vegetarians or vegans?

commonoddity042

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Originally Posted by bemyonlyone

*waves* vegetarian here, it's been almost five years now!


I have an evil story or two to share. I tricked my brothers into eating vegan foods. I fed my brother a vegan ice cream sandwich and he was like "mmm!" he didn't know it was soy. hehe. I'm such a jerk. I gave my other brother some fakin' bacon. He honestly didn't know the difference. Now they eat all my vegan goodies.


save me some!! lol
Not meaning to spark a war (i know you were joking with family), but how is that any more acceptable than the jerks who slip bacon, etc into "vegetarian" foods just so they can smile smugly and say "See? It didn't hurt you. It tasted good until you knew"?
 

swampwitch

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I was a vegetarian (not vegan) for 19 years, and cooked only vegetarian foods. I'd roast a duck or goose once a year for Christmas for my husband, and every year I felt so weird buying it, like an underage kid sneaking to buy a six-pack!

But when I was put on dessicated thyroid (bovine) and was protein-deficient but couldn't have soy protein (because of my thyroid), I started eating fish and then meat. I also have pernicious anemia (B-12 deficiency because of lack of intrinsic factor), so I just gave in.

Please note that my health problems were NOT caused by being a vegetarian, in fact I think it helped keep my weight down when my metabolism quit because of thyroid issues.

I applaud all vegetarians and vegans!

Cheers, from
SwampWitch
 

lionessrampant

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Originally Posted by Ryn

For me being vegan means avoiding anything animal derived as much as reasonably possible, I'm no hardliner. In a situation where I'm invited to someones house etc. I may eat something with dairy and eggs, because I don't want to insult the host by not eating and or insist they cook vegan food just for my sake.
I do the same thing with things like wool and leather...I've gotten a couple leather purses and a pair of leather winter boots as gifts...I don't refuse gifts or wearing these things on principle, but I try my best to avoid ever buying anything that uses dead animals or was tested on animals. I also try to use as much local organic dairy as possible, but sometimes one just can't. It's better to try than to just not, though!
 

yorda

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Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]ve been a vegetarian for 12 years and try to avoid buying any products with leather in them as well. I think I am lucky to have a husband and extended family that are so understanding and respectful of the feelings of the vegetarians and vegans in our both families even if they donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t share the same beliefs, which helps avoid uncomfortable situations or hurt feelings for everyone when it comes to food or picking out gifts.
 

booktigger

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I am a vegetarian, but do eat some fish (prob a good thing or my family would have disowned me years ago, esp my mum, she doesn't know how to cook anything vegetarian!), I dont enjoy meat - but do eat Quorn, as 19 years of meat eating did leave me with some things that I like, but I can get vegi alternatives to all of them fortunately. At this time of year, I do end up eating snack like things with by products in to make life easier, but I do avoid things that I know do have them as long as there is something I can eat instead.
 

snuzy

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Originally Posted by CommonOddity042

Not meaning to spark a war (i know you were joking with family), but how is that any more acceptable than the jerks who slip bacon, etc into "vegetarian" foods just so they can smile smugly and say "See? It didn't hurt you. It tasted good until you knew"?
Its not the same thing. The ingredients in the vegan food were not anything the meat eater would morally object to or that would harm them. Just because you eat meat doesn't mean you don't eat things that aren't meat.

I've been a vegetarian for 20 years (received mail from some anti fur campaign and agreed with it. Realized if I were marching against fur, people would say "you eat meat don't you?" so I gave it up that day. My 13 and 10 year old boys have been veggies since birth and have absolutely no desire to try it. And DH realizes its a healthier way to live so has no complaints either.

I make Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for my parents and my family, and they eat the vegetarian food I make. Even my 6ft. 4'' baby brother loves my veggie lasagna we have for Christmas.

When I go out for meals with friends, they don't bother me about being a vegetarian, and I don't nag them about eating meat (although I have to bite my tongue if someone orders veal or fois gras).

I like the Quorn roast, although I have yet to get it to brown like it shows on the package. "Veat" brand also carries some yummy veggie "meats".

Definitely would like to go vegan eventually, although giving up milk chocolate will probably be the hardest thing. My youngest son still drinks soy milk, but he loves cheese pizza. I stay away from products tested on animals, leather, etc.

And as for the country that eats cats. Yes, that is horrible to us, but is it any more horrible than eating any other animal?

