Vegetarians...quick question...

Trujeeper · June 2008

Okay, so I call myself a vegetarian...but I have been told I am not and it made me very mad. Let me explain...

I do not eat beef, pork, chicken, veal, opossum, racoon, etc. I do however eat seafood. The reason for this is that I am allergic to soy and soy based products...I have to drink milk and eat cheese because I have a calcium deficeintcy (sp?).

The fact is, what other vegetarians eat to compensate for lack of proteins, those soy burgers and soy chicken patties and soy bacon, etc. I cannot eat (unless I'd like to be doubled over in pain for two hours.)

So then I had a conversation with a lady who is a die-hard, by-the-book vegetarian. She said I was an insult to vegeratians. Now I could have gone off on her...I could have told her how she should be a vegan and not consume vegetables grown with animal waste composts. But I was adult about it and did not stoop to her level.

Why is this such a hot button issue with vegeratians? She didn't even bother to see if there was a reason for my choices. I don't expect people who are lactose-intolerant to drink milk. Why should I be expected to eat soy when I am allergic? I'm saving the lives of animals with my choices...and I wish I could survive without eating any animal at all, but the doctor said it was not possible unless I'd like to be in the hospitol. What was her problem? Is our society so heartless that we have to jump on any person who does not fit our mold of the perfect human? I was the bigger person about it but it got under my skin anyway.

So, am I a bad vegetarian?

Trujeeper

dbh · June 2008

Naw, you sound fine to me. I'm not one, but I see vegetarians as those who do not eat animal meat.

TheDreamIsee · June 2008

Do what you want and eat what works for you - It is so funny how vegetarians can make it a competition... "I am more vegetarian than you"
Peace!!!

LikeAnOcean · June 2008

Trujeeper wrote:

I do not eat beef, pork, chicken, veal, opossum, racoon, etc.

Well I don't eat racoons and opossum's either.. thank god for that.

Danimal · June 2008

You veggies are nuts.

who's_pearljam? · June 2008

You're fine.

People tend to want to label and quantify and pigeonhole things with a term.
I think the official naming commission would call you a pesceratian.

I don't eat meat, and seem to have given up on fish now, so I think I have to change my status!
I just say I don't eat meat, and no it's not a competition with most vegetarians.

If you're allergic to soy, try seitan, quinoa, tempeh with no soy. Great foods with which to make wacky experiments in the kitchen.

weenie · June 2008

Well, as I see it, you're not vegetarian if you eat "critters". You can get protein from yogurt and cottage cheese - which vegans don't eat. I know a lot of people who call themselves vegetarians, yet they eat seafood.

It has nothing to do with vanity. A lot of people who choose to become vegetarian do so because they believe in the sanctity of life. A lot of vegans choose to be vegans because they go one step further.... they feel that the way that dairy animals are treated is inhumane and disrespectful.

Generally, becoming vegetarian or vegan is a conscious choice based on animals and animal life. You never know, one day you may choose not to eat fish either. With some folks, it's a progression.

I say, keep up the good work!

pearljamjen · June 2008

Trujeeper wrote:

Okay, so I call myself a vegetarian...but I have been told I am not and it made me very mad. Let me explain...

I do not eat beef, pork, chicken, veal, opossum, racoon, etc. I do however eat seafood. The reason for this is that I am allergic to soy and soy based products...I have to drink milk and eat cheese because I have a calcium deficeintcy (sp?).

The fact is, what other vegetarians eat to compensate for lack of proteins, those soy burgers and soy chicken patties and soy bacon, etc. I cannot eat (unless I'd like to be doubled over in pain for two hours.)

So then I had a conversation with a lady who is a die-hard, by-the-book vegetarian. She said I was an insult to vegeratians. Now I could have gone off on her...I could have told her how she should be a vegan and not consume vegetables grown with animal waste composts. But I was adult about it and did not stoop to her level.

Why is this such a hot button issue with vegeratians? She didn't even bother to see if there was a reason for my choices. I don't expect people who are lactose-intolerant to drink milk. Why should I be expected to eat soy when I am allergic? I'm saving the lives of animals with my choices...and I wish I could survive without eating any animal at all, but the doctor said it was not possible unless I'd like to be in the hospitol. What was her problem? Is our society so heartless that we have to jump on any person who does not fit our mold of the perfect human? I was the bigger person about it but it got under my skin anyway.

So, am I a bad vegetarian?

Trujeeper

No you are not a "bad" one, that is a very personal choice. Some people who eat seafood do consider themselves veggie, and you have to do what works best for you.

