Trying to be veggie

I became veggie 23 years ago. I naturally went off beefburgers after a disgusting experience in a well known fast food restaurant. I later decided to pack in meat completely as I found out more and more about the treatment of factory farmed animals, the drugs in their feeds, the water being added etc.

When I first became vegetarian, there was no internet, almost no veggie burgers, no quorn and rarely a veggie option in a restaurant. So, I read books on it, joined the Vegetarian Sociey so I could get their tips and recipes and learned how to have a healthy vegetarian diet with as little hassle as possible. I found that a lot of restaurants, particularly foreign ones (Thai in particular), were more than happy to adapt a standard menu item to veggie. Although it's rare that I eat processed veggie food, there is a lot available now, making it much easier. Most restaurants now offer veggie alternatives, in fact there's a pub near me where the meals are completely vegan.

Although it's easier to buy meat that is locally produced and responsibly farmed compared to when I first became vegetarian, I couldn't actually imagine eating meat ever again. My wife eats some meat and fish and I'm fine cooking it, although I was a bit nervous of poisoning her at first as I had barely cooked any fresh meat in my life but I'm ok with that now. That said, she only buys it from a highly reputable butcher where we live, not supermarket muck.

Have a look at the vegetarian Society website, buy some recipe books and books on nutrition for vegetarians (in fact The Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford recommends a vegetarian diet in places).

I was a veggie for over a year and was feeling okay. But was asked once why I was skinny and found that although I was eating meats was finding other ways to put on weight.

I or we (as a family of two adults 3 kids) have only been veggie for 6 years this year, I (mum) turned Vegan this year, I felt this was next step and I feel much better for it, even though the veggie diet for me was healthy the vegan diet has helped me mentally as I was uncomforable and not happy eating dairy which I reduced slowly, the last dairy to give up was eggs and although I've tried removing dairy many times over the 6 years the eggs were always my downfall - this time has been the right time and i've done it with ease!
I think if you are finding it difficult you need to take it gradually and replace each item with a subsitute - you can still have your cooked breakfast, there's veggie bacon and sausages, that's really easy!
I would never go back to eating all that rubbish (meat etc), when you've watched all the videos on animal cruelty or slaughterhouses it makes it really personal - well it did for me anway, it's heartbreaking and beyond devastation and makes me feel ashamed to be part of the human race....humans are quite evil as a race of people!

Good luck, what ever you can cut out is always an accomplistment
Susan xx

I'm a human - am I evil, then? I don't eat animal products, but do own leather shoes and, I think, in the dim recesses of my underwear drawer, have a pair of silk boxers!

Such broad statements as yours, Susan, are never helpful and sometimes quite destructive. You have a view and entitled to it you are. To claim that everyone who holds a different view is evil is what causes disharmony and wars.

And may I gently point out that the word dairy relates to milk products only. Eggs, although found in the dairy aisle in many supermarkets, are not dairy. They are eggs.

I do apologise, let me just rephrase that, the majority of humans are evil...is that any better? There is some good, but not enough - Lets face it the majority are bad or evil or ignorant, which ever way you want to put it that makes you feel any better - look what we have done to our animals and our planet, we are all guilty in some respect!

I completely understand you being defensive, I put it too bluntly and some people don't like that, I'm not usually a blunt person unless I'm trying to make a point so that people can try to understand and try to make changes in thier life, people need educating, too much classical conditioning going on, things need to change - but whatever changes one person can make is a triumph in my books! I have alot of passion for what I believe in, I love the world we live in, I love nature and I adore animals no matter what kind!

and I do know that eggs are not classed as dairy, but there is alot of cruelty involved in the egg industry, that's why vegans dont touch them!

Hope my response has made you happier!
😉 Susan

I do apologise, let me just rephrase that, the majority of humans are evil...is that any better? There is some good, but not enough - Lets face it the majority are bad or evil or ignorant, which ever way you want to put it that makes you feel any better - look what we have done to our animals and our planet, we are all guilty in some respect!

