Questions for all the vegetarians

**cheriede** · 07-19-2008, 12:49 PM

I am not vegetarian, but I am now considering it. How long have you been a vegetarian? Was there a particular reason why you became one? What is your biggest obstacle (if you have one)? Thanks.

**The Muse** · 07-19-2008, 02:08 PM

I have been a vegetarian for about 6 years in total and now consider myself a vegetarian for life. My reasons are mainly ethical with a little health thrown in. I feel strongly about factory farming practices and the environmental impact of a meat-based diet, and I believe that vegetarianism is a much healthier lifestyle. I'm often complimented on my figure and told that I look much younger than 33.

I don't really have any obstacles except that I travel internationally a lot for work and it's sometimes hard to find vegetarian meals overseas and once in a while the airline messes up my special meal request. Other than that, it's pretty easy and inexpensive to be a vegetarian in the US.

**Emeraldfire** · 07-19-2008, 07:54 PM

I completely agree, I've been a vegetarian for 4 1/2 years. Mostly because I am totally against factory farming and I feel vegetarian is a much healthier diet. I'm also told that I look much younger than my age and I feel so much better. Probably due to the diet but also because it has actually made me very aware of what I'm eating so it's more balanced then it use to be.

**pip** · 07-19-2008, 10:16 PM

I know that there are different types of vegetarians, and maybe this is question is regarding vegan diets, but how do you work out the protein issue (complete proteins)? Do you take a supplement of vitamin B12?

**Frugal Nurse** · 07-19-2008, 10:33 PM

First to answer Pip.
The protein is derived from the green leafy vegetables and raw nuts and seeds.

Think about a cow (and I don't want you to think I'm a cow) but a natural cow grazes on grass. Not talking about the mass production cows.

Cows are full of protein aren't they? They have meat on them. Yet all they eat is vegetation.

YOU DON'T NEED ANIMAL MEAT FOR PROTEIN.

The SAD overstimates the amount of protein a human should consume in a day. Just so you know.

B12 is lacking in a vegan diet and a multivitamin takes care of that.

K... Vegan since 2000. Raw since 2006.
For health reasons. TIP TOP shape. NEVER sick.
For ethical reasons. No 'being' (animal or human) should die for me to live.
For spiritual reasons. I am one with nature.

**The Muse** · 07-19-2008, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by pip

I know that there are different types of vegetarians, and maybe this is question is regarding vegan diets, but how do you work out the protein issue (complete proteins)? Do you take a supplement of vitamin B12?

I get complete proteins by eating a balanced diet that combines beans with seeds, nuts and grains over the course of the day. I eat a lot of hummus and rice and beans. I also add liquid aminos in some of my cooking.

**pip** · 07-19-2008, 11:06 PM

My dd talks of being vegetarian sometimes, but she doesn't like vegetables, lol. Doesn't like beans, nuts, seeds, or leafy greens, either. She will take a B vitamin, though. She will sometimes drink milk or eat eggs. It's difficult to get much protein in her at all, come to think of it.

**pip** · 07-19-2008, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by The Muse

I get complete proteins by eating a balanced diet that combines beans with seeds, nuts and grains over the course of the day. I eat a lot of hummus and rice and beans. I also add liquid aminos in some of my cooking.

I'll have to do a google search on liquid aminos. Thanks for the reply.

**contessa20** · 07-20-2008, 05:43 AM

I've been an ovo-lacto vegetarian (meaning I occasionally eat small amounts of cheese & eggs) for about 12 yrs. now. When I was a kid I ate meat like crazy. I turned vegetarian the day I went to McDonald's with my parents and unwittingly bit into a completely raw hamburger.
I've experimented with going Raw-Vegan over the past few years, which was GREAT, but I found it to be very, very hard to keep up. At this point I aim for about 75% raw and 100% vegetarian.

