Anyone here a vegetarian/vegan?

ducman69

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Originally Posted by Mollysmom

Exactly, that's where I went wrong. I didn't eat nuts or much of anything with protein at all.
I believe you want around 100grams of protein a day, at least for guys.

As we know w/ our kitties though, plant and meat protein aren't the same. Any meat contains all essential amino acids. No vegetable does, however, you can get them all by eating various veggies. That's the trick.

Originally Posted by Mollysmom

I always feel so rude when I decline what's offered to me. Any suggestions for how to handle a situation like this?
Push the plate away while turning your head to the side and politely ask if there is anything on the menu that doesn't taste like murder, while squinting judgmentally of course.
 

cosabella

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My mom has been a vegan for almost 30 years now. She mainly eats tofu, noodle, rice and vegetables.

Many vegans and vegetarians will experience hair loss or thinning hair if they do not educate themselves about proper nutrition. You need to find a plant food that will provide the necessary protein to avoid hair loss. Meat eaters don't have this problem because meat is a source of complete protein.

When I was in school, I knew a vegan who was about 23/24(?) at the time and he had lost about 40% of his hair. He attributes it to his vegan diet. It was actually through him that I understood why my mother didn't have the same head full of hair as she used to when she was in her 20s and early 30s.
 

cococat

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Originally Posted by Mollysmom

Something that I had a problem with and since I'm restarting my vegetarianism is going to be a problem again, is when I get invited somewhere and they have lots of meat, not usually anything I can eat. I always feel so rude when I decline what's offered to me. Any suggestions for how to handle a situation like this?
I don't think you are rude as long as you are very nice and polite about it.
People will adapt with you somewhat. It is a good idea to carry food with you, easy foods like a Larabar (they are raw, vegan, have protein), an apple, to go packs of organic nut butters, etc. While these are not full complete meals they can be used just in those rare situations in case you really do get caught with literally nothing to eat so you won't go hungry. I also don't have a sweet tooth so when I am attending hamburger, hot dog, and cake cook outs I eat beforehand or if I know them well enough I offer to help with the menu and bring stuff or make stuff with them.
 

ut0pia

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I've experimented with eating a vegetarian and a vegan diet, as well as a raw vegan diet...eventually I went back to being an omnivore, for various reasons- i learned that just because I'm a vegan or raw vegan, isn't automatically going to mean I eat healthy. I decided that balance is what matters the most. I did learn so much from each of those, like now I will avoid meat that isn't organic, only eat the lean protein from the meat like chicken breast,and I eat a high percentage of raw veggies and fruits! So I'm glad I went through being a vegetarian and vegan for a while, it put things in perspective for me. I think everyone should eat what intuitively feels right for them. And I will always believe that one doesn't have to be a complete vegetarian in order to make a statement about humane treatment of animals, simply avoiding meat on certain days or reducing how much meat you eat is already going to make a difference.
 

cococat

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Originally Posted by Ducman69

Push the plate away while turning your head to the side and politely ask if there is anything on the menu that doesn't taste like murder, while squinting judgmentally of course.
Good thing you said politely ask otherwise this approach might have been seen as offensive.
 

cococat

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Originally Posted by ut0pia

I've experimented with eating a vegetarian and a vegan diet, as well as a raw vegan diet.
Complete raw and complete vegan (or even high percentage) are not for me either. But to each their own. I personally feel better when I eat one certain way over another so that is what I do. I agree in that I also think anyone trying to learn more about the food they are putting in their bodies on a daily basis is a win/win.
 

ut0pia

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Originally Posted by cococat

