Vegan/Vegetarian Thread (discussion, recipes, laughs)

[nycfem]

Hi, Medusa,

I don't think is out of place at all. It's usually the opposite. People don't want to know why we are vegetarian (or vegan). A lot of people who simply see someone eating vegetarian or asking if something is vegetarian have to make an aggressive joke about it!

I became a vegetarian when I was a junior in high school. There was a group at my school that exposed me to the ugliness of factory farming. Most meat doesn't see a good life. Animals are kept in tiny cages. They are taken from their mothers at birth. Chickens beaks are burned off so they don't peck each other to death out of the craziness that comes from being locked up without light in tight quarters that are full of shit. The killing is factory style so sometimes animals don't get fully killed and have a particularly grueling death. Animals within factory farming are fattened up and given injections so they can be quickly big and then killed. The reality of animals' lives in MOST farming is just an ethical nightmare.

When I became vegetarian, it was very hard. I have always loved "meat." I would have a little here and there for several years after I became vegetarian just because I missed the tastes. Then at some point I stopped that. At some point the cravings diminished, and I had enough separation from the whole indoctrination of eating animals without thinking or caring about their lives that I just felt a little sick (morally) at the thought. I do still crave meat sometimes but much, much less than I did during those first few years. My policy is to not eat "anything with a face" (i.e. meat, chicken, and fish). When someone is cooking for me, that's how I put it to keep it simple! I am not vegan, though I believe in it. However, I try to have soy dairy products a good amount of time. I think of it as harm reduction. I find that it is hard enough to be vegetarian (eating out, etc.), so I just am not at a point where I'm willing to commit to being 100% vegan.

As far as health concerns, I have generally not had any health problems. I have a lot of energy and rarely have any stomach problems. I have had occasional low-level anemia, usually if I've been being a "junk food vegetarian," and have easily been able to address it with vitamins and more care and attention to eating (healthy protein). In my day to day life all I take is a multivitamin. Being a vegetarian will likely improve any cholesterol issues btw, because cholesterol comes from animal fat.

Some vegetarians don't like fake meat and really are into vegetables. BB jokes that I'm a vegetarian who doesn't like vegetables. That's a bit of an exaggeration but often I like to make a fakin' bacon cheeseburger or a notdog (teehee) using frozen/microwaved fake meat. Some fake meat is terrible but I've been able to find brands that even impress BB, who is not a vetetarian. I am also not someone who is an elegant cook and still do well with cooking vegetarian. And again, even though BB is not vegetarian, hy eats my veggie cooking happily enough every night! I make simple things like whole grain spaghetti and defrosted wheatballs or stir-fries with seitan and veggies. There are a lot of delicious proteins available to vegetarians.

In converting to vegetarianism, I would recommend maybe going to a health food store and stocking your fridge with yummy veg things so that your cravings can be satisfied. These days there are barbecued drumsticks and basically every meaty thing in a veg form. This is not to say that you need to shop at a health food store. Regular grocery stores are where I do most of my shopping. I would suggest just going for it. There are so many nay-sayers when it comes to becoming a vegetarian and it's also scary for oneself. However, I think you'll quickly find that it is satisfying and easier than you think. I can't think of any food that I have not found a decent veg version of. Don't be hard on yourself if you have a slip. Like I said, that happened to me over a few years. It's all about harm reduction, though, and not a diet or a competition.

Feel free to check in on the thread anytime. It's great to have someone interested and caring about the animals. There's a saying, ""If slaughterhouses had windows, everyone would be a vegetarian." I think that this sums it up. Over the years I have read and watched movies and feel more and more happy with my decision not to partake in eating animals that have lived a terrible life with drawn out cruelty. But be prepared; most people don't want to look at what they are doing when they choose to eat meat in our society. In order to keep themselves from thinking, they need to strike out at vegetarians with the same old jokes and faulty logic that doesn't take into account the simple truth of what you described with that calf.

Originally Posted by Medusa

Hi all,
Would anyone mind talking about their reasons for becoming a vegetarian? If that's too political for here, I'll completely understand.
I am teetering close to the jumping off point and doing some serious considerations around it. I saw a cow truck this morning on my way to work and just burst out crying because the little baby calfs all looked terrified.
Are there foods you really missed?
Have you had any nutritional issues because of it?
Tips for converting to a non-meat diet?

Any input is so greatly appreciated...but again, my apologies if this is out of place here.
xo

[Gemme]

I'm not a vegetarian, but I often eat vegetarian, if that makes sense. Jennifer, your explanation about your journey and the information you have is wonderful. Thank you. If I were to take that step, I'm definitely coming to you for more suggestions.

