So You'd Like To Become A Vegetarian?

[mahayana]

friends- you have raised a few more issues about vegetarians. I will try to hit them all briefly.

first, I'm holding my beat-up copy of Frances Moore Lappe's "Diet For A Small Planet."(1971, Ballantine Books) You can probably find a copy in your public library. This is one of the original vegan bibles, it explains how to get the eight amino acids that must come from outside our bodies, without eating meat.

This book is subtitled "getting off the top of the food chain", and about half of the book is devoted to complementary protein recipes. A part of the vegan philosophy is that it is wasteful of farm resources to use land to produce grain to feed livestock, then eat the livestock, when we could simply eat the grain.

Please read this book, if you can find it.

Vegans are the "strictest" of vegetarians; they choose to eat no animal products or fish. The argument against eggs is that, if fertilized they are really chickens, if not they are the product of the layer-house, which kills most of the males. Dairy herds also sell off the bulls, and non-productive cows, to the meat industry.
Of course, fishes are a kind of animal.

My oldest son was born in Summertown TN, at "the Farm", the nation's largest vegan community.

Most vegetarians are not vegans, or strict, or perfect, hah!

[mahayana]

Secondly- there is a discussion here about "calling yourself a vegetarian." This is what I was referring to about taking yourself too seriously.

Being a vegetarian is not the same as passing a test, or winning a contest. Not only won't you get a prize, a lot of folks will think you are strange, picky, stupid... Talking about vegetarianism is akin to talking about sex-religion-politics, in terms of peoples' reactions.

So don't be put off, or get defensive. What you eat is your choice. And eating less meat means contributing less to the meat industry.

I guess what I'm saying is you have to think about why you want to be a vegetarian, be true to that. Don't beat yourself up if you "lapse" and eat a pepperoni by accident. And be kind to others who are not on your path.

Another vegetarian diet I followed was "fruitarian." This one rejects killing plants, as well as animals. Basically, you eat fruits and nuts and seeds, and only vegetables such as brussels sprouts , asparagus, squash, tomatoes,etc where the plant is not killed. (this one was even harder to explain to others!)

[babolaypo65]

Originally posted by Shelteez2
And I still stand by my opinion that if you eat any meat you cannot call yourself a vegetarian.

It's like saying you are a law abiding citizen except when you rob banks.

Then I'm a mostly vegetarian.
I've been a vegetarian off and on most of my adult life.
Currently I eat some fish (once a month or less). As mahayana noted some people put fish in a different category because of how they are raised. (note that not even PETA discusses fish the same).
Granted, that has little to do with my decision not to eat meat.

I choose to eat fish at this time.
I usually call myself a vegetarian.
Perhaps my eating fish once in a while is more akin speeding, or not using a turn signal than robbing banks.

I'll also take this time to do my usual plug for Morningstar Farms products (especially the corn dogs), and for Melissa's Soy Taco (the BEST meat substitute imho).

[dukedogsmom]

I think the closest I could get to this is just eating fish and having milk in my cereal. It would be a lot better than what I've been doing, you know?

[wolfsoul]

I talked to my friend who says she a vegetarian...she says she only eats organic meats from a friend's farm where the chickens are well taken care of. And she says fish doesn't count. But the chicken part isn't right, is it?

[2kitties]

I believe in the food chain so I'll keep the meats in my diet. But I love cooking vegetarian when I'm having a dinner party and inviting my close friend who's a vegetarian. She's introduced me to some wonderful dishes and I've come to eat even more vegetables. I suppose I could give up red meat if I had to, but never fish and chicken- and especially not dairy! Yum!

[Maresche]

<raises hand>

One ovo-lacto veggie over here!

[mahayana]

I have really been enjoying this! Thanks for all the thoughts and opinions and questions, everyone.

Kater asked yesterday what kind of vegetarian I am now. A non-threatening and honest and supportive one, I hope! As for what I eat, I do variations on the vegetarian theme. Since starting this thread I have been eating macrobiotic, just brown rice and vegetables. This is not a healthy diet in the long term, and when I tire of it I will change. In the present, I feel light and calm and centered, and connected to the millions of poor people who are eating meals similar to mine.

