If you were not raised vegetarian?!
If you were not raised vegetarian?
What prompted you to change your lifestyle? Also, what are the pro's and con's would you assume? Last, what are some good tips if someone is considering changing there lifestyle habits (i.e) you live in a house with someone you know is not willing to convert. How did you get he/she to respect your wishes? I have been asking a lot of vegetarian questions today; obviosly cause I am somewhat intregued. For the most part answers have been friendly, however there are those few out there.
Thanks everyone!
P.S.. I would probably get my six year old to switch as well.
Answers:
I changed to a vegetarian lifestyle this time last year (I'm 25yrs old). So far, so good. It was strange how it happened. I live with my boyfriend (a meat-eater) and I was getting so sick and tired of meat and potatoes, meat and potatoes that I did some research into veggie recipes and came across a few websites and it hit me-MEAT IS AN ANIMAL. Obvious I know but I have always been so against animal cruelty (I care for children also) but never really thought how does a steak get to my plate. 'Man' is greedy and no-one "polices" how an animal is treated and killed for food. That made me upset just thinking about it. Some animals are treated well and respected but most are not and I decided I was not going to take that chance any more. I don't have to let an animal die for me.
I grew up in a Christian meat-eating family so I was taught God gave us animals for consumption. Some of this may be BUT in the beginning there was no suffering. Later God gave strict rules about how animals should be treated, what they can and cannot be fed and how they should be killed. When I told my parents they agreed with me and although they still eat meat they see my point and eat less meat now.
When I told my boyfriend that I was no longer going to eat meat he was shocked and p!ssed off. I explained to him why and that it's my choice like it is his. I said that I felt very strongly about being a vegetarian and I needed his respect for it. Now he is very good in trying what I eat. If he likes it he likes it, if not fair enough but at least he tries and sees that good tasting, healthy food doesn't need meat. Sometimes I cook for him or if he cooks he will make a batch to go to the freezer like I do with my dinners.
CONs
If you decide to go vegetarian the most annoying thing (before your friends get over the "shock" at your decision) is that you will get some very stupid questions and be put into a pigeon hole as a hypocritical hippie (or something to that effect). What I usually answer with is "do your research. Animals are not always treated right and I am not going to take that risk." Society has made people into thinking that meat is compulsory but it is not. A lot of money is made out of the meat industry and big companies are good at making people believe what they want. (well that's my thought)
Now I feel a lot healthier. I don't have any antibiotics from meat in my system and no longer get as many headaches as before. I eat a wide range of foods and get enough protein, vitamins.
If you go vegetarian I would advise to go at a pace you are comfortably with (less meat, vegetarian, vegan). Do your research. People will tell you that meat has to be in the human diet but there are so wrong and blind. Don't care what they about changing your daughters diet. She will thank you for it. There are some great sites out there that give you information on places to stay away from, recipes, nutrition info, menu plan ideas, etc.
I'll shut up now. I've given you lots of links below that'll keep you busy for awhile. Good luck.
Source(s):
http://www.vrg.org/index.htm
http://www.all-creatures.org/cva/...
http://www.peta.org/
http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/30_da...
http://www.vegcooking.com/index.asp...
http://www.all-creatures.org/cva/vegbene...
i watched super size me. i gave up burgers
I changed my dietary habits due to high hereditary cholesterol
I prepare my own meals not caring what anyone else is eating
its your buisness, but honestly, I personally have never seen anyone who was vegan or vegitarian that actually looked healthy. They all have this sickly look about them to me. It's not just the thinness either, it's their skin and eyes and even hair. Just my opinion
I come from a traditional Spanish household - vegetarianism wasn't even considered. I'm only 16, but I'm at the point where I can make certain decisions on my own and becoming a vegan was something that really intrigued me. It was really hard at first. None of my family members understood why just 'loving' animals wasn't enough for me. They would joke around and kind of laugh at it for a long time.
