For people who are vegetarians?!
Answers: i was wondering how hard it was to give up meat?, i know beef is a big no-no but what about fish? i am 13 and i am thinking of becoming a vegetarian, can u give me a list fo foods that u cant eat, that wud be great,i want to do it because i know its healthier nd i honestly feel bad for the animals. oh yeah and i know pork too even though i love bacon, can u eat turkey bacon b/c that alrite.
There are three main types of non-meat eaters.
1. Vegetarian: no meat or fish, but eats dairy
2. Pescetarian no meat, but eats fish and dairy
3. Vegan: none of them
And it wasn't hard to give it up since I care about my health and I've done papers on the treatment of animals in slaughterhouses which made me realize how tortured they are.
Also, you can eat whatever you want. You can only eat some meats if you want. There isn't a rule where once you say you are a vegetarian you 'can't' eat something. It's your personal choice.
Basically to be a vegetarian you have to stop eating anything that you'd get by killing the animal, and yes, fish are animals too.
There are ovo-lacto vegetarians (milk, dairy and no other animal source foods.
lacto-vegetarians (milk, and no other animal source foods.)
and Vegans - No animal source foods.
I grew up eating meat. My family still eats meat, but I chose to become a vegetarian when I was 17. My last meal with meat was Thanksgiving 1990. That first month was difficult.. you still have cravings, but after that I was fine and I felt _so much_ better. There are plenty of great meat substitutes out, if you still want the taste of meat, too. It was a lot harder back then than it is now.
I'm not a vegetarian, but...if you can't eat a cow, why would you be able to eat a pig or a fish? Aren't they animals, too?
Baby steps...
It was pretty easy for me to become a vegetairan because I made small changes every week until I was completely meat free.
First I cut out beef, then pork, then chicken... etc. Pretty soon I wasn't eating any meat at all.
List of foods vegetarians don't eat (including turkey bacon):
Animals... that's about it.
Most people usually take the word vegetarian to mean lacto-ovo vegetarian. That means someone that doesn't eat meat, but will consume milk and eggs.
It was very easy for me to become vegetarian
But i got a lot of cookbooks and learned to cook for myself
What you can not eat: anything that comes from an animal
that includes turkey bacon and fish (fish are animals and vegetarians don't eat animals), can not eat anything with gelatin either so no gummy candy and marshmallows
There are SO many things you can eat out there that don't have anything to do with meat or fish..its even easy to be a vegan. You just have to know what your looking for and be creative.
There are a bunch of recipes here:
http://www.peta2.com/STUFF/s-recipe.asp
Before I became a Vegan I gave up beef because I was trying to keep my weight down and I never even missed it back then. I did eat chicken and fish mostly with pork on rare days. So pork wasn't that hard to get rid of for me. I still miss chicken every now and then but I just animals rights are more important and I can eat so much more without going hungry for something that had to die or be enslaved.
As much as I use to love fish, they are dying out because of overfishing all across the world so as an environmentalist, I just can't see myself eating fish anymore.
You can find so many good non-meat products out there that taste just as great as the real thing and not have to feel as bad. Since you are young there is a chance that your family doesn't want you to do this as mine did however my mother was okay with me cutting back on certain meats and that was just fine with me until I turned 18.
Some very good products to replace dairy & meats:
http://www.vegcooking.com/guide-favs.asp
I didn't have any trouble giving up meat once I had made up my mind to do so. The only thing I had qualms about was grilled mahi-mahi. It is easier and you'll probably have better success if you go slowly. Make a list of your favorite meat dishes then one by one have a last meal with it. I don't know how often you eat meat in a day, but try eliminating one portion per day until you don't have any. Unless you only have one portion per day then limit how much you eat meat by less days of the week until you are eating no meat. If you must you can stretch the time period out longer. There are many good food options that don't have meat. I do highly recommend trying Amy's brand veg*n foods, they are very tasty! Turkey bacon is till meat so if you are to be a vegetarian then you can't eat that.
The can't eat list includes:
Meat (beef, chicken, fish, pork, fowl)
White Cane sugar (it is filtered through bone char)
Foods with ingredients labeled as natural favorings may be animal.
Gelatin
Coloring #FD&C
Lard
Tallow
There are products you'll want to avoid using that are tested on animals or contain animal by products. Please go to caringconsumer.com for a list of those, you'll find a listing of what ingredients are animal and also a list of companies that do and do not test on animals.
Links:
vegetarianteen.com
veggielife.com
vegweb.com
vrg.org
peta2.org
If it has a face, don't eat it.
It was really easy for me cuz I always hated meat but my parents made me eat it.
But its hard keeping it a secret from them..
chose to become a vegetarian at the age of four, and have been ever since. I just wrote you a really long and personal answer, but now I lost it because my computer restarted! Anyway, I got this off of a wonderful website. Read this all over, it tells you basically everything you need to know. Don't hesitate to email me if you have any questions. Hope this helps!
Vegetarian and Semi-Vegetarian Diets
Different people follow different forms of vegetarianism. A true vegetarian eats no meat at all, including chicken and fish. A lacto-ovo vegetarian eats dairy products and eggs, but excludes meat, fish, and poultry. It follows, then, that a lacto vegetarian eats dairy products but not eggs, whereas an ovo vegetarian eats eggs but not dairy products.
A stricter form of vegetarianism is veganism (pronounced: vee-gun-izm). Not only are eggs and dairy products excluded from a vegan diet, so are animal products like honey and gelatin.Check the Label Sidebar
Some macrobiotic diets fall into the vegan category. Macrobiotic diets restrict not only animal products but also refined and processed foods, foods with preservatives, and foods that contain caffeine or other stimulants.
