When it comes down to me interacting with meat eaters, I try not to bring up the matter, but if it does come out, I don't hesitate to express how I feel. I appreciate their respectfulness of me and I will treat them with the same respect. The only kind of people I can't tolerate and will disrespect are hunters. I also don't like fishermen, but that depends on whether or not they release the fish after they've caught them. I can't tolerate people involved with the processes I'm against. That's just how I feel.
The Vegan and Vegetarian Thread
- Thread starter Bowie
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Ehhh, I will have to disagree. It's not the circle of life. Perhaps when humanity was just a hodge podge of nomadic tribes with no language who needed to hunt all day in order to survive, sure. But we live in a modern society where most people have all they could ever need at their finger tips. To call it "the circle of life" is kind of a logical failure.
Allow me to explain - You eat your meat dinner, your body digests it and presumably it feeds into the sewer lines your bathroom is connected to. This sewer water is processed and recycled - except for the human waste part, which is incinerated or goes into a landfill. This does not help the environment nor does it contribute to the advancement of human or animal kind. The cycle of life implies and refers to natural death where a body is returned to the earth. How exactly did you return that dead creature to the earth? In a landfill, at best, where it will rot and pollute the planet just a little bit more.
Now, if you grow your own vegetables and use your waste as fertilizer (which you actually can't, so don't do that, human waste is poisonous), sure, you're contributing to the circle of life. Otherwise, you really aren't - you're only adding to the already messed up climate. Good for you (and me, because I still rely on modern appliances & plumbing).
I'd also like to add that meat is in the stores because of a consumer demand. The processing and packaging facilities are a billion dollar industry who do well to have more than just an idea of feeding the population. The meat industry employs plenty of political lobbyists and funds many a campaign to keep their products moving. For example, most people believe wholeheartedly in the food pyramid and believe that meat products are the only viable source of protein and vitamins our bodies need to survive. This is incorrect. There is about the same concentration of protein in almonds than in say, a cooked steak. Sure, I have to eat more almonds (comparison chart) to get the same recommended daily serving of protein than if I ate beef on a regular basis.
On the other hand, I do take vitamin supplements, especially B12 (which helps your circulation and blood cell productions) because this is a vitamin found only in animal products. There are trace amounts of B12 in seaweed but not enough to sustain a human being. Omega-3, famously found in fish, has a much more concentrated presence in soy products though. Calcium (which facilitates healthy, strong bones) is found in a wide variety of foods, not all of them animal products. Here is a decent guideline of vitamin alternatives that vegans, vegetarians and even meat eaters should consider.
Suffice to say, I respect your opinion even if its a little misguided. Hopefully you don't feel attacked for this, that is certainly not my intention.
This. I don't abhor meat eaters and I don't try to change them either. If that's what they like, then more power to them. I know my dietary habits aren't necessarily for everyone and my belief system around not eating meat is for me and me alone. It's all about mutual respect, which unfortunately can't always be expected. I've had people tell me that the animals will overrun the earth if we don't eat them and I have to laugh at that. There is still natural selection. There are still predators. Deer and cows and chickens (etc) will not suddenly explode in population just because vegetarians & vegans are now the societal norm. They act as if morning traffic commutes are now going to be riddled with tigers and bears causing sheer bedlam. While it makes for a bit of comedy, its highly unlikely.
This is not to say I haven't caught flack for my eating habits over the years, but most of it has been an over the top misinformation that I can't respond to without laughing. For one, to the regular meat eater, why does it even matter to them that I don't eat the same things they do? This has always boggled my mind - it has literally zero effect on their life and their own meals, so why should it be any different for me?
I can't tolerate hunters or fisherman either, especially if its for sport. I just don't see how that can be any fun to end the life of another creature. It always makes me wonder, if you're okay with killing an animal what would be the difference in killing a human? At the end of the day, we're all made up of the same materials - flesh, bone and blood. For me, it feels like a bit of cannibalism to consume another mammal whilst being one myself.
I think what's been the best luck in dealing with a differing opinion is to just explain my stance with a bit of science. Knowledge is power, as they say, and perhaps the regular meat eater just doesn't comprehend some of the reasons behind a vegan or vegetarian choice. It might seem weird to be so optimistic when it comes to the general populace, but I feel there is little else to be done. If someone starts frothing at me over my food choices, then well, I can't guarantee I won't froth back. It's an uphill battle, truly.
More so, I think one of the biggest problems are in large cities where most areas are considered food deserts. This is to say, there is a significant lack of grocery stores that carry a wide variety of products and a far too significant number of people are forced to purchase & rely on packaged, overly processed and fast foods in order to eat. Fresh vegetables and grains are sold - if you can find them, of course - but at a ridiculous mark up that is not only unnecessary but egregiously non-inclusive. I can only speak from an American perspective, as that is where I live. But here is some interesting information on that, for those who would like to know.
Why are you not in charge of the entire world?
Because I use gifs to express my emotions haha.
This is how I feel about politics:
I have to agree with you on that.
I just wanted to say I tried a veggie burger for the first time ever today and it tasted weird but oddly it was one of the best burgers I've tasted. I guess it tasted strange to me mostly because I didn't know what to expect. (Odd ingredients too, is sweet potato common in veggie burgers?) I was sorta expecting them to try and replicate the taste of meat, like they do with vegetarian sausages. Anyway, I'm definitely getting veggie burgers again.
i've been a vegetarian for 6 years, but have to stop occasionally for periods of a few months due to diets set by doctors that i was forced to follow which always included meat
i was also vegan for about a year but it was difficult and unhealthy for me
i was also vegan for about a year but it was difficult and unhealthy for me
Sweet potato really isn't that common from my experiences. Was this from a restaurant or from the grocery store?
