Vegetarians

RoyalRaccoon · February 2011

I've not been very active lately, for multiple reasons, but mostly because I'm busy with school, which makes me tired, which then makes me snappy, and the last thing I want to do is be short tempered with anyone here. Anyways, I thought I'd drop in for some advice, since I believe a couple people on here are vegetarians(or at least there used to be some). I've been considering this for awhile now, so I'm going to finally start transitioning into being an ovo-lacto vegetarian. Technically speaking, I'm not far off from being one, meaning I shouldn't have much trouble transitioning. I eat meat, normally a 3oz fillet of fish or some shrimp, about once or twice a month, mostly for the protein. I don't like red meat, poultry is okay, some fish and seafood is great, but overall I've really lost interest in meat. Honestly, I barely even consume dairy products, except when I need to use milk(I drink silk, and cook with it when possible) in a recipe or occasionally I'll buy yogurt, and I only eat eggs(pure whites, or enriched whites), because they are currently the best source of protein for me other than soy products. I'm not doing this for ethical reasons, but I'm extremely attracted to the health benefits, and I figure I might as well become a veggie since I've lost interest in animal products, except for the fact they are cheap and easily obtainable. I'm going to officially consider Monday (February 28th, 2011) my first day as a vegetarian, not that I intend to eat meat over the weekend. Question time! Are you a vegetarian or vegan? If so, how long have you been one? If not, have you ever considering being one? For fun, what's your favorite vegetable? (I currently have a spinach obsession, but I think my all time fav is green beans) So veggies and vegans, how do you get your protein? As I mentioned, I'm going to continue to eat my egg whites and drink silk (I also eat oatmeal, which has 5g of protein per 1/2 cup), but I'm thinking of adding quinoa and tofu(or tempeh) to my diet. I have lentils as well, but I need to find some recipes for them, because they aren't impressive plain. Does anyone know anything about the protein powders? Is whey protein vegetarian friendly? I'm not going to be paranoid about reading and evaluating ingredients(as I said, I'm not doing this for ethical reasons), but is there anything I should skim for in ingredients lists that are derivatives of animals labeled under a confusing name? Are there any notorious brands to be cautious of that sneak "bad" ingredients in? I already know about lard and gelatin(Jello is about the only thing I'm going to truly miss). Any tips? What about books, particularly ones that cover everything and have recipes(I have one already, but I can't recall the author at the moment)?

Beaglepaw · February 2011

Well, first of all, I'm a vegan. A vegan does eat SOME meat, but keeps it to a minimum. If you wonder the minimum, I will eat mash potatoes, green beens, salad, and maybe some chicken or pork. That's an example. I am a vegan for ethical reasons. To help stop slaughterhouses, animal abuse, and I am NOT interested in Peta, however. It's really Puta (People for the UNethical treatment of animals). But anyway, it's for ethical purposes. I would go vegetarian, but I'm young and mom will only let me be vegan, and I have to fight to be that way. Now, I've been a vegan for about 4 months, give or take a month or two , and I officialy WANTED to be a vegetarian first, but mom forced me not to. Then I read about vegans- mom barely puts up with it. So, I have been a vegan ever since I got my beagle puppy, Trigger, pretty much. Favorite veggie? Hmm, that's a hard one. I'm obsessed with broccoli, actually. Salt, cheese put it on that brocolli... oh man. . . mmm. But, I am overly obsessed with ... *drum roll* CORN! White and yelow, though I prefer white. Put mustard on the yellow corn, with maybe some salt, you got the best corn EVER. LOL I know its weird- mustard on corn. Protein? Kidney beans, green beans, any kind of bean gives you protein. Eggs, like you said, the white part, and I think Whey protein is vegetarian friendly. But it tastes HORRIBLE. Absoloutely HORRID. Now, here is animal products: By product meal, chicken by product ( or by product meal ) , poulty by product ( or by product meal) anything down that alley really means chicken or whatever parts. Like heart, feet, beak. Ick. Now, some people say that stuff called CAN MEAT is vegetarian friendly, it's not. Avoid can meat. Avoid SPAM sprays for pans when cooking. There are lots of places which sell vegan and vegetarian cook books. i do not recall having any, but i do know, you can go to PETA and there will be vegan and vegetarian recipies list, look up vegan/vegetarian books and it will list some. Not that I take part or like PETA (I hate it) I just saw some there while doing a report.

