I should probably start by explaining my motivation for this one…

It is not borne of any desire to stop eating meat. I am a committed omnivore, I love meat. I understand all the reasons others decide not to eat it, but I also understand that bacon is life. My decision wasn’t based on compassion, or wanting to free all the cows. In the past I have been vocal in my advocacy for meat. Nando’s is a reason to stay alive; birthday steak is something to look forward to for 364 days of the year. In fact, I have been less than kind about vegetarians and vegans and their choices, unnecessarily so, and for that reason I first thought about making amends in some small way. It also seemed like a good opportunity to reduce the amount of calories I was consuming! What swung it and got vegetarianism on the list was the idea that I could spend 30 days learning new recipes, really getting to know the veg aisles at the supermarkets and exploring alternatives to my twice a day, every day meat consumption. I hoped to come out of this not craving meat and happy to go without a few times a week. I decided not to avoid fish though, so technically I was a pescetarian I guess.

The reality was quite different. I successfully avoided meat, but I’m not sure I actually increased my vegetable consumption!

It all started in something of a rush, as I realised that by chance I was going two days without meat, so it seemed sensible to continue it and only have 28 other days to worry about. A trip to the supermarket though soon revealed that planning would have been a good idea. With no recipes in mind I ended up buying pretty much what I usually would only without any meat! Pasta sauces became roasted vegetable rather than carbonara, there was a vegetarian pizza, and LOTS of bread and beans. These things became the staple of my diet, as I struggled to find the time or motivation to experiment or learn. My diet became primarily tuna pasta or beans on toast, and lots and lots of prawn mayo sandwiches.

As well as my own shopping, I realised how much meat was always on offer wherever I go. I opted for a free fry-up without bacon at a breakfast event, turned down my favourite ham sandwich, bbq burgers and a roast dinner; pretty much every food I was offered for a month was meat based!

So I did it, I went for 30 days without eating meat, and it was relatively easy but far from enjoyable. I do have a new found appreciation for the struggles of vegetarians to eat out and avoid meat, it is in practically everything we eat and firmly ingrained in the culinary psyche of the country. Whilst I haven’t learned anything about cooking I am now a little more likely to eat a meat free meal which I suppose is something.

But I still bloody love a bloody steak.

Heaven.