vegans

facepollution

1STmammal2wearPants wrote:

Well anyone could. Whether it's a dire necessity is another thing. I like it too much to give it up, unless I had a valid reason for doing so.

Well exactly, that's totally up to you. There are plenty of valid reasons for giving up meat, but whether you subscribe to those beliefs is up to you. I just think some people underestimate what they are capable of. It's the same " I can't " mentality that prevents a lot of people from doing things, like getting fit or giving up smoking too.

fragileblake

Alot depends on where you live. Portland (voted #2 most livable vegan city I believe) has an all vegan grocery store, bar, bakery, thai place, chinese place, deli and several pizza options. Not hard for us to eat out, we do it far too often.

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

I just think it would be too difficult to be a *true* vegan. If you EVER eat outside the house, you never know what is going into your food. One of my friends is an animal welfare professional who hasn't eaten meat since she was about 9. I don't think I've ever seen her eat eggs, but I have seen her eat cheese. she has tried to be a vegan and found it too hard to ever eat out, so basically, she's a vegan "in the house."

GreenTeaDisease

fragileblake wrote:

Alot depends on where you live. Portland (voted #2 most livable vegan city I believe) has an all vegan grocery store, bar, bakery, thai place, chinese place, deli and several pizza options. Not hard for us to eat out, we do it far too often.

but what if non vegan friends are going to a non vegan restaurant...I know people who in this situation would eat at home and then not eat at the restaurant. I think that's a tough thing to do! (and hey if you can, more power to you). And lord, I would NEVER be able to EVER eat with my parents.

edvedder913

I wish I liked more vegan foods. I have never really been a meat lover. I do not eat veal, lamb. I only eat pork and red meat about 3-5 times per year. I mainly live off vegetables, fish, chicken, pasta, & fruit.

I am sooooooooo happy the Human Society's investigation got that slaughterhouse in CA closed and the beef recall publicized. All those workers should be imprisoned! cruel bastards!

And I honestly believe the consumption of meat is one of the biggest cancer causing agents out there. It has no health benefit.

GreenTeaDisease

edvedder913 wrote:

It has no health benefit.

I disagree with that. I am a vegetarian + occiasional pescetarian, however I do think there are health benefits to eating meat (in moderation of course, like anything else).

facepollution

I think it's more what animals are fed on that's worrying. Cattle by nature eat grass, and should not be fed other diseased animals, road kill etc.

_Crazy_Mary_

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

I disagree with that. I am a vegetarian + occiasional pescetarian, however I do think there are health benefits to eating meat (in moderation of course, like anything else).

I agree with you. It is a lean protein. That has to be a health benefit.


I waited on a vegan the other night and she was drawn to the restaurant where I work because of their vegetarian options and that they are about 90% (or more) organic. But there is no vegan meal, unless she orders a salad without cheese. She was so disappointed, but I had the kitchen throw together something for her and it looked delicious! Rice pilaf with fried kale, roasted red bell peppers and sauteed shitakes. She loved it (and tipped accordingly).

GreenTeaDisease

_Crazy_Mary_ wrote:

I agree with you. It is a lean protein. That has to be a health benefit.


I waited on a vegan the other night and she was drawn to the restaurant where I work because of their vegetarian options and that they are about 90% (or more) organic. But there is no vegan meal, unless she orders a salad without cheese. She was so disappointed, but I had the kitchen throw together something for her and it looked delicious! Rice pilaf with fried kale, roasted red bell peppers and sauteed shitakes. She loved it (and tipped accordingly).

not just the protein, but I feel like I am missing out on some iron by not eating meat. I eat tons of green vegetables, but I feel that sometimes, especially at certain times of the month, I crave red meat. the nutritionist said it's because I want the iron.

edvedder913

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

I disagree with that. I am a vegetarian + occiasional pescetarian, however I do think there are health benefits to eating meat (in moderation of course, like anything else).

My personal opinion. Rotting animal carcass in which you have no clue if it was even a healthy cow to me has no health benefit. Yes it has protein, but so do many other things that you are not taking a risk eating. Too many beef recalls for my taste...

GreenTeaDisease

edvedder913 wrote:

My personal opinion. Rotting animal carcass in which you have no clue if it was even a healthy cow to me has no health benefit. Yes it has protein, but so do many other things that you are not taking a risk eating. Too many beef recalls for my taste...

well, there is other meat besides beef too. I am a HUGE fan of free range buffalo meat. way way healthier than beef and easier to know the source.

