Vegetarian? (sensitive topic?)

[pupper-lover]

Any vegetarians out there?

I believe that what a person eats is their own decision. I have eaten my share of animal products in the past, and I AM NOT JUDGING ANYONE HERE! I KNOW YOU ALL LOVE ANIMALS!

I'm not part of these groups (below), but anyone trying to help (peacefully) advocate the humane treatment of animals is a friend of mine. We've been hearing so much these days on horrible suffering of our animal friends. It nice to know so many people out there care.

The words below are taken from two different websites. They are not mine. I did find a lot of interesting and sad info on these sites. Don't worry, I did not post any horrible pictures or facts. The last paragraph has been edited out of respect for you all.

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HUMANE OUTREACH CAMPAIGN - The United States has one of the strongest animal welfare movements in the world. Thousands of volunteers help local humane societies insure that companion animals like dogs and cats are well-cared for. However, many of these animal advocates are not aware of the severe animal abuse which farm animals suffer.

This is why Vegan Action started a campaign to reach those already concerned about the treatment of animals in our society. They've developed a whole new package of literature, mailings, and presentations to reach humane societies, anti-cruelty societies, and to become a part of humane education classes. With their volunteers, they are reaching groups across the country, helping and encouraging animal advocates to adopt a humane diet.


Another note:

The Animal Welfare Act conveniently and unconscionably excludes livestock in its protection. If you and I were to treat our pets as livestock are treated, we would rightfully be arrested and thrown into jail. (I edited out this last sentence).
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If you are interested in these sites, go to :

http://www.vegan.org/

http://www.all4vegan.net/

[sirocco]

Thank you, Pupper-lover for this post and the links!! I am vegetarian, too!! I'd love to turn vegan, but here in Spain that quite is out of the question for now, it's difficult to find alternative food to milk, eggs, etc! I mean, if I ask in the supermarket, or even in dietetic food shops for tofu (hope that's the right way to spell it ) they wouldn't know what I am talking about!!! Anyway, I'll keep on trying to find some special food shop!

I also went veg when I thought how I'd feel if my cats were treated like livestock!! There is also another reason for being veg, some economists and food experts believe that the huge meat intake in the developed world (which isn't even healthy, there are lots of diseases caused by excessive meat intake) also has an adversal effect on the development of poor countries... but this is another question!! So, just relating to animals, yes, I must admit I only became concerned of eating meat when I had my cats!! I've also had my share of meat before... and NEVER dreamt of telling anyone what they should eat! I truly respect everybody's choice on that!! But it's fine to talk to some veg people from time to time!! Maybe we should ask Karen for a new category to exchange recipes (now, that was just kidding )

Thank you for the links again, I've already had a look at them before - quite a long time before, maybe I should check them again!!

Nita

[zippy-kat]

I'm an on-again, off-again vegetarian. I'm not too keen on pork or fish. And while, I don't particularly care for beef (it upsets my all too picky stomach), every once in awhile I crave it. By far, the meat hardest for me to give up is chicken.

[mugsy]

I'm not a vegetarian, but have considered it since Mike and I got involved in rescue, but I'm with zippy...I'm not sure I could give up chicken.

If anyone is interested, my nephew Chris, who lives in Charlottesville, VA has developed crackers called veggie crackers for vegetarians to substitute for animal crackers. He inadvertantly made them vegan since he forgot to put the egg in one of the batches and it turned out ok!! lol They developed little cutters that look like the different veggies. They're quite cute and pretty good...I took the sample that he sent me to school and my kids even liked them. I'm trying to think of the different varieties....corn, squash, pumpkin (I know it's a type of squash)...hmmm... I'll ask him what other flavors there are. He is marketing them, so if anyone is interested, I'll get you the info. I know he's been really busy for the last few months and hasn't done much with them.

[popcornbird]

No, I'm not a vegetarian. I like chicken and lamb. Fish is okay, but its important for health so we do eat it often. Beef is eaten once in a while in our home, not more than once or twice a month. I respect your idea of not eating animals, but there are certain animals that God created for us to eat. Cat's, dogs, birds, and other pets cannot be treated as livestock because they were not created to be food for humans. Every animal has a purpose of creation and God knows what is best for us and the animals and both of our needs. God hasn't forbade us from eating meat in any of the holy books sent by God, or through any of the prophets. This is my belief, and although I love lambs, goats, chickens, and other farm animals, I know that it is not a sin to consume their meat. It is a sin, however, to kill them if you are not using them for food. I love goats, lambs, etc. and would even like to have them as pets.............(if I had them as pets, no one would be allowed to eat them!) Anyway, hope I didn't offend anyone. This is how I feel.

[Kater]

I'm am newly converted vegan. I'm very happy with my choice! In the most basic sense I do it for the animals, the environment and my own health. I've had a few slip-ups admittedly, but I went from a omnivore to a vegan overnight. Whatever changes I’ve made have been helpful and important even if I regress at times.

[pupper-lover]

Wow! It's interesting to read everyone's responses. I think it is great that we can have such different opinion’s, but feel comfortable sharing. I will definitely steer clear of religion. That is a very personal issue, that most likely will lead to a big nasty argument.

I am a recently converted vegan. I was vegan before, but that darn peer pressure got to me. I’m trying again, this time prepared for the ridicule of those who don’t understand. It has been years since I've eaten beef or pork, intentionally eaten them that is. Pork never tasted good to me, and I never really had lamb. However, I grew up eating steak for any and all special occasions. One day, I thought about the fact that cows, pigs, etc, were mammals and I was disturbed at the idea of eating them. I guess they were just too similar to my beloved pets (and humans). Poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy are still really hard to avoid.

