Who's part of the Vegetarian/Vegan crew?

CJMST3K

So who else is vegetarian / vegan on the board?
:P

(I know some of you want to say you're part of the peta "people eating tasty animals" crew - thank you for refraining)

Riverrunner

I'm a veggie. I would like to go vegan, but that is difficult where I live if you eat out. And I don't know if I can give up ice cream and cheese for good. I don't eat a lot of it now, but the thought of permanently giving it up is hard.

CJMST3K

Yeah, I'm ovo-lacto myself. Not so much on the ovo part, but the cheese and ice cream are two very hard things to give up. I have a ton of respect for those who make it to vegan. I think we're helping a lot too being regular veggie though.

Stereotype

I'm a vegetarian practically all my life.

The reason is simple, I don't have a great moral philosophy behind it - I never liked the taste of meat. I do love animals and consequently it gives me a good feeling.
When I was a child my parents try to force me to at least swallow a piece of meat, but I could sit for hours behind the kitchen table and wouldn't give in. Also, I was an expert of hiding meat inside other food or inside napkins etc..Then at some point my parents just gave up.

jecica

I am for a couple years now. Love it and so glad I stopped eating meat. I still do dairy too.

I had a horrible KFC habit..

soulsinging

I can understand vegetarianism, but vegan just seems nuts to me. So unhealthy.

Commy

Im a vegetarian. I like how PETA isn't pushing there views on anyone, just kind of presenting info. made me think. I've eaten meat my entire life and then it just kind of hit me...now I don't.

don't think I could go vegan, food needs to taste at least decent.

12345AGNST1

I'm not but i totally respect it. I was kinda considering it, but I doubt I ever will. It would be hard considering I HATE tomatoes haha.

Keiran

Vegetarian living in Texas. I feel soooo alone. Meat is very big here, and I mean that literally and figuratively.
I feel better not eating meat. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that changing my eating habits to a meatless routine while still getting proper nutrition has made me stop and think about what specific ingredients I'm putting into my body. I don't know if it's not eating the meat or just being more aware that has made the difference, but I'll sure take it.

Whizbang

12345AGNST1 wrote:

I'm not but i totally respect it. I was kinda considering it, but I doubt I ever will. It would be hard considering I HATE tomatoes haha.

Same here. I'm not but respect it. I do love some good veggie meals. A good friend of mine is vegetarian and when we're together, I stick to veggie meals. It's too stressful for him to have to think about how to cook meat, etc. Just easier on him. I don't think I could give up meat for ever though.....

and forgive me if this is a double post...I think I hit save draft and it went into oblivion....so I retyped it! getting used to this new board....

rockpants

I am, have been for 9 years. Unfortunately I'm lazy and not a very good cook, and am really more of a Junk Fooditarian :P , but I'm trying to get myself to eat healthier.

jecica

rockpants wrote:

I am, have been for 9 years. Unfortunately I'm lazy and not a very good cook, and am really more of a Junk Fooditarian :P , but I'm trying to get myself to eat healthier.

Buy yourself a rice cooker. You can't get any lazier than that and you get some really nutritious meals out of it.

rockpants

jecica wrote:

rockpants wrote:

I am, have been for 9 years. Unfortunately I'm lazy and not a very good cook, and am really more of a Junk Fooditarian :P , but I'm trying to get myself to eat healthier.

Buy yourself a rice cooker. You can't get any lazier than that and you get some really nutritious meals out of it.

I got one for Xmas, actually! We had a delayed celebration due to the weather, so I only got it recently. I just bought some rice (one small bag of white & brown each, and a big jug of wild rice) and will be using it for the first time for lunch today. It's the perfect size for me, too. A little 3-cupper.

Someone mentioned above that they hate tomatoes? As do I (I love ketchup, though.) I also can't handle onions 'cause they make my throat feel funny, pickles are gross to me, and I can only deal with mushrooms in small doses - the flavour is alright, it's the texture that grosses me out. It does make things more expensive and difficult when the restaurants charge you fully for your veggie burger even though you've asked them to hold everything but the lettuce/mayo/"special sauce" and cheese (I tell myself it becomes a "convenience charge" for them to fix it my way), but thems the breaks when one's palette is as picky as mine.
I wish my taste buds would co-operate with the world at large, but they opted to be big rebels and stick it to the man. Take that, water chestnuts!

NickyNooch

I've been vegan for about 7 or 8 years now. It's ridiculously easy once you get into it.

iamsam_pj

i have been for the past 5 years. sometimes i get stuck in a food rut, so i'm trying to be more adventurous with my cooking. if i don't bring my lunch to work, i usually just end up eating pizza...boo!

Commy

Keiran wrote:

Vegetarian living in Texas. I feel soooo alone. Meat is very big here, and I mean that literally and figuratively.
I feel better not eating meat. I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that changing my eating habits to a meatless routine while still getting proper nutrition has made me stop and think about what specific ingredients I'm putting into my body. I don't know if it's not eating the meat or just being more aware that has made the difference, but I'll sure take it.

I know exactly what that's like. I"m in Idaho. I think everyone one of my friends shot a deer this year. when I tell them I am vegetarian they haven't the slightest idea why someone would do that. esp my dad.


but I feel better in the morning, I'm more clear. and I'm not eating my friends.

JonnyPistachio

You guys all still vegetarians??
Anybody switch teams later in life?

My wife is a vegetarian. I always wonder if I could do it. I doubt it. But I feel guilty all the time because she's always eating well and there I am killing animals and killing myself with sloppy shit, covered in shit sauce, dipped in shit. But i've gotten better. The wife has really changed me for the better, and luckily, she never tries to force anything on me or try to persuade me to change teams.

