It’s been almost three months since my last update on my pledge, and it seems like yesterday. 

In today’s chapter, I am going to tell you how it has been to be part of this process during the almost three months that my pledge has lasted, what my current situation is like, and my goals for the near future.

Going over the timeline a bit, I remind you that I started my pledge about not eating meat on the 1st of May, and I finished it on the 31st of July 2021.

Let’s say that it was a bit difficult for me to be in Spain, in Summer, and have to say no to the typical dishes that contain meat. Things that I had not eaten for a long time since I have been living in Germany. It is hard to resist. For that reason, I decided to be honest with myself and just do what my body and mind needed at that moment. Sometimes I wanted to eat meat and sometimes I didn’t, depending on the context, the place and the company. So that’s how I did it.

Without a doubt, my meat consumption has skyrocketed in Spain. But not as much as I would have imagined.

Since I have eaten many dishes that can be easily cooked without meat. Maybe it was 3-4 times a week but less quantity in grams. Now, back in old good Germany, my meat consumption has dropped quite a bit. In fact, I don’t buy meat, but they give it to me as a gift 🙂 An example would be my mother’s standard package whenever I return: she prepares a package for me with typical Spanish products where Iberic ham cannot be absent. This meat she sends me is still in the pantry unopened. I just don’t have the stomach to eat so much meat, so I reserve it for special occasions, for example, when friends from other countries come home and we have a nice cultural culinary exchange.

My conclusion: the road to less meat is not difficult. A no-meat life or a less meat life doesn’t have to mean sacrifice, compromise or guilt.

What I can recommend, if you want to start this journey, is that you read about it, research and test what works for you and what doesn’t. In my case, it helped me a lot to make a weekly menu with easy, delicious and meatless recipes. Of course, I also implemented alternatives to breakfasts and snacks such as fruit for breakfast, instead of cold cuts and nuts or toast with peanut butter for snacks. These are some simple examples that can make the path easier for you.

It is not about doing things perfectly, but about implementing small changes, step by step, letting yourself be inspired, and inspiring others. I am very happy to have made this pledge because I have not only learned new things about the meat industry, diet, and life without meat. I have grown as a person as well, and have discovered that I can live without meat. 😊

Watch my Instagram Reels as well:

From a meat lover to a no-meat diet

If you have read this far, have felt inspired by or identified with my story. Then I invite you to follow my pledge at @european.footprints. During this time, I will share with you my struggles, challenges, sorrows, happiness and success in this new no-meat journey for me. Thank you for your support and stay tuned!

Ps. Maybe you can relate or have anything else to add? I would love to read your experiences in the comment section.

Elionor