How many of you are vegetarians?

[Astir]

Ah...well, now I regret saying anything and getting into this again.

I think...your diet makes up less than .001% of who you are as a person. So, definitely a silly, very petty thing to judge someone over. When I meet you, I'm certainly not considering what you eat.

Yes I've seen inside a slaughter house and watched all the gruesome videos that exist online. I also know that for many people it may be more healthy to be vegetarian. But there are biological exceptions, and that is the way it is. I know firsthand. It is not always a matter of choice.

But, yes, I eat meat. I understand it can't be explained to some really staunch vegetarians, but medically I cannot go vegetarian. I've tried explaining...it's not that I am against it. With me, there is not a reason to be so defensive. There isn't a reason to argue.

It's a tired old argument.

And when you think about it, pretty ridiculous.

Everyone should give it less consideration, if anything.

[WalkerInTheWoods]

I physically cannot be a vegetarian (tried it out once).
One reason is that saturated fat is about the only thing that keeps me from dematerializing. My metabolism is ridiculous...a demanding monstrous thing. Or it hardly metabolizes, malabsorption...I'm not sure which is my problem. I have a hard maintaining a healthy weight. Well...not a hard time, but a face-stuffing junk-food-inhaling time. When I eat healthy or don't eat as much meat I start to look ghastly thin, in less that 2 weeks time.

I also seem to have an allergy of sorts to supplimental Vitamin B12. Whenever I take a multivitamin or eat anything enriched with B12 I get tremors and sometimes vomit. And those symptoms ARE like that of being moderately poisoned by cyanide...look up the components of supplimental B12 and you'll see why I have my problem.

I'm also unable to digest a vast number of vegetables...it kind of runs in the family.



I'm the bane of the militant vegetarian and vegans existence. I've really made some of them despise me just by explaining my diverse system, disproving their belief that everyone should and very well can become vegetarian. I don't believe that will happen here, though, as no one seems to have that militant attitude.

When you tried to change your diet, did you do it all at once or gradually? I have read that making the change all at once can mess with the body, especially if you ate a lot of meat. It is best to wean yourself off of meat and slowly start eating more fruits and veggies. This way your body can adjust to the change. That said, I don't really care what you eat. You do what you have to do.  

[WalkerInTheWoods]

it doesn't surprise me that you don't understand.
When I say it's hard, it's hard because the way the world is.
It's hard to find a vegan meal in a restaurant...
It's hard when they have parties at work & there is nothing for you to eat...
It's hard when everything is designed for meat eaters & you are left out.
you could never understand this unless you walked in a vegan's sandals...

This is so true. You really do not know how much the world caters to meat eating until you try to go without it. Suddenly many restaurants you might have enjoyed going to are no longer options. Employee appreciation lunches at work no longer include you. Might as well skip family day at work because all they are serving is meat. Those pot luck family get togethers are no longer so great for the tummy.

[WalkerInTheWoods]

Oh brother.. yes, Runlola, your life is soooo much harder than a meat eater..  

I challenge you to go one week writing down every place you go that meat is offered to you, every time you eat somewhere/thing, every time you have to deal with food. Just observe your choices. I am not even asking you to stop eating meat. I am just asking you to become aware of the situation.

[WalkerInTheWoods]

I think...your diet makes up less than .001% of who you are as a person.

I have to totally disagree with you on that point. I don't think we realize how important food is to us. Food is a big part of our lives. It is something we deal with throughout the day, every day for our entire life. Now it may not be something a lot of people think about and thus don't find that important, but think about how food effects your life. Eating is not just about keeping that pain out of your tummy. It gives us those things we need to stay alive and healthy. But it also has a social aspect. Families sit down over a cooked meal. Work places sometimes have meals for employees. Family get togethers usually include food. Who has not been on a date that involved eating? Diet is a big part of who we are. It may not matter to me or you what we each eat since we will probably never eat together, but if we did it could have atleast some influence on each of us. It would certainly effect what was cooked or where we went to eat.

[jub jub]

Thank God beer is one of the four food groups! :drunks:

[Nay]

:rotfl: :rotfl: Jub-Jub.

Ahem...anyhoo,

I challenge you to go one week writing down every place you go that meat is offered to you, every time you eat somewhere/thing, every time you have to deal with food. Just observe your choices. I am not even asking you to stop eating meat. I am just asking you to become aware of the situation.

LOL.. what, are you runlola's tag team partner now?   Why in the world would I do this silly challenge?  Many of the restaurants out there today have at least one meatless meal, not to mention the countless salads.  You two seem to like the martyr position...  *oh, woe is me, look at how I suffer* :hanging:

Off the top of my head, I can tell you Chili's has a guiltless black bean burger, it is meatless.  Applebees, they have this great onion soup.....  meatless, and they are the kings of salads, that can be ordered without the meat.  Olive Garden..Mmmmm..bread sticks and salad galore!  and all those dipping sauces....the alfredo sauce alone is enough to make ya slap your momma...but I guess if you are a true vegan.. then that sauce would be a no, no for you.