It was really difficult for me to gain their respect - especially from those who don't live within my home. Basically for 4 months I was the joke of the family. ;) The only advice I'd give to you would be: Respect them first. You know, I lived most of my life eating meat, so I stand in no position to poke fun at their ways once I had changed mine. That was the turning point for them. Once they realized that I wasn't going "chastise" them for what they're doing they shouldn't do it to me. So... yeah.
Awww... my little story is over. Hope it helped. Good luck!
Vegetarianism usually degenerates into the status of a religion, which it obviously has in you. Your poor husband, and kid...and idiots tell me I'm always trying to 'push MY religion' on others. Huh-I guess other (not so-called) religions are pretty "intolerant" of differences (such as eating meat) too!
Colossians 2:16
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
1 Timothy 4:3
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
I think that if you want to become a vegetarian, fine. Go for it! Eat veggies until your skin turns green! :) But you need to allow your child to continue eating meat until they are almost done growing. At least give your kid chicken. A growing child needs a complete nutritional diet. A diet without meat is not a complete nutritional diet.
I think it is great you are thinking about vegetarianism! The more the merrier! :)
I changed my diet because of a wonderful and supportive friend who helped me understand vegetarianism. I would also recommend 'Diet for a New America' by John Robbins. It is extremely influential for people who are interested.
Pros: Living my life according to my ethics - it feels great to believe in something and follow through. Also - I get more than the average number of serving of fruit and veggies per day, I have low blood pressure and cholesterol, and veg*n food tastes amazing!
Cons: For me the most frustrating part is watching so many people with weight issues or medical problems that could be solved or reduced by eating less or no animal products. Animals suffer and people suffer eating a diet of junky meat and cheese products and it is so unnecessary!
As for living with others who are not vegetarians - my husband was not vegetarian for years (he is now vegan though! yay!) respected me and therefore respected my ideas. He wasn't ready to change until he was ready but we always had respectful discussions about the issues.
PS. Others are posting that kids cannot eat a vegetarian diet and be healthy and that is silly. I am sure you would research and experiment with foods for your child and as long as you are providing a variety of food your child will thrive!
the person who said she thinks all vegans/vegetarians look sickly is OUT OF HER MIND. some people are sooooo ignorant when it comes to stuff like this. most vegetarians and vegans i know have a good amount of meat (no pun intended lol) on their bones!
i am not a vegetarian, but i eat fish For one, i don't like meat that much. I'm making the transition to being a full blown veg now (the biggest hurdle for me is sushi, i love it!) because of the unethical treatment of animals in the meat industry these days. Actually i talked about this on your other question. I do not think eating meat is bad at all, i just am disgusted with the industry.
ANYWAYS, i was a vegetarian last year for a few months (i did it mainly for health reasons, but i wasn't very motivated to cook different things) and my family made fun of me. They are so ignorant sometimes. My mom and brother were the worst. My mom can't live without her steak, and my brother is practically permenantely on the Atkins diet (gross!)
So, yeah it felt akward because everyone would look at you weird if you couldn't eat something. 2 of my friends are vegan, and i suppose being around them makes me more aware of certain animal cruelty issues.
But what I realized is that i LOVE eating non meat foods so much more. It satisfies me a lot more than meat, and I have SOOO much more energy. I think there are so many more varieties of healthy, interesting food in a vegetarian diet. vegan..i could never do..but i just feel overall more healthy not eating meat.
There are three main reasons:
1) Health: The stuff that is in meat now is not the stuff that was in there 50 years ago. Factory farmed animals (what most people eat) are constantly given hormones, antibiotics, appetite stimulants, and other courses of drugs given to increase yield and keep them alive under miserable conditions. Traces of these things remain in the meat you eat. Think about the appetite stimulants given to cattle to keep them eating slurry made from newspaper pulp, chicken feathers and leftovers in the feed lot (right before they are killed). Then think about the epidemic of obesity in this country. Think about the hormones given to make cattle mature faster and make chickens have bigger breasts. Then think about how girls are menstruating younger and younger.
