Vegetarians

[dwnwrdishvnwrd]

Any other vegetarians out there?

:eek:

Yes, I know. I'm a blasphemer. :wink:

[persco]

I am.

s.

[chainfire]

I am...I started cutting back meat for dietary reasons and now I can't imagine going back. I guess I've seen too many movies -like Food Inc- that show just how the food/meat industry's gone back to sinclaire's the jungle. :frown:

[Mysterion]

Since 1974.

[Confuzius]

I was born that way, but became an omnivore when I was around 13. (27 now)
My parents and sister are still vegetarian (ovo-lacto), and I regularly use meat substitutes still in my day to day diet.
I'd call myself a vegetarian sympathizer... :-P (Except for militant vegans, y'alls are crazy - but I respect those of you who do it properly and maintain good balanced nutrition, too many young people decide to "go vegan" without proper research and end up totally screwing themselves up.)

[WhosYerBob]

I can't say I'm pure vegetarian, but I don't eat a lot of meat these days.

[BigRich]

Not to hijack the thread but I heard someone say the funniest thing the other day in a restaurant while dining with a vegetarian companion...

"Salad isn't food...salad is what food eats."

[goby]

Vegetarian for 10 years. My son, age 8, has never had meat. It's one of the better decisions I've made.

[aquilla]

i am, for about five years now.

[Bertilak]

Mostly vegitarian, since mid 70's. No real good reason, mostly habit now. Started as an experiment.

I do eat fish, and eggs so probably get way more protein than I need.

I will eat most anything depending on circumstances. For example, a while back I took my elderly parents to a Hungarian restaurant because they like that kind of food and don't get out much (big production with walker and wheelchair).

Well, we got to the restaurant and it was closed! The lady that owns the place happened to be there doing bookkeeping or something, saw us standing around outside mulling over what to do next, heard our story and opened up just for us! Who was I to complain if there were only two dishes available: chicken and beef. The chicken was very good, as were the wine, the salad, the potatoes, the asparagus and the desert pastry!

Another example: a doctor had me on a pork-only diet for a while trying to track down an allergy.

[Jim]

A vegetarian recipes thread is in order I would think!

[Robxcarlson]

I don't eat anything that casts a shadow.



Seriously, I've been a vegetarian since 2003.

[gaseousclay]

sorry to be pedantic but you're not a strict vegetarian if you eat fish -- you're a Pescetarian.

whew, had to get that out of my system. my coworker always refers to himself as a vegetarian but I know he eats fish. kinda irks me when he says that.

[Galius]

I don't eat anything that casts a shadow.



Seriously, I've been a vegetarian since 2003.

A vampire-only diet?

[Emmett]

Not I, but I enjoy cooking vegetarian dishes.

[Obsessed]

A vegetarian recipes thread is in order I would think!

That's a good idea. I'm not a vegetarian, but I would love to see some ideas on getting more vegetables into my family's diet.

[Galius]

I was at a mexican supermarket the other day and they had bags and bags and bags of dehydrated soy-based ground beef substitute, and it was super-cheap.

About the last place I would have thought to look for genuine faux meat, but there it was.

Vegetarian since '91.

[Bertilak]

sorry to be pedantic but you're not a strict vegetarian if you eat fish -- you're a Pescetarian.

Yeah but -- generates too much discussion.

[tg16]

I've cut back on meat.

[Robxcarlson]

A vampire-only diet?

Nah, it's a line from an episode of the simpsons from awhile back.

[mankini]

I have not converted, but am eating less and smaller portions of dead animal flesh.

[goby]

I have not converted, but am eating less and smaller portions of dead animal flesh.

Every little bit counts. Good job.

[TonyH]

Nah, it's a line from an episode of the simpsons from awhile back.

A level 5 vegan, as I recall! :biggrin:

[OldSchoolYoungin]

I've cut back some on red meat, but by no means am I a vegetarian.

[bob.e]

Do vegetarians get chlorophyll weepers and cuts while shaving???:eek:

I myself belong to PETA- People Eating Tasty Animals:001_tongu

As for Vegetarian Cook books try locating- Tassajara Cooking by Edward Aspe Brown

Edward is the Chef for a Buddhist Monastery and being they are vegetarian they need to vary their diet so they don't get bored with the same thing all the time, so there are lots of variations on each vegetable. It's an excellent cook book, they also have a bread book also

It's an old cook book so you may have to order it from a used book store but it's well worth the effort, this is the best vegetarian cook book I've ever seen and a must have book for anyone learning how to cook.:smile:

[ClinchKnives]

Yep, my whole family has been since before I was born, I've never eaten meat and don't intend to try.The exception is of course survival situations where if I can catch it I'd probably eat it. I do drink milk and eat eggs if they're in a cake or something. I love the fact that after mad cows disease they have become stricter about labeling sweets, Gelatine (bovine) stops the temptation :)
When I do get a strop I plan to get that vegan one I've seen by somebody on this list.
The mistake a lot of people that I speak to make is that we just eat the same food minus the meat which would leave mashed butternut, potato's and peas in a cream sauce. Not very nutritious at all
Have a look at www.goveg.com for some very nice recipes and products.