I don't think you are rude as long as you are very nice and polite about it.
People will adapt with you somewhat. It is a good idea to carry food with you, easy foods like a Larabar (they are raw, vegan, have protein), an apple, to go packs of organic nut butters, etc. While these are not full complete meals they can be used just in those rare situations in case you really do get caught with literally nothing to eat so you won't go hungry. I also don't have a sweet tooth so when I am attending hamburger, hot dog, and cake cook outs I eat beforehand or if I know them well enough I offer to help with the menu and bring stuff or make stuff with them.
Bringing your own food always works! I do that a lot myself, because a lot of the people I hang around all love eating out at places where there is nothing on the menu I can eat! The last time I went out with friends on a day long trip I brought food for the whole day with me, I brought a chopped pineapple, a few oranges, a few bananas, a salad, and a bagel with cream cheese
I just love fruits they fill me up, sitting across from my friends at applebees and smelling their food i had absolutely no desire to eat any of it! The truth is when you stop eating a certain food you lose the taste of it. This is what's happened to me and restaurant food, with few exceptions. Anything that has any type of high salt sauce really I have lost the taste for..
 

Asteria

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Originally Posted by David's Steph

Mollysmom, no worries, everyone has food/dietary preferences, no need to feel rude. Just politely decline, a "no thanks" will suffice, if you don't want to say you're vegetarian yet, that's ok. Fill up on the non-meat dishes!

But at some point in time, you will probably would like to tell people around you, "no thanks, I dont eat meat", or "I'm vegetarian", or whatever. Believe you me, the people around you will adapt, and deal. You don't have to explain, you do not have to apologize, they will deal and accept, and if they don't, it's not your problem -it's theirs. It's your choice not to eat animals, it's your life, the naysayers can F* off if they don't like it, do what is right for you, and what you want to do, and what you know is right for you and your conscience..
I've been there, pm me if you want to chat
You post made me smile!
I'm fine with saying I'm a vegetarian. If I'm worrying about being rude, saying I don't eat meat is a lot nicer than saying "Oh, that looks gross. No thanks."
I do feel like I have to apologize with certain people, though. I don't feel guilty for being a vegetarian, but I do feel guilty turning food down for some reason.

Originally Posted by Ducman69

Push the plate away while turning your head to the side and politely ask if there is anything on the menu that doesn't taste like murder, while squinting judgmentally of course.

Originally Posted by cococat

I don't think you are rude as long as you are very nice and polite about it.
People will adapt with you somewhat. It is a good idea to carry food with you, easy foods like a Larabar (they are raw, vegan, have protein), an apple, to go packs of organic nut butters, etc. While these are not full complete meals they can be used just in those rare situations in case you really do get caught with literally nothing to eat so you won't go hungry. I also don't have a sweet tooth so when I am attending hamburger, hot dog, and cake cook outs I eat beforehand or if I know them well enough I offer to help with the menu and bring stuff or make stuff with them.
That's a great idea! I hadn't though of bringing my own snacks. A lot of the food outings I make are barbeques (hot dogs and burgers), so in those cases there isn't anything to eat.
Originally Posted by ut0pia

i learned that just because I'm a vegan or raw vegan, isn't automatically going to mean I eat healthy
That's true. In my case I ate a lot of junk. Cake and brownies don't have meat.
 

kailie

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I am neither, but the only meat I eat is chicken or turkey. I eventually want to stop eating poultry as well, but haven't gotten there quite yet.
I eat no red meat, and can't stand seafood of any kind.

Dana eats all meat, and that's his choice. I told him though that here in our home, that as long as I make the meal, he has to eat what I cook, and if he wants certain meat he has to go out, buy it and cook it himself.
When we go out to eat, I don't care at all what he orders.
 

frankthetank

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I am a vegetarian and have tried the vegan thing a couple times.
One of my most frustrating times being a vegetarian was at my former job...it was a dining center/catering company/meals on wheels for senior citizens and they served fish as the vegetarian option. And most of the seniors didn't seem to care but every once in awhile they would have someone whow ould get mad that they wanted a vegetarian meal and got fish. I tried to explain to them the difference but the managers didn't care.
I have been a vegetarian for about 3 years now. I eat a lot of tofu, quinoa, fresh veggies/fruits, vegetarian "meats" (quorn brand is very good & actually made from mushroom but you would never know it by tasting it!). I try to eat as fresh as possible and have some sort of protein with most meals. I love tofu and prepare it in many ways.
I don't feel like I am missing any nutrients or am not eating healthy enough by missing meat. If you research vegetarian diets, you will find a ton of info about what you should be eating so that you stay healthy.
 