Technically, you are a pescatarian rather than a veggie.
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/glossary/g/Pescatarian.htm

But so many pescatarians call themselves vegetarian that is quite commonplace. Bottom line, who cares what others think!

JaneNY · June 2008

Yes, you are a pescetarian, but not a vegetarian. A vegetarian does not eat animals of any sort. If you feel you need to eat fish, that is your decision, but eating it means you are not a vegetarian.

You don't need to eat soy items to be a vegetarian you know. This is practically unheard of in India, and there are millions of healthy vegetarians there. They are clever with protein combination, using legums, grains and dairy. Look into Indian cooking - they have so many delicious recipes.

suninsomebodyelsesky · June 2008

I became a vegetarian twenty years ago b/c

Primarily, I was worried about the antiobiotics/hormones/steriods put in the food by factory farms.
Secondarily, I wanted to lessen my impact on earth. Thirdly, due to animal cruelty conditions on factory farms.

I believe we are part of the animal kingdom and I've always respected Native American consumption principles...if we choose to consume another living thing, we should waste none of it and allow the animal to die with honor.
Does that make me a bad vegetarian?

In any event, you sound like a pesco-vegetarian to me.

PJaddicted · June 2008

Do what works for you and don't listen to anyone! You are a piscatorian not a vegetarian, but who cares??? I'm trying to go Vegan again and not doing so well, gaining far too much weight eating legumes and grains(6 pounds in 6 weeks) and I'm not doing so well on the soy....so for now I'm adding back a bit of fish and seafood. I hope to sort it out and stay off the fish too...but for me it is a process.

oxc

Cree Nations · June 2008

oh lord, you sound fine, she sounded like a nazi-vegetarian. My brother had the same problem with soy based products.

mca47 · June 2008

Who cares what title you have? As long as you're happy with what you do that should be it.

Veggies are very defensive of their titles...like they are in some elite club or something. Oh well.

mensane · June 2008

i am also a pescatarian.

she sounds like a jerk. dont worry about what anyone says. you made your choice for yourself, right? means you only have to answer to yourself.

you are · June 2008

Cree Nations wrote:

oh lord, you sound fine, she sounded like a nazi-vegetarian. My brother had the same problem with soy based products.

i was thinking the same thing. she's overzealous about it. next time you see her, call her the vegetarian nazi!

roar · June 2008

eating habits discrimination?
awesome.

Shawn Smith Collective · June 2008

I consider myself a vegetarian that doesn't eat seafood. I only eat vegetables and meat (red meat, chicken, etc.). I figure if someone can claim to be a vegetarian, but eats fish and other seafood (aka animals in the sea), then I can make the same claim eating land animals.

Now, Trujeeper, I know you're saying it's bc of a health/food allergy issue, but as noted by others, there are other options for you to get your protein that aren't meat or soy.

Really, I think you're just someone that doesn't eat land animals. Just because your top preference is veggies doesn't necessarily make you a vegetarian and I don't know that that should bother you.

That said, the person you spoke to is ridiculous.

RolandTD20Kdrummer · June 2008

Spirulina contains a complete amino profile.

Smartypants · June 2008

I've been a pescetarian for about 3 years.

I will rarely even mention it any more, with meat-eaters or with veggies. Of course some people are totally cool with it but it also seems there are waaaaay too many argumentative people who give you a hard time about your food choices and interrogate you about why you made your decision - it's so frustrating! I've never figured out why anyone cares so much about what I do or don't eat.

RolandTD20Kdrummer · June 2008

I've come to the conclusion that eating strictly vegetable sources messes up your head. It creates some kind of obnoxious superiority trip malfunction in your brain chemistry.

Seen it time and time again.

I only eat Chicken....(grudgingly)....and all seafood without any conscience whatsoever.

chime · June 2008

Smartypants wrote:

I've been a pescetarian for about 3 years.

I will rarely even mention it any more, with meat-eaters or with veggies. Of course some people are totally cool with it but it also seems there are waaaaay too many argumentative people who give you a hard time about your food choices and interrogate you about why you made your decision - it's so frustrating! I've never figured out why anyone cares so much about what I do or don't eat.

I'm veggie ... I eat what I eat and I don't care what anyone else eats. And yeah I'm sick of people noticing I've ordered the veggie option in a restaurant and then deciding they want to give me a hard time about it. Seriously what impact does it have on their life :rolleyes:

Vegetarians...quick question...

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