[nycfem]

That makes a lot of sense. I think that too often there is a polarization between vegetarians and non-vegetarians, like we are opposing teams! I'm not "against meat." Really, if the meat in most grocery stores came from animals that lived real "farm" lives instead of a quality of life akin to slavery or what the victims in WWII went thru, then I would not feel the way I do. I am disgusted by PETA's hateful approach to putting the word out. I like more thoughtful, down-to-earth explorations of vegetarianism and eating meat such as the recent movie, Food Inc., and the recent book that gained a wide popularity, Jonathan Safran Foer's "Eating Animals," both of which I recommend in consideration of the ethical and environmental problems with eating most meat in today's society.

Originally Posted by Gemme

I'm not a vegetarian, but I often eat vegetarian, if that makes sense. Jennifer, your explanation about your journey and the information you have is wonderful. Thank you. If I were to take that step, I'm definitely coming to you for more suggestions.

[Medusa]

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

That makes a lot of sense. I think that too often there is a polarization between vegetarians and non-vegetarians, like we are opposing teams! I'm not "against meat." Really, if the meat in most grocery stores came from animals that lived real "farm" lives instead of a quality of life akin to slavery or what the victims in WWII went thru, then I would not feel the way I do. I am disgusted by PETA's hateful approach to putting the word out. I like more thoughtful, down-to-earth explorations of vegetarianism and eating meat such as the recent movie, Food Inc., and the recent book that gained a wide popularity, Jonathan Safran Foer's "Eating Animals," both of which I recommend in consideration of the ethical and environmental problems with eating most meat in today's society.

OMG! Jack just watched "Food Inc." on Netflix and has been demanding I watch it for several days now

Yeah, I am highly turned off my the aggressive militancy of PETA and think that I would probably be ok with eating eggs that were free-range or plopped into a nice nest in someone's backyard. I think that where I start to get a little bit sensitive is seeing hundreds of chickens crammed into trucks and hundreds of pigs crammed into trucks. The wide-eyed stares of the baby calves this morning really bothered me too. But then again, I am bothered when I see horses who appear to be upset being transported in trailers down the highway.

I have a good friend who is a vegetarian and she once said to me "Imagine eating Gracie...that's why I don't eat meat", and that pretty much makes sense. We had a pet cow when I was growing up and she had a huge personality: would come when she was called and could be ridden like a horse. That level of intelligence tells me that animals can probably feel fear...and I don't want anything to do with it being on my hands.


***EDited to add*** --Has anyone seen the HBO movie on Temple Grandin? She designed a more humane cattle chute for cattle going to slaughter. One of her most famous lines from the movie, "Life is cruel but WE don't have to be".

[Glenn]

Avocadoes are a great substitute for meat. Ghandi was a strict vegan who ate only Unfertilized eggs. My breakfast recipe is: ground almonds in a glass of orange juice.

[nycfem]

I like to have either instant oatmeal or 0% fat plain Greek yogurt (lower carb) with cinnamon, fresh fruit, flax seed, ground walnuts, and unsweetened plain soymilk (if it's the oatmeal choice) and whole grain kamut puffs (if it's the yogurt choice).

I'm also very fond of avocados. I like them on veggie burgers or with hummus in sandwiches or in salads. And, I love sushi made with avocado and brown rice.

Originally Posted by popcorninthesofa

Avocadoes are a great substitute for meat. Ghandi was a strict vegan who ate only Unfertilized eggs. My breakfast recipe is: ground almonds in a glass of orange juice.

[Bad_boi]

I'm not veg or vegan but- Amy's frozen food is and it is amazingly yummy.

Just thought I'd share :3

[Greco]

nycfembbw,

I realize this is an early post of yours but it was spot-on for me. Recently, about a month ago I viewed the youtube video "Earthlings" and well, that did it for me. No judgment here for people eating meat, but for me put it all into a clear perspective. I feel that I want to live without participating in such cruelty to the animals.

I love eating meat, and cooking with butter etc. but I had no idea what really went on in factory farming. PETA turned me completely off to their message, but this video made it all too clear.

Anyway, so I am looking forward to learning how to cook, and eat a different way. Except for butter, I pretty much don't eat or drink dairy. Years ago a friend suggested I stop dairy so my asthma would improve. Well, I haven't had an asthma attack in years, and I attribute it to stopping the dairy, and I haven't missed it. Mozzarella cheese is the only cheese that my lungs can tolerate without a reaction. I breathe, run with clear lungs now.

Alright, so I'm off the soap box, thanks again all of you who share your recipes, and your ideas on how to thrive eating veggies.

Again no judgment on people who are not vegan/vegetarians. This is my journey. I want to continue keeping this site safe for all of us.

Greco

ps Linus just reminded me of the green veggie juices I've been enjoying. I have to say that my energy level
has increased incredibly which is why I was up all night last night. Ok, have to check that, but will continue
those green veggie juices, they're really delicious and I'm all for that.

