Becoming Vegetarian!

Heineken Helen

redrock wrote:

Heineken Helen wrote:

redrock wrote:

Helen.... chicken stock counts as meat for veggies.... as does beef stock, certain soups/broths, Bovril/OXO.

Just say that, for the moment at least, you will not be including meats in their solid form in your diet (roasts, chops, sausages, etc.).

Yep, just like a vegetarian

Not if you're using chicken stock!

ah it's like being a buddhist... you can be as much of a vegetarian as you want to be . When I was a kid, not eating meat was enough to count as one... so in my head it still does

Heineken Helen

facepollution wrote:

I've not read through the whole thread, but I thought I'd throw my penny's worth in....

I gave up 13 years of vegetarianism about two years ago. It was a pretty huge decision to make, but I just couldn't justify it anymore. I came to realise that my more 'natural' and wholesome meat free diet was in fact a bit of a fallacy. Browsing through the ingredients list for whatever meat substitute I was eating, it dawned on me how lucky I was to live in a country where we even have products like that. Would I be eating like that if I lived in a remote part of Siberia? I think not. The fact of the matter is some people have no other choice but to eat meat due to lack of crops, and with that I pretty much eliminated the idea from my mind that it was somehow wrong to eat meat. Sure it's not nice that animals have to die for food, but if you take a look around in nature, that is exactly what happens, it sucks, but that's life.

A few other realisations followed.......

If you eat dairy products you are supporting the beef industry. Female cows have to give birth in order to produce milk, and if those calves are male they are used for their meat. Same goes for eggs - when chicks hatch the females will be used for laying eggs, whilst the males are used for meat. Suddenly my hands weren't quite so clean! And let's not forget all the small animals churned up in farm machinery when crops are harvested - is it ok to kill some animals and not others?

So in order for me to eat the staple parts of my vegetarian diet - eggs, dairy, grains, fruits, vegetables, animals still end up dying; which got me thinking why not just eat the meat then? I've hardly got a clean conscience.

I just want to make clear that this is just MY experience with vegetarianism. I'm not criticising others who choose not to eat meat - I know there are various reasons why people choose vegetarianism/veganism. But I do feel pretty confident in my belief that it's not morally wrong to eat meat.

Oh I've no moral problem with eating meat at all... it's always happened and will always happen... survival! I haven't given up for moral reasons at all... it's still going but I feel pretty weak the past couple of days :oops: struggling to concentrate and stuff but i t could be the time of year.

dcfaithful

The girlfriend and I were pescetarians for a while there. Still am for the most part, but we decided we needed more protein in our diets so we've been buying local meat from the farms around the valley, or not too far outside that bring their food in. Humanely raised, no additives, and vegetarian fed are our selling points.

We still are eating a high amount of tofu because that shit can be done very well, it's cheap, and it's extremely versatile...but man, even though it's slightly and under particular circumstances, I am glad to be back on the meat wagon. I missed you burgers and steaks.

Heineken Helen

dcfaithful wrote:

The girlfriend and I were pescetarians for a while there. Still am for the most part, but we decided we needed more protein in our diets so we've been buying local meat from the farms around the valley, or not too far outside that bring their food in. Humanely raised, no additives, and vegetarian fed are our selling points.

We still are eating a high amount of tofu because that shit can be done very well, it's cheap, and it's extremely versatile...but man, even though it's slightly and under particular circumstances, I am glad to be back on the meat wagon. I missed you burgers and steaks.

Can't say I've ever had tofu and not a clue what it might taste like.

skyeriverwinter

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dcfaithful

Heineken Helen wrote:

dcfaithful wrote:

The girlfriend and I were pescetarians for a while there. Still am for the most part, but we decided we needed more protein in our diets so we've been buying local meat from the farms around the valley, or not too far outside that bring their food in. Humanely raised, no additives, and vegetarian fed are our selling points.

We still are eating a high amount of tofu because that shit can be done very well, it's cheap, and it's extremely versatile...but man, even though it's slightly and under particular circumstances, I am glad to be back on the meat wagon. I missed you burgers and steaks.

Can't say I've ever had tofu and not a clue what it might taste like.

Don't let all the picky eaters in this world ruin it for you before you try it. It's very high in protein, can be used for nearly anything and if you know how to prepare it, it can be rather tasty and substantial.

I can send you some recipes if you're interested. PM me.

For example, right now for lunch I am eating shells stuffed withe enchilada flavored tofu, tomatoes, onions, and cheese. It's delicious.

BinGnarly

My one year was January 1st. Ill admit for the last few weeks with all the holidays I ate some meat. Now I try and keep it mostly Veg but from time to time ill eat meat.... Especially Venison. I love Venison. But my problem with meat isn't the killing of the animal (unless its done inhumanly) it's the shit they pump into these animals. I don't want that going into my body.

dcfaithful

BinGnarly wrote:

my problem with meat isn't the killing of the animal (unless its done inhumanly)

Unfortunately, in most cases I think it is.

RKCNDY

dcfaithful wrote:

BinGnarly wrote:

my problem with meat isn't the killing of the animal (unless its done inhumanly)

Unfortunately, in most cases I think it is.