The vegans would tell someone commited to this diet to please eat a bowl of beans, and take this B-vitamin tablet!

2Kitties- glad you enjoy fixing vegetarian food. It is aesthetically pleasing cuisine, besides tasting good and promoting health.

Not eating meat is no harder than what allergic people do, not eating chocolate, orange juice, peanuts, whatever.

And to repeat my views about "you cannot call yourself a vegetarian" thinking: One who chooses to eat vegetarian most of the time, because they like it, may not be a "real" vegetarian by some standards. But I applaud and include them here.

I know folks who have fixed a gluten roast instead of turkey for Thanksgiving all their adult lives, yet sometimes eat fish.

It doesn't mean you are not a member of your church, because you attend services elsewhere occasionally.

Not that vegetarianism is a religion- or is it?

[wolflady]

Originally posted by babolaypo65
...
I'll also take this time to do my usual plug for Morningstar Farms products (especially the corn dogs), and for Melissa's Soy Taco (the BEST meat substitute imho).

I love Morningstar Farms! I was introduced to it by my friends who are vegetarian because of allergy to meat. I absolutely adore the breakfast sausage patties and the buffalo wings! I haven't tried the corn dogs though, so next time I'm in the store I'll pick some up

[2kitties]

I'm not a vegetarian but I LOVE Morningstar burgers. They're spicy black bean grillers are fantastic. In fact, I had one yesterday.

[babolaypo65]

Originally posted by wolflady
I love Morningstar Farms! I was introduced to it by my friends who are vegetarian because of allergy to meat. I absolutely adore the breakfast sausage patties and the buffalo wings! I haven't tried the corn dogs though, so next time I'm in the store I'll pick some up

I love the sausage and buffalo wings too!
try the corn dogs they are to die for! And pretty low in fat, high in fiber....

[zippy-kat]

I don't like Morningstar burgers. I'm a Boca burger girl... but hey, they're produced right here in my town!

[Maresche]

I also really enjoy the Morningstar products. The spicy black bean burger is my favorite, but I also really like the "chicken" nuggets and veggie dogs. My omni husband prefers their buffalo wings to meat sandwiches.

Another great meat substitute I've found is the sausage Gimme Lean puts out. It tastes just like the real thing, but the texture is a bit different. It smells just like the real thing and goes great with Sunday Morning Pancakes. My girls (3 cats) still come running into the kitchen when I make it up just like they did when we did real sausage.

[Aspen and Misty]

Originally posted by mahayana
Dear A & M- I have a book on my lap called "The Gradual Vegetarian" by Lisa Tracy, Dell Publishing, 1985. It has hundreds of recipes, many of which taste like meat dishes.

There are also some mushrooms which taste just like steak.

I personally see nothing wrong with a "mostly" vegetarian diet. In chinese cooking, one american meat portion suffices for a whole dish, because they cut the chicken, pork or beef into chopstick-size pieces.

Incidently, my wife loves chicken like popcornbird. Something is missing on Sunday if she doesn't get her fried chicken........something from childhood?

Also- if anyone wants to get into objections to vegetarianism here, please feel free to do so! I love to debate.

Thanx. I was sitting at my lunch today and I sat there debating, take the ham off, or eat it like it is and just say "Well hey it's only one meal" Needless to say I picked all the ham out


One thing me and Veegan and Kater have talked about is, I have to admit, that I'm a Cheeseaholic, I love cheese. I could eat it all the time, for every meal, so they told me it was ok to give up everything but cheese, so thats what I'm going to do. Cause I love my cheese, man I need to move to Wisconsin.


I'm a Cheesehead, and proud of it


Ash

[Twisterdog]

Another vegetarian diet I followed was "fruitarian." This one rejects killing plants, as well as animals. Basically, you eat fruits and nuts and seeds, and only vegetables such as brussels sprouts , asparagus, squash, tomatoes,etc where the plant is not killed. (this one was even harder to explain to others!)

I understand that distinction, I think you explained it well. Could you please give me some examples of a plant that is actually killed when it is eaten? I'm having trouble thinking of one.

And ... I bet you are the thinnest person!