[Venom8431]

Just out of curiosity, are you guys vegetarians because of moral stances on animal cruelty and/or health practices?

Do any of you ever consider eating meat again? Trying it for the first time?

Not trying to be difficult, just a rabid carnivore trying to understand the eating habits of others.

[Confuzius]

Just out of curiosity, are you guys vegetarians because of moral stances on animal cruelty and/or health practices?

Do any of you ever consider eating meat again? Trying it for the first time?

Not trying to be difficult, just a rabid carnivore trying to understand the eating habits of others.

I was raised vegetarian, my dad's reasoning behind it is sustainability issues. You can feed a lot more people with the crops and water that go to producing beef than you can with the beef itself that is produced - as a very basic example. Combined with a bit of the animal cruelty issues involved in mass market meat.

I tried meat the first time out of curiosity, it was bacon, it hooked me. I've been eating meat since I was 13, although I probably still only have red meat 1-2 times a month and chicken and fish 2-3 times a week. At least half of my dinners are still vegetarian.

[aquilla]

Just out of curiosity, are you guys vegetarians because of moral stances on animal cruelty and/or health practices?

Do any of you ever consider eating meat again? Trying it for the first time?

Not trying to be difficult, just a rabid carnivore trying to understand the eating habits of others.

personally i started just to see if i could, i used to eat quite alot of meat and just one day decided to test my will power :001_smile that then got me thinking about how little difference it made to me to not eat meat and so just stopped altogether, i now feel like i wouldn't eat meat again because of the production line style its reared, i have pets and i cant help likening them to other animals, having said that if it was a survival situation id definitely eat meat and id feel ok about it because of hunting it myself, hope none of that sounds preachy, it certainly isn't meant to, my family all eat meat and it really doesn't bother me, just a choice.

[bob.e]

There are un-intended consequences to being vegetarian, although you may save sheep cattle pigs and poultry, the land needed to sustain a vegetarian lifestyle requires more plowed land unfortunately this cuts into habitat for wild life- Deer, Raccoons, Birds and other animals. Unfortunately there is no simple answer to sustainability issues on either side of the meat no meat dinner table. Eating meat causes it's problems as does vegetarianism. Life is never simple

[Fatboy Slimhandle]

I eat eggs and dairy (mostly cheese, not a big milk fan). I eat sushi every couple months, but otherwise don't eat fish. So, mostly vegetarian.

It's been about 7 years since I last ate meat. I feel fine, and maybe get sick less than others that I know. I don't miss it at all really.

I like the moral stuff, which is a side benefit. It's nice not to be involved with killing and eating animals, but it wasn't why I stopped eating meat.

It seems like it's cheaper too, for me at least.

[synapticmisfires]

I'm definitely moving to a vegetarian diet. Cheaper/easier to cook/healthier/more environmentally sustainable are all good reasons, and if you do it right, there's no drop off in enjoyment or quality. That said I still dabble in meat pretty routinely, but I've decreased the quantity hugely. It occurs to me that while I would occasionally love a strip of prosciutto or a nice filet, I don't need to force down dry hamburgers and huge, tough cuts of meat to be happy, and in fact I'll live longer if I avoid it.

I think a vegetarian recipe thread is definitely in order.

Edit: I am not in it for the moral reasons (aside from environmentalism), but I guess factory farming of animals is on questionable moral ground. I would love to see meat consumption taper off to the point where animal agriculture can operate without the externalities and messiness, and rely more on grass-fed animals than transported feed.

[Luc]

I am not! I do try to have at least 1 vegetarian meal a week. I know, it's not much but it makes me appreciate the food even more that way.

[OldSchoolYoungin]

For those of you that were former meat eaters and became vegetarians, do you notice any obvious health benefits?

[synapticmisfires]

Well my changes aren't prolonged enough to notice long term health benefits, but I do notice that a huge plate of meat would feel "heavier" over the rest of the day. I guess individual meals leave me a little more bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Could be a placebo effect, could be all the greasiness and saturated fat. I still eat a TON of protein.

[Bertilak]

For those of you that were former meat eaters and became vegetarians, do you notice any obvious health benefits?

No.

I have bad cholesterol and triglyceride numbers. I tried a fairly strict low-fat, low-cholesterol diet and the numbers barely budged. This was over a period of about a year. Once my new doctor put me on drugs the numbers dropped dramatically to near normal ranges. My diet seems to have little or no effect.

I look at it as if my body had a thermostat mechanism that said what levels of cholesterol (etc.) it should maintain. Trying to control this by diet is like trying to control the inside temperature of your house from the outside. Certainly if the outside temperature were high or low enough you could overrun your house's heating/cooling system but that would not be easy to achieve. The drugs kind of adjust the thermostat. Apparently my thermostat does not cover the perfect range but can be set closer to it.

Now I made all that up and there is NO scientific nor medical work I am aware of to back me up.

[allumedirocca]

I've cut back on meat as well, and increased my consumption of fruits and veggies. I've also cut back a lot on dairy.

