Flirting with Vegetarianism

**MomsaBasketCase** · 03-16-2010, 11:06 PM

This past year, I have stopped eating red meat. It's bothered me alot about the animals being killed so I can eat...I understand the need but it's not for me anymore.

In the past few months, I have been flirting with the idea of not eating chicken and turkey. I am not a big fan of dairy but I like my yogurt and cottage cheese.

It's hurting my heart more and more these days when I see what happens to these birds/animals. I listen to friends tell me about their "pet" chickens and their antics. I gotta say chickens are funny, funny creatures!

Maybe it's that I am getting older. My body isn't behaving like it did 20 years ago when I could eat anything I wanted and not have consequences. I feel better when I don't eat wheat or dairy and I lose weight quickly.

Having said all of this, my family is NOT even close to becoming vegetarian. They are meat and potatoes all the way. I don't mind cooking for them. I make myself something else to eat half the time. As long as they are happy, I don't care. It's more for me; changing my diet.

I bought the book The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone. I bought it online so I am waiting a couple of days for delivery. Yes, I saw her on Oprah and watched the film "Food, Inc."

I think I am being selfish and it's okay. This is for my health; mind and body. What do you think?

**Palooka** · 03-16-2010, 11:39 PM

*hug* I think I love you!! I've been a vegetarian for 10 years now and I love the lifestyle. I've heard great reviews from Alicia's book and plus she is just so darn cool.

Watch things like Meet your Meat videos. I've posted several things here about it and maybe you could do a search on old post. Factory farming is horrid!!!!!!

I'm the only one in my family, so I do sometimes cook meat for dh and the kids, but we do several vegs meals at home. This is one thing I feel bad about, but it's my lifestyle, not theirs. I'm pretty used to eating and cooking different meals in this house.

First book I recommend to read is The China Study and check out vegsource for tons of great info. I've got several books and cookbooks to recommend if you want them later.

I could be long winded but will stop here. I know there is several posters here that are vegans/vegetarians that will chime in.

**Saule** · 03-16-2010, 11:42 PM

You should be true to yourself. If you find yourself ethically drawn to vegetarianism at this time, I think it's a good thing to explore that.

There was a cookbook I borrowed from the library in the last year that is called something like the Flexitarian Diet. What is great about this book is that is has recipes that you can easily modify to make them vegetarian for you, carnivore for the family. You just switch out the protein at the appropriate point for half the recipe. This may help you from feeling like a short order cook.

That being said, I eat a lot of vegetarian meals, however, by that I do mean that I include dairy, eggs and seafood. There are a lot of flavors of vegetarian. Anyway, we really enjoy those meals. We happen to keep Lent, so they are naturals for those days, but really, I eat this way all year round.

I'll try to find the exact name of the book, see if your library has it or can get it for you through interlibrary loan.

**Palooka** · 03-16-2010, 11:46 PM

If you eat seafood than that is a Pescitarian not Vegetarian.

Just saying....

**Saule** · 03-16-2010, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by Palooka

If you eat seafood than that is a Pescitarian not Vegetarian.

Just saying....

No argument from me, this is really not my area. I do know there are people who consider themselves vegetarians if they eat seafood, not for me to say one way or the other. In any event, I think everyone can benefit from at least reducing animal proteins in their life to some extent. I hope the books I mentioned help the practical aspects of this.

**Palooka** · 03-17-2010, 12:12 AM

Originally Posted by Saule

No argument from me, this is really not my area. I do know there are people who consider themselves vegetarians if they eat seafood, not for me to say one way or the other. In any event, I think everyone can benefit from at least reducing animal proteins in their life to some extent. I hope the books I mentioned help the practical aspects of this.

People who eat Seafood are not Vegetarian, even if they like to use the lable. That causes a ton of confusion of the true definition. Yes, I agree decreasing any amount of meat is a step in the right direction!

The US eats way too much protein as it is. The book sounds interesting for the OP to help her out.

caribooliving · 03-17-2010, 12:27 AM

Well, good for you for going vegetarian for ethical reasons and for your health. That's exactly why I went vegetarian was for the animals. I've been involved in animal rescue for over 25 years and so the more I learned about how the animals were treated that I was eating it was an easy switch. I'm not a vegan yet as I still do eat eggs, but they are only bought from local people that I know raise them on organic grains, they're free range and ALL the chicks are kept and so of course some have to be separated. They are coming up with great new things every day to make the switch easier. If I have to feed someone else who is not vegetarian I will of course cook them meat but I buy good organic meats, ethically raised and then always try throwing in some dish for them to try. I know there will always be people who eat meat and I'm not here to dispute that. I just wish people would demand that these poor animals be treated humanely until their time comes. I don't think that's too much to ask.

