot of people do it but is there any PROTEINS/VITAMINS/MINERALS I am gonna be missing out on that could cause health problems later in life? I am pretty dumb when it comes to shit like this so knowing about it would be helpful.

Thanks guys, Point me to your WEBSITES and RECIPES.

Hey, I actually read a really cool related article in... either Science Daily or NYT recently. I'll go get it one sec!

Ok, this isn't it but I thought it was cool too and serves as a primer for my actual article I'm still looking for: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080723094838.htm

Holy shit, I apparently read a lot more articles than I thought because this was way back, but here it is: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080716205208.htm

So maybe you can learn to start liking veggies more too with your newly acquired disposition towards meat. :P

Yeah it makes a lot of sense but I don't think I am all of a sudden going to start liking things that I disliked before, and disliking meat because I've decided to take these steps.

Anyway I just had a rocking SWEETCORN PASTA. I am feeling good about myself.

You should really make an attempt to like vegetables. Today for lunch I have (all raw): carrots, snow peas, mushrooms, celery, and broccoli. That's the main part of my lunch, every day. I also have a half sandwich (turkey and muenster on whole grain bread), a banana and a plum. It cost like 3 dollars and is fucking delicious! Plus, it's a lot of food so I can eat it all day and never be hungry. Carrots are a big deal imo, you should really get those and like them. They are nice and sweet, and chew up good so you feel like you're eating something. Don't get baby carrots, they just grind down normal carrots and it's such a waste and you lose out on all sorts of nutrients.

I'm not adverse to eating meat though it's just so important to get a good amount of vegetables in every day.

can't really contribute at the moment to the rest of the thread but here is my delicious bookmarked recipes .. some are healthy, some are HORRIBLY BAD FOR YOU but maybe they will help you out a bit

http://del.icio.us/truebosko/recipes

edit: vegeterian? nevermind that

I never really saw a good reason to become a vegetarian. Although I disagree with the cruel treatment of animals, it really just doesn't resonate very strongly with me that I can be part of the change by simply changing diet. And I'm a very big fan of cooking and eating good food, too; I don't want to limit myself. I want to be able to make smoked salmon, coq aux vin and pâté en croûte when I want to.

Same here.

Props to you for having the willpower to go vegetarian, though. I've been trying to cut soda out of my diet for years, but some reason I just can't. Mostly because I don't like water and its lack of flavor. So good luck to you!

every time ive quit drinking soda, the next day or two i just chug so much water. it tastes so good and clean and im dehydrated from all the sugar and shit in soda. i dont really like it much anyway so its not tough for me to not drink soda.

Yeah I love water so if I go without soda for a while I have no problems.

BM, since you're thinking of going vegetarian for some (nonexistent) moral reasons, make sure you stay clear of refried beans, too. They're choc full of animal lard.

on the other hand black beans are super good and healthy for you.

Oven - baked stuffed bell peppers.

Yeah, I'm getting sick of what I eat myself. When I don't eat pasta (pasta...pasta...and pasta) I eat rice, bread, or Albertsons shit chicken. Or I eat out. Ugh. I'm tired all the time, take frequent naps during the midday, and I don't think as clearly as I know I ought to. I wonder if its the high carb diet. At any rate, I need something cheap to start changing things up.

EDIT: Pea salad is pretty badass, too.