can i still eat chicken?!


Question: Can i still eat chicken?
i really want to be vegetarian but one of my main foods is chicken (i don't like to eat other foods because you can get free range chicken but you cant trust beef :L) so i was wondering if there is a type of vegetarian that only eats chicken/poultry? because i don't know all the types :)

Answers:

The reason you're getting those answers is the way you worded it. You asked if there was a type of vegetarian that ate chicken. There is not. There is no type of vegetarian that eats animals. The meat-limiting diet that includes chicken is called pollotarianism. It is not a form of vegetarianism. It is a meat-limiting diet, which is different than a meat-eliminating diet. The reason people get upset is that when a person says that they are vegetarian and they are not, they are spreading misinformation and making life tough for not only vegetarians, but also people who are trying to feed them. It can be really upsetting for all involved when someone prepares a special "vegetarian" meal of chicken or fish only to find out that the vegetarian they made it for actually doesn't eat that. In general, people will double-check to make sure, but if they are absolutely sure that vegetarians eat chicken/fish/bacon because the only "vegetarian" they know does, they might honestly not realize. And that is sad. :-(

Also, if you are concerned about animal treatment, I would suggest going for bison. "Free-range" is absolutely meaningless when it comes to chicken. It basically means "cage-free" and has nothing to do with how the birds were treated. In fact, chances are that most of the chickens never went outside in their lives, unless you count the time they were in the truck on the way to the slaughterhouse. Bison, on the other hand, pretty much needs to live outside.


FYI, a crash course in the main vegetarian and meat-limiting diets:
The main meat-limiting diets (aside from Kosher and Halal) are:
Pescetarianism: eats fish but not land animals
Pollotarianism: eats birds but not mammals or seafood
Pescepollotarianism: eats everything except mammals
Flexitarian: no standard definition, basically someone who limits their meat in some way for some reason and (probably) has a consistent rule of some kind. Examples are people who eat vegetarian at home but will eat meat for certain cultural situations (Christmas, eating out, etc), people who will only eat meat that they hunt themselves, people who eat only free-range meat, and people who will eat meat "if everyone else is." This probably also includes people who avoid eating meat itself but will eat other animal ingredients, like gelatin and stock.

The types of meat-eliminating diets are as follows:
Ovo-lacto vegetarian: This is what most people mean when they say "I am vegetarian." They avoid all slaughter products, but will eat eggs and dairy.
Lacto-vegetarian: Same as above, minus the eggs.
Ovo-vegetarian: These eat eggs but not dairy.
Strict/total vegetarian: They avoid eating ALL animal products, and essentially follow a vegan diet.
Vegan: They eat no animal products whatsoever, and eliminate animal products from their lives to the best of their ability. (For example, they don't purchase leather or animal fibers, and they avoid using toiletries with animal ingredients or that have been tested on animals.)
Sub-type: Raw vegan: They eat mostly or entirely uncooked vegan food.
Sub-type: Fruitarian: They eat mostly, or only, "given" foods, so foods that can be eaten without killing the plant. This includes pretty much fruit and seeds.
Sub-type: Breatharian: These people think they can live by photosynthesis. They are incorrect.



I understand where you're coming from, wanting to go veg but still wanting to keep something - in your case chicken. But in all honesty, if you just go for it (an all vegetarian diet) you'll feel so much better about yourself. I was pescetarian for a while. But once I went vegetarian, I never wanted to go back. Granted, it's a personal choice and everyone's different. But this is how I felt about it.

Also, "free range" means absolutely nothing when it comes to the meat industry. It literally means that the animals have "access" to the outdoors. (This could mean a tiny window in which they can look outside). It's not regulated. So thinking that free range chicken is healthier or that the animals are treated better is definitely wrong. It's all the same when it comes to factory farmed meat. In fact, chicken is probably the worst.

If you choose to still eat chicken, I would suggest getting it from family (local) farms, farmer's markets, stores like Whole Foods, etc. Know where it's coming from.

Suggested Documentary:
Food Inc.

Vegetarian for 3 years



what you are asking about is called a "semi vegetarian" but don't put a label on yourself. There are too many ignorant people, not many people have not heard of semi vegetarians and WILL challenge you about it relentlessly. If wanna tell people thats what are you can but more times than not they won't get it or understand why you chose to have that diet.

