I tested the waters of non-veganism with little bits of salmon, but it wasn’t until Thanksgiving of 2007 — after 10 years of meat abstinence — that I had my first real taste of meat again. Even though I didn’t think I remembered what meat tasted like, as soon as I tasted the turkey, it felt entirely familiar, as if I had never stopped. But what about current vegans? Do any of them remember the taste of animal products?

Linxie: I stopped eating meat almost 20 years ago but I still have quite vivid memories of it. It haunts me to this day!

JC: One time someone offered me some bread in a restaurant which they assured me was vegan. I said it smelt as though it had egg in it, so they asked the waiter and he said it was fine. It took a bite, then spat it out and said ‘that’s got egg.’ They asked another waiter, and it did.

BJJNick: I’m a little ashamed that I still like the smell of some meats. Damn conditioning!!

kokopelli: I used to find the smell of bacon cooking appetizing for a while after I first gave up eating meat (about 34 years ago) but at some point it started smelling really bad and now the smell of any kind of meat cooking makes me want to hold my breath until I get out of range. I expect the same thing will happen to you.

Sandra: I imagine as time goes on, the smell of meat will not have the same effect on you. It’s understandable to associate what you have been used to eating from childhood as food.

RainInStarlight: I did make a seitan stew one time, and it freaked me out a bit because the texture was just so meat-like. It kind of threw me off and made me a bit squeamish. Weird, because I knew exactly what was in the stew (made it from scratch), but it was just so similar…

Mazatael: Earlier this year I accidentally put some meat in my mouth which I didn’t realize until I started chewing (the ingredient list didn’t mention meat). It was the most disgusting experience I’ve had. It tasted awfully awful. Eww X100. A lot of soy meat is very similar to that, though.