5 Foods I Eat When I Really Miss MEAT

Back when I had 3 blog followers, I wrote a post about becoming a vegetarian.

To summarize: I saw a squirrel get hit by a car and it deeply disturbed me and I quit eating meat all together. I know. I’m completely ridiculous and no, I have never eaten squirrel. It was the principle of the thing. It was watching that squirrel die and seeing how much pain animals can really suffer. I also feel like if several major world religions (literally billions of people) condemn eating certain types of meat, maybe I should avoid it too, just in case they’re right.

And what does this girl love more than anything? A nice B.L.T.

But I gave it up, and I’m not looking back. However, don’t think for one second that I don’t miss bacon. I daydream about bacon on a regular basis.

Crispy. Crunchy. Right next to the tomato on toasted wheat bread with extra mayo…

We’re getting off track here.

1. Smoked Gouda

If you follow me on instagram, I’m sure you’ve seen the occasional Quiche photo (and 800 photos of Archie). I actually did a step by step tutorial on making a quiche called Give Me a Quiche (and thought I was super clever). Quiche is one of my favorite vegetarian meals and making it with smoked Gouda and tomato makes you almost think there is bacon in it. It’s all in the smokiness.*Make sure it’s free of animal rennin. I don’t know what that is but it makes it not vegetarian.

2. Smokehouse Almonds

Great snack. Healthy. And the smokehouse flavor combined with the heartiness of the almond gives your palette the illusion of meat. This also wins the award for one of the healthier things you can pick up at your local gas station. Score!

3. Morningstar Farms Chik Patties

When I get really desperate, I eat one of these. Fake meat generally grosses me out so I don’t eat much of it (Boca crumbles? ew.) but I bought these on a whim and keep them around for the day when I just want chicken nuggets or something to throw on top of a salad. After a year of no meat, this tastes exactly like real chicken to me!

4. Amy’s Lentil Vegetable Soup 

I know what you’re thinking: this in no way tastes like meat. I know, but hear me out.I eat this about once a week for lunch. Basically lentils are high in iron and my Mom is always hassling me about getting enough iron. And I once heard that you start to crave meat if your iron levels get really low. So I eat this. But I mostly eat this because it’s freaking delicious.

5. A vegetarian hot dog from our local hot dog shop

Our local hot dog shop has the best vegetarian hot dogs. They taste exactly like the real thing. And just like the real thing, I have zero idea what’s in them. Doesn’t matter. They do the trick and they’re great with a side of sweet potato tots.So there you have it, how I have successfully avoided meat for a whole year.

I don’t miss it.

Sure, eating meat would make life easier. But mentally I just cannot get over the idea of eating something that used to breathe and had a personality and could feel pain.

Do you have any other tips or tricks, fellow vegetarians? I’m always on the lookout for something new to satisfy my ongoing bacon cravings.

 

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