New vegetarian prepping a turkey! :-(

[Remy]

I recently went fully vegetarian a few weeks ago. It's been something I've been wanting to do for a long time (I've tried it several times, starting when I was 4 or so). Now I have enough knowledge of nutrition that I think I can sustain a healthy vegetarian diet. I feel like I am being true to myself by doing this.

NOW it's Thanksgiving! My mom wants turkey for Thanksgiving. My boyfriend's mom (who I won't be seeing on T-Day) has been veggie for decades, but makes an exception on Thanksgiving, so I figure it's okay for me too. My mom's oven doesn't work, so I am cooking it in mine. I got the turkey today (just breast and wings, there aren't going to be many people). I made sure to buy meat that is organic and free range.

I started marinating it a few minutes ago (can't hurt to marinate it extra), and I started getting so squeamish! I felt ribs and its sternum, not to mention its legs! I apologized to the turkey(s) as I was doing it.

I thought of Puck when I was doing it, which made it worse! It's easy for me to give up poultry now that I have him. I know he will happily eat it though, LOL.


Is anyone else here a vegetarian or vegan? How do you deal? I feel pretty icked out right now.

 

[osnyder]

Hi Remy. I've been a vegetarian for 22 years (I was 16 when I started, and I'm 38 now). There were a few vegan years in my early 20s, but I'm a happy dairy consumer now and for a long time; I find I really need it.

I've baked many a turkey in my day. Oddly, it used to not bother me at all-- I even worked with meat in a deli back when I was a vegan and didn't really care. But in the last few years I've been a little more weirded out by raw poultry, and don't relish the task of cooking it. The last time may have been last winter! I don't have to cook this year, but I may have to for Christmas. The initial washing and prepping is the WORST. We always get fresh birds too, so they're even more life-like, without the zombification that comes from having been frozen.

I'm SURE having birds in the house has made me more sensitive to it. I have a lot of neighbors with hens kept as pets and egg-layers, so that's also an issue. I've wanted hens FOREVER but don't have the time to set it all up and take care of them.

SO, yes, I feel your pain!

 

[Remy]

I avoid cow dairy for health reasons, but I do have some. I don't plan on giving up eggs any time soon either. Do you feel healthier with dairy? I think you're the first person I've heard say that! I wonder why. Is it the protein?

Where do you usually get your protein? I think I'm still not getting enough. Organic soy patties seem to be good, but beans and rice are too starchy for me and make me bloated. I have a quinoa recipe that I'm going to try soon.

I've always been a little bit weirded out by cooking meat if I think about it very much, but I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

I had a rooster growing up. He was fun! He wasn't terribly clever, but he was very silly and cute. Sometimes he would bite, but he didn't seem to mean anything bad by it; it seemed to be instinctual. A hen would be nice for the eggs though.

 

[osnyder]

Isn't that funny? I guess you're right-- people often attribute health issues to dairy. I feel healthier when I eat enough fats, and eat tasty food in general-- mind body connection and all that. I'm blessed with a metabolism from outer space these days, so it doesn't seem to effect my weight-- quite the contrary. It seems my "system" needs it. I eat a lot of nuts too. I love tofu so I get a lot of protein from that and the occasional faux-smoked meat product, and I usually eat short-grained brown rice. I eat a lot of eggs too (pastured, naturally!).

 

[IcyWolf]

I've been vegan for about 10 years, I don't really think it's all that difficult, but I know that's not common. I just can't see a difference between the birds and dog we live with and a chicken, pig, or cow. That makes it a lot easier I suppose. I don't cook meat though, ever. My room mates all eat meat but in all honesty, I can't even stand the smell of it. I avoid all animal products as well, meat, dairy, eggs, honey, whey, casein, you name it, lol. I even made sure that all of my tattoos were done with vegan ink and vaseline instead of A&D ointment. I'm actually a member of the craigslist vegan forum, if you're ever bored, you should stop in and say hello

 

[ann]

i have been a vegetaria for about 2 years add a few months. for thanksgiving i have tofurky. its soymeat stufffed with rice, its very yummy!

 

[IcyWolf]

I love the tofurky slices but I have never had the tofurky roast before. For thanksgiving we go to my mom's house and she makes everything except for the turkey and gravy vegan. So I usually have, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, corn, brussel sprouts, green beans, croissants and whatever else I'm forgetting. I always have a huge plateful of food, it's awesome

 

[Remy]

osnyder - Some people seem to do okay with dairy, but some don't. I do fine with in in small amounts, but if I eat it regularly I get very mucousy. There are also people who won't even look at non-dairy as an option, which makes me highly suspicious. =P

IcyWolf - I'm considering veganism. I have no problem giving up milk products, but I think eggs are nutritious, and if the poultry lead a good life then I don't see why we shouldn't eat them.

I forgot to mention that I am gluten intolerant. Gluten is used in a lot of imitation meat products for texture, so I can't eat them. No tofurkey for me!! I have tried it before, and it was yummy.

Eating no gluten AND no meat (and almost no dairy) is a little challenging at the moment, but I'll get the hang of it.

 

[IcyWolf]

There are actually a few celiac vegans on the forum I mentioned, I can't even imagine how hard that is, I eat so many wheat products, I can't imagine cutting them all out! They post a lot of good recipes though, it may be worth checking it out.