Asian vegetarians in Britain, how genuine are you?!
Are you a vegetarian in Britain, of Asian birth, nationality or descent? What does the word mean to you and do you live a fully vegetarian lifestyle?
Answers: I meet lots of Asian people who describe themselves as vegetarian, only to later explain that this means eating halal, or only chicken, or fish, or that when it comes to dairy/chocolate/pizza products & the like, they do not care whether the product is suitable for vegetarians, as if this does not really count.
Are you a vegetarian in Britain, of Asian birth, nationality or descent? What does the word mean to you and do you live a fully vegetarian lifestyle?
I'm a vegetarian British Asian and for me that means not eating anything that was a living creature... so includes all meat and sea-food. I must admit I do eat eggs, which some strict vegetarians think shouldn't count becuase it 'could' have been something living. My experience has been that vegetarianism means different things to different people so whenever cooking for others or ordering in a restuarant - its always best to check what vegetarianism means - regardless of being Asian or not!!
I don't think it matters where they are from...
Any vegetarian could say they don't eat meat when really there are exceptions. Why does it matter anyway?
I don't live in Britain and I'm not Asian. But I do know that vegetarian is one thing. It means to completely avoid chicken, meat, fish, and leather. If you're vegan, then you must also avoid eggs, cheese, and milk.
I'm half Asian but it has nothing to do with me being a vegan. I've been a meat eater my whole life and only made the change just over a year ago. I was Vegetarian for some months before turning vegan and this meant to me that I did not eat any part of a dead animal, didn't eat foods with hidden meat ingredients and didn't use products like leather.
I do have lots of Asian friends... the hindus don't call themselves vegetarian if they don't eat beef but still eat chicken etc. I do think it's a bit strange that they still wear leather because it comes from their sacred cow which they're supposed to worship and respect (hence the no beef rule). The only one of my asian friends who does claim to be vegetarian is Jain so doesn't eat any meat due to her religious beliefs. Although again, I have seen her wear leather. I think a lot of people just prefere obeying a rule rather than thinking of why it was instructed in the first place. They think of the rule 'It's wrong to eat beef or meat' but they don't think why it is and if there is no rule specifically stating 'leather is wrong' then they turn a blind eye to it. Likewise, they don't look into hidden ingredients because if they're unaware of it then it's ok.
Being vague on what "vegetarian" means is not limited to Asians in Britain. Plenty of people are unclear on the concept. But does it really matter? People eat what they eat and describe themselves as they wish. It's not a club or a religion.
They can call themselves anything they want and it's really none of your business..not meaning to sound rude but diet is a personal choice not a community announcement board ...the problem with labeling is that it tends to develop it's own set of "rules" and "standards" by which others are judged and most often stereotyped
If you are talking about Indians, many people in India eat chicken but not red meat.
What are you referring to? Asia is a big continent with many cultures. I realize that the British definition of 'Asian' includes, among others, people from India and Pakistan, but even they don't have similar cuisines at all. Pakistanis are not vegetarians. Some Indians are. It would help if you specified a nationality or ethnicity rather than just 'Asian'.