Like the other veggies, I believe we have been grossly mislead regarding the amount and types of protein our bodies need and have absolutely no obstacles. For the longest time I had problems when my family would cook on the grill. I felt like there was nothing for me to eat and would resort to salads or a plate of the high-fat side dishes that everyone else was eating. I've since learned to grill portabello mushrooms with a variety of garden veggies or homemade black bean burgers.

Most people believe that being vegetarian means eating an endlessly boring diet of "rabbit food" but that's really not the extent of it. There are some really great vegetarian recipes out there.

**The Muse** · 07-20-2008, 08:55 AM

Most people believe that being vegetarian means eating an endlessly boring diet of "rabbit food" but that's really not the extent of it. There are some really great vegetarian recipes out there.

So true! I look at it as a cooking "genre" like italian, mexican, etc. In order to stick with it over the long haul, you need to learn how to cook. I have my own BBQ and holiday recipes just like everyone else and my friends and family say they love coming to my house for meals because they know they're going to get something they've never had before. Tempeh, seitan and tofu are my beef, pork, and chicken. It's definitely not all rabbit food.

**Frugal Nurse** · 07-20-2008, 09:10 AM

I should probably point out - that I don't eat beans like most people eat them. Cooked.

They are a GREAT source of protein. But I sprout them ~ then eat the sprouts. THAT is even a better source of the freshest protein with it's very own enzymes to break itself down. No enzymes depleted from my body.

Sprouts from wholefoods is a second alternative - but they are already about a week old.. loosing it's viable sustenance.
You can buy the beans/seeds on line and sprout them yourself. SOOOO yummy
Just so you know.

**missyali** · 07-20-2008, 12:53 PM

Here's a question & please don't think I am gross. But when I don't eat meat (I'm am trying to cut it out completely, very hard with my carnivore family) and I fill up on veggies, beans and such, I am a little gassy (okay, A LOT). What do you do for this? TIA

**Frugal Nurse** · 07-20-2008, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by missyali

Here's a question & please don't think I am gross. But when I don't eat meat (I'm am trying to cut it out completely, very hard with my carnivore family) and I fill up on veggies, beans and such, I am a little gassy (okay, A LOT). What do you do for this? TIA

You're so funnY!!
the gas is from the 'cooked' stuff.
You said.. ."when you don't eat meat" and "you're trying to cut it out completely' tells me you are still eating meat.

It is the cooked foods that cause the gas - which is the bacteria that is needed to break down that crap.

It is not the veggies (as people think).

I eat only raw and have little gas because the live food digests itself. Cooked food is no longer alive and needs your digestive tract to digest it. {{{{bloat}}}}<BLOAT>

Beans beans are good for your heart
The more you eat them the more you fart.
The more you fart the better you feel.
Then you're ready for another meal.

**Palooka** · 07-21-2008, 01:43 AM

I have been a strict vegetarian for almost nine years. First things first...vegetarians don't eat fish or any kind of seafood,that is still a living animal. There is like a myth out there that fish is vegetarian. Not true....it has a face and a nervous system.It's still flesh of an animal.

Growing up I was never really a big fan of meat and I even rejected eggs as a child. In my teens I just naturally never ate much meat if I went out to eat or cooked.

Then I started reading on factory farming and watched 'meet your meat' videos and read many books. I seriously cried my eyes out. I was a veggie anyway, but that just put the ethical part of the meaning in my life.

To me it is a very big part of my life and what sets me different from people that know me.

I never try to preach or push my views on others unless they ask questions...

It is a good way to go even more green and save the animals.

If anyone is interested I could list some really good books......

**frooz** · 07-21-2008, 02:14 AM

I've been vegetarian for about 2.5 years. I was also vegetarian when I was a teen for a while.
I am against farming and breeding animals to be eaten. I don't believe the human body is made to digest food either, we don't have the teeth or the intestines for it.
I also used to suffer from IBS, gas, constipation, haemorroids etc and I cut meat and some foods like onion from my diet and it was better. I can now eat the acidic foods again in moderation without suffering and I've reintroduced them slowly.

By the way, the longer you go without eating meat the more it starts to gross you out.