I have done tons of research on nutrition, animal treatment, and environmental concerns. For me, the decision was for both health and ethical reasons. Whenever, I read anything on factory farming, I know I have made the right decision for me. No living creature should ever have to go through the immense pain that is commonplace in factory farming today. It just makes me cry. I miss the old family farms, where livestock were treated with respect. The quest for money always seem to cause so much pain.


It nice to meet a couple of new veg folks. They are few and far between here in Arkansas.

Those veggie crackers sound cute!


Thank you everyone for posting!

[mugsy]

I just remembered another one....carrot!! Sheesh and that's the one we had!! lol

[Gio]

I'm an on-again, off-again vegetarian.

Me too! None in the family are great lovers of meat and if we do have it it's mainly chicken, turkey or fish. When I buy ham for the cats as a treat I sometimes steal a slice. I always try to get free range stuff as opposed to battery raised animals.

I have beef or pork on very rare occasion and mainly when I travel it's almost impossible not to eat meat in some countries, and I have to admit I sometimes enjoy it. There are certain types of meat that I will NEVER eat though.

I could never be a vegan as I could never give up cheese and yogurt.

[AdoreMyDogs]

I am a vegetarian and have been for 8 years I think....maybe 9. I have never been a huge fan of fish, although it was hard to give up shell fish (crab, lobster, shrimp). It was also a bit of a challenge giving up chicken but it got easier as the first months went by. KFC was my favorite chicken, but it was really unhealthy anyway so that made it a little easier to give up (maybe just a little tiny bit easier )

Almost a year ago, I converted Graham to a completely raw diet so I had to buy meat for the first time ever. Although it's more expensive, I only buy the meats from a local Whole Foods Market, which sells only free range, organic meats. I am not against people who eat meat at all, but I am so disgusted and ashamed at the way we treat the food animals. I mean, cutting the beaks off baby chickens? Throwing the male chicks into trash cans and only allowing the baby girl chicks to live? Stringing chicken up by their legs on an assembly line to be slaughtered? Stuffing thousands upon thousands of (very terratorial) chickens into huge cages together, giving them less then 4 inches of room to grow up in? Forcing baby cow calfs and baby lambs to leave mom way too early and putting them in boxes so small that they are unable to stand up...so as to keep their meat tender.

I am honestly not against meat eaters at all. I was lucky to find a man to spend the rest of my life with who was also a vegetarian (and he still is) but the rest of my friends eat meat, and some of them even hunt.

When traveling to Canada a few months ago, we were driving along the country side and we saw huge, rollings fields with just a few animals living in them. With every farm I saw, the animals had a HUGE amount of range to run and play in before they had to be slaughtered. At least they were given dignity and they had a decent life before it was ended. If we in America treated our food animals with such respect then I would not be so unwilling to eat meat. I just can't see myself ever eating meat again. Not with the way the poor animals are tortured before they meet their untimely death It simply breaks my heart.

[Puffin83]

I'm a strict vegan, but I don't mind that Fluff(George) eats meat because it is naturally an instinct of his, but he will only eat it if reduced into his kibble

[slleipnir]

I am not a vegetarian. I don't mean to stirr anything up, but its my opinion to this. I feel that eatting meat is a natural part of life. I don't eat a lot, but enough to get what I need from it. If you look in the wild, animals do it all the time, and thats how god made them. I have nothing against people who wish to eat only veggies, thats how they see it. But who is to say veggys don't feel either? Just because they don't cry out, doesn't neccessarily mean they don't feel pain? Does it? I've been thinking about that a lot, and I don't know..does anyone else know?? Like, if scientists did some sort of experiment or something..I don't mean to make anyone mad..but thats how I feel about it..please don't that anything the wrong way

[Treen]

I don't know about the whole vegetables feeling pain thing. I suppose wheras the pain and suffering of an animal is evident, you don't get much in the way of feedback from fruit and veg!

I'm a vegetarian and my philosophy is just that I don't eat anything I'm not prepared to get to my dinnerplate myself. If eating meat is natural instinct to animals or humans then to me that means they are happy to hunt themselves, not make an industry out of it so people don't have to think about what's involved in getting meat to your plate. I don't want to and couldn't, slaughter and butcher an animal so I don't feel it is natural for me to eat it. Maybe if I were desperately starving and my life depended on eating an animal, or even a person then I would, but as it stands now I have no need or desire to eat it and I like the fact that animals don't have to be killed for my benefit.

I don't feel the way the meat industry is generally run these days puts the welfare of the animals as a major importance - people have already mentioned some of the practises. I'd love to see that change. In the wild, animals that hunt take their prey from its natural habitat but the way we take meat from animals is entirely different and unnecessarily cruel. I know nature can be cruel but to me there's a difference when it's premeditated and commercial.

[slleipnir]

If i had to kill my own meat, I couldn't eat it either because I just couldn't kill an animals. Technically I suppose I am by eatting some, but my not eatting will not save any lifes. I feel that we do not know much about the whole veggys/plants feeling pain, and we do not know for sure, they very well could be feeling pain and they just don't express it like animals. I don't eat a lot of meat, but I do eat enough to get the stuff I need from it.

[aly]

I used to be a vegetarian but when I was diagnosed with diabetes, it was too hard for me to balance the diabetic diet and vegetarian diet.

I just had chicken cordon bleu for lunch and now I feel like throwing up after reading these messages. I think I am going to try the whole vegetarian diabetic thing and see how it goes. Maybe I can start eating so healthy that I wont even need insulin

Thanks for everyone's input. I have a new inspiration.