National Vegetarian Week! Have you ever gone veg?

[thomas]

In honor of National Vegetarian Week, here's a question:

Have you ever been a vegetarian, or at least tried for a bit?

What did you like? How did you feel? What did you miss? What did you never go back to?

[DeepBlue]

I think I am gradually progressing towards becoming a vegetarian, or at the very least eating less meat than I have in the past. For me it isn't really about the ethical question of killing an animal for sustenance, which I think is something that has always been a part of nature and always will be. It also isn't for health reasons, since meat can be good for you in moderation. It's is because of the environmental impact of the livestock industry. Methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide and most of the methane in the world is produced by livestock. So my goal is to eat less meat and try to get my meat from local sources.

[ketfoen]

I have a good balance between fish, meats and vegies and greens. I have never tried being a vegan or vegetarian or whatever people like that call themselves these days.

I think having a food balance is better, then just eating one kind of food your entire life, even what all the food diet experts say, you gotta know what is good for you and what you like.

Before you bite my head off, I know vegans don't only eat one kind of food.

If our forefathers kept on eating plants and bark their entire life, our species would have never left the plains and we would still be in the middle of the food chain and never on the top. :P

[landingsight]

I tried to go vegetarian a few years ago, but I think I picked the wrong time - I was eating at the school cafeteria, and frankly there aren't many appetizing vegetarian options.

While vegetarianism appeals to me for health and financial reasons (meat is expensive!), I already have trouble getting enough protein in my diet, and meat is the protein option that is most appealing to me. I don't eat much of it, but I think it's going to stay in my diet until I have enough money and time to buy or make more flavorful alternatives.

[Fiona83]

How in the world did you have troubles getting enough proteins? They are basically everywhere in vegetarian food. I couldn't have a lack of proteins as a vegetarian even if I tried to! lol

[LoupeGarou]

I was vegetarian for about... a year or two, I believe. I was very happy with it, was in good health (though I had to make sure I took extra vitamins) and had plenty of energy. Douchebag ex made me stop because he thought it was stupid... I haven't gone back but I only eat a little meat.

[Naaarf]

Never change your ideals for a boyfriend. If he thinks it's stupid, then that should be his problem, not yours.

[LoupeGarou]

That's why he's my ex ;) I made stupid decisions, but that's a conversation for another topic, not one about vegetarians.

[Levin]

I normally have two meals per day with meat in. I eat less and less red meat because I notice body doesn't like it and my thoughts start to become erratic. I'd never do it for a week but I'd consider having a few less main meals with meat in per week. Trouble is, I wouldn't know what on earth to eat. Last night I had brown rice; lean, fresh turkey; and a stir fry. So if I dropped the turkey, how would I complete the meal in a satisfying and nutritionally balanced way?

Maybe if vegetarians set more realistic goals for us morally base meat eaters, emphasised tasty recipes and imparted the health and environmental benefits in a sensible and balanced way, we may take you more seriously. Instead we're told that meat = pestilence.

Not eating meat for a week? As my ex girlfriend used to say - go fist yourself.

[Anonymous]

I eat mostly vegetarian and have for about a year. Meat only about once a week, but never processed, and I'm now pretty much quitting dairy after learning more about it. Mainly I just don't care for it, and never have my whole life, and it's almost certainly healthier eating less of it when considering the modern stuff for sure. Been researching both paleo and vegetarian diets and vegetarian is just more appealing to me. It just feels way cleaner. And I won't go back to processed meats or fast food for sure.

[samhradh_leannan]

I was a vegetarian for about a year when I was in high school. I did it for ethical reasons. It was a good experience, but I'm happy to be eating meat again. I've found that I get certain deficiencies without meat, plus my perspective has changed and I've realized that it's just part of nature for humans to have some meat in their diet. I don't eat a ton of it though, and I try really hard to buy only sustainably and ethically farmed meats.

[tokioangel95]

I sometimes go Vegan for Lent, When I do I have such bad withdrawal symptoms. I liked trying new foods but vegan food just gets a little boring. I missed my chicken so much. I would never go permanently vegan, but I could be vegetarian I need cheese!

[Levin]

Might not be the meat. 3 months ago I cut out gluten and dairy - all hell broke loose!

[martyfellow]

Yes, I'm a vegetarian. I'm not so strict that if you cook me a meal with meat, I'll refuse it, and it's really impossible ini China to be a strict vegetarian...but at heart I am!

[kereru]

Nope.

My diet is perfect right now with lots if veggies. Fruits, fresh fish, lean beef and chicken.

I don't eat too much meat and I'm not self righteous and pretentious enough give it up entirely.

[Naaarf]

Umm...so you're saying I'm self righteous and pretentious for being a vegetarian? That's very judgmental of you, don't you think?

[Hidden_P]

No. She is saying there are some vegetarians/vegans/whatever eating habit you have, get a sense of moral high ground and try to inflict it on others. The phrase "meat is murder" comes to mind.