I am a lacto vegetarian who did her full research properly before converting to vegetarianism.

Was semi vegetarian for 1 year, vegan for 2 years and lacto vegetarian for 6 years



Actually, I read somewhere about "designer vegetarians". Good Grief... it's people who eat mainly fruits and veggies but still have some beef or bird once or twice a week. In reality, Vegetarian means the eating of vegetables.

A pescotarian eats fish and their argument is that fish don't have the same cognitive brain as other mammals. Their reactions to pain and such is more of an autosensory response and not because of "feeling" or "understanding". Now don't hate me for saying this because I have no clue what studies are out there I just read this one!

If you want to eat healthy, go for it. Eating mostly veggie's and fruits all week with an occasional meal of meat is your personal choice. No all vegetarians are so because it has become a moral or ethical issue. I am a vegetarian but only because my body cannot digest meat and I get sick.

So do your thing and if you want to be a "casual or designer vegetarian" (an oxymoron to me) by all means do it. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't!



What is wrong with doing a bit of leg work and look out for organic/free range produce and for you vegetables try eat local as possible. The problem with the human vegetarian diet you have to source a lot of food by import as seasonal produce will not sustain your diet choice!!

People seem to go from the frying pan straight into the fire, it is not hard to find ethically soursed food. We do not need to cave in to industrial farming it is easily avoidable as long as you do not have a soft spot for fast food and on a budget. I am on a budget and I eat more vegetarian than meat till I can afford organic/free range produce because I have strong beliefs toward food BUT if someone bought me food that was not I still would not turn my nose up at it. Due to the fact the animal still died and it would be unethical to put its life to waste.

I would just do some research see what is being produced locally, if you are in the USA why are you posting on the UK section as not all farms are yet industrial but the way things are heading it will be. That is why veg/vegans need to back up organic/free range vegetables, meat and dairy!!



Ok so your not going to be a 'vegetarian' but you're still acting on your beliefs.
Who is to tell you that you're wrong for doing that.

But no. If you want people to call you a 'vegetarian', you cannot eat Chicken...

Why does everything have to have a label and a category? I just think its good that there are people that are making concientious changes and efforts to their lifestyle for the benefit of something else...



Erm, no, obviously...

Quorn do a good fake chicken if you just want to replace it with something else, but if you want to carry on eating it just don't say 'I'm a veggie', say 'I only eat chicken'. Easy. There are also lots of people who say 'I don't eat red meat' for either health or religious reasons, so it's not like people will think you're fussy or anything.



With all the information uncovering the truth about labels, I can't believe anybody still thinks "free-range" equals cruelty-free.
That being said, you can eat whatever you want, but if you eat any animals, you are NOT a vegetarian.



There is no such thing as a semi-vegetarian, but you can just eat chicken and that is a step in the right direction. Why dont you try quorn products, they do fillets, nuggets, burgers and chicken style sandwich slices?



You would be Pollo-vegetarians, they eat poultry but no beef. To understand the classifications of Vegetarians, you can visit: http://www.vegblog.org/archive/2004/10/2…



No, you can't eat chicken and be any kind of vegetarian at all. What do you think chicken is, a fruit?

It's meat.

If you eat chicken , you are not a vegetarian of any kind.



If you're eating chicken or fish, you're NOT a vegetarian, by definition. The only name for your special diet is "the only meat I eat is chicken".



Why don't you just be a person who eats a lot of vegetables and eats chicken too. You don't need to have a label.



There's vegan (no animal products), vegetarian (no meat) or pescatarian (no fish). I have never heard of someone being able to call themselves a vegetarian if they eat chicken.



I don't think it classes you as a vegetarian if you do eat meet at all, but some people i know who are vegetarians do eat chicken :)



if you eat anything that has a face then you cant say that you are a vegetarian.



It's a semi vegetarian, I know cus the only meat I eat is chicken... Mostly cus I don't like anyother kind of meat



Why not eat what YOU are comfortable with, not what a label says you can eat.



not really.. but go ahead, you don't have to follow labels, eat what you want, and adhere to your own beliefs!



There's no word for it. You just don't eat any other kind of meat but chicken. You could call yourself a Poultrytarian.



You can try faux chicken.



freerange



No




The consumer Foods information on foodaq.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007 FoodAQ - Terms of Use - Contact us - Privacy Policy

Food's Q&A Resources