Originally Posted by nycfembbw

Hi, Medusa,

I don't think is out of place at all. It's usually the opposite. People don't want to know why we are vegetarian (or vegan). A lot of people who simply see someone eating vegetarian or asking if something is vegetarian have to make an aggressive joke about it!

I became a vegetarian when I was a junior in high school. There was a group at my school that exposed me to the ugliness of factory farming. Most meat doesn't see a good life. Animals are kept in tiny cages. They are taken from their mothers at birth. Chickens beaks are burned off so they don't peck each other to death out of the craziness that comes from being locked up without light in tight quarters that are full of shit. The killing is factory style so sometimes animals don't get fully killed and have a particularly grueling death. Animals within factory farming are fattened up and given injections so they can be quickly big and then killed. The reality of animals' lives in MOST farming is just an ethical nightmare.

When I became vegetarian, it was very hard. I have always loved "meat." I would have a little here and there for several years after I became vegetarian just because I missed the tastes. Then at some point I stopped that. At some point the cravings diminished, and I had enough separation from the whole indoctrination of eating animals without thinking or caring about their lives that I just felt a little sick (morally) at the thought. I do still crave meat sometimes but much, much less than I did during those first few years. My policy is to not eat "anything with a face" (i.e. meat, chicken, and fish). When someone is cooking for me, that's how I put it to keep it simple! I am not vegan, though I believe in it. However, I try to have soy dairy products a good amount of time. I think of it as harm reduction. I find that it is hard enough to be vegetarian (eating out, etc.), so I just am not at a point where I'm willing to commit to being 100% vegan.

As far as health concerns, I have generally not had any health problems. I have a lot of energy and rarely have any stomach problems. I have had occasional low-level anemia, usually if I've been being a "junk food vegetarian," and have easily been able to address it with vitamins and more care and attention to eating (healthy protein). In my day to day life all I take is a multivitamin. Being a vegetarian will likely improve any cholesterol issues btw, because cholesterol comes from animal fat.

Some vegetarians don't like fake meat and really are into vegetables. BB jokes that I'm a vegetarian who doesn't like vegetables. That's a bit of an exaggeration but often I like to make a fakin' bacon cheeseburger or a notdog (teehee) using frozen/microwaved fake meat. Some fake meat is terrible but I've been able to find brands that even impress BB, who is not a vetetarian. I am also not someone who is an elegant cook and still do well with cooking vegetarian. And again, even though BB is not vegetarian, hy eats my veggie cooking happily enough every night! I make simple things like whole grain spaghetti and defrosted wheatballs or stir-fries with seitan and veggies. There are a lot of delicious proteins available to vegetarians.

In converting to vegetarianism, I would recommend maybe going to a health food store and stocking your fridge with yummy veg things so that your cravings can be satisfied. These days there are barbecued drumsticks and basically every meaty thing in a veg form. This is not to say that you need to shop at a health food store. Regular grocery stores are where I do most of my shopping. I would suggest just going for it. There are so many nay-sayers when it comes to becoming a vegetarian and it's also scary for oneself. However, I think you'll quickly find that it is satisfying and easier than you think. I can't think of any food that I have not found a decent veg version of. Don't be hard on yourself if you have a slip. Like I said, that happened to me over a few years. It's all about harm reduction, though, and not a diet or a competition.

Feel free to check in on the thread anytime. It's great to have someone interested and caring about the animals. There's a saying, ""If slaughterhouses had windows, everyone would be a vegetarian." I think that this sums it up. Over the years I have read and watched movies and feel more and more happy with my decision not to partake in eating animals that have lived a terrible life with drawn out cruelty. But be prepared; most people don't want to look at what they are doing when they choose to eat meat in our society. In order to keep themselves from thinking, they need to strike out at vegetarians with the same old jokes and faulty logic that doesn't take into account the simple truth of what you described with that calf.

[Linus]

Greco,

Hrmm.. you just reminded me what I have to do. Watch Earthlings. I think it's time to return to the raw green smoothies I was doing for a while.

[Linus]

Oh.. and here are some green smoothie recipes: http://www.squidoo.com/raw-green-smoothie

(including videos)

[Greco]

I'm amazed that it's been 7years since my commitment to vegetarian, then vegan life...thank you Kätzchen it was your rep that brought me to that time 5/2011 when I made one of the most important decisions of my life and to nycfemmbbw's story of her transition...All the Best to you both!

Originally Posted by Greco

nycfembbw,

I realize this is an early post of yours but it was spot-on for me. Recently, about a month ago I viewed the youtube video "Earthlings" and well, that did it for me. No judgment here for people eating meat, but for me put it all into a clear perspective. I feel that I want to live without participating in such cruelty to the animals.

I love eating meat, and cooking with butter etc. but I had no idea what really went on in factory farming. PETA turned me completely off to their message, but this video made it all too clear.