[Wann]

My grandparents (to my fathers side) was vegetarians. I guess that makes me 1/4 vegetarian?

Anyway I don't eat a lot of meat, and use their recipes some times.

[dwnwrdishvnwrd]

For those of you that were former meat eaters and became vegetarians, do you notice any obvious health benefits?

I did notice a few changes with weight loss being the most obvious. My skin became clearer. I had just an overall better sense of health. Every once in a while I have a craving and I'll eat a burger (like every six months or so) and I suffer the next day with the most horrible gas and I feel bloated.

But darn it if that burger isn't tasty.

[dpmtherrien]

After eating meat for 44 years, my wife who was brought up vegetarian, asked me if I wanted to go to a vegetarian pot luck supper. I wasn't too keen on the idea, but I went anyway. I went with the idea that vegetarians just ate carrot and celery sticks, along with bland salad, but I told her I would and so I went.

Well that night I had such good eats, and listened to such interesting speakers, I told my wife that I could do this vegetarian thing. She asked me if I wanted to and I told her I would. She asked me when? I told her "right now".

That was over 15 years ago, and I haven't had meat since, don't miss it one bit, and don't want to go back.

I've even joined PETA, and animal cruelty makes me want to lash out at someone.

Isn't life interesting? :biggrin: :tongue: :wink:

[Texican]

I'm a vegan 2/3 of the year (Orthodox Christian fasting calendar is pretty hardcore).

[Confuzius]

There are un-intended consequences to being vegetarian, although you may save sheep cattle pigs and poultry, the land needed to sustain a vegetarian lifestyle requires more plowed land unfortunately this cuts into habitat for wild life- Deer, Raccoons, Birds and other animals. Unfortunately there is no simple answer to sustainability issues on either side of the meat no meat dinner table. Eating meat causes it's problems as does vegetarianism. Life is never simple

That's not really true. Look at how much grain/soy/corn is required for production of sheep/cattle/pigs/poultry and you'll find that land mass wise it's much more space efficient to feed the crops directly to humans.

Ultimately for environmental sustainability reasons the world would be a much better place if everyone on earth used insects as their main source of protein. They are the most efficient protein energy on earth. That is they require the least amount of recourses to produce a human consumable protein. Where as cattle require 7-8kg of feed per 1kg of meat produced insects require 1.1kg of feed per 1kg of "meat" produced.

[Venom8431]

I'm a vegan 2/3 of the year (Orthodox Christian fasting calendar is pretty hardcore).

That's why I ignore it. :wink:

[thoughtcriminal]

I've been a vegetarian for a little over a year now. My mother and younger sister are also vegetarians, for 4 and 5 years respectively.

For me its a variety of reasons. Sustainability is a big thing. About 10x (or more) the plant based food and material can be made from the same area of land. A vegetarian diet is healthier. And cheaper, a big plus for a student. I simply see no reason to eat meat or use animal products when the same or better results can be had without them.

[joshmpdx]

A vegetarian recipes thread is in order I would think!

+1 id love to contribute to that. i think i eat really well and have been a vegetarian for 8-9 years and started eating fish a couple of years ago.

[LinuxMintyFresh]

I'm not a vegetarian, but am a what I call a vegan sympathizer. I'd buy everything vegan if I could do so reasonably. Moral issues with animal treatment, environmental concerns from greenhouse gasses to water usage (takes like 30 gallons of water to raise 1 pound of beef), and health concerns like prostate cancer due to eating red meats would be why. It's just a PITA, and often buying meat is cheaper. I try to avoid it, but I'm pretty bad a lot of the time.

[RoyalKooparillo]

I love my omnivorous diet and appreciate tasty things of all kinds. I've had some out-of-this-world vegetarian dishes, but I'd never give up meat in my diet.

If anyone feels like doing a little reading, this (http://www.beyondveg.com/billings-t/comp-anat/comp-anat-1a.shtml) is a great review of scientific literature, myths, and theories regarding the Human diet.

[goby]

There are un-intended consequences to being vegetarian, although you may save sheep cattle pigs and poultry, the land needed to sustain a vegetarian lifestyle requires more plowed land unfortunately this cuts into habitat for wild life- Deer, Raccoons, Birds and other animals. Unfortunately there is no simple answer to sustainability issues on either side of the meat no meat dinner table. Eating meat causes it's problems as does vegetarianism. Life is never simple

Oh, come on... I can't let you get away with that. It takes 16 lbs of grain to "make" one pound of meat. Cut out the meat, and you would have a lot less agriculture. :wink:

[goby]

Yep, my whole family has been since before I was born, I've never eaten meat and don't intend to try.The exception is of course survival situations where if I can catch it I'd probably eat it. I do drink milk and eat eggs if they're in a cake or something. I love the fact that after mad cows disease they have become stricter about labeling sweets, Gelatine (bovine) stops the temptation :)
When I do get a strop I plan to get that vegan one I've seen by somebody on this list.
The mistake a lot of people that I speak to make is that we just eat the same food minus the meat which would leave mashed butternut, potato's and peas in a cream sauce. Not very nutritious at all
Have a look at www.goveg.com for some very nice recipes and products.