I realize there are definite health problems that would make it hard if not impossible to be a vegetarian.--I know people who are allergic to soy, nuts, and corn, so don't ask me how they'd survive. And I'm not judging anyone who does eat it. If we were all the same, what a boring world it would be.
 

eburgess

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I'm a meat and potatoes kind of girl. always have been. Although I LOVE and have always eaten my vegitables. Meats are just apart of a well rounded diet. I try to keep things well rounded but I love chocolate and fries.... like wendy's fries dipped in a frosty....
 

starryeyedtiger

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Originally Posted by eburgess

I'm a meat and potatoes kind of girl. always have been. Although I LOVE and have always eaten my vegitables. Meats are just apart of a well rounded diet. I try to keep things well rounded but I love chocolate and fries.... like wendy's fries dipped in a frosty....
You crack me up!
I once heard the best expression when someone asked one of my friends if she were a vegetarian while we were out grocery shopping, her reply was " God made cows so that this heifer (talking about herself) could eat!"
I told her she sounded like a canniable- lol, you kinda had to be there for that one but it was great
 

trouts mom

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Originally Posted by eburgess

I'm a meat and potatoes kind of girl. always have been. Although I LOVE and have always eaten my vegitables. Meats are just apart of a well rounded diet. I try to keep things well rounded but I love chocolate and fries.... like wendy's fries dipped in a frosty....
Me too
 

ericanicole

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i was gonna stay away from this thread since I am not a veggie only gal but i see everyone here is able to freely discuss both sides of the issue so I will get in on this action.

I eat meat, I rarely eat pork but i do consume most meat products on occasion.(damn you burger king! damn you yummy yummy cod fish)
I am all for those who are vegetarians and vegans, but i am not for girls who go out on dates and say..oh i'll just have a salad! HA! thats insane. I think it is flat out stupid for those who say they are vegetarians but behind close doors scarf a whopper down! I have known plenty of girls like that lol.

And i know plenty of ladies here who have posted who stick by there dietary choices 100% and wanna high-5 them...its not easy always being a vegetariran or a vegan in certain places or coming from a certan family.People can be soooooo ignorant.
 

zissou'smom

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Meat is part of a balanced diet for some, and is not for others. Some people get sick if they do not eat meat. I, for one, get sick when I do eat meat.

I realize that it is a personal choice. I just hope nobody thinks that vegetarians are somehow "missing out" or sickly or anything.

Humans, in general, need not eat meat to survive, especially not in urban America in the 21st century. All those things that people sometimes think are only available in meat are readily available in all sorts of food.

I hate when someone finds out I'm a vegetarian and gives me a look of horror, like they expect me to fall over and die of a lack of protein. If anything, most Americans eat too much protein. I'm far healthier and happier not eating meat.

What I really don't get is people who make a big deal out of it either way. There are people who know me pretty well but have no idea I don't eat meat.
 

sharky

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i would ve cautious in feeding someone anything they dont know ... I have severe food allergies and intolerances and MANY pre made veggie things are likely to make me very ill... I eat meat cause at first that is all I could after I became allergic to most common foods ...
 

starryeyedtiger

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Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

Meat is part of a balanced diet for some, and is not for others. Some people get sick if they do not eat meat. I, for one, get sick when I do eat meat.

I realize that it is a personal choice. I just hope nobody thinks that vegetarians are somehow "missing out" or sickly or anything.

Humans, in general, need not eat meat to survive, especially not in urban America in the 21st century. All those things that people sometimes think are only available in meat are readily available in all sorts of food.

I hate when someone finds out I'm a vegetarian and gives me a look of horror, like they expect me to fall over and die of a lack of protein. If anything, most Americans eat too much protein. I'm far healthier and happier not eating meat.

What I really don't get is people who make a big deal out of it either way. There are people who know me pretty well but have no idea I don't eat meat.
I definitely have to agree with you on most of that.
I see absolutely nothing wrong if an adult wants to choose what they will put into their bodies for nourishment. There is certainly nothing wrong with being a vegetarian or a vegan in my opinion. It's definitely not for everyone- but a lot of people really flourish on those types of diets. Me on the other hand - I have a nice little assortment of GI issues that make it impossible to eat a lot of the fruits/veggies i love enough to get much substance out of them- so I have to have meat in my diet. I like a nice rounded off diet though that is balanced- fruits, veggies, lean-skinless meat, and that's about it for now (they're trying to figure out if i'm allergic to yeast- whic is in a ton of stuff unfortunalte
and i'm allergic to dairy- so i stick to the alternatives like Lactaid Milk- that stuff has helped me soooooooooo much!
/ For a while, I was on a celiac diet which is entirely gluetin free (they thought i was allergic to gluetin - now we know i'm not
) ....and I have to hand it off to Vegans/Vegetarians- it's sooooo hard to shop at places like Wild Oats and really try to stick to certain foods. Had it not been for Wild Oats at that point in time, i wouldn't have been able to find anything ediable for me at that point! That place is soo good for people with allergies- they label everything!
/ So I definitely understand what it's like to have to shop high and low for your food and to be cautious about it
. At the moment i'm on a combination of Low Fat, Low Residue, Lactose Free, and Low Yeast diets (the latter two aren't going so super
). So it's hard to find foods that work for one condition but not another...you really have to work at it and see what works for you. So I definitely don't see anything wrong with those who like to keep a vegan/vegetarian diet for health reasons
/ After all- I have to keep a combo of about 4 different diets for my GI problems.
I definitely don't think ya'll should be made fun of for your healthy lifestyle choices
 

fats mcgee

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Veggie for almost a year now!