Following a macrobiotic or vegan diet could lead to nutritional deficiencies in some people. Teens need to be sure their diets include enough nutrients to fuel growth, particularly protein and calcium. If you're interested in following a vegan or macrobiotic diet it's a good idea to talk to a registered dietitian. He or she can help you design meal plans that include adequate vitamins and minerals.
Some people consider themselves semi-vegetarians and eat fish and maybe a small amount of poultry as part of a diet that's primarily made up of vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, seeds, and nuts. A pesci-vegetarian eats fish, but not poultry.
Are These Diets OK for Teens?
In the past, choosing not to eat meat or animal-based foods was considered unusual in the United States. Times and attitudes have changed dramatically, however. Vegetarians are still a minority in the United States, but a large and growing one. The American Dietetic Association (ADA) has officially endorsed vegetarianism, stating "appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, are nutritionally adequate, and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases."
So what does this mean for you? If you're already a vegetarian, or are thinking of becoming one, it means that you're in good company. There are more choices in the supermarket than ever before, and an increasing number of restaurants and schools are providing vegetarian options — way beyond a basic peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
If you're choosing a vegetarian diet, the most important thing you can do is to educate yourself. That's why the ADA says that a vegetarian diet needs to be "appropriately planned." Simply dropping certain foods from your diet isn't the way to go if you're interested in maintaining good health, a high energy level, and strong muscles and bones.
Vegetarians have to be careful to include the following key nutrients that may be lacking in a vegetarian diet:
* iron
* calcium
* protein
* vitamin D
* vitamin B12
* zinc
If meat, fish, dairy products, and/or eggs are not going to be part of your diet, you'll need to know how to get enough of these nutrients, or you may need to take a daily multiple vitamin and mineral supplement.
Here are some suggestions:
Iron
Sea vegetables like nori, wakame, and dulse are very high in iron. Less exotic but still good options are iron-fortified breakfast cereals, legumes (chickpeas, lentils, and baked beans), soybeans and tofu, dried fruit (raisins and figs), pumpkin seeds, broccoli, and blackstrap molasses. Eating these foods along with a food high in vitamin C (citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, and broccoli) will help you to absorb the iron better.
Girls need to be particularly concerned about getting adequate iron because some iron is lost during menstruation. Some girls who are vegetarians may not get adequate iron from vegetable sources and they may require a daily supplement. Check with your doctor about your own iron needs.
Calcium
Milk and yogurt are tops if you're eating dairy products — although vegetarians will want to look for yogurt that does not contain the meat by-product gelatin. Tofu, fortified soy milk, calcium-fortified orange juice, green leafy vegetables, and dried figs are also excellent ways for vegetarians (and vegans) to get calcium. Remember that as a teen you're building up your bones for the rest of your life.
Because women have a greater risk for getting osteoporosis (weak bones) as adults, it's particularly important for girls to make sure they get enough calcium. Again, taking a supplement may be necessary to ensure this.
Vitamin D
People need vitamin D to get calcium into our bones. Cow's milk and sunshine are tops on the list for this vitamin. Vegans can try fortified soy milk and fortified breakfast cereals, but they may need a supplement that includes vitamin D, especially during the winter months. Everyone should have some exposure to the sun to help the body produce vitamin D.
Protein
Some people believe that vegetarians must combine incomplete plant proteins in one meal — like red beans and rice — to make the type of complete proteins found in meat. We now know that it's not that complicated. Current recommendations are that vegetarians eat a wide variety of foods during the course of a day. Eggs and dairy products are good sources of protein, but also try nuts, peanut butter, tofu, beans, seeds, soy milk, grains, cereals, and vegetables to get all the protein your body needs.
Vitamin B12
B12 is an essential vitamin found only in animal products, including eggs and dairy. Fortified soy milk and fortified breakfast cereals also have this important vitamin. It's hard to get enough vitamin B12 in your diet if you are vegan, so a supplement may be needed.
Zinc
If you're not eating dairy foods, make sure fortified cereals, dried beans, nuts, and soy products like tofu and tempeh are part of your diet so you can meet your daily requirement for this important mineral.
In addition to vitamins and minerals, vegetarians need to keep an eye on their total intake of calories and fat. Vegetarian diets tend to be high in fiber and low in fat and calories. That may be good for people who need to lose weight or lower their cholesterol but it can be a problem for kids and teens who are still growing and people who are already at a healthy weight.
Diets that are high in fiber tend to be more filling, and as a result strict vegetarians may feel full before they've eaten enough calories to keep their bodies healthy and strong. It's a good idea to let your doctor know that you're a vegetarian so that he or she can keep on eye on your growth and make sure you're still getting adequate amounts of calories and fat.
Getting Some Guidance
If you're thinking about becoming a vegetarian, consider making an appointment to talk with a registered dietitian who can go over lists of foods that would give you the nutrients you need. A dietitian can discuss ways to prevent conditions such as iron-deficiency anemia that you might be at an increased risk for if you stop eating meat.
Also, remember to take a daily standard multivitamin, just in case you miss getting enough vitamins or minerals that day.
Tips for Dining Out
Eating at restaurants can be difficult for vegetarians sometimes, but if you do eat fish, you can usually find something suitable on the menu. If not, opt for salad and an appetizer or two. Even fast-food places sometimes have vegetarian choices, such as bean tacos and burritos, veggie burgers, and soy cheese pizza.
Vegetarians can opt for pasta, along with plenty of vegetables, grains, and fruits. You may also find that the veggie burgers, hot dogs, and chicken substitutes available in your local grocery store taste very much like the real thing. Try the ground meat substitute as a stand-in for beef in foods like tacos and spaghetti sauce.
Regardless of whether you choose a vegetarian way of life, it's always a healthy idea to eat a wide variety of foods and try out new foods when you can