Any Vegetarians Here?

[rockandrule]

Muffinman,
You probably need to read into the proper amount of protein that a human being actually needs. There is no reason to NEED meat to get anything to remain healthy in your life. You can get much more than you need (I believe it's technically supposed to be 7% of your intake, but they bumped it up to 9% for some extra baggage to make sure that people got enough). The typically vegan, yes vegan, gets roughly between 11-13% protein intake and the average meat eater gets between 21-25% which is flatout unhealthy. If you needed protein, eat more soy. Hopefully that wasn't too disrespectful sounding of a rant.

 

[stonyc]

Hmm... in college I was a vegetarian because of the "meat" that was served in the cafeterias. I would and could totally embrace a vegetarian lifestyle if it were not for two things: bacon and beef tenderloin.

Mmmmmmmm... bacon.

Mmmmmmmm... tenderloin.

::drools on self::

Sorry.

Oh, and sushi/sashimi.

Mmmmmmmm... tuna sashimi.

::licks chops and slowly retreats from the vegetarian thread::

 

[devilot]

Although shearing wool doesn't hurt the sheep, the way they are raised on farms requires some practices such as mulesing which can be incredibly painful and cruel.

Thank you for answering that question, I've often wondered about it myself. Psst... I believe that Simple makes vegan shoes as well (if they stopped, they do still carry 'green' shoes).

I'm not a vegetarian but lately have been considering cutting most of the red meat outta my diet. :/ Sort of hard for me though.

 

[floriflee]

I am not vegetarian, but I don't eat meat that often--maybe a few times a month. That's mostly because I don't feel like spending the money on it since, depending on what you buy, it can get to be expensive. I certainly don't like the processed meats--scrapple and bologna are definitely out. Up until last year I hadn't had a hot dog in about 15 years.

It's much easier to be vegetarian, I think, when you eat a lot of Eastern foods (i.e., Indian, etc). While that part of the world has a fair amount of meat dishes, their vegetarian dishes are definitely delicious, plenty and filling--more so than what you see in traditional Western cuisines (unless you like to eat a lot of pasta). I think the stigma with vegetarianism in the States is that a lot of people see it as "only eating rabbit food." It's not very filling or tasty when you look at it that way, but once you get passed just thinking of it as just salads, carrot sticks and tofurkey, you find that vegetarian meals really can be very delicious, filling, and a whole lot healthier than the typical meat and potatoes. Not only that, but oftentimes, you find that you can get both your proteins and fibers from the same foods.

On an ironic sidenote, I have a vegetarian friend that doesn't like vegetables. Go figure that one out....

 

[evoluzione]

I think the stigma with vegetarianism in the States is that a lot of people see it as "only eating rabbit food."

i hear ya, but since turning vege (and exploring veganism) i've come to think of people who say that as just plain ignorant

 

[floriflee]

i hear ya, but since turning vege (and exploring veganism) i've come to think of people who say that as just plain ignorant

If you're looking for inspiration into finding more vegetarian and/or vegan dishes go to India, my friend. Over there the Veg (and vegan) restaurants seem to outnumber the non-veg.

 

[jelloshotsrule]

vegetarian. i generally don't drink milk (just soy milk). i eat cheese, and occasionally eggs. don't avoid foods that contain milk or egg products though.

i was vegan (mostly) for about a year. it's tough, a much bigger jump in commitment than vegetarian, especially when eating out


non leather/non sweatshop shoes are hard to find, it's quite annoying. especially if you look for specialized shoes like soccer shoes or whatever. it's easy enough to find casual/walking or dress shoes, but the other areas are tough

 

[superbovine]

Save the cows! Eat a vegetarian

 

[Mass Hysteria]

I only eat meat

I think that anyone that can CHOP THE LEGS OFF A LIVING BEING, then CHILL them so they DIE SLOWER before being EATING THEM TO DEATH, is sick!

I would rather eat something that at least has a chance to run away.

 

[kretzy]

I only eat meat

I think that anyone that can CHOP THE LEGS OFF A LIVING BEING, then CHILL them so they DIE SLOWER before being EATING THEM TO DEATH, is sick!

I would rather eat something that at least has a chance to run away.

Are you being sarcastic?

I'm not a vege, but I think I could be if I wanted. I really LOVE fruits and vegetables, but I really also like eating meat/poultry/fish etc. I always try and buy the organic/freerange varieties of things, even though they're usually a little more expensive. There are lots of great vegetable recipes, some of my favs are stir-fry vegetables with sesame seeds, indian chickpea curry and root veges roasted with lots of garlic mmm.