In atlanta there is the Green Sprout, Cafe' Sunflower, Camli's, veggie land, Sam's gourmet vegatarian paradise, (lol.. long name) and soul vegatarian south restaurant, there are more, but you get the idea.

These days a vegan needs not to suffer.. .unless that is, they want to.  

[WalkerInTheWoods]

:crybaby:  Poor poor pitiful me.

I am not saying it is impossible to be vegetarian or vegan. Today, in many places it is much easier then just a few years ago. Also, thankfully, some restaurants do have vegetarian, and if you are really lucky vegan, dishes. But one or two dishes compared to the entire selection? And some places don't have anything without meat. I don't really care. I won't go to them. And that is not the point. Everything is catered to meat. Like with work lunches, there is no one vegetable in site. Just give me some green beans or corn and I would be happy. It is little things you notice.


:celebrate:

[Nay]

Still suffering, just not so severly now, hmm?   :violin:

[jub jub]

I'm curious as to why some people won't eat meat.

Is it for religious reasons? Do you feel that the slaughter of animals is cruel and unjust? Maybe you feel that meat isn't healthy? Or maybe a combination of all of these reasons.

I'm not trying to be a smart butt or anything, just trying to understand.

[MisterJingo]

I'm curious as to why some people won't eat meat.

Is it for religious reasons? Do you feel that the slaughter of animals is cruel and unjust? Maybe you feel that meat isn't healthy? Or maybe a combination of all of these reasons.

I'm not trying to be a smart butt or anything, just trying to understand.

I can't speak for others, but for me it's a number of many factors. Firstly, regardless of what anyone says, the body has more traits in common with herbivores than carnivores – from our jaws and teeth, to digestive track and what produce we can gain energy from. Secondly, as a sentient being that does have a choice, I choose not to eat the body of another self-aware being who would feel the same emotions as a human when faced with their death. Thirdly, the meat industry today is pretty terrible in regards to pumping animals full of growth hormones and antibiotics, which are then consumed with the meat. And lastly I am eating a much healthier diet since being vegetarian(9 years now). Add to this recent findings linking frequent meat consumption (especially red) with DNA damage and consequent higher incidence of caner, and the shear amount of resources needed to produce 1 kilo of meat (in comparison to any other food stuff) which would make it physically impossible to feed the current worlds population with meat alone.

I am pretty much of the opinion everyone has their own choice. I would never preach what others should or should not do. My partner, friends and parents all eat meat, and that is their decision. I just gave you my reasons in response to your question.

[jub jub]

Sounds like some good reasons.

Any special considerations for protein supplement?

[WalkerInTheWoods]

I'm curious as to why some people won't eat meat.

Is it for religious reasons? Do you feel that the slaughter of animals is cruel and unjust? Maybe you feel that meat isn't healthy? Or maybe a combination of all of these reasons.

I'm not trying to be a smart butt or anything, just trying to understand.

For me it started one weekend I had all to myself. I would do yoga before lunch. When it was time to eat lunch I did not feel like eating anything heavy like meat so I would just eat a nice salad. I think I did not eat any meat that weekend and after wards I felt great. So I slowly started eating lighter, meaning more fruits and vegetables, so that I could do yoga in the evenings after work. I just could not do yoga after eating a heavy, meat meal.

After that I started looking into diet and health. With a family history of high blood pressure and diabetes I wanted to do something to reduce my risk. After doing some searching on the net it seemed to be agreed by actual doctors and researchers that a vegetarian diet with exercise is the best lifestyle to help prevent these things. After that I started seriously going vegetarian. I had a book, 8 Weeks to Optimum Health by Dr. Andrew Weil, sitting on my bookshelf for ages that I had never opened. I started reading it and he, a medical doctor, actually promotes a vegetarian diet (though he does suggest eating fish if one wants) while cutting out a lot of fat and unhealthy additives most products have in them. I have been following his advice for the most part, minus the fish and add flax seeds for omega acids.

So it all started for exercise and health reasons, but now that I have been refraining from eating animals it feels spiritually right for me as well. I feel closer to animals and nature on a spiritual level. It just feels right and natural.

[WalkerInTheWoods]

Sounds like some good reasons.

Any special considerations for protein supplement?

You can get everything you need from plants. Beans, grains, nuts, seaweed, seeds, soy products, and plenty of vegetables have protein. It is a misconception that only meat contains protein.