I completely understand you being defensive, I put it too bluntly and some people don't like that, I'm not usually a blunt person unless I'm trying to make a point so that people can try to understand and try to make changes in thier life, people need educating, too much classical conditioning going on, things need to change - but whatever changes one person can make is a triumph in my books! I have alot of passion for what I believe in, I love the world we live in, I love nature and I adore animals no matter what kind!

and I do know that eggs are not classed as dairy, but there is alot of cruelty involved in the egg industry, that's why vegans dont touch them!

Hope my response has made you happier!
😉 Susan

Hi again, Susan.

I am not unhappy or defensive - just making my views known. 🙂

I love your enthusiasm and passion and more of the same would bring nothing but good into the world, which, as you so rightly say, we are treating with less care and respect than we should. And if, as you say, we can help just one person to be more thoughtful and compassionate, then we have made a difference.

I still cannot agree with you, however, when you call anyone bad, evil or ignorant. There are ways to bring about change without violence - and judgementalism and name-calling is violent.

If we treated everyone, even those who oppose our views and seem to us to be bad or evil or ignorant, with compassion, how much more change for the good might we effect, I wonder?

I understand your comment about eggs - I'm just such a nit-picker!;)

Have a magical day!

Hi

At the risk of going off track a bit, I'm not sure I like to believe that the majority of people are bad or evil. Maybe you're right about lots of classical conditioning going on, but surely that makes people conditioned (and possibly ignorant), rather than plain evil. I believe that we only label people as evil when we don't actually know them. Thats easy, but when you get to know them, you actually find out if thats true or not and if the majority of people are indeed evil, that must mean that the majority of people I know are evil and I don't find this to be the case. Are the majority of people you know evil?
Don't get me wrong; I aplaud those who choose a vegetarian or vegan diet, and well done Severina for trying, but I don't think it can be used as a moral barometer or all veggies would be good and I know of a famous one that caused a world war, and I certainly don't think the strategy of making a point by saying, hey there, you're evil cos you eat meat necessarily works; it just makes people defensive or at best guilty and what kind of a motivation is that? Far better, I think, to educate as you say, and then leave people to their own decisions.

Love
Crystal elf

Hi Crstal Elf,
The argument about whether Hitler was a veggie or not has been raging for some time and it will probably contine to do so. Here's one side of the argument -

but does that matter?

Severina,
I always hated the taste and texture of meat from being a child but when I complained my mother told me "while you live in this house you'll eat what you're given ! " So when I went away to uni it was a chance to eat what I wanted and I gave up the meat right away!. I still ate fish, eggs and diary products and didn't give the fish up until about 20 years later. This was when a light came on and I realised that fish were animals and capable of feeling pain. Then, another 10 years later I ditched the cheese/dairy. Now I am working on the eggs.

I know of some people who went vegan practically overnight, which may have suited them but not those who are creatures of habit like me.

I would agree with Susand, whatever meat/product you cut out is an accomplishment.

Good luck !

Hi Podorama

Of course, you're right. It doesn't matter whether Hitler was veggie or not and for that matter, I don't know for sure if he really was or not. I was just trying to make the point that being a vegetarian (or not) does not necessaily make you good, evil or anything, other than someone who chooses a certain diet for certain reasons. Your mother insisting on you eating meat was in a way a form of conditioning which you admirably did not give in to. But did you become less evil (more good?) when you became veggie? Did you get 'gooder' when you gave up dairy and will you be 'goodest' when you stop eating eggs:D

Hi CE,

But did you become less evil (more good?) when you became veggie? Did you get 'gooder' when you gave up dairy and will you be 'goodest' when you stop eating eggs:D

I suppose it all depends on your definition of "good" but using it in a general way the answer of course is "no".
However, in going veggie and doing my bit for the animals, the planet, and the environment must give me some Brownie points somewhere, even it it doesn't make me "more good" 😀

Moving off Hitler

I really have worked to be vegetarian over the years and do better somedays than others. I have a friend who doesn't buy meat at the grocery, but may eat it out at at a friends. The cooking of it bothers her. Of course, when you buy a steak at the grocery, you can evade the question of where it comes from because it doens't look like a cow at that point. My daughter won't eat chicken ":one the bone" because it looks too much like a chicken, but will eat bonesless chicken breast or ground chicken.

