Over 1 year ago I decided to become vegetarian and in the most unlikely environment.
In 2017 I was on a university exchange program in Florida, USA and during my 4 month study period I made the life-changing commitment to become vegetarian.
I know ‘how can one become vegetarian in a land abound in fast food and meat?’
It all started as a two week fast with my youth group (CRAVE USF). I chose to fast from red meat and chicken which was easier than it sounds since there were multiple vegetarian options on campus to help me survive.
Unfortunately, during week two of my fast I started craving bbq wings and when I crave something, I must have it. So, after those two weeks were done, I binged on bbq wings like it was no man’s business, uber eats really came to the rescue.
However, after my binge I knew I wanted to take this transition seriously. So, I made it official.
It was in October 2017 when I officially stopped eating chicken and red meat. I still ate and eat fish and eggs hence the ‘transitioning’ term.
Many people would ask me, ‘why don’t you eat meat’, and I didn’t know how to answer them. Initially, the reason I used to give people was that meat wasn’t as accessible to me, as I was cooking for myself on campus and had nowhere to store the meat. But that was a copout since there were many places to get meat filled meals on campus and I had a meal card.
If I’m honest I don’t really know what caused me to go cold turkey off red meat and chicken, I just stopped craving meat and lost the appetite for it. But that doesn’t mean it was an easy transition.
My first week back in Australia (December 2017) was my most challenging. In the USA I had control of what I ate as I was the one cooking for myself, but back home there were multiple cooks in the house.
Plus, who can say no to a home cooked meal from their mother…
But that wasn’t what got me…
My father knows biltong (South African dried meat) is my weakness. I was raised eating it from a young age, so it was basically an old habit. One day my dad offered me a piece as he usually does, and I accepted not thinking at the moment about what I was doing.
Three pieces later I realised that I was eating meat and it almost killed me. I felt so sick and disappointed in myself, and mad at my dad because he knew what he was doing…
After that stumbling block, I became more aware of the things I ate. I now make it a priority to ask the waiters at any restaurant I go to if there is any form of meat in the food I order.
Being ‘vegetarian’ has made me more aware of my health and what I put into my body. This transition has made me take my health much more seriously than before. I work out more often and have lost 5kg in the last year. I rarely get a cold now and when I do it only lasts like a week.
I know being a vegetarian or a pescatarian is not for everyone but it doesn’t harm to lessen your intake of meats and increase your intake of vegetables.
There are days when it can be hard. When all your friends are ordering mouthwatering chicken dishes and you are there with a salad… Those days you realise that chicken might be your weakness, but you stay strong cause you know the benefit of the journey you have chosen.
I know I have a long way to go but I would like to encourage those that want to take the same journey.
You can do it even with the obstacles and temptations. But remember to pace yourself, some may be able to stop all meat altogether, but others may not. So, know where you stand on that spectrum and go from there.
AUTHOR: Ke Besa, My Edge Mag social media coordinator.