[WalkerInTheWoods]

Still suffering, just not so severly now, hmm?   :violin:

I need a hug.  :sniff:  :hug:

[jub jub]

I have diabetes type II and also run high blood pressure. I'm a wreck when it comes to good health. I sometimes wonder why I'm still alive. I do work out though, 3 X a week with weights and 30 minute cardio. Perhaps that's why I'm not rubbing elbows with my ancestors at the moment.

It's just about lunch time. I think I'll go to Zaxby's and have a nice salad with (sorry) grilled chicken!  

[Stookie]

I once knew a girl who was vegetarian, yet a heavy smoker. :confused:

[jub jub]

Being vegan is more than just going without meat.
It means going without any animal products or by-products.
Animal products are throughout most packaged foods.
Unless a restaurant clearly states that a dish is vegan,
you have no idea what's in it.  

Mexican dishes may use lard in the preparation of the beans or tortillas.
Asian restaurants may often use fish sauce, chicken stock, oyster sauce,
or shrimp paste, even in dishes marked vegetarian.
This is because in many Asian countries vegetarian is defined simply as not eating animal flesh.

Middle-Eastern restaurants often use yogurt and butter as part of their sauces.
Indian restaurants may use ghee, which may or may not contain dairy,
in the preparation of many dishes, as well as yogurt.

Many food products contain ingredients like eggs, milk, honey, butter, or other animal products.
An example of this is that most commercial margarines contain various dairy products.
Other less obvious ingredients to avoid include gelatin, whey, and casein. Some pasta may contain egg.  

Some commercial flours are treated with treatment agent 920 (L-Cysteine)
which can be extracted from duck and chicken feathers.

There are many reasons why vegans avoid white table sugar, why some
purchase only organically-grown unbleached sugar,
and why still others eschew sugar products altogether

Many alcoholic drinks are fined (ie clarified) using animal ingredients
Wine May have been refined using isinglass, dried blood, egg albumen,
gelatine, chitin

Biscuits -Quite likely to contain animal fats
Chips- May have been fried in animal fat.
Chocolate- Watch out for whey and emulsifiers
Fast Food -Watch out for Bean/Vegetable burgers being cooked with fish/chicken/meat products
Soup Stock- May contain animal fat.
Pastry- May contain animal fat.
Anchovies- Small fish, found on pizzas and in some brands of worcester sauce
Bread- Some bakers may grease the tins with animal fat
Chewing gum- Often contain glycerine produced from animal fats

:jawdrop:  :jawdrop:  :jawdrop:


Doesn't leave much to choose from, does it. One thing is for sure, I could never be a vegan. Vegetarian maybe.

[WalkerInTheWoods]

That is why I cook most of my own food. That way I know what is in it.

[Astir]

I think...your diet makes up less than .001% of who you are as a person.

I have to totally disagree with you on that point. I don't think we realize how important food is to us. Food is a big part of our lives. It is something we deal with throughout the day, every day for our entire life. Now it may not be something a lot of people think about and thus don't find that important, but think about how food effects your life. Eating is not just about keeping that pain out of your tummy. It gives us those things we need to stay alive and healthy. But it also has a social aspect. Families sit down over a cooked meal. Work places sometimes have meals for employees. Family get togethers usually include food. Who has not been on a date that involved eating? Diet is a big part of who we are. It may not matter to me or you what we each eat since we will probably never eat together, but if we did it could have atleast some influence on each of us. It would certainly effect what was cooked or where we went to eat.

Well, let me put it this way...
That is how much what you eat matters to me. .001%. Otherwise I think of you as a human being. Not a meat eater, not a vegetarian. It's not something that matters to me. I will not judge people based on what they eat. It's a concept I find too absurd.

Also, I never consumed much meat. And yes I did try to ween myself off with help from knowledgable vegetarians. Just believe me when I say It didn't work. You also missed a very huge point I made. I'm allergic to supplemental vitamin B12. So, what option does that leave me since it only occurs naturally in one thing? I have to eat meat.

I get very sick when I eat anything enriched with B12. Try to understand...it's also hard for me to make sure everything I eat doesn't contain certain things. I know the pain in the butt it is to avoid certain ingredients. I also have celiac disease and must do my very best to avoid gluten (guess how many things gluten is in ). I'm also highly lactose intolerant and allergic to half the vegetables in existence. I KNOW what a strict, altered diet is like. I know it so well that I've stopped eating out and when I eat at someones house, I just eat what I can. I'm not going to complain to people because I have a different diet.

I'm also a type 1 diabetic, and must count carbs religiously, and purchase items based on that. Understand that I must eat food like taking medicine. If I was to alter my diet one more time...I'd probably go insane.  :sad3:

And sometimes I do quite enjoy meat above all else. Because it's the one carbfree thing I can eat without having to inject insulin.