2) Compassion: Factory farmed animals are kept under deplorable conditions. Many never see the sun or are able to walk on grass. They are confined to metal crates, stacked in huge sheds, eating and eating, many living in a shower of fecal material from the animals in the crates above them. Because of the horrible and unnatural conditions, chickens peck each other to death. Pigs go insane and turn feral, eating each others tails and ears off if they can reach them.
3) Environmental: The grain used to feed stock animals could end world hunger. Also, 1,000 pigs were never meant to live on an acre of land. When this happens, you get huge "waste lagoons" of waste that are bad for the environment, smell terrible, and contribute to global warming. In the case of floods, these "lagoons" can be fatal, a breeding ground or virulent diseases, many of which become immune to antibiotics over time. Addionally, the unnaturally close quarters the animals live in, and their weakened condition, coupled with the constant dosing of anitbiotics, make factory farms the breeding grounds for disease.
I lived with a partner who ate meat. The compromise was, he didn't bring meat in the house unless it was pre-prepared and packaged. He also ate meat when we went out, saw friends, or when he went out for lunch in the daytime. I also cooked with more meat substitutes than I had used previously. There are some very good products out there. It worked for us.
As to the drawbacks. Well you have to be careful how you tell people. Many meat eaters are on some level guilty about that. When you tell them you don't eat meat, they react with hostility and braggadocio. They react as if you have told them you are better than they are. Most of my friends though are pretty good about it, and respect my decision.
Also, if you are eating at a friend's house, it can be seen as very rude if you don't eat some things. If you have a regular meal it's fine, you can just eat the veggies. But if they make a casserole or a pasta dish with meat in it, that can be tricky. If I'm eating with friends, that's no problem, they know and have something for me to eat, or ask me to bring my own burger for the grill, etc. If you are meeting someone for the first time, it can be tricky. I generally tell my host that I don't eat meat ahead of time, and offer to bring a veggie burger with me. If the host is in a panic, I reassure them that a veggie meal needent be elaborate. It can be as simple as a baked potato and a salad. That usually keeps it in perspective.
I bacame a vegetarian in highschool. (now vegan) I read some information about the mistreatment of animals. I always loved animals and nature, but never made the connection between their lives and my plate. When I finally understood that my diet was causing so much suffering I had to quit.
I still lived with my parents back then, they first thought it was silly, and a phase. But eventually they accepted my decision. Nowadays they ask me for advice about nutrition and cooking tips! That's a big change!
Getting used to a veg diet is easy. First month can be complicated, because I had to constantly check for animal products in food. But you live and you learn. Now I find that so easy.
I'm a vegan now and I looove to cook! (something I thought I'd never say!) I truly *enjoy* discovering new recipes, trying out exciting new meals... baking birthday cake on a non birthday- day... and so on...
Best part is I know myself, and I like the person I am. I have accomplished and learned so much since I became a veg. I'm far from perfect, but I do my best.
"now I look at you in peace, I dont eat you anymore"... thats the best part. Peace of mind.
ps email me if you have more q's. I'm sure everyone here will be glad to help if you are interested to become a vegetarian or just try it out. :)
I was about 44 when I became a vegetarian....my love for animals was the sole reason. The pros are ...a lighter and freer feeling (may sound weird, but it is true)....kind of more in tune with things, I think it really is a healthier way of eating, espescially now since there are so many "hormones", etc connected with livestock, plus, you know I just feel good about nothing dying to feed me. Really, the only con (but not a big one) is that things like potluck suppers, etc, can be tricky, and you may end up not having a variety to choose from.