**akolb** · 03-17-2010, 01:55 AM

Do it!! It's ridiculous that Americans don't question what they put into their bodies more often!

Read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbra Kingsolver. Not about vegetarianism, but more slow food. I am a pescatarian who occasionally will eat meat if I know exactly where it came from. I have more of an issue with the process that meat goes through, the added chemicals and the low industry standards etc.

Many question why I still eat seafood if I have a problem with the food industry. Easy, I'm from south Louisiana, super fresh seafood is about the easiest thing to trace here!

One notable change is that I have stopped getting the debilitating migraine headaches that have plagued me since I was about 11 years old!

Good Luck!

**MomsaBasketCase** · 03-17-2010, 01:58 AM

Originally Posted by Palooka

*hug* I think I love you!! I've been a vegetarian for 10 years now and I love the lifestyle. I've heard great reviews from Alicia's book and plus she is just so darn cool.

First book I recommend to read is The China Study and check out vegsource for tons of great info. I've got several books and cookbooks to recommend if you want them later.

I could be long winded but will stop here. I know there is several posters here that are vegans/vegetarians that will chime in.

I actually have The China Study. I bought it after seeing a review on The Today Show. I haven't finished reading it yet but I do like it. Thanks for the recommendation.

**KeithBC** · 03-17-2010, 02:21 PM

Congratulations on becoming vegetarian! I went vegetarian 32 years ago, for similar reasons, and then vegan 14 years ago. I have never regretted those decisions, and have never had any health consequences. In fact, my overall fitness level improved.

I second Palooka's recommendation of checking out vegsource.com for more information. It is a great resource.

**Greebo** · 03-17-2010, 02:23 PM

Is vegetarianism "green"? I don't have a problem with vegetarianism mind you - I'm just not sure it's any "greener" than eating things that have a mom.

**KeithBC** · 03-17-2010, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Greebo

Is vegetarianism "green"? I don't have a problem with vegetarianism mind you - I'm just not sure it's any "greener" than eating things that have a mom.

Certainly. It consumes far less resources to produce plant-based food than it does to produce meat. Estimates are from one eighth to one tenth the resources. That includes land required for production, fertilizers, fuel, pollution produced, including carbon dioxide, etc.

Anything that reduces resource consumption is green. Going vegetarian and especially vegan is one of the most effective things we can do to be "greener".

**JerryG** · 03-17-2010, 03:07 PM

I was a vegetarian for 10 + years. My food budget was WAY lower than it is now. I'm w/ you MomsaBasketCase - It's easier to do if the family is on board with it however, at least in my case, my family will eat whatever I put on the table. Pasta is an easy one to go vegetarian. Casseroles are another. A lot of Mexican food can easily be made vegetarian. I still have the Moosewood Cookbook and a Vegetarian Cookbook from Sunset from that time that I still get a lot of use out of.

Good luck w/ the family and all. Peruse the books at the library and find a rotation of vegetarian foods that your family will like.

**Greebo** · 03-17-2010, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by KeithBC

Certainly. It consumes far less resources to produce plant-based food than it does to produce meat. Estimates are from one eighth to one tenth the resources. That includes land required for production, fertilizers, fuel, pollution produced, including carbon dioxide, etc.

Anything that reduces resource consumption is green. Going vegetarian and especially vegan is one of the most effective things we can do to be "greener".

Hmm. Ok - I can see it from that perspective - but on the counter point - the walking dinners that need all the plants to be consumed before they get to my plate aren't using up resources that aren't renewable. The McCow that isn't on a bun yet is eating corns and grasses grown for their benefit, and those corns and grasses are grown by using a great amount of material that is itself recycled (like fertilizer - assuming it's organic fertilizer).

But on the fuels and pollution front I definitely see the point.

**Greebo** · 03-17-2010, 03:21 PM

Originally Posted by KeithBC

Certainly. It consumes far less resources to produce plant-based food than it does to produce meat. Estimates are from one eighth to one tenth the resources. That includes land required for production, fertilizers, fuel, pollution produced, including carbon dioxide, etc.

Anything that reduces resource consumption is green. Going vegetarian and especially vegan is one of the most effective things we can do to be "greener".

Hmm. Ok - I can see it from that perspective - but on the counter point - the walking dinners that need all the plants to be consumed before they get to my plate aren't using up resources that aren't renewable. The McCow that isn't on a bun yet is eating corns and grasses grown for their benefit, and those corns and grasses are grown by using a great amount of material that is itself recycled (like fertilizer - assuming it's organic fertilizer).

But on the fuels and pollution front I definitely see the point.

Still eatin me some cow tho...