Good for you! My son is 8 years old, and I fear that he'll eat a cheeseburger when he becomes a teenager. If that's the worst thing he does, I'll consider myself lucky.

[LinuxMintyFresh]

Oh, come on... I can't let you get away with that. It takes 16 lbs of grain to "make" one pound of meat. Cut out the meat, and you would have a lot less agriculture. :wink:

I'll second that. A huge percentage of U.S. agricultural production goes to feeding livestock. Not to mention the problems large herds of sheep and cattle cause to the lands they occupy when "free range".

[delmonte]

I was vegetarian (actually pescetarian) for about 3 and a half years, mainly for "moral" issues. I don't think it's wrong to eat animals, but I'm disgusted with the way meat is produced in the modern food industry. When not eating meat for a while, looking at it and smelling it really disgusted me. Later on, though, I started actually dreaming about meat and craving it, so I started eating chicken again and eventually back to beef as well (I don't eat pork). Even though I ate fish, eggs, and cheese, and ate quite balanced, I didn't feel quite right after a while... sort of less dense and a bit weaker. The point is after I while my body started to feel the need for meat so I gave in, and now I feel better and more balanced. I only get organic meat, btw. Regular meat is so nasty. I sometimes wish I was still vegetarian, like after watching Food Inc. and after going fishing and killing fish... very unpleasant. But that's nature, and I don't think it's wrong if it's done right and in a balanced way. The way meat is mass produced today is just f****d up.

[Uber Goober]

I`ll put my hand up as a strict vegetarian in so much as I don`t eat animal products of any description, essentially I follow a vegan diet but still use some animal products like leather, bone, horn,etc. I do still consume alcohol which the majority of is filtered through bone charcoal but I`ve managed to throw off the tyranny of honey, gelatin, sugar, egg protein culture vaccines, etc. My tattoos were all done with vegan ink formulae.

Regarding diet, I`m against the commodification of animals for greed and profit, hence I eat nothing that has or once had a face:-) My only obvious hypocrsy is I use and prefer tallow based soaps, both body and shaving.

When G*d gave us dominion over animals, I believe he meant we were to help/guide and care for them, not exploit them for their skin, fur, meat, eggs, progeny, etc. I truely believe these things are an individual choice and as such accept anothers choice as being their unique reality.

Stephen

[Confuzius]

Good for you! My son is 8 years old, and I fear that he'll eat a cheeseburger when he becomes a teenager. If that's the worst thing he does, I'll consider myself lucky.

Cheeseburgers were my teenage rebellion. That pretty much was the worst of it. :tongue_sm Although I'm 27 now and still an omnivore, so that was a rather permanent rebellion. Being the pseudo hippies that my parents are they supported my choice along the way, the only rule was that I didn't cook meat in the house, but bbq was ok.

[jlanger]

I've never minded Vegetarianism and can even respect those who practice it, at least those who aren't preachy and pushy about it. I myself am an omnivore, I prefer to take and process my own meat, whether it's from the woods (venison) or my uncles farm (beef), so I tend to get a little hands on with my food production.
The one issue I have with it (and this drives my wife nuts lol) is that when we are guests at their respective houses we're given a vegan/vegetarian meal, which in my true MN way will eat and sometimes enjoy. However, when they're a guest in my house I can't serve a meal with meat to them without offending them. I'm forced to prepare a meatless meal for everyone or prepare a side meal for them. For some reason this sits wrong with me, I have not been able to find a truly diplomatic way around this issue, any suggestions?

[Mysterion]

I've never minded Vegetarianism and can even respect those who practice it, at least those who aren't preachy and pushy about it. I myself am an omnivore, I prefer to take and process my own meat, whether it's from the woods (venison) or my uncles farm (beef), so I tend to get a little hands on with my food production.
The one issue I have with it (and this drives my wife nuts lol) is that when we are guests at their respective houses we're given a vegan/vegetarian meal, which in my true MN way will eat and sometimes enjoy. However, when they're a guest in my house I can't serve a meal with meat to them without offending them. I'm forced to prepare a meatless meal for everyone or prepare a side meal for them. For some reason this sits wrong with me, I have not been able to find a truly diplomatic way around this issue, any suggestions?
First, I must compliment you on your grace; clearly, you're concerned with being polite, both as a guest and a host.

This can be a complicated issue for some folks; shared meals are one of the cornerstones of social interaction, and things can get sticky when guests have different dietary restrictions and/or preferences. For my part, I never expect a host to accommodate my needs, but I'm always touched when someone goes to the trouble to provide for me, doubly so because I have a few food allergies that can inhibit even some vegetarian chefs. If I'm attending a function at which I expect no veg-friendly food, I simply eat beforehand. That said, I realize that some hosts may be uncomfortable if I don't eat at their tables. Catch 22.

