Calling all vegetarians/vegans

[LadyJ]

I've made the decision to become vegetarian at the end of the year. I know that people should eat meat and we're at the top of the food-chain for a reason... but that's not why I'm doing this. The reason I've taken my vow is due to the cruelty, suffering and in-humane nature of commercial and mass-slaughter methods. The only meat I'll eat will be what I, or someone I know has humanely gathered (I enjoy hunting... still get my venison!).

So, are there any hints, recipes or heads-up from vegetarians? I've decided to go through with this at the end of the year to allow myself time to speak with doctors and gather heaps of tasty recipes... any help would be appreciated.

EDIT: Forgot to mention - the following year I will hopefully take up a fully vegan lifestyle.

 

[lynfrog]

if youre serious about this why would you set a date?
the best thing to do is get recipes/ideas and try them as you go. what someone else likes you may not.
we do eat meat but live with a vegetarian and eat a lot of vego food- its no big deal, tofu stirfry, mexican beans in nachos or lentil or chickpea curry.
sure gather as much info as you like....most doctors know little or nothing about diet, or vegetarianism, and i should know as i am one!

 

[wokka]

If you can eat venison that is wild shot,then why not everything else that is killed the same way?Just ask a farmer to line you up with a cow, a sheep, a roo. or a chook.

 

[Sock Puppet]

Vegetarians eat venison??
When you convert to vegan, will you slip in a couple of sneaky Aus Day prawns & a snag?
I would Can't resist a fresh prawn.

 

[slim6y]

You'll need to avoid both beer and wine - both use animal products...

not to mention lollies with gelatine, sour cream, dairy products etc etc...

You can't have double standards - I guess you could milk your own cow...

Chickens... even free range eggs are full of the worst treated chickens on earth (though much better than battery hens)....

How far are you going to take it?

 

[Megzz]

I admire your reasons for refusing to eat certain meat. However, this does not make you vegetarian if you are still eating what you hunt. I only mention this because I've found some real vegetarians and vegans can be offended if you claim to be one when you're not, as it can be difficult to maintain that sort of diet for real. Good luck with it though.

 

[Laghairt]

A fully vegan lifestyle is hard. My wife and I have tried it and you will have to do a lot of research to make sure you are getting enough nutrition. My wife's an olympic athlete so with the amount of training she does we had to be extra careful; however she busts the myth that you need to eat meat to compete at the highest level in sport, Carl Lewis was also a vegan as was Robert Dicostello (spelling) and there are a few NBA players and UFC fighters who are too.

Being Vegan makes it difficult to socialise at restaurants, bars etc but having said that it is extremely healthy and you will feel better for it. Once you get used to it you will never go back to your old ways.

We currently eat fish a couple of times a week and have a very limited dairy intake but still eat vego pizza etc to avoid being too difficult when going out with friends.

I say go for it, don't let other people tell what to do remember you make your own rules so if you are ok with eating Venison you catch yourself then don't let anyone criticize you. The hardest part will be the first month when you won't know what to buy at the supermarket as you're so used to basing your meals around meat & dairy products but do your research and there are plenty of great alternatives. I know we will never go back to eating red meat or chicken as it is unnecessary.

The main reason we decided to try it was that my wife's father has cancer and the links between cancer and animal protein are scary, I had no idea until I started looking into it and then realized how much meat we were eating. Aside from the moral/ethical considerations being vegetarian is better for your health and better for the environment.

 

[slim6y]

Megzz - maybe she'll just call it a humanitarian diet - that would be fair...

But it still will need to exclude so many things that she wouldn't first think of or it will be a real double standard and then it will just be a 'diet' without any of the prefixes associated...

From what I gather it's for animal welfare... So it cuts out almost all animal products (farmed). Unfortunately it does tend to involve so many food types and sources...

It wasn't until my mate (a vegan) eluded me to the fact beer and wine is strained through animal bone!!!

 

[Scleropages]

I haven't eaten meat for years now. If is wasen't for beer I would be vegan , haha

I Don't think you should go to a total vegetarian or vegan diet if you are ok with meat killed humanely. Just do what feels right for you.

I am not sure why you say people "should" eat meat. I don't think you are going to be ok with being a vegetarian with that way of thinking.

I just don't eat meat because I don't want to , you couldent pay me enough to eat ANY meat.

 

[Laghairt]

Humans don't need to eat meat, I'm 201 cm tall and 110kg with quite a muscular build and I went 2 years without eating any meat with no ill effects whatsoever. I train a lot more than most people too and the change in diet didn't affect my endurance or strength. These days i eat a very small piece of fish once or twice a week but could easily do without it.