I think everyone tries to do their best and I know I'm a "work in prograss"

Lou Ann

Back to the OP. :p I became completely vegetarian for a couple of years, but I didn't feel healthy or energetic so I reintroduced fish and eggs. This helped a bit. Only whne I found the books on The Blood Type Diet did I learn what I should or shouldn't be eating. I'm O+ and we are the original huner gatherers, and should therefore eat meat.

I started back on meat but I make sure to have veggie meals a few times per week. I can suggest you eitehr pick up the book by Peter D'Adamo or check out their web site. I have the food guide which I picked up around 8 or 9 years go and I use it all the time.

[url]Eat Right For Your Type :: The Official Blood Type Diet ® Site[/url]

Hello Severena,

I have been a veggie for thirty years, during that time alternatives have come on in leaps and bounds.
I was never that keen on meat and the whole process never really sat comfortably with me.

But the rest of my family are meat eaters, I don't mind people eating meat, so long as they don't mind me being a veggie. 🙂

I do take vitamins for various reasons (but not for this thread)

It's a life choice and do what you feel comfortable with, lots of recipes online.

Best wishes.

Hey there I am new here and it was something I read the other day about how animals are treated in this country that has made me turn vegetarian although I had been considering it for a while before that. I always thought animals were treated humanely in this country for meat 😡 I dunno... I could cry at the thought. Yes, I know it will probably still go on but I will not eat something that has been treated in such a way just for me to stuff into my face. It's wrong! I really think vegetarian food is tastier and better for you. I am hoping to see a few llbs go in the coming weeks although I don't really have much weight to lose - about 10lb to get to 8st.. first and foremost for me is I care about animals and how they are treated.

Hi Severena,

I consider myself a vegetarian (even though I do eat fish but for easiness sake I say I'm vegetarian). I stopped eating red and white meats in my early teens. I was never that keen on the taste or texture of meat so removing it from my diet was very easy indeed. Even so I did it gradually, removing red meat first and then a year later white meat. As I said I do still eat fish and I eat dairy and eggs.

I have absolutely no problem with people eating whatever they want and I sometimes feel that it is peer pressure within certain area's of society that makes people feel guilty about eating meat.

If you enjoy meat, why not continue to eat meat? Like has already been suggested change where you purchase your meat from. Consider the welfare of that animal and be sure that that animal had the best possible life before it was taken. Give thanks to that animal. Changing where you purchase your meat from will naturally reduce the amount of meat that you consume because you will want to be sure that the animal whose flesh you are going to consume enjoyed its life and was killed humanely and calmly by someone who loved that animal and had respect for that animal.

If you decide to go forward with becoming vegetarian, I wish you lots of luck and that you enjoy finding new and unusual recipes to replace those meat dishes. There are good meat substitutes around now, and some I've stopped buying because they have changed their recipes and become too "meat-ish" which I don't like.

I do apologise, let me just rephrase that, the majority of humans are evil...is that any better? There is some good, but not enough - Lets face it the majority are bad or evil or ignorant, which ever way you want to put it that makes you feel any better - look what we have done to our animals and our planet, we are all guilty in some respect!

I completely understand you being defensive, I put it too bluntly and some people don't like that, I'm not usually a blunt person unless I'm trying to make a point so that people can try to understand and try to make changes in thier life, people need educating, too much classical conditioning going on, things need to change - but whatever changes one person can make is a triumph in my books! I have alot of passion for what I believe in, I love the world we live in, I love nature and I adore animals no matter what kind!

and I do know that eggs are not classed as dairy, but there is alot of cruelty involved in the egg industry, that's why vegans dont touch them!

Hope my response has made you happier!
😉 Susan

I've just been watching a video on the egg industry. The male chicks, as they don't lay eggs of course, at the tender age of a day or two, either get gassed or chucked alive into a mincing machine...
Millions die like that every year.

Good on you, Susan, for standing up for what you believe in. Respect to you!

This is the site you need, Helen. Lots of helpful information on here. Many local groups too. There's bound to be one in your area.