 

[Tel]

I'm in no way a vegetarian nor would I ever wish to be, the simple fact is that I enjoy to eat meat and I would not like the extra effort it would take to shop for vegetarian products to give me the same variety that meat can give me. Having said that I do understand why people do choose to become vegetarians, I also tend to only eat meat that comes from our local butcher shop which gets its meat from decent free range farms and not just a bunch of dark filthy cages that I know some animals are kept in.

I understand that some people believe that even free range farming is unfair as the animals have no way of avoiding being harvested for their meat later in their life, but I feel given the quality of life they have and the way in which they are treated while alive that this is more than fair on the animals.

Another reason why I only tent to buy from local butcher shops is due to my feelings towards globalization but that would be getting somewhat off topic.

 

[penguinman]

I respect that gangsta'. To me, the biggest issue with meat is not eating animal flesh, but supporting farming of animals. I don't really have that much of a problem with, say, people hunting deer and eating it. That way, the animals are allowed to live out the natural course of their lives (since being prey is also a natural part of their lives), and don't have to be put in cages or restricted in other ways that farms do. I think there could be a "good" farm, but it's not easily achieved....

I think its unfair for man to use a weapon dependent on an explosion to propel an object at high speeds to kill an animal. As someone posted earlier, their veggie bro got a bow and arrow.. now this is hunting.

 

[SpaceMagic]

I'm veggie... Have been since Jan 1st 2000. it was a slow process and then on that day, just happened to be a new year, i said i'd no longer eat meat.

The reasons:

1) I can't physically eat meat/fish. There is no difference in my eyes between the two, just one is adapted to live in water. Reason being, i cannot eat another sentient being.

2) I never liked the taste much. Only ever really eat fish fingers, some chicken and perhaps salmon encruite.

3) The main reason: I do not like the fact animals are farmed. Many people say that animals eat other animals, so why can't we. Well you don't see animals caging in their prey. Breeding them specifically for the kill. A gazzell has a chance running a way from a lioness, however slim. A cow has no choice but to die.

My first two points are to do with me personally. The fact we farm meat makes me sick. Just go work in a shop and see how much we waste everyday. Tens of thousands of animals are just thrown in the trash everyday. I can't change the world. I really really respect Red Tomato's brother for going out and killing his own meat. It means the animal had a chance. Anyway, there are obviously implications to what I'm saying, which could destroy economies. It's all just my choice.

Thought for the night: The world was vegetarian until the Noachide (post flood) Laws.

 

[Applespider]

I respect that gangsta'. To me, the biggest issue with meat is not eating animal flesh, but supporting farming of animals.

When I was younger, we had a family friend who had a dairy/beef herd and we used to go and help out on the farm occasionally. Possibly for this reason, I've never had a problem with the principles of farming - I saw how dumb cows are; they've been domesticated for so long that if they weren't farmed, they'd become so rare you'd only see them in petting zoos. Perhaps hypocritically, there are some animals that I wouldn't eat - which seem to coincide with those I consider to have a greater amount of sentience.

I don't kill my meat (not that I eat huge quantities of it) regularly - living in London makes it a little difficult to either hunt or grow vegetables - but I have in the past so I'm well aware of the choice that has to be made. But the meat and fish I buy are from sources which guarantee the animal's wellbeing (until the point of death, obviously) or are line-caught wherever possible. I believe in paying a premium for good quality food which to me also implies traceability of product and a commitment to good animal management.

 

[superbovine]

I think its unfair for man to use a weapon dependent on an explosion to propel an object at high speeds to kill an animal. As someone posted earlier, their veggie bro got a bow and arrow.. now this is hunting.

your argument is moot because with a gun and a bow an arrow are both tools. You can argue that it is unfair for a primate to use a stone to crack and nut or a long reed to extract ants from an ant hill. Even a computer is a tool and you can use it for surfing porn as well as launching a missile from a remote drone to kill terrorist. The point is using tools isn't about fairness, the purpose of a tool is to make a job easier. Economies and civilization are based the use of tools, i.e. your way of life.

The only point to using a bow and arrow in hunting in modern time is for sport and to show off your skill. Although there is something to be said about noises level and scaring off your game etc.