Another tough call is that we want to have children soon and she wants to raise them vegetarian. If my boy is gonna have a shot at the big leagues I think i want him eating meat. If its a girl, feed her whatever grass you can find :P ...haha

CJMST3K

I'm still vegetarian. Have been since.... hmm... math... about 22 years now.

If you want to try vegetarianism, find a solid 8 days you're willing to just do it. If you say "I'll try it" and mix it in with eating meat, its kinda like trying to switch to diet coke, while still drinking regular coke. It doesn't work as your taste buds are constantly reminded of the differences. You need for your brain to crave vegetarian stuff instead of meat, and I firmly believe that if you go 8 days without having any, then you have a huge potential of being able to continue it, and do so happily. You may find yourself having to think more deliberately about where to eat out, but aside from that it's fairly easy.

There are SO many fake meats out there that my body craves that I don't miss meat at all. Plenty of things to put sauces on and make messy too. If you miss plain chicken mixed in meals, find Quorn in the freezer section, or Morningstar Farms "meal starters" with seasoned Chic'n strips. If you miss breaded chicken, Morningstar Farms "Chik'n Patties". If you miss hot dogs, Morningstar Farms Veggie Dogs in the freezer section (though they make them smaller now). If you miss breakfast sausages, Morningstar Farms Sausage Patties (don't try the links though). Yves makes great bologna. I'm a vegetarian who doesn't like vegetables.... so it CAN be done!

Give it a try. Its only 8 days. See if you can do it! What else do you have to do this week anyway?

JonnyPistachio

CJMST3K wrote:

I'm still vegetarian. Have been since.... hmm... math... about 22 years now.

If you want to try vegetarianism, find a solid 8 days you're willing to just do it. If you say "I'll try it" and mix it in with eating meat, its kinda like trying to switch to diet coke, while still drinking regular coke. It doesn't work as your taste buds are constantly reminded of the differences. You need for your brain to crave vegetarian stuff instead of meat, and I firmly believe that if you go 8 days without having any, then you have a huge potential of being able to continue it, and do so happily. You may find yourself having to think more deliberately about where to eat out, but aside from that it's fairly easy.

There are SO many fake meats out there that my body craves that I don't miss meat at all. Plenty of things to put sauces on and make messy too. If you miss plain chicken mixed in meals, find Quorn in the freezer section, or Morningstar Farms "meal starters" with seasoned Chic'n strips. If you miss breaded chicken, Morningstar Farms "Chik'n Patties". If you miss hot dogs, Morningstar Farms Veggie Dogs in the freezer section (though they make them smaller now). If you miss breakfast sausages, Morningstar Farms Sausage Patties (don't try the links though). Yves makes great bologna. I'm a vegetarian who doesn't like vegetables.... so it CAN be done!

Give it a try. Its only 8 days. See if you can do it! What else do you have to do this week anyway?

Cool thanks Hoff... I do get the morningstars. I like the grillers and I even like the links actually. I'll never eat real sausage again.
I've been thinking about doing it for a week just to see if I can. It will be tough because I dont have a very regular schedule and I do eat out quite a bit. Im also pretty big, so it takes a lot to fill me up. (no "thats what she said" jokes please ). I've mostly cut out red meat, but I eat a lot of chicken and fish. But my wife is pretty creative, and I must say that you can still have pizza and burritos and some fun stuff, so its possible.

81

CJMST3K wrote:

What else do you have to do this week anyway?

well, there is that steak in the fridge

Get_Right

I could never.
But I do try to have at least two meat free days each week. Usually involves a tofu dish and fried rice or lentils.

The morningstar products are pretty good. Love the BBQ riblet. Vegetarian McRIb!

mca47

I haven't had red meat or pork in like 16 years. I've done 4-6 month streaks of vegetarianism and its quite easy for me. I eat bird and fish...maybe once a week. I've been considering switching over for a while...we'll see.

BinauralJam

Unless it's pizza i want something dead on my plate every night, it could be human, i don't care.

CJMST3K

JonnyPistachio wrote:

Cool thanks Hoff... I do get the morningstars. I like the grillers and I even like the links actually. I'll never eat real sausage again.
I've been thinking about doing it for a week just to see if I can. It will be tough because I dont have a very regular schedule and I do eat out quite a bit. Im also pretty big, so it takes a lot to fill me up. (no "thats what she said" jokes please ). I've mostly cut out red meat, but I eat a lot of chicken and fish. But my wife is pretty creative, and I must say that you can still have pizza and burritos and some fun stuff, so its possible.

Fair enough. Here's a few places that offer substitutions or vegetarian faux meat items (though some might cook on same grill):

Johnny Rockets has a veggie burger
Subway's (most) have Veggie Patty (made by morningstar)
Taco Bell (just say "beans instead of meat" on anything)
Mexican Restaurants (see taco bell)
Burger King should still have its BK Veggie Burger
Whole Foods often has faux meat things in their meat case, like faux gen tso's chicken.

JonnyPistachio

CJMST3K wrote:

Fair enough. Here's a few places that offer substitutions or vegetarian faux meat items (though some might cook on same grill):

Johnny Rockets has a veggie burger
Subway's (most) have Veggie Patty (made by morningstar)
Taco Bell (just say "beans instead of meat" on anything)
Mexican Restaurants (see taco bell)
Burger King should still have its BK Veggie Burger
Whole Foods often has faux meat things in their meat case, like faux gen tso's chicken.

Thanks for these.. I went to dinner at a vegetarian place called Darbster in West Plam Beach this past weekend, and my friend who I was with, was very inspired by the food, and he suggested a friendly bet to see how long each of us could go as a vegetarian. I start today after lunch.

BinauralJam wrote:

Unless it's pizza i want something dead on my plate every night, it could be human, i don't care.

human! Im staying out of the NY area!
even with pizza, I like some meat usually.