Ultimately, I think it's a matter of how far you're willing/able to go in order to make your guests comfortable. I suspect most would be able to provide a non-alcoholic beverage when entertaining a tea-totaller, and I hope nobody would serve ham to a devout Muslim or Jew with the expectation that it would be eaten.

My best suggestion: If you're hosting vegetarians or vegans, and feel unable to make appropriate provisions, just tell them what you'll be serving in advance, as nicely as possible, and don't expect them to eat meat because that's what's on the menu. I've been invited to many cook-outs, and never been offended when my host notes that the centerpiece of the meal will be burgers and wings.

People come to vegetarianism for many, many reasons, but it's rarely a casual choice, and it's not something that will be set aside for the sake of convenience or a sense of social obligation. If you can stretch to serving a special meal, the thought and effort will always be appreciated; if you can't, no harm done, but you shouldn't take offense when your guests pass up the roast.

[delmonte]

First, I must compliment you on your grace; clearly, you're concerned with being polite, both as a guest and a host.

This can be a complicated issue for some folks; shared meals are one of the cornerstones of social interaction, and things can get sticky when guests have different dietary restrictions and/or preferences. For my part, I never expect a host to accommodate my needs, but I'm always touched when someone goes to the trouble to provide for me, doubly so because I have a few food allergies that can inhibit even some vegetarian chefs. If I'm attending a function at which I expect no veg-friendly food, I simply eat beforehand. That said, I realize that some hosts may be uncomfortable if I don't eat at their tables. Catch 22.

Ultimately, I think it's a matter of how far you're willing/able to go in order to make your guests comfortable. I suspect most would be able to provide a non-alcoholic beverage when entertaining a tea-totaller, and I hope nobody would serve ham to a devout Muslim or Jew with the expectation that it would be eaten.

My best suggestion: If you're hosting vegetarians or vegans, and feel unable to make appropriate provisions, just tell them what you'll be serving in advance, as nicely as possible, and don't expect them to eat meat because that's what's on the menu. I've been invited to many cook-outs, and never been offended when my host notes that the centerpiece of the meal will be burgers and wings.

People come to vegetarianism for many, many reasons, but it's rarely a casual choice, and it's not something that will be set aside for the sake of convenience or a sense of social obligation. If you can stretch to serving a special meal, the thought and effort will always be appreciated; if you can't, no harm done, but you shouldn't take offense when your guests pass up the roast.

+1. Very well said.

[Mr_Amazing]

Not that I want to take sides on the debate about meat vs. vegitarian foods, but I think you have to consider that animal waste is critical to the farming of fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. The reality is that they all rely on each other and sure, one might be more expensive to produce, but without it, the other one doesn't exist. To me, not acknowledging the benefits of animals/meat to the ecosystem and the diet is wrong, especially when teaching children. There are pros and cons to both sides of the debate and I think it is important to show that there isn't a right or wrong answer.

[goby]

First, I must compliment you on your grace; clearly, you're concerned with being polite, both as a guest and a host.

This can be a complicated issue for some folks; shared meals are one of the cornerstones of social interaction, and things can get sticky when guests have different dietary restrictions and/or preferences. For my part, I never expect a host to accommodate my needs, but I'm always touched when someone goes to the trouble to provide for me, doubly so because I have a few food allergies that can inhibit even some vegetarian chefs. If I'm attending a function at which I expect no veg-friendly food, I simply eat beforehand. That said, I realize that some hosts may be uncomfortable if I don't eat at their tables. Catch 22.

Ultimately, I think it's a matter of how far you're willing/able to go in order to make your guests comfortable. I suspect most would be able to provide a non-alcoholic beverage when entertaining a tea-totaller, and I hope nobody would serve ham to a devout Muslim or Jew with the expectation that it would be eaten.

My best suggestion: If you're hosting vegetarians or vegans, and feel unable to make appropriate provisions, just tell them what you'll be serving in advance, as nicely as possible, and don't expect them to eat meat because that's what's on the menu. I've been invited to many cook-outs, and never been offended when my host notes that the centerpiece of the meal will be burgers and wings.

People come to vegetarianism for many, many reasons, but it's rarely a casual choice, and it's not something that will be set aside for the sake of convenience or a sense of social obligation. If you can stretch to serving a special meal, the thought and effort will always be appreciated; if you can't, no harm done, but you shouldn't take offense when your guests pass up the roast.

Perfectly said.

BTW, I am a little disappointed that you (jlanger) would expect a vegetarian to eat meat. A vegetarian would NEVER eat meat (except for the stupid scenario we are all asked about --- if you were starving on a desert island and you were about die, would you eat meat?)

For some of us it is a health reason, some it's religion, some it's morality, but NONE of us would eat meat.

If you were my friend, and you were serving BBQ Steak, with potatoes and gravy, and veggies with bacon, and you invited me, I would first ask if there was anything I could eat, and if you said "no," I would bring my own food. It's really no big deal. All vegetarians deal with this.

As disappointed as I am with you (in a very mild way :wink: ), I would also be disappointed in your vegetarian friend who would say "Hey JLanger, fix me a tofu burger, a side of veggies, and don't forget to pickup soy milk at the store." That is equally rude.

