Horror of Horrors - meat cravings??

[acrazy]

So let me first say that I have been a happy vegetarian for 12 years.

That said, here is my shameful tale... My husband barbequed chicken, hot dogs and hamburgers the other night for his friends. Usually I think these things (aside from being inhumane of course) smell terrible. But it smelled so good. I wanted to eat them all! Of course I did not and will not give in. But it happened today again so I wondered if it meant I needed protein. However, I've eaten a tofu dish every day for the past several days plus soy milk, plus whatever protein is in anything else I eat.

Any thoughts, suggestions? I'm horrified about this and ashamed that THIS has been my only pregnancy craving! :eek:

[Erin Pavlina]

Strange things happen when you're pregnant. Even without being pregnant I still often think meat smells good when I'm passing by a barbecue.

I would just eat the Gardenburger Meatless riblets or have a really decadent veggie burger with all the trimmings and I would be just fine. I noticed that I only really crave meat when I'm really hungry and smelling something barbecued.

Have substitutes at the ready!

[Jenica]

Oh, oh! I second the Gardenburger Meatless Riblets if you're having one of *those* sorts of cravings. Very meaty, very filling, and the sauce is awesome.

Also if you have asian grocery stores near you, check out the frozen department for faux meats. They're almost always vegan (though some are high in sodium, so be sure to check!), and some of them are so realistic it's almost disturbing. Our local asian mega-mart carries a "lamb style" one that I have fooled a few die-hard carnivores with.

And don't be too hard on yourself about your cravings. Your actions speak for themselves. :)

[sophie]

acrazy-
With my first pregnancy I had these incredibly strong urges for tuna fish! I never gave in to them but it was driving me crazy. With my third pregnancy I constantly craved cheese, my mouth would water when I thought about it. So you're not alone! I think it was the salty taste I wanted, and soon found foods that I could eat to satisfy the urges, eg instead of tuna I ate vegetarian sushi, and was soon craving that instead! Good luck!

[frenchie]

You are not alone!! When I was pregnant, I was SO sick, and couldn't eat anything. I craved *sausage* of all things. I'm sad to say I gave in....but I had a terrible reaction to it. My tongue swelled up and my throat itched for days. I decided restraint was the best option.....by the time thsoe cravings were over, I had my appetite back. I think I had a serious lack of protien and fat. I lost alot of weight because the only thing that was appetizing to me were raw veggies and popsicles.....and of course sausage....*shudder*

[Erin Pavlina]

During my first pregnancy I too suffered terrible morning sickness. The only thing I could get down for 4 weeks were fruit smoothies and white bread! At least the fruit was healthy.

I also developed aversions to cashews and beans. Couldn't stand to look one in the face for months. ;)

[sophie]

Erin- LOL that's right, the aversions! Mine were onion, garlic, TVP and tempeh. It took me MONTHS to be able to eat them again, and I still can't eat TVP. Crazy. I also got addicted to the smell of eucalyptus oil, and had to carry a bottle with me everywhere!

[frenchie]

I still can't eat seitan, but that's the only thing still haunting me from my pregnancy. I had *major* food aversions. There was absolutely NO cooking in my house for 6 weeks!! Even the smell of toast made me want to hurl. The only thing I could tolerate was malt o meal and oatmeal in the microwave.