I started reading her books and watched the movie about her (on HBO)...really and truly amazing person who has changed slaughter houses: http://www.grandin.com/

eyedclaar

BinGnarly wrote:

My one year was January 1st. Ill admit for the last few weeks with all the holidays I ate some meat. Now I try and keep it mostly Veg but from time to time ill eat meat.... Especially Venison. I love Venison. But my problem with meat isn't the killing of the animal (unless its done inhumanly) it's the shit they pump into these animals. I don't want that going into my body.

I hear ya'! That's why I stopped eating people.

dcfaithful

4and20 wrote:

dcfaithful wrote:

BinGnarly wrote:

my problem with meat isn't the killing of the animal (unless its done inhumanly)

Unfortunately, in most cases I think it is.

I started reading her books and watched the movie about her (on HBO)...really and truly amazing person who has changed slaughter houses: http://www.grandin.com/

I'll have to check that out more thoroughly when I'm at home.

dcfaithful

BinGnarly wrote:

My one year was January 1st. Ill admit for the last few weeks with all the holidays I ate some meat. Now I try and keep it mostly Veg but from time to time ill eat meat.... Especially Venison. I love Venison. But my problem with meat isn't the killing of the animal (unless its done inhumanly) it's the shit they pump into these animals. I don't want that going into my body.

Them pumping that shit into them is pretty inhumane too. Have you seen the size those chickens grow? The poor things can't even fucking walk. Forced to live in their own excrement and just sit and await a brutal death. Yeah, that sounds like something we should support. :roll:

iamica

VoidOfMan wrote:

Thoughts_Arrive wrote:

You don't win friends with salad.

*starts conga line*

*sings*

You don't win friends with salad... You don't win friends with salad... You don't win friends with salad...

I have a T-shirt that says "I DO win friends with salad."

Heineken Helen

well am still coping anyway... it's actually a pretty easy thing to give up.. ya just stop! Everyone's been really supportive too although I'm not making a big deal. Even my other half has been trying the veggie stuff... and liking quite a lot of it.

To be honest, I think I mainly like it cos I'm discovering new foods and new recipes and stuff

CJMST3K

I've been a strict vegetarian for 20 years. As I never liked vegetables, I found that there's lots of "mock" meat out there to try. Some are great! Some are passable. Some are not so good. I think you're in Europe, so not sure if the selection is the same as here in the states, but I can list many products that may help you benefit from my two-decades of faux meat research.

...the cool think about mock meats is that it's like Diet Coke. Once you get used to the change, you no longer really crave "real" coke.

Heineken Helen

Any help would be brilliant, thank you I don't really fancy 2 decades of research!

On a side note, I'm kinda breaking out in spots at the moment, I'm obviously deficient in something :oops:

google here I come

JaneNY

Heineken Helen wrote:

Can't say I've ever had tofu and not a clue what it might taste like.

Tofu pretty much tastes like whatever you cook it in. Plain tofu have very little taste. One of the best gateway tofu dishes is scrambled tofu - plenty of recipes for this on the net. The other night in NYC we had General Tso's tofu (tofu cooked like General Tso chicken - sweet, savory and fried, and very tasty). It can be blended and used in muffins or pie, baked, marinated.... very versatile form of complete protein.

Oh, while I'm thinking about it, another thing that is complete protein is Quinoa - grain from South America - something of an acquired taste at first, but healthy

If you're not feeling great after an initial switch to vegetarian, be sure you are eating enough food. Non-meat items are often less calorie-dense than meat and you may just not be getting enough calories. I work out every day (I teach aerobics) and I feel like I'm eating all the time despite being slim, because I burn 800 calories a day extra, just teaching.

Heineken Helen

JaneNY wrote:

Tofu pretty much tastes like whatever you cook it in. Plain tofu have very little taste. One of the best gateway tofu dishes is scrambled tofu - plenty of recipes for this on the net. The other night in NYC we had General Tso's tofu (tofu cooked like General Tso chicken - sweet, savory and fried, and very tasty). It can be blended and used in muffins or pie, baked, marinated.... very versatile form of complete protein.

Oh, while I'm thinking about it, another thing that is complete protein is Quinoa - grain from South America - something of an acquired taste at first, but healthy

If you're not feeling great after an initial switch to vegetarian, be sure you are eating enough food. Non-meat items are often less calorie-dense than meat and you may just not be getting enough calories. I work out every day (I teach aerobics) and I feel like I'm eating all the time despite being slim, because I burn 800 calories a day extra, just teaching.

I've heard of Quinoa... but again never had it.

One good thing about being vegetarian is the amount of money saved... we just did a shop with the same money we always spend and we got soooooo much more than usual just by cutting out meat for one of us

I have actually been eating less since the switch cos I seem to crave less snacks and junk food

Wow, I didn't realise tofu was so versatile... I just imagined it was simply used as a chicken substitute. Thanks so much, that's really good to know.

Jason P

It would be tough to be a vegetarian in the Midwest. Unlike my experiences on the West Coast where people actually consider vegetarians, they are few and far between here.

facepollution

Heineken Helen wrote:

Oh I've no moral problem with eating meat at all... it's always happened and will always happen... survival! I haven't given up for moral reasons at all... it's still going but I feel pretty weak the past couple of days :oops: struggling to concentrate and stuff but i t could be the time of year.

So how come you're doing it?