My suggestion for a party...... Serve meat, tell your veggie friends that you suck at cooking vegetarian food, and that they are welcome to bring their own vegetarian food. If you say it nicely, no one will be offended.

BTW, I have two children, one is my stepson. My son and I are Buddhist, and he has never had meat. My stepson is Christian, lives on a 10,000 acre cattle ranch, and hunts every single day. We all get along just fine!

[oldandcrotchety]

I'm not a vegetarian, but with the prices on meat going up like they are I'm almost one. My youngest son was a vegetarian for about five years but was always kinda weak during that time. No real stamina or strength. Finally, he started eating fish and that balanced him out. He feels better and is stronger. He still won't eat any other type of meat though. He doesn't have a moral issue with it, he just don't like the taste or smell.

[goby]

I'm not a vegetarian, but with the prices on meat going up like they are I'm almost one. My youngest son was a vegetarian for about five years but was always kinda weak during that time. No real stamina or strength. Finally, he started eating fish and that balanced him out. He feels better and is stronger. He still won't eat any other type of meat though. He doesn't have a moral issue with it, he just don't like the taste or smell.


I'd go there and eat free.... they have cornmeal onion rings.... YUM!!!

[ouch]

I used to be an ovo-lacto-vegetarian.

Now I'm a baco-porko-vegetarian.

[aquilla]

I used to be an ovo-lacto-vegetarian.

Now I'm a baco-porko-vegetarian.

lol :biggrin:

[Mysterion]

I used to be an ovo-lacto-vegetarian.

Now I'm a baco-porko-vegetarian.
I believe that's called a treyf-eterian.

[Stubblefield]

I've cut back on meat.And I have increased mine. That way, the balance of the universe is maintained.

Props to those of you eating vegetarian.

[Jim]

I'd go there and eat free.... they have cornmeal onion rings.... YUM!!!

Fried in lard.:drool:

[Stubblefield]

Fried in lard.:drool:
Even better. Lard is awesome.

[Lynchmeister]

Even better. Lard is awesome.

Remember the breakfast scene from "My Cousin Vinny?"

:lol:

[King of Kailua]

I used to be an ovo-lacto-vegetarian.

Now I'm a baco-porko-vegetarian.

I went vegan once.

Then I was a vegetarian that ate dairy .

Then I was a vegetarian that ate fish (and dairy).

Currently, I'm a vegetarian that eats meat (and fish, and dairy).

[goby]

Wow... there are a lot of meat eaters in this thread.

I'm not only a vegetarian, but I love punk music. Always have (since 1982) and always will.

This is a song by one of the greats, Propagandhi, a punk band from Canada. This is a song about Sandor Katz, who wrote a book about "humane meat." Well, Propagandhi responded by writing a song about humanely killing and eating Sandor Katz for dinner. Sandor was not amused.

Below are the words, and the song. I hope you enjoy it, although you probably won't. But I hope it makes at least one person think about the cruelty of eating meat. I used to eat meat... then something "clicked"... Meat is wrong.

You will never convince me that meat is ok, and perhaps I'll never convince you that meat is wrong, but who knows.... if just one person looks at meat different Propagandhi has succeeded.....

Enjoy!

I swear I did my best to ensure that
his final moments were swift and free from fear.
But consideration should be made for the fact
that Sandor Katz was my first kill

So I trust the reader will
Understand that while his screams may well have seemed
like conscious objections, they were in reality
simply a request to honour his strength and speed!

With gratitude and tenderness I singed
every single hair from his body,
Gently placed his decapitated head in a stock pot,
boiled off his flesh and made a spread-able head cheese

Because I believe that one can only relate with
another living creature by completely destroying it
I'm sure Sandor's friends and family will appreciate this!

A rationale so moronic it defies belief.
Post-vegetarian I must submit to you-respectfully-
be careful what kind of world you wish for.
Someday it may come knocking on your door.

"Lemme in! LEMME THE F____ IN!
I just wanna 'fully relate.'
I swear I'll do my best to ensure that
your final moments are swift and free from fear!"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2gGwTjkcIs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2gGwTjkcIs

[bluepunk18]

Not to hijack the thread but I heard someone say the funniest thing the other day in a restaurant while dining with a vegetarian companion...

"Salad isn't food...salad is what food eats."

:lol: Brilliant! That reminds me of John Pinettte. "Salad isn't food, salad comes with the food. Salad is a promissory note that food will soon arrive.."

Can't say as I am vegetarian. I do eat veggies, but not exclusively. There are some very tasty Indian dishes that are all vegetarian, though...I think I'm too much a fan of bacon, ham, ect. to give it up.

Those song lyrics remind me of two things. One is Salvador Dali's cookbook, and the other is the Reverend Horton Heat song, Eat Steak. I respect your difference of opinion.

[dwnwrdishvnwrd]

Propagandhi and the Rev. Gotta love em!

[goby]

:lol: Brilliant! That reminds me of John Pinettte. "Salad isn't food, salad comes with the food. Salad is a promissory note that food will soon arrive.."