I really don't discriminate when it comes to veggie burgers. I love fake meaty ones just as much as ones bursting with vegetables. I ate at my parents place a few weeks ago and my mom made some kale based burgers. They were SO GOOD.
Restaurant but a really cheap one. It was really nice so I'm not complaining but it just seemed strange to me. The burger also had some peppers and soybeans in it. Also, I just got some veggie burgers from the supermarket and they look like fake meat ones. Obviously I haven't tried them yet, but I look forward to them. I wonder how much like meat they'll actually taste.
I don't think I've ever tried kale.
I've been a veggie since I learnt it existed, I was 9, I'm 13 now so....4years a vegetarian (although my parents sometimes FORCE me to eat DISGUSTING meat! Yuck, meat! But I like meat chrisps and turkey ham) I think we shouldn't kill other living animals (we ARE animals-mammals) just to EAT!! We are crazy!!!
- - - Post Merge - - -
No effence, nothing personal to you, my opinion, don't take it in.
- - - Post Merge - - -
No effence, nothing personal to you, my opinion, don't take it in.
Restaurant but a really cheap one. It was really nice so I'm not complaining but it just seemed strange to me. The burger also had some peppers and soybeans in it. Also, I just got some veggie burgers from the supermarket and they look like fake meat ones. Obviously I haven't tried them yet, but I look forward to them. I wonder how much like meat they'll actually taste.
I don't think I've ever tried kale.
You're in the UK, right? And not vegan? If so I think Quorn is pretty prevalent there. Their stuff is pretty "meaty" in texture and flavor but is made with eggs. I don't know if Gardein is available but their stuff is equally good but all vegan I think.
And kale is the cruciferous plant of the gods. <3
Yep, I'm from England, and I'm not even vegetarian. I just really like the food. (Been considering becoming one for a while though. Right now I'm sorta testing the waters, I'm a fussy eater so for a while I've been worrying I wouldn't like enough meat-free food.) I've seen Quorn stuff around and I'm 90% sure that's the brand of burgers I picked up. I've not seen Gardein before though, I'll have to keep an eye out of it. Might have to try kale too.
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Mmm, kale. I've never made kale or sweet potato veggie burgers but I am going to have to now. I've never been a fan of anything that tries to imitate meat but I have had a couple veggie burgers at restaurants that had kind of a meaty taste. There aren't a lot of vegan/vegetarian restaurants in my area (have to go the city proper) so I end up making a lot of stuff at home.
Might have to try this at some point, because now I am craving sweet potatoes.
KaydeeKrunk
The Late Great Turt
I've been pescaterian for almost 10 years now, I made a choice in High School to change my lifestyle. I make a joke that it was because I moved to a place called Hidden Valley, you know, where vegetables are delectable? I eat hardly any fish but my dietitian said I needed to for omegas, plus I enjoy seafood now and then. PLZ don't kill me.
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Half vegan here. Eggs are cheap and convenient but when funds are abundant I maintain a more vegan diet.
Been Vegetarian since November 2013. It's very difficult for me because people around here used to know me as one of the biggest carnivores in the area. Because of all those steak eating contests I took part in (and won!)during my early youth. However, the world is changing and so I felt that I too must change.
Respect to all vegetarians in this thread.
Been Vegetarian since November 2013. It's very difficult for me because people around here used to know me as one of the biggest carnivores in the area. Because of all those steak eating contests I took part in (and won!)during my early youth. However, the world is changing and so I felt that I too must change.
Respect to all vegetarians in this thread.
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I have been a pescetarian for about one year now and I am not planning to stop. I started to avoid meat last year because of the 40 days before easter, I wanted to see if I can live without it, and I did. I didn't include fish in my no-go list since my mom is from asia and she eats a lot of fish, which I like to, please do not judge me for my own preferences. ;w; Therefore, I am a pescetarian, not a vegetarian. I plan to be a full-fledged vegetarian soon, but I have yet to find ways to avoid both on festive events where the only options are meat or fish.
My reasons for not eating meat were that I simply couldn't bring myself to eat meat after the 40 days, lol. So I just continued. And I told my friends, my family. One friend of mine is a vegetarian and she kind of inspired me to go on and on. As I watched documentaries, the feeling to not eat meat grew inside me, but now I also feel like throwing up whenever I smell meat or have an uncooked batch in front of me. It kind of smells like death to me now, also fish. I might be exaggerating, but I certainly do not like the smell of it now.
My reasons for not eating meat were that I simply couldn't bring myself to eat meat after the 40 days, lol. So I just continued. And I told my friends, my family. One friend of mine is a vegetarian and she kind of inspired me to go on and on. As I watched documentaries, the feeling to not eat meat grew inside me, but now I also feel like throwing up whenever I smell meat or have an uncooked batch in front of me. It kind of smells like death to me now, also fish. I might be exaggerating, but I certainly do not like the smell of it now.
I'm a vegetarian. Started about three/four years ago and I honestly don't think I'll ever eat meat (nor natural calf rennet nor gelatin for that matter) again.
After a few weeks of not eating meat I just started to think it's disgusting. Even though I'm a picky eater and can't eat soja, it's surprisingly easy not to eat that stuff^^
After a few weeks of not eating meat I just started to think it's disgusting. Even though I'm a picky eater and can't eat soja, it's surprisingly easy not to eat that stuff^^
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XxNicolexX
Senior Member
I been a vegetarian since I was 16 so 5 years
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