I'm actually exhausted with dieting and watching everything I eat. It's such a pain that I'm ready to go anorexic... :sad3:

[jub jub]

I think...your diet makes up less than .001% of who you are as a person.

I have to totally disagree with you on that point. I don't think we realize how important food is to us. Food is a big part of our lives. It is something we deal with throughout the day, every day for our entire life. Now it may not be something a lot of people think about and thus don't find that important, but think about how food effects your life. Eating is not just about keeping that pain out of your tummy. It gives us those things we need to stay alive and healthy. But it also has a social aspect. Families sit down over a cooked meal. Work places sometimes have meals for employees. Family get togethers usually include food. Who has not been on a date that involved eating? Diet is a big part of who we are. It may not matter to me or you what we each eat since we will probably never eat together, but if we did it could have atleast some influence on each of us. It would certainly effect what was cooked or where we went to eat.

Well, let me put it this way...
That is how much what you eat matters to me. .001%. Otherwise I think of you as a human being. Not a meat eater, not a vegetarian. It's not something that matters to me. I will not judge people based on what they eat. It's a concept I find too absurd.

Also, I never consumed much meat. And yes I did try to ween myself off with help from knowledgable vegetarians. Just believe me when I say It didn't work. You also missed a very huge point I made. I'm allergic to supplemental vitamin B12. So, what option does that leave me since it only occurs naturally in one thing? I have to eat meat.

I get very sick when I eat anything enriched with B12. Try to understand...it's also hard for me to make sure everything I eat doesn't contain certain things. I know the pain in the butt it is to avoid certain ingredients. I also have celiac disease and must do my very best to avoid gluten (guess how many things gluten is in ). I'm also highly lactose intolerant and allergic to half the vegetables in existence. I KNOW what a strict, altered diet is like. I know it so well that I've stopped eating out and when I eat at someones house, I just eat what I can. I'm not going to complain to people because I have a different diet.

I'm also a type 1 diabetic, and must count carbs religiously, and purchase items based on that. Understand that I must eat food like taking medicine. If I was to alter my diet one more time...I'd probably go insane.  :sad3:

And sometimes I do quite enjoy meat above all else. Because it's the one carbfree thing I can eat without having to inject insulin.

I'm actually exhausted with dieting and watching everything I eat. It's such a pain that I'm ready to go anorexic... :sad3:

I feel your pain...honest. It really makes you wonder in the grand scheme of things why some of us are given certain burdens to bear. You wind up asking yourself "What the hell did I do to deserve this?" Is it by luck? Did I choose this for myself so I could learn a lesson? Maybe I'm paying for something one of my relatives did?

I'm with you though. I would never judge a person by what he or she eats. It's such a petty thing to begin with. Now I will judge someone by what they wear! J/K

[Astir]

Thanks John.

I don't know why some in this world just look for reasons to disapprove of or not like other people. I'm the opposite. I will find that thing I like about someone, and end up loving them. :hearts: lol

It just seems diet should be considered insignificant. I don't know how one can pay so much attention to their diet and stand it. It makes food a great deal less enjoyable. I hardly enjoy eating after the lengths I must go to. The funny thing is, I don't have a choice...while a vegan or vegetarian would. If I don't follow certain dietary guidelines I can have a seizure or go into a coma. Food can kill me rather quickly if I'm not so careful. Finding the balance between food and insulin is imperative...demanding and exhausting.

What I would give to not have to worry so much about what I eat...




In other news...this terrible thing called salad happened to me the other day. It was horrifying. j/k

[Astir]

I know about all of them, the stereotypes. I have many vegetarian friends.

I've only ever come across two individuals who were highly mean and unfriendly about it. It was like they were on the warpath when they crossed me. I figured it was just how they were...and regardless of them being passionate about vegetarianism. I told them off...but, for being jerks. Not for being vegetarian or passionate. = P

Now for some meat eaters (I dislike that term by the way) it only takes one batsh!t crazy person (that happens to be vegetarian) attacking their character to make up their mind about the whole. The reverse is also true. There are plenty of passionate animal rights activists who are friendly and polite. And that's all that matters. I know this to be true, and do not judge. I actually assume people are good, until they give me an extreme reason to believe otherwise.

A bad attitude absolutely poisons a good idea sometimes...

[Stillwater]

People start pre-judging you the minute you say you are vegetarian

yeah, it seems sort of odd, but my relatives like to point that out about me when we meet new people, and I usually get dirty looks, lol. I think avoiding loaded topics and ideas when expressing oneself presents a clearer picture in most cases.

[Nay]

I've never thought vegatarians were odd, or terrible enough to give a dirty look to, that's just rude.