Can't say as I am vegetarian. I do eat veggies, but not exclusively. There are some very tasty Indian dishes that are all vegetarian, though...I think I'm too much a fan of bacon, ham, ect. to give it up.

Those song lyrics remind me of two things. One is Salvador Dali's cookbook, and the other is the Reverend Horton Heat song, Eat Steak. I respect your difference of opinion.

I have Dali's cookbook at home. I'm about to ebay it. I think they go for quite a bit nowadays.

BTW, I am very serious about being a vegetarian and not eating meat, but I still have a sense of humor. The comment "I believe that's called a treyf-eterian" actually did cause me to LOL. hehehe... I just did it again.

I can't say I like Rev. Horton Heat, but I would KILL A COW for his guitar, a stunning Orange Gretsch. :001_tt2:

Ok, I wouldn't kill a cow, but it is pretty amazing. :laugh:


http://images.miretail.com/products/full/GretschGuitars/632866244279417586.jpg

[endcycle]

One of my 2 daughters became a vegetarian at the age of 10, and still is 2 years later. Having her around has forced me to change the way I cook for the family (I'm a single dad with full custody) and I have to say it's definitely for the better. I've lost weight, have more energy, and in general feel better after dinners with the family. I still eat meat, but not nearly as much.

I'm not sure if a vegetarian diet is just healthier by default than a meat-based one, or if it's because we have to think more about what is prepared... but either way, reducing meat intake seems to have been a good thing in my family.

I'd love to see a vegetarian recipe thread regardless.

[dwnwrdishvnwrd]

I'd love to see a vegetarian recipe thread regardless.


Buh bow!! (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=117092)

[goby]

One of my 2 daughters became a vegetarian at the age of 10, and still is 2 years later. Having her around has forced me to change the way I cook for the family (I'm a single dad with full custody) and I have to say it's definitely for the better. I've lost weight, have more energy, and in general feel better after dinners with the family. I still eat meat, but not nearly as much.

I'm not sure if a vegetarian diet is just healthier by default than a meat-based one, or if it's because we have to think more about what is prepared... but either way, reducing meat intake seems to have been a good thing in my family.

I'd love to see a vegetarian recipe thread regardless.

Although I am a vegetarian, and my 8 year old son has never had meat, I think God/Mother Nature intended us to eat little meat. Saber Tooth Tigers and Woolly Mammoths were hard to catch. The way "poor" people eat in foreign countries, with a little meat, and lots of grains and starches, is the healthiest way to eat.

A vegetarian diet is healthier by default (unless you eat potato chips, donuts, french fries, and ice cream for every meal). And I'm impressed with your daughter! Wow! Making that decision at 10, and sticking with it for two years! You are doing a heck of a job of parenting.

I love not having that horrible "stuffed" feeling after I eat.

Keep up the good work! :thumbup:

[bluepunk18]

I have Dali's cookbook at home. I'm about to ebay it. I think they go for quite a bit nowadays.

I can't say I like Rev. Horton Heat, but I would KILL A COW for his guitar, a stunning Orange Gretsch. :001_tt2:

Ok, I wouldn't kill a cow, but it is pretty amazing. :laugh:


Yeah, I think those cook books, especially the hardcover with the dust jacket would be worth quite a bit nowadays. I totally agree with the guitar envy of the Rev. I wouldn't mind half of Brian Setzer's guitars either. Lucky devil. There is nothing so powerful as that great Gretsch sound! I used to listen to a lot of punk myself, although lately I've become more a fan of rockabilly/pyschobilly. I do have one question for the veggie-fans out there...What do you eat for Thanksgiving dinner? Is there a tofurkey big enough to share with friends and family? or?

[Confuzius]

When I was growing up it would be a kind of rice and tofu meatloaf made with all the standard "turkey seasonings" and packet mix gravy, which for the most part is vegetarian.

More recently though, since it no one really liked that loaf, it was just tradition, we've switched to hot tofu sandwiches. Pretty much a hot chicken sandwich, replace chicken with tofu slices. (Although I eat turkey now).

And stuffing cooked in aluminum foil rather than a turkey butt. (with no sausage or other meat in it)

Luckily my family isn't vegan so we still have green bean casserole with cheese and mashed potatoes with cream cheese - incidentally the best secret ingredient for mashed potatoes ever.

[goby]

Yeah, I think those cook books, especially the hardcover with the dust jacket would be worth quite a bit nowadays. I totally agree with the guitar envy of the Rev. I wouldn't mind half of Brian Setzer's guitars either. Lucky devil. There is nothing so powerful as that great Gretsch sound! I used to listen to a lot of punk myself, although lately I've become more a fan of rockabilly/pyschobilly. I do have one question for the veggie-fans out there...What do you eat for Thanksgiving dinner? Is there a tofurkey big enough to share with friends and family? or?

I love Gretsch guitars, but don't play any music that a Gretsch could play. I have a Gibson Les Paul Custom which I love.

The only psycho-billy I have on my iPod is Tiger Army, who I like.

