Poll to follow.
Just curious as to the breakdown of people’s reasons.
I voted “other” because I had no particular reason for doing it when I first moved out on my own, other than trying it out. I didn’t do it the right way (I ate the things I usually ate, just without meat) but in any case, it lasted about 2 months, and then Thanksgiving rolled around and I decided I liked turkey enough to break my meat-fast.
I did it twice, each time for one year (well, 50 weeks the first attempt, but that’s another story).
Anyway, I voted ‘other’. I did it as a personal challenge to myself.
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I do it for health reasons. I have no problem with other people eating meat, and I think talking about eating habits is one of the most boring things on the planet.
I’m not one, but my mother was, so I cast a vote for her reason: meat just tasted bad to her.
I voted “other” because I didn’t have any great reason. It was just a thing to do while I was in college and an art student and, while I could have given some rote benefits, I didn’t have any real conviction. A couple years of it and I went on a trip to France. Saw roast duck on a menu and said “Screw this noise, I’m going to eat some duck” and haven’t looked back.
I wanted to be vegetarian since I was a teenager but I was always too lazy, hate cooking and plus someone would bbq up a big ole steak and all my resolve would be gone.
Until May 2, 2008 when I was watching “Hell’s Kitchen” and Chef Ramsey made the contestants think they were going to have to kill a chicken. He let all these chickens loose in the dorms, got on the PA and said “Everybody get a chicken and come to the dining room!” So all the contestants were standing around each holding a chicken, and Chef was also holding a chicken, and he said “Today we’re going to learn about where your food comes from.” Long story short he put his chicken’s head on a cutting board, (one guy put his hand over his chicken’s eyes) and brought a big knife down… IN FRONT of the chicken’s head. He said something like “Not these ones you tools! Put them back in their cages!!” and at that moment something snapped in my brain. I finished watching the episode then Googled “How to be vegetarian” and have not eaten meat since.
I feel healthier, “brighter”, stronger, less weak and tired, and like a whole new person health-wise since going lacto-ovo vegetarian. I still eat dairy and eggs because I am naturally a little underweight and if I restricted my diet any more I would get sick. I also love cheese too much.
So yes, Chef Gordon Ramsey inspired me to be vegetarian and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life.
To impress a girl.
In my defense we did date for three years and I stayed vegetarian for another 10 or 12 after that.
I really don’t like to handle raw meat. Since I cook almost all my meals at home, the net result is that I don’t eat meat. If I eat out, I may or may not eat some (though mostly as a condiment rather than a main course), so I guess I’m not a real vegetarian. I really don’t crave it, though - there are so many different things you can make with vegetables and grains, it’s not an issue. Veganism is another thing, though - I’d find it nearly impossible to give up cheese, and vegan cheese is really a very poor substitute for the real deal (IMHO, of course).
You left out “Can’t shoot straight” & “Shitty Hunter”
I gave up meat for the month of May because I lost a bet. That’s the closest I ever came to being a vegetarian.
I became vegan for environmental reasons but the “animal rights” stated to take more space over time!
Heifer Project guests who wish to eat roasted rabbit for dinner have to do something similar. AFAIK, they don’t require that they kill the animal, especially if the visitors are children, but they do require that they watch the killing and cleaning process from start to finish. If they can’t do that, they don’t get any meat. It’s to bring home the lesson where their food REALLY comes from.
Out of time to cook, really. Simplicity came about because of an onerous work/life lack of time schedule I endured.