tea cake

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About 3 years ago I was a pescatarian for about a year. I wanted to stop eating the fish and shellfish too but I had one big problem standing in the way which would be my love for sushi. I just could not break away from that. I know they have veggie rolls, which I normally order, but I go out for sushi with friends and we always end up passing all the rolls we order around to everyone. I know it is a matter of will power but I always feel like I have none when it comes to sushi.

Did any of the vegetarians in this thread ever have that one food that made you weak or have trouble getting past? How did you combat it?

I ask because I've totally fallen off the wagon with my diet and I've been wanting to get back on but I know the sushi is out there just waiting to tempt me away again.
 

rockcat

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Originally Posted by Mollysmom

Something that I had a problem with and since I'm restarting my vegetarianism is going to be a problem again, is when I get invited somewhere and they have lots of meat, not usually anything I can eat. I always feel so rude when I decline what's offered to me. Any suggestions for how to handle a situation like this?
I was a vegetarian from '87 to '97 and then became a pescetarian. My dad was a commercial fisherman and I pretty much couldn't stand it anymore, so rather than deal with cravings for fresh fish, I gave in to that. Even though I love it, I don't do shellfish though. I had to redraw my line, but didn't want to go too far back to the "other side."
I will cook meat for my DH and friends though. I feel like everyone draws their own line.

Anyway, think of the opportunity you have when you are invited to BBQ's or whatever to share your vegetarinism with others in a non-judgmental manner! When appropriate, bring a dish. Many people are curious about vegetarianism and would love to try it.

When you can't afford to feed everyone even a sample, but want to bring something for yourself, I suggest Morningstar Farms "grillers" (burgers). Tuck a bit of foil under them to protect it from any meat residue and grill it along with the others. They also have "ribs" that aren't too bad. I used to love their hot dogs, but they were discontinued. They brought the corn dogs back, but I haven't seen the hot dogs yet. I can't remember the name brand of the other one I like - could be the gooddog. It's found in Wal-Mart in the produce section.
 

ducman69

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Originally Posted by Rockcat

I was a vegetarian from '87 to '97 and then became a pescetarian.
I've always known vegetarian and vegan and the difference, but honestly if someone told me they were pescetarian at meal time, I would have thought that just means we have to say grace first before eating our hamburgers. Learned something new!

Isn't fowl and the like considered healthier than fish due polluted waters nowadays though?
Originally Posted by Rockcat

When you can't afford to feed everyone even a sample, but want to bring something for yourself, I suggest Morningstar Farms "grillers" (burgers)
Those are really good.
 

rockcat

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Originally Posted by Ducman69

I've always known vegetarian and vegan and the difference, but honestly if someone told me they were pescetarian at meal time, I would have thought that just means we have to say grace first before eating our hamburgers. Learned something new!

Isn't fowl and the like considered healthier than fish due polluted waters nowadays though?
Especially now. Fresh tuna is my favorite and that's probably the worst of all. My dad wasn't a chicken farmer though.
I didn't know pescetarian was even a word either until a couple of years ago when I learned it on this site.
 

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I am a pescatarIan but tend to tell people i am vegetarian for ease. I could never be Vegan tho, not just dairy, things like honey. I am just starting a new healthy eating plan and reducing things like pasta and rice for things like cous cous, bulgar wheat, which is making me eat more veg and am eating more dried fruit, nuts and seeds. Am a bit unsure as to what are the best and how much tho.

I haven't eaten meat for 9 years now and have never been anaemic, although my hair is a lot thinner. I do have a health condition that is supposedly the cause of that.
 
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