I saw "Dealing Dogs" and when I got done vomiting I realized how utterly ridiculous it was to be actively involved in anti-animal cruelty and actively campaigning against horse-slaughter when the very same things that had just made vomit were the same things that were being done (and worse!) to farm animals.

We buy only cage-free eggs (I know all debate, but better than nothing)--my b/f eats them, I don't like eggs unless boiled (or I take them from the chickens at work!) and soy milk. I still eat cheese but would like to stop.

I am trying to, but it's difficult. I do love cheese... and it's hard to afford. So many "easy" meals loaded with cheese and soy cheese is spawned from the devil.
 

furryferals

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Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

Meat is part of a balanced diet for some, and is not for others. Some people get sick if they do not eat meat. I, for one, get sick when I do eat meat.

I realize that it is a personal choice. I just hope nobody thinks that vegetarians are somehow "missing out" or sickly or anything.

Humans, in general, need not eat meat to survive, especially not in urban America in the 21st century. All those things that people sometimes think are only available in meat are readily available in all sorts of food.

I hate when someone finds out I'm a vegetarian and gives me a look of horror, like they expect me to fall over and die of a lack of protein. If anything, most Americans eat too much protein. I'm far healthier and happier not eating meat.

What I really don't get is people who make a big deal out of it either way. There are people who know me pretty well but have no idea I don't eat meat.
and
and


I went to a barbeque last summer with people who I thought I could trust serving/cooking my food...when I tasted the burger I could tell it was REAL MEAT and they tried to pass it off as Quorn
When the taste touched my tongue I instantly started to heave
I knew it was real meat!!
What is it with people?? .....Do they think they can 'convert' people?????


I am a veggie and I have been since I was 16,Though I would have been a lot sooner if my mother hadn't been the hateful control freak that she was and forced it in my mouth

I don't eat anything that has had a mother or anything that has been killed for its flesh or fur.e.g fish,crab,chicken,turkey,cow,sheep,pig...all animals and fish.
I do eat free range eggs.I use soya milk and I don't eat dairy cheese.
 

godiva

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I am almost vegetarian, for ethical and ecological reasons. I say almost because it is such a lifestyle change, and it does take money (of which I don't have much at the moment). I end up feeling guilty when I eat meat, but when I have the extra money, I do buy veggie meals.
 

ryn

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Originally Posted by lionessrampant

I do the same thing with things like wool and leather...I've gotten a couple leather purses and a pair of leather winter boots as gifts...I don't refuse gifts or wearing these things on principle, but I try my best to avoid ever buying anything that uses dead animals or was tested on animals.
Same here. Well, I think everyone likely buy me a gift knows I don't want anything made of leather, but the no-wool principle isn't so easy to understand, since the sheep doesn't actually die from shearing. My winter coat is made of wool, a gift from my mom. I wouldn't buy anything woolly myself though.
 

jen

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I have been a vegetarian since June 2006. Twice though I have eaten seafood, I think once was shrimp and once was an appetizer with breaded fish and vegetables. About a month in I totally forgot and bought a greasy nasty beef stick from the gas station, ate half of it and then realized what I was doing


Anyways, I love veggie foods the only meat thing I am DYING to eat is honey mustard chicken wings! I LOVE wings and that is one thing I think about eating every now and then. I have come close to giving in. Honestly I just feel a lot healthier and I think I eat better. Not like I ate a slab of raw red meat before, just chicken and turkey and an occasional burger. But since I quit, I lost a little weight (haven't given up the junk foods!) and I just feel better.

Plus I don't agree with how the animals are treated as they are being prepared to be slaughtered. I don't necessarily disagree with actually eating meat, I just don't think they should be basically tortured in order to be killed and eaten.
 

enkeli-kitten

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I'm vegetarian (because of the way meat is produced, cruelty to animals), and preservative-free, and mostly organic except when we can't afford it.
Also, I only eat free-range eggs. It's so horrible what they do to poor battery hens. And did you know that in chicken nuggets at fast food, they put not only meat in there but beaks, feet and sawdust? *shudders*
 
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