Celia_1234321 · February 2011

Are you a vegetarian or vegan? I'm a vegitarian for ethical reasons If so, how long have you been one? almost 5 years

For fun, what's your favorite vegetable? i like green beans too

Potatoes and Squash. i like cooked carrots yum! So veggies and vegans, how do you get your protein? I drink milk and i still eat eggs. I eat beans and peanuts too. those are all good sources of protein. I know tofo and stuff like that is good for you but they taste really yucky. I'm not going to be paranoid about reading and evaluating ingredients(as I said, I'm not doing this for ethical reasons), but is there anything I should skim for in ingredients lists that are derivatives of animals labeled under a confusing name? Are there any notorious brands to be cautious of that sneak "bad" ingredients in? I already know about lard and gelatin(Jello is about the only thing I'm going to truly miss). well, for me unfortunantly i didnt realize jello had animal fat in it for almost a year. But be carful and check for things made with gelatin. Snacks like gummy worms marshmellows and stuff like that is made with gelatin Any tips? What about books, particularly ones that cover everything and have recipes(I have one already, but I can't recall the author at the moment)? I just google recipies all the time. My dad is a good cook. he makes veggie chili and all kinds of good stuff

iluvdogs111 · February 2011

I am not currently a vegetarian, however I used to be, mostly for ethical reasons. I was a vegetarian for about 1-2 years. I am considering becoming a vegetarian again. Mostly for health, and because I don't eat a lot of meat now anyways. The only meat I like is ham, and occasionaly I will have a hot dog or some chicken tenders. I've always been a very picky eater, and cutting meat completly out of my diet could make things easier for me. I don't why, but telling people I'm a vegetarian and I can just avoid all meat....cuz I don't like most of it anyway. Favorite vegetables are carrots, and corn. I get protein by eating eggs and beans, and I drink milk twice day. I was not and will not be a serious vegetarian. I do not mind if something has animal ingredients in it very much, so I can't help you with that question. Tips....um...I ate a lot of pasta, I still do. Only other thing I can say is good luck! I was sometimes tempted by certain meats but I was able to get through it ok.

RoyalRaccoon · February 2011

Beaglepaw- I'm sorry, but you're NOT a vegan if you eat or buy animal derived products. It seems like you've confused yourself with terms somewhere along the line, and maybe that's why your mother has disagreed to let you modify your diet. A vegan, sometimes called a complete vegetarian, eats no animal products whatsoever. No eating flesh, fat, eggs, dairy, honey, and so on. In my opinion, it sounds like you just have a standard diet, or close to one, if you consume chicken, pork, cheese, eggs, and vegetables. Dietary vegan - No Animal products in your diet at all. Ethical vegan - No animal products in your life at all. You can't eat them, wear them, or use them. Vegetarianism - No meat, or animal products derived from the slaughter of animals. Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian - No meat or animal products derived from slaughter of animals, but eggs(ovo) and dairy(lacto) are okay. A vegetarian can eat only eggs, or only dairy if the want as well, which would make them an ovo vegetarian or a lacto vegetarian. Pescetarianism - No red meat, or poultry, but eats fish and seafood. Not a "true" vegetarian. Pollotarians - No red meat, fish, or seafood, but eats poultry. Not a "true" vegetarian. Celia_1234321 - 5 years! Way to go! I'm not to worried about being able to avoid it in the obvious stuff like candies and desserts, since the only desserts I like are homemade baked goods from scratch. I'm just wondering if it ends up in certain products that you wouldn't assume it was in, and thus not check for it. Last night I was was checking my jam that I just bought, because it has a sort of jello consistency, but it uses just pectin, so all is good. iluvdogs111 - That's kind of why I figured I might as well just make the small jump and be a vegetarian. It's much easier to tell people "I'm a vegetarian" and then they stop offering you meat, or expecting you to eat meat. Good luck if you decide to go back to a vegetarian diet!

Celia_1234321 · February 2011

PrinceSushi wrote:

 Celia_1234321 - 5 years! Way to go! I'm not to worried about being able to avoid it in the obvious stuff like candies and desserts, since the only desserts I like are homemade baked goods from scratch. I'm just wondering if it ends up in certain products that you wouldn't assume it was in, and thus not check for it. Last night I was was checking my jam that I just bought, because it has a sort of jello consistency, but it uses just pectin, so all is good. iluvdogs111 - That's kind of why I figured I might as well just make the small jump and be a vegetarian. It's much easier to tell people "I'm a vegetarian" and then they stop offering you meat, or expecting you to eat meat. Good luck if you decide to go back to a vegetarian diet!

Thanks! I didnt think the candy thing would be a big issue but gelatin is in alot of stuff! And to go along with what you told iluvdogs111 people will offer me meat and i'll tell them no thanks i'm a vegitarian and sometime they start to apologize because they think they offended me xD

RoyalRaccoon · February 2011

Yeah, I was going more reading on gelatin. I'm going to have to be careful about fat free/low-fat products, especial yogurts. Apparently they like to add gelatin in them to bulk them up. I'm not to worried though, because I have a great farmer's market/specialty foods store in town that caters to those that want to eat healthy, organic, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and so on. Everything is conveniently labeled, and they carry hard to find products and brands. I love that place so much! The only downside to the place thus far is that they sometimes have limited produce choices due to everything being locally grown, but it forces me to try new things, so it works out.

Howdy, Stranger!

Vegetarians

Comments