 

[evil_santa]

Note 6. My younger brother, who has been veggie most of his life, far longer than me, only eats meat or fish that he has personally killed and prepared. I respect and admire that stand.

Am I missing something? While I respect the fact your brother kills his own meat, a lot of meat eaters would not have the balls to do it, this doesn't make him a vegetarian.

Ive been vegetarian since 1990, and the thing that gets me is people who think that being vegetarian is simply easting less meat, i have had people tell me the are almost vegetarian because they have given up beef or lamb, but like a good bit of Bacon & sausage for a Sunday morning fry up!

This leads to my next problem with being vegetarian, people & restaurants who seem to think a vegetarian meal can include chicken / fish / bacon.
I recently went to a reasonably expensive restaurant, had a long chat with the waiter about the fact i am vegetarian & can they adapt some of the dishes to suit me (which a good restaurant should be able to do with no fuss), only to have all the side vegetables wrapped in bacon! err hello did i mention the fact i was vegetarian. - no tip!

As a vegetarian I think i now have a better diet & have more variety in my food than a lot of people who eat meat. I would be Vegan but it is very hard work ( i tried it about a year a go), If i cooked all my own food I could do it.

 

[solvs]

your argument is moot

For a second there, I thought you said "your argument is moo".

 

[superbovine]

For a second there, I thought you said "your argument is moo".

perhaps I should have thrown in a "mooooooot"

 

[livingfortoday]

I command this thread to live again!

Well, I was doin' a search for vegan in MR and stumbled on this, so I guess I'll resurrect this thread.

I'm a vegan now, and have been for about 8 or 9 months. Vegetarian for 7 or 8 years before that. I really worried it'd be hard to do, but dang, it's really easy, surprisingly. I mean, eating out can be a pain in the ass, but since I mainly cook for myself it's incredibly easy to make good vegan food.

Uh, I guess I do it just because I don't agree with inflicting suffering on others for your own pleasure. That, and I'm not a fan of speciecism...

 

[iMetroid]

I hear vegetarians force their muts to eat roots as well. Better be careful. I hear dogs like bones.

 

[Johnny Rico]

You don't win friends with salad.

 

[vniow]

I'm nowhere near anything vegan (I've got my reasons and I don't want to start an argument) nor do I have anything against it but I lived with one for several months and she drove me insane. I couldn't cook anything which had even a bit of meat in it around her, had to wash my dishes extensively so no trace of meat was on them, when we would go out to a restauraunt, I couldn't order a meal which contained meat (and the few times I did she always had a condecending attitude about it) so needless to say, while I support the idea in concept and the people who do it, people who are incredibly judgemental and condecending about people who aren't vegan really turn me off to it.

 

[nbs2]

I'm a vegetarian. I only eat chicken, pork and beef. Alright, I'm semi-veg. I don't know why, but I love that commercial!

Seriously though, if you are in or around DC, I would suggest pedro and vinny's. It is a vegan burrito cart (although if you get sour cream or cheese, I guess it can only be called a vegetarian burrito cart). I go there all the time!

 

[zim]

I hear vegetarians force their muts to eat roots as well. Better be careful. I hear dogs like bones.

Where did you hear that? I would vote no, untrue. My wife and I would never do such a thing to our dog. Vegetarianism is our decisions not the dogs, our dog has meat in her diet. I will say that we don't give our dog meat from a store, no one should, dogs have a specific diet need and we provide to that.

 

[livingfortoday]

I'm nowhere near anything vegan (I've got my reasons and I don't want to start an argument) nor do I have anything against it but I lived with one for several months and she drove me insane. I couldn't cook anything which had even a bit of meat in it around her, had to wash my dishes extensively so no trace of meat was on them, when we would go out to a restauraunt, I couldn't order a meal which contained meat (and the few times I did she always had a condecending attitude about it) so needless to say, while I support the idea in concept and the people who do it, people who are incredibly judgemental and condecending about people who aren't vegan really turn me off to it.

Yeah, jerks always ruin it for the rest of us. I don't care what you, or my friends eat, and I won't make a deal about it, and it always bugs the hell out of me when I got out with someone who DOES make a deal about it. Though, to be honest, it's usually the other way around - I get lots of unsolicited lectures on why I'm wrong for being vegan, and how I'm gonna die at 30, blah blah blah.

The bottom line is, I don't impose my morality on others, and I would hope they would respect me too.

And, in response to Johnny Rico, you can totally win friends with salad.