For Thanksgiving I eat everything except the turkey. The stuffing and gravy is vegetarian. I sometimes have a tofurky, but not usually.

[DougK]

I went ovo-lacto vegetarian for a year a few years ago and I noticed that I felt a lot better on that diet; I couldn't give up dairy and cheese, though, but ate no meat, poultry, or fish. I fell back to my omnivorous ways but my wife and I have seriously considered going back to that. We don't generally cook meat at home anyway, so it won't be that big of a deal. Maybe I'll make it my New Year's resolution this year.

EDIT: When I was eating vegetarian and visited a friend's house, I ate what I felt I could. If there was chicken or beef broth in the vegetable soup, for example, I didn't make an issue of it because that would have been rude. I ate meat at the meal if there wasn't any polite way around it, but I paid the digestive price the next day. For the most part, avoiding meat or meat products really wasn't that hard, I just got lazy.

[bluepunk18]

I love Gretsch guitars, but don't play any music that a Gretsch could play. I have a Gibson Les Paul Custom which I love.

The only psycho-billy I have on my iPod is Tiger Army, who I like.

For Thanksgiving I eat everything except the turkey. The stuffing and gravy is vegetarian. I sometimes have a tofurky, but not usually.

Cool. I love Tiger Army! Sadly, I've only seen them in concert once...

[superbleu]

A vegetarian recipes thread is in order I would think!


+1 id love to contribute to that. i think i eat really well and have been a vegetarian for 8-9 years and started eating fish a couple of years ago.

Did this ever get started?

I need some recipes so I can include more rabbit food (AKA veggies) in my diet.

[nEver-Ready]

I was for 12 years until I had kids. Still only an occasional, largely involuntary carnivore.

[ValidPowerDetector]

"Vegetarian", old Indian word for "bad hunter"

[_JP_]

This carnivore just carries the badge. Seriously, I'm faking it. :whistling:

[diphy]

Guess I am convert to the other world. I was raised vegetarian- lacto vegetarian. Unfortunately fell of the wagon when I hit college. Pretty much can still live of a non meat diet, but probably couldnt go back to 100% vegetables.
A recipe starter as someone suggested would be awesome.

[kingping]

Allright.. I'll chime. Vegetarian for what, twenty years? Jeesh. We raise chickens for our own eggs, and we do cheese and half and half (!). Whole family is this way, but my "I know everything" (but not shaving yet!) thirteen year old has pretty much jumped the veggie boat, at least when we're not looking! That sounds like bad parenting... I'll explain briefly: when he turned 13 we told him he could make his own food choices, with ONE caveat: he had to read John Robbins Diet for a New America completely before we'd buy and cook meat for him. After the read, we'll happily accommodate his dietary desires. I'm a big BBQ'r from way back, and last year helped a neighbor process rabbits at his place, so meat cooking is a no-brainer.
Anyway, nice to see yet another broad expression of how diverse this group of folks is here at B & B!
Now about that vegetarian badge... ;-)

ps. goby: N. Cal: not in my neighborhood by any chance? --and nice sig.

[oddlots]

I've been a vegetarian for about 11 years mainly for humane/ethical reasons and I don't miss the meat.

I wanted to address the dinner party issue brought up earlier: for me, and for most other vegetarians, we will NOT eat meat, broth, gelatin, or other animal products out of convenience or to be polite. The comparison to feeding someone with religious or health restrictions is a good one. I know it's a big pain to fix a separate meal or to make something vegetarian, but as has been mentioned please let us know if you're not planning to make vegetarian food. I'm not saying I'll be pleased with sitting through a dinner I can't eat, but at least I'll be prepared. Keep in mind, though, that making a vegetarian meal doesn't mean lentil salads and patchouli stew. Lots of great food that you probably already eat, like lasagna (with marinara sauce), egg plant parm, certain pizza, tons of curries, and lot of Chinese dishes, are or can be vegetarian.

Whatever you do, please don't hide meat, broth, or something else in a dish with the thought that "it's just a little meat" or "what they don't know won't hurt them." I have family that still tries to pull those cute little routines from time to time and it's exceptionally insulting and dismissive.

Most vegetarians are very accommodating and understanding, all we ask is for the same from those around us.

[DamnFineBob]

I'm not strictly vegetarian, but cut my meat comsumption to only a handful of times each month. I realize now that I only ever ate the typical, meat-heavy American diet because of convention and ready availability. I really don't have much desire for meat, and usually only eat it on the occasions when a suitable vegetarian meal isn't available.

[Lando]

Since my deployment to Iraq, and lovin it

[rtb178]

We don't eat much meat; my wife only likes chicken, which I generally don't care for, so we usually do something else. I must say, by and large, we don't really miss eating meat every day at all. We eat it only rarely at home, instead eating mostly vegetables and fish. Obviously, there's no substitute for a burger, steak, or barbecue. None of these things should be eaten more than once a month, however, so if we want it, we eat out. We tend to eat a Greek-style diet--lots of vegetables, legumes, olives (and olive oil), fish, as well as a bit of bread.