 

[Funkstaa]

I think as Anouc said the first month is the hardest when you're doing your shopping and unsure on what products to buy...My hubby sais the word vegetarian is swearing lol but for my daughters and myself some of the recipe's we enjoy are...
Felafel's - these are great as you can use them in soo many things or even on they're own with sweet chilli sauce to dip is yum...
Tofu marinated and used in sushi is a fave with my girls,
Lasange but that depends if you're ok with cheese I suppose,
Gnochi with crushed tomato (sort of like spag bol)...
A winner when ever we go to bbq's is to take a dish fill half the base with refried beans(add a little water and heat up in a saucepan first), the other half with salsa, and up to you but cheese is really nice melted ontop with some corn chips (or toasted pita bread cut into chip like pieces) - I'm yet to have meet anyone who hasn't liked it - and it can be filling too so if your stuck at a bbq with not many choices it can keep you tied over until you get home lol...
Tofu fried lacksa, or lentil curries are great too - inser mouthwatering here lol...There's alot of great recipe's I use taste.com.au when ever I'm stuck for something new ... It can be hard at times when you're out but after a while you'll learn where caters well for us (indian places are fail safe) Good luck!

 

[DanTheMan]

Whether you eat the meat or not, it still going to be killed.

 

[Laghairt]

True but that's a very narrow way of looking at things. Less people eating meat means there will be less demand for meat and therefore less meat production. So in the long run, more vegetarians means that fewer animals will be killed.

 

[Tikanderoga]

True but that's a very narrow way of looking at things. Less people eating meat means there will be less demand for meat and therefore less meat production. So in the long run, more vegetarians means that fewer animals will be killed.

I partially agree - the food industry will continue to produce meat, no matter the amount consumed. Some people don't eat meat (or not that much), because they can't afford it. So with the overproduction will cause a drop in price (simple economics) making people who couldn't afford meat before (or not that much), eating more meat - and the circle closes. What you don't eat, somebody else will.
And that's the best case scenario.
Worst case scenario is demonstrated by some (fast) food outlets: this burger is older than x minutes -> goes in the bin. So technically, in the worst case scenario, your meat non-consumption could lead to more food being wasted because of not being eaten.

Nevertheless, I admire your motivation, LadyJ and Anouc, for as I couldn't do it - I need meat on a daily basis.

 

[ubermensch]

Meat is gross :/
Excluding Bacon.
Anyway - why give it a name?
I don't eat meat (excluding bacon) and I only say I'm Vegetarian when I'm eating out and need a different menu.
You obviously just don't support the horrendous butchering of our animals and only want to eat the ones humanely killed - call it that!
"I only eat meat that has died quickly and in little to no pain"

 

[leighroy6]

thought i would share some humour wit this thread, i admire your decision ladyj

 

[Laghairt]

Yes your right it's not quite as simple as I made it out to be but if enough people stopped eating meat demand and supply would both decrease. One person stopping would have virtually no effect.

I partially agree - the food industry will continue to produce meat, no matter the amount consumed. Some people don't eat meat (or not that much), because they can't afford it. So with the overproduction will cause a drop in price (simple economics) making people who couldn't afford meat before (or not that much), eating more meat - and the circle closes. What you don't eat, somebody else will.
And that's the best case scenario.
Worst case scenario is demonstrated by some (fast) food outlets: this burger is older than x minutes -> goes in the bin. So technically, in the worst case scenario, your meat non-consumption could lead to more food being wasted because of not being eaten.

Nevertheless, I admire your motivation, LadyJ and Anouc, for as I couldn't do it - I need meat on a daily basis.

 

[Laghairt]

I can totally relate, people ark right up when you use the term, "vegan" or vegetarian" so I don't describe myself as either, I'm just a healthy eater.

I think it goes back to human nature where if most people don't understand something you're doing, they assume you're crazy.

Meat is gross :/
Excluding Bacon.
Anyway - why give it a name?
I don't eat meat (excluding bacon) and I only say I'm Vegetarian when I'm eating out and need a different menu.
You obviously just don't support the horrendous butchering of our animals and only want to eat the ones humanely killed - call it that!
"I only eat meat that has died quickly and in little to no pain"

 

[ubermensch]

I can totally relate, people ark right up when you use the term, "vegan" or vegetarian" so I don't describe myself as either, I'm just a healthy eater.

I think it goes back to human nature where if most people don't understand something you're doing, they assume you're crazy.

I just hate the taste! Haha. If I can't taste it, feed it to me I don't care.
Yes...like reptile keeping >.> We are always assumed to be crazy

 

[Laghairt]

Exactly

Yes...like reptile keeping >.> We are always assumed to be crazy