Advice for someone ending a vegetarian diet?

[hannah_phi]

My DBF has basically a vegetarian for the past six years. I say basically because he does eat fish on a fairly regular basis (once a week). He is thinking about going back to eating some red meat, but he is worried that it will mess with his stomach pretty bad. I was a semi-vegetarian for about three years and I did experience some discomfort, but not much. However his stomach is often bothered by things that I am not even phased by. Has anyone else had experience ending a long term vegetarian diet? Did you experience any discomfort? How did you go about it?

Any suggestions or annectdotes will be greatly appreciated.

BTW the main reason he is thinking of quitting is that all these six years he has never really stopped craving a steak!:D

[claire797]

If I were you, I'd prepare a steak that is lower in fat. For instance, a flank steak or a sirloin. I think the fatty steaks like rib-eyes, prime rib and strip steaks are the ones that wreck your stomach -- mainly because fat is hard to digest. If you do a BB search for "flank steak", you'll find a lot of good ideas. CL's "Saucy Sirloin" is also a good choice. It's easier to cook than flank steak and the sauce is very flavorful.

[lindrusso]

I also didn't eat meat for about 7+ years but did still eat fish and seafood and ended up going back to eating meat. I did not experience any digestive problems reintroducing meats, but I did it very slowly - not because I was afraid of tummy trouble, but because it was psychologically hard for me to go back to eating meat, even though I was craving it (and it turns out I was anemic). Steak, however, continued to gross me out for a long time and I still only eat flank steak at this point! :D I just went with whatever I was craving and that seemed to work for me. :)

[CompassRose]

I was vegan for three years, and honestly vegetarian (no fish or chicken!) for more than ten with the vegan included. I started eating fish and chicken in the last couple of years, just did it, and had no problems at all. I also had a hamburger a few months ago (weird craving) and it did nothing but give me onion breath and (TMI) a bit of stinky gas.

I did have a problem with reintroducing fat to my diet after a year on a very low-fat (10% of daily calories) plan, but that was quite different. Personally, I think the "veg-head meat reaction" is a bit of a myth -- especially for someone who's already eating flesh and animal foods anyway. Red meat isn't really any different.

[JHolcomb]

I was a true veg for about 3 years. I ended it by reintroducing fish and chicken to my diet, then worked up to beef and pork. It wasn't that I was afraid they'd make me sick, I just didn't want to prepare them myself and couldn't afford to eat out at the time. Plus, beef was a bit of a dicey prospect in Ireland when I ended my veg diet.

Anyway, the only advice i would give would be to avoid anything processed for a while, like hot dogs or pastrami. My grandma fixed hotdogs for lunch soon after I unveged, and I did get sick. Dunno if that's what it was from, but I would guess that it was.

Mmmmm...meat...

[dulcecoeur]

I was a lacto-ovo vegetarian for almost 9 years, and went back to eating meat last fall. My first dinner of meat was well planned out..and I went with a filet mignon. I never had any problems, there was one time a couple weeks after when I first had pork and my stomach did not like it later on, but not sure what it was exactly as I have not had a problem since. My diet is still based on vegetarian things but I do incorporate chicken & red meat (and tuna & pickerel for fish) without any problems.

It is is a personal thing whether or not your body will react, but if he phases it in he should be fine, especially because he does eat fish.

[hannah_phi]

Thanks y'all! You basically backed up what I had been trying to tell him for a while. Sometimes all we need is a few other people to say it too. He was so excited after reading your posts that he wanted to go out and get a flank steak tonight!;)

[claire797]

Originally posted by hannah_phi
Thanks y'all! You basically backed up what I had been trying to tell him for a while. Sometimes all we need is a few other people to say it too. He was so excited after reading your posts that he wanted to go out and get a flank steak tonight!;)

Just make sure you marinate it. That will make it soooo much better. If you're going to make it tonight, see if you can find some Allegro marinade or another one that marinates rather quickly. If you have until tomorrow, you may want to look up some recipes here on the board.

If you don't have time to marinate, I think you should go with the sirloin.

[claire797]

Here's a really good sirloin recipe.

Saucy Sirloin Steak

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 4 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Beef Main Dish


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 pound boneless sirloin steak -- trimmed
cooking spray
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic -- minced
1/2 cup beef broth
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon tomato paste
3 teaspoons red wine vinegar

1. Preheat broiler.

2. Combine first 3 ingredients in a small bowl; sprinkle over steak. Place steak on broiler rack coated with cooking spray. Broil for 6 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Let stand for 5 minutes. (Can pan fry in heavy skillet for about 5 minutes on one side and 2-3 minutes on second side for medium rare.)

3. While steak is standing, heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat; add the garlic, and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Add the broth and the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes or until thick, stirring with a whisk. Cut steak diagonally across the grain into thin slices, and serve with sauce.