Actually part of why I became a vegetarian was because I couldn't find any decent buffalo meat when I moved back to boston at any of the grocery stores around me! so I was like, well if I can't eat buffalo I might as well just be a vegetarian.

edvedder913

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

well, there is other meat besides beef too. I am a HUGE fan of free range buffalo meat. way way healthier than beef and easier to know the source.

Actually part of why I became a vegetarian was because I couldn't find any decent buffalo meat when I moved back to boston at any of the grocery stores around me! so I was like, well if I can't eat buffalo I might as well just be a vegetarian.

oh i agree. i was just referencing beef - it scares me. :eek:

fragileblake

I guess we've just been fortunate enough to have friends that are open minded and try to include her. I should also mention that there are some cuisines with great options for vegans that aren't necessarily vegan - Mediterranean and Italian especially that our friends and folks don't mind eating at.

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

but what if non vegan friends are going to a non vegan restaurant...I know people who in this situation would eat at home and then not eat at the restaurant. I think that's a tough thing to do! (and hey if you can, more power to you). And lord, I would NEVER be able to EVER eat with my parents.

GreenTeaDisease

fragileblake wrote:

I guess we've just been fortunate enough to have friends that are open minded and try to include her. I should also mention that there are some cuisines with great options for vegans that aren't necessarily vegan - Mediterranean and Italian especially that our friends and folks don't mind eating at.

this is what I'm saying though- if you eat out at an italian place or something, do you *really* know what you're eating is vegan? tomato sauce is often simmered with meat for extra flavor, even if it is not meat sauce, per se. Garlic is often simmered in butter, etc. There are many desserts that contain gelatin (well I guess you wouldn't risk desserts due to the dairy and stuff anyway but you get what I'm saying). like you don't really know how the food is prepared in a restaurant of any kind.

fragileblake

Well its pretty easy to ask. She usually lies and says that shes lactose intolerant which usually takes care of the cheese. Alot of the chain places that my family likes to go to (unfortunately) are pretty good in terms of listing ingredients.

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

this is what I'm saying though- if you eat out at an italian place or something, do you *really* know what you're eating is vegan? tomato sauce is often simmered with meat for extra flavor, even if it is not meat sauce, per se. Garlic is often simmered in butter, etc.

JaneNY

There are things that have health benefits but we choose not to eat them. Human meat for example. I expect it has good protein. We don't eat it though. Why not? Ethical reasons.

I worked up to being vegan. First worked up to being vegetarian. Sure I miss some things that non-vegans eat, but not enough to eat them. I am happy with, and believe in my choice.

pjoasisrule

Are any of you vegans involved in athletics, running, or bodybuilding?

GreenTeaDisease

pjoasisrule wrote:

Are any of you vegans involved in athletics, running, or bodybuilding?

I think you run and work out on a vegan diet (much much better than you can on an atkins diet, that's for sure!). It's definitely fine on a veggie diet (and I don't get sick and miss work outs!) Might not gain a ton of muscle mass in terms of "body building."

pjoasisrule

GreenTeaDisease wrote:

I think you run and work out on a vegan diet (much much better than you can on an atkins diet, that's for sure!). It's definitely fine on a veggie diet (and I don't get sick and miss work outs!) Might not gain a ton of muscle mass in terms of "body building."

What I am curious about is if there is alot of soreness and such after doing these activities and how difficult it is to get the proper nutrition you need for recovery

GreenTeaDisease

pjoasisrule wrote:

What I am curious about is if there is alot of soreness and such after doing these activities and how difficult it is to get the proper nutrition you need for recovery

recovery is really easy actually. I never ate meat for recovery when I ate meat! I go for foods high in antioxidants and stuff for recovery.

JaneNY

pjoasisrule wrote:

Are any of you vegans involved in athletics, running, or bodybuilding?

Well funny that you should ask I own and run a fitness center, and teach 12 dance-based cardio/strength training classes per week. I have noticed no different in the amount of soreness since I became vegan. I am used to a high level of activity. When I'm not teaching, I'm hauling sound equipment for the sattellite classes at another location, or hauling in water for sale. I painted my whole center myself. The only thing I've always needed to watch is that I eat enough calories, vegan or otherwise, because I get busy. But that hasn't changed from when I was not vegan.