Download Article
What you can do to comfortably reintroduce meat back into your diet
Download Article
If you’re a vegetarian and you’re thinking about eating meat again, you most likely won’t have any problems at all if you ease back into it. Eating meat again is easier than you may think, no matter how long you’ve gone without having any. To help ease your mind, we’ve answered all of the most common questions that folks have about how to go back to eating meat after being a vegetarian.
Things You Should Know
- Reintroduce meat to your diet slowly. Start with a light meat like fish and slowly work your way up to red meat.
- Add meat to your diet in small portions. Eating large servings of meat right away might lead to bloating and constipation.
- If you’re hesitant to eat meat again, start by adding bone or chicken broth to your favorite recipes.
Steps
Question 5 of 8:
How do I prevent digestion issues when I eat meat after being a vegetarian?
Download Article
-
Choose higher-fat cuts of meat to help with digestion. Super lean cuts of meat can be tougher and more difficult for your body to process, especially if you haven’t eaten meat in a long time. When you’re getting back into eating meat again, choose fattier cuts for more flavor and to help your body absorb more of the essential vitamins and minerals. [8] X Research source
- For example, you might go with a higher-fat fish like salmon or herring over lean fish like tilapia and halibut.
-
Take digestive enzymes to help support your digestion. Eating meat again can make you feel “heavy” and a little bloated at first. Digestive enzymes help break down your food, so they can help you digest meat more easily and with less discomfort. Pick up digestive enzymes at your local health food or vitamin store and take them according to the recommendations on the packaging. [9] X Research source
- Papaya is a great natural digestive enzyme if you don’t want to buy supplements. [10] X Research source
- If you do experience discomfort, try some mint or chamomile tea to reduce bloating .
Advertisement
Question 6 of 8:
How do I make eating meat more appealing after being a vegetarian?
Download Article
-
Order cooked meals so you don’t have to handle raw meat. If you aren’t used to handling or preparing meat , it can be really off-putting and may spoil your appetite. Instead, order takeout or go to a restaurant when you start eating meat again.
- You may want to avoid sushi if raw fish is unappealing to you.
-
Try eating at a friend or family member’s house. Let your loved ones know you’re trying to eat meat again but you aren’t ready to prepare it yourself. They can prepare a meal for you, and eating it together will help you feel supported.
-
Boost the flavor with seasoning and sauces. There are a ton of seasonings that can help make meat more delicious such as pepper, paprika, salt, garlic, onion, and many more. There are also a bunch of sauces that go great with meat such as barbecue, ketchup, ranch, and blue cheese. Use them! They can enhance the flavor of the meat and help make it more palatable if you don’t love the taste. [11] X Research source
Advertisement
Question 8 of 8:
How can I stop feeling bad about eating meat after being a vegetarian?
Download Article
-
Keep in mind your reasons for eating meat again. If you have to eat meat for health reasons, think about the benefits that you’ll get from it such as feeling better physically and being able to spend more time with people you love and care about. Your body is able to process meat, so it’s a natural part of many people’s diets. You aren’t doing anything wrong and you shouldn’t feel guilty about eating meat. [13] X Research source
- Many people are vegetarians for moral reasons, so it can really make them upset if they have to start eating meat again.
- Consider the health benefits of eating meat. Sometimes, eating meat can reduce sugar cravings and improve iron and vitamin B12 levels. You may also feel full more quickly and experience fewer spikes in blood sugar. [14] X Research source
-
Choose ethically sourced meats. If you went meat-free for moral reasons like inhumane conditions at factory farms, you may feel less guilty about eating meat again if you know where it came from. Select grass-fed and free-range meat from the grocery store, or research farms in your area to find farm-to-consumer mail-order options. [15] X Research source
-
Talk to your doctor or dietitian about your concerns. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about any diet changes, including reintroducing meat to your diet. Your doctor can address any questions you have, help you make informed decisions, and reassure you that you’re not doing anything wrong. [16] X Research source
-
Find community with other former vegetarians. As mentioned above, 84% of vegetarians go back to eating meat, so try to find someone who can empathize with your experience. Even if you don’t know anyone in person, a simple Facebook search for “recovering vegans” or “recovering vegetarians” can help you find numerous online communities.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Search
-
QuestionWhy should vegetarians go back to eating meat?Tara Coleman is a Clinical Nutritionist who has a private practice in San Diego, California. With over 15 years of experience, Tara specializes in sports nutrition, body confidence, and immune system health and offers personalized nutrition, corporate wellness, and online learning courses. She received a BS in Biology from James Madison University and spent six years in the pharmaceutical industry as an analytical chemist before founding her practice. Tara has been featured on NBC, CBS, Fox, ESPN, and Dr. Oz The Good Life as well as in Forbes, Cosmopolitan, Self, and Runner’s World.If you've been struggling to get enough protein in your diet as a vegetarian, this might be a reason to start eating meat again. Focusing on your health as your motivation might help you feel better about the decision.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
- If you accidentally eat a bite of meat and you’re a vegetarian or vegan, don’t worry. While it may be emotionally upsetting, you likely won’t have any physical side effects.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- If you do start the experience symptoms of an allergic reaction including hives, itching, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, wheezing, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing, get to a doctor right away.Thanks
- While it’s extremely rare, if you have a meat allergy, you could have a reaction such as hives, itching, or swelling of your face, lips, and tongue. If your allergy is severe enough, you could go into anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening reaction. However, most people who have meat allergies get them from being bitten by Lone Star ticks, not from abstaining from meat. [17] X Research sourceThanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://sciencenorway.no/diet-food-forskningno/does-meat-make-vegetarians-ill/1390294
- ↑ https://sciencenorway.no/diet-food-forskningno/does-meat-make-vegetarians-ill/1390294
- ↑ https://www.healthdigest.com/640894/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-start-eating-meat-again/
- ↑ https://www.healthdigest.com/640894/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-start-eating-meat-again/
- ↑ https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/stories/food-and-recipes/how-to-transition-from-vegetarian-to-eating-meat
- ↑ https://sciencenorway.no/diet-food-forskningno/does-meat-make-vegetarians-ill/1390294
- ↑ https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/stories/food-and-recipes/how-to-transition-from-vegetarian-to-eating-meat
- ↑ https://www.lonemountainwagyu.com/blogs/blog/how-to-incorporate-beef-back-into-your-diet
- ↑ https://www.lonemountainwagyu.com/blogs/blog/how-to-incorporate-beef-back-into-your-diet
- ↑ https://www.healthdigest.com/640894/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-start-eating-meat-again/
- ↑ https://yourkidstable.com/how-to-get-your-kid-to-eat-meat/
- ↑ https://faunalytics.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Faunalytics_Current-Former-Vegetarians_Full-Report.pdf
- ↑ https://time.com/97479/carnivore-vegetarian-animals-meat/
- ↑ https://www.healthdigest.com/640894/what-happens-to-your-body-when-you-start-eating-meat-again/
- ↑ https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/stories/food-and-recipes/how-to-transition-from-vegetarian-to-eating-meat
- ↑ https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/stories/food-and-recipes/how-to-transition-from-vegetarian-to-eating-meat
- ↑ https://www.nyallergy.com/beef-allergy/
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 94,107 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I went vegetarian for the month of January and I go back to eating meat next week. I was a little nervous, but this made me worry less about the transition." ..." more
Advertisement
82%
of voters found this recipe helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"I went vegetarian for the month of January and I go back to eating meat next week. I was a little nervous, but this made me worry less about the transition."
..."
more