It's not a personal dig at you, it's an observation of the 'elite' diet eaters out there.

Eat what you what, don't ram it down someone else.

[kereru]

Well Why do vegetarians need a "week"? It's your personal beliefs, Not mine and no worse or better than mine, we don't have "meat" week to save you from the evils of tofu and convert you to bacon.

[Naaarf]

I don't need a week, I'm vegeterian anyway. And about people trying to convert you, almost every single day people are making fun of me for not eating meat, while I never make fun of them. My experience is that meat eaters are very intolerant towards vegeatrians. But I know there are vegetarians who intolerant too. But you saying thing like "the evils of tofu" (WTF?) sound like you're a little intolerant yourself actually...

[Hidden_P]

link

Scroll down to "index of food holidays by month"

June for instance has steakhouse and seafood! Apparently their are meat holidays we just don't observe them haha

[Blubb]

I've been a vegetarian for almost 10 years now, and I'm not planning to ever change that. Feeling great, not missing anything.

[Hidden_P]

No, never. My dad would murder me if I tried.

And my diet is about 70% meat, I'd end up anorexic if I went veggie!

[Fiona83]

What's wrong with your dead?

And by the way. you know how unhealthy it is to eat that much meat? You shouldn't eat it more than twice a week. And also, what makes you think you'd end up anorexic without meat? Meatless food can be just as fatty... lol

[Fiona83]

*dad

[Hidden_P]

There's nothing 'wrong' with my dad, it's his belief, as I think you probably went vegetarian for the humane reason?

Yeah, but at the same time everything is bad for you. "Too much sunlight is bad for you. Make sure you get enough though!" Half of it is bull to make people panic.

I've always had a high protein diet, and fair play if you wanna be veggie. It's just not for me. Eat what you what, and I don't like many fruit and vegs, I'm happy with my diet how it is.

[Hidden_P]

Also, biologically, we have a carnivores stomach, not a herbivores. We are designed to eat meat, but probably not souly meat. If we were meant to eat only fruit and veg we wouldn't have canine teeth, we would most likely have more stomachs (like cows) - our bodies are designed to take meat in!

[Fiona83]

Lol, it was never my intention to convince you to become a vegetarian...

His diet is your dad's "belief"? lol, now that's something new. But even if he considers it his belief, why would he murder you for having a different one? I'm sure he's not that intolerant.

The human body needs certain things like proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamines, fibres, etc. It doesn't matter to the body if they come from meat, dairy, or from vegetables and fruits. Ask any biologist or nutritionist :)

[Fiona83]

Again, not trying to convince you to anything, so please don't feel offended, ok? :)

[Hidden_P]

No I'm not offended, my dad works in the science industry and is firm against religion, etc etc. I'm not saying I exclusively eat meat; I just have to force myself when it comes to vegetables. I will eat peas, carrots, spinach, sweetcorn, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumber, apple, orange, grapes and that is literally about it. I don't eat enough of it for it to be a varied enough diet. By the way, I love the fact that other veggies (not u) are downvoting people who eat meat when none of us did it to you, hmm?

[Hidden_P]

In my experience, every time a question like this, food, religion, etc, someone writes their opinion and then everybody attacks you because it's not the same as theirs. I'm glad you're not the same, but from the look of it, at least one user answering is campaigning to be veggie of the year and to hell with people who don't agree...

[kereru]

Actually there are many very important oils, fats and protains that you can only get from meats...

[Fiona83]

Trust me, this is the first time every that I didn't receive tons of downvotes for just saying I'm a vegetarian. In real life as well as on the internet I mostly met people who are very intolerant towards vegetarians (always making the same lame jokes). I have no idea what I did wrong to deserve that... lol

[Fiona83]

@kereru: That is not true. You can get any fats, oils, and proteins from planty foods.

[Hidden_P]

I normally get down voted too. The thing that annoys me is if a question is asking something you've done, like this, why down vote? I've never been a veggie, therefore I must be satan? People are intolerant towards everyone for something. I'm not intolerant, I'm skeptical because so many people have this attitude of I'm better than you, and there's nothing which annoys me more. Why can't people just respect someone else is different to them, you know? By the way, I'm sure you did nothing, it was them.

[Hidden_P]

That being said, one thing I don't understand is vegans.. OK you don't wanna eat animals, that's cool. But surely if it doesn't harm the animal it's ok...? Not stopping them, just saying I don't understand it. I met a gluten free, dairy free vegan the other day. Now that's a limited diet.

[Fiona83]

I think we can agree that A LOT of meat eater as well as A LOT of vegetarians are very intolerant towards each other. And I think we all should try not to be one of them.

About vegan diets, I know some vegans too. You'd be surprised how diverse and delicious vegan food can be!

But anyway, our consensus: to each their own! :)

[Fiona83]

I'm vegetarian. Personally I think food with no dead animals in it is way better! :)

[Anonymous]

No

I don't think I'd have enough energy lol