Anyway, so I am looking forward to learning how to cook, and eat a different way. Except for butter, I pretty much don't eat or drink dairy. Years ago a friend suggested I stop dairy so my asthma would improve. Well, I haven't had an asthma attack in years, and I attribute it to stopping the dairy, and I haven't missed it. Mozzarella cheese is the only cheese that my lungs can tolerate without a reaction. I breathe, run with clear lungs now.

Alright, so I'm off the soap box, thanks again all of you who share your recipes, and your ideas on how to thrive eating veggies.

Again no judgment on people who are not vegan/vegetarians. This is my journey. I want to continue keeping this site safe for all of us.

Greco

ps Linus just reminded me of the green veggie juices I've been enjoying. I have to say that my energy level
has increased incredibly which is why I was up all night last night. Ok, have to check that, but will continue
those green veggie juices, they're really delicious and I'm all for that.

"Originally Posted by nycfembbw View Post
Hi, Medusa,

I don't think is out of place at all. It's usually the opposite. People don't want to know why we are vegetarian (or vegan). A lot of people who simply see someone eating vegetarian or asking if something is vegetarian have to make an aggressive joke about it!

I became a vegetarian when I was a junior in high school. There was a group at my school that exposed me to the ugliness of factory farming. Most meat doesn't see a good life. Animals are kept in tiny cages. They are taken from their mothers at birth. Chickens beaks are burned off so they don't peck each other to death out of the craziness that comes from being locked up without light in tight quarters that are full of shit. The killing is factory style so sometimes animals don't get fully killed and have a particularly grueling death. Animals within factory farming are fattened up and given injections so they can be quickly big and then killed. The reality of animals' lives in MOST farming is just an ethical nightmare.

When I became vegetarian, it was very hard. I have always loved "meat." I would have a little here and there for several years after I became vegetarian just because I missed the tastes. Then at some point I stopped that. At some point the cravings diminished, and I had enough separation from the whole indoctrination of eating animals without thinking or caring about their lives that I just felt a little sick (morally) at the thought. I do still crave meat sometimes but much, much less than I did during those first few years. My policy is to not eat "anything with a face" (i.e. meat, chicken, and fish). When someone is cooking for me, that's how I put it to keep it simple! I am not vegan, though I believe in it. However, I try to have soy dairy products a good amount of time. I think of it as harm reduction. I find that it is hard enough to be vegetarian (eating out, etc.), so I just am not at a point where I'm willing to commit to being 100% vegan.

As far as health concerns, I have generally not had any health problems. I have a lot of energy and rarely have any stomach problems. I have had occasional low-level anemia, usually if I've been being a "junk food vegetarian," and have easily been able to address it with vitamins and more care and attention to eating (healthy protein). In my day to day life all I take is a multivitamin. Being a vegetarian will likely improve any cholesterol issues btw, because cholesterol comes from animal fat.

Some vegetarians don't like fake meat and really are into vegetables. BB jokes that I'm a vegetarian who doesn't like vegetables. That's a bit of an exaggeration but often I like to make a fakin' bacon cheeseburger or a notdog (teehee) using frozen/microwaved fake meat. Some fake meat is terrible but I've been able to find brands that even impress BB, who is not a vetetarian. I am also not someone who is an elegant cook and still do well with cooking vegetarian. And again, even though BB is not vegetarian, hy eats my veggie cooking happily enough every night! I make simple things like whole grain spaghetti and defrosted wheatballs or stir-fries with seitan and veggies. There are a lot of delicious proteins available to vegetarians.

In converting to vegetarianism, I would recommend maybe going to a health food store and stocking your fridge with yummy veg things so that your cravings can be satisfied. These days there are barbecued drumsticks and basically every meaty thing in a veg form. This is not to say that you need to shop at a health food store. Regular grocery stores are where I do most of my shopping. I would suggest just going for it. There are so many nay-sayers when it comes to becoming a vegetarian and it's also scary for oneself. However, I think you'll quickly find that it is satisfying and easier than you think. I can't think of any food that I have not found a decent veg version of. Don't be hard on yourself if you have a slip. Like I said, that happened to me over a few years. It's all about harm reduction, though, and not a diet or a competition.

Feel free to check in on the thread anytime. It's great to have someone interested and caring about the animals. There's a saying, ""If slaughterhouses had windows, everyone would be a vegetarian." I think that this sums it up. Over the years I have read and watched movies and feel more and more happy with my decision not to partake in eating animals that have lived a terrible life with drawn out cruelty. But be prepared; most people don't want to look at what they are doing when they choose to eat meat in our society. In order to keep themselves from thinking, they need to strike out at vegetarians with the same old jokes and faulty logic that doesn't take into account the simple truth of what you described with that calf."