My husband and sons are meat eaters, they don't really like fruits and vegetables that much, so I usually have ended up making 2 meals, but that is okay. I really have not had any trouble with them not respecting my diet, even before I became a vegetarian, ...I was a HUGE animal lover, so they knew that side of me. When people find out you are a vegetarian, they may kid you, and try to get you to "taste" dishes that are off limits, but really, I think it usually its just good natured. Plus, every time someone asks why, I get to stand up for the animals.......maybe if it makes just one person more aware. Best wishes.....
when I was about eleven, I realized that eating meat is killing innocent animals for no good reason. That's when I changed. No one believed that I would stay one for long, but I have for more than 3 years. The good things about it is that I am helping animals and people know that when I really believe in something, I stick with it. The bad things is that a lot of people make fun of me for it and every single time someone finds out I'm a vegetarian, they ask me a ton of questions about it that I've had to answer to other people before a million times, like What do you eat? Why are you a vegetarian? Would you eat meat for a million dollars? Is your whole family vegetarians? Did you see an animal die and that's why you became one? etc. I'm used to it now and I don't really care...when people make fun of me it even makes me laugh. Plus, I now almost enjoy informing people about vegetarianism.
No one else in my family is a vegetarian, but it's okay. It took a lot of convincing, but they realize that it's my life and my choice. For the first couple months or so, everyone tried talking me out of it. My grandma still tries to every now and then. If someone is considering changing their lifestyle, they should just do it all at once. It's a lot easier and you are less likely to give up. You just have to decide one day and do it. Oh, and if you are going to have your six year old switch as well, I would not suggest making him/her a full vegan until he/she is around twelve years old.
I hope my personal experiences helped a bit. Good luck and you might want to check out this website...you can even order a free vegetarian starter kit and look at delicious recipes: goveg.com. Good luck and God bless!
I was never big on meat, stopped eating fish at three thanks to the little mermaid & cut down a lot once i started to pair up that cow=burger. I did as much research as I could and seven years later, here I am. I would of become a technical vegetarian sooner if I was allowed to/more aware but oh well.
I became a vegetarian after watching the film Faces of Death. I had a lapse after a few years then happened to catch an HBO special called Man VS Animal. It horrified me, and I gave up meat for good. My reasons for being a vegetarian are 100% due to my feelings about animal rights. My husband is not a vegetarian, and is usually pretty receptive to my vegetarian meals at home, but if he wants some meat with his dinner he knows he has to cook it himself. The only hard and fast rule I have is no pork in my house, period. A word of warning if you're thinking about watching the movies I mentioned, or any of the videos on the PETA website...they are incredibly disturbing. My husband saw just the first few seconds of one video and had to leave the room. But sometimes, like for me, it took really seeing it with my own eyes to have an impact. My point I always try to make to people who get defensive when they find out I'm a veg is that if we (humans) are going to use animals, what is wrong with treating them kindly when alive, and then killing them swiftly and painlessly when the time comes??? Everything is done in the name of efficiency and speed and whatever is going to cost the least, and it is always at the expense of the animal. It's not a question of whether we have "dominion" over animals, but like a previous poster said, it's what we choose to do with it. I'm glad you're thinking about giving up meat. I think you will feel a weight lifted off your shoulders when you do. Good luck!
I read a book last week called Skinny *****, which had exerts from another book which I ordered on Amazon.com. The other book called Slaughterhouse is about the inhumane treatment of animals in the meat packing plants, absolutely sad yet very good. Also had a few stories in it about 3-6 year olds who ate meat contaminated with E Coli 157 who have had horrible illnesses come upon them and a 6 year old who had 2 heart attacks and died. I highly reccommend the book unless you have a weak stomach, it's amazing what the USDA says is ok for the cosumers to eat.
i became a veg when i was 11 years old
my mother was very soportive of me, and 2 and a half years later she still is ((i love you mom))
i had always wanted to be a vegetrian but i always had liked meat too much to give it up, and one day i just said what the hell...four days before xmas might i add...anyway i did because i do beleive that animals are equal to us and that we should treat them as we expect to be treated.
my little sister was very annoyed about it at first but shes over it and kids at my school still bug me by stuff like trying to get me to eat meat.
you said you want to get your six year old to change over which is not smart because....yeah i know im not the greatest example....but it really isnt healthy to become a vegetarian under the age of 12, and a vegan under the age of 14