vegetarians/vegans.. why?!

[caitlion]

i know there are a few vegetarians/vegans here.. i was just wondering why you choose to not eat meat (or in some cases any animal by-products)? is it a moral thing or do you just not like it?

personally, i just dont like most meat and have had some gross experiences with it. if i try to eat it occasionally, it hurts my stomach, too.

also, (i thought of this because of the milk thread), if it is a moral thing, do you force your beliefs on other people? i obviously dont, because its not a moral issue for me... i couldnt care less if anyone else eats meat... but it really pisses me off that just because i dont eat meat, everyone ASSUMES that im going to hate them for it and try to get the whole world not to.

 

[Jfrag Teh Foul]

Good question. I am interested to know this as well.

It doesn't make any sense to me since we are omnivores and all.

 

[Wallydraigle]

I don't like to eat meat that looks like meat. It just feels weird. It's not a moral decision, so I don't care what anyone else eats.


Edit: Let me qualify that a bit. I don't like to eat meat at all. If there's a meat item available that's just really, really good, I'll eat some. If something still has the bones or skin I won't touch it. I can hardly stand to look at a boiled chicken, and the smell makes me gag. I don't eat fried chicken either, but I'll eat chicken on a sandwich in patty form. It's just a weird psychological problem. I'm weird, I know.

 

[toekramp]

the bloodier the better :beer::steak;

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Jfrag
Good question. I am interested to know this as well.

It doesn't make any sense to me since we are omnivores and all.

Well, if you look at the overall cost in resources to produce a pound of meat it make some sense. Think about how much grain and water you have to run through a cow before you finally slaughter it. Then think about how many people all that grain could theoretically feed.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: toekramp
the bloodier the better :beer::steak;

yeap. still mooing is even better. yumm

 

[NTB]

And, despite what they might think, it isn't entirely healthy, either - there are some nutrients that you just can't get by strictly eating veggies, aren't there? My girlfriend knows a girl who is a vegetarian she's apparently a bit anemic, and she's told me herself that it's because of how she eats. I might be way off here, though.

Nate

 

[JoeKing]

I dated a Vegan for a few months and for her it was mainly a health concern. But she also loved animals and hated the way many are raised and processed. Many of her vegetarian and vegan friends did it for the animals. And I must admit after seeing a few of the propaganda PETA videos they had, I tryed being a vegan for a while.... but I couldn't do it. I need a good Steak and Burger once in a while.

 

[Jfrag Teh Foul]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Jfrag
Good question. I am interested to know this as well.

It doesn't make any sense to me since we are omnivores and all.

Well, if you look at the overall cost in resources to produce a pound of meat it make some sense. Think about how much grain and water you have to run through a cow before you finally slaughter it. Then think about how many people all that grain could theoretically feed.

Why does it have to be a cow?

If I go catch a fish and eat it, I am still eating meat... sans the cost you mentioned.

I would much rather have a medium cooked steak as to a loaf of bread any day... so damn the costs... I earn my money and I am willing to pay it for said steak.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Joeyman
I dated a Vegan for a few months and for her it was mainly a health concern. But she was also loved animals and hated the way many are raised and processed. Many of her vegetarian and vegan friends did it for the animals. And I must admit after seeing a few of the propaganda PETA videos they had, I tryed being a vegan for a while.... but I couldn't do it. I need a good Steak and Burger once in a while.

heh i dated a vegan once (didn't know she was until our date) when i took her to a BBQ joint. she was horrified when i ordered a steak med-rare. she got pissy at me and called me a murder and left.

I called up my friend who set us up and asked why he didn't tell me she was a vegan and why he didn't tell me NOT to take her to a BBQ joint.

but thats OK. heard she got busted for cocaine a few months latter. but man she was cute!

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: NTB
And, despite what they might think, it isn't entirely healthy, either - there are some nutrients that you just can't get by strictly eating veggies, aren't there? My girlfriend knows a girl who is a vegetarian she's apparently a bit anemic, and she's told me herself that it's because of how she eats. I might be way off here, though.

Nate

It's a healthy lifestyle . . . there are millions of vegetarians worldwide; it does take a little extra care in choosing food combinations (and B-12 should probably taken as a suppliment) but protein is overrated anyway.

It's a choice.


EDIT: its a LOT healthier than the average american fast-food diet. Most of you are walking dietary disasters.

 

[Kerouactivist]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: NTB
And, despite what they might think, it isn't entirely healthy, either - there are some nutrients that you just can't get by strictly eating veggies, aren't there? My girlfriend knows a girl who is a vegetarian she's apparently a bit anemic, and she's told me herself that it's because of how she eats. I might be way off here, though.

Nate

It's a healthy lifestyle . . . there are millions of vegetarians worldwide; it does take a little extra care in choosing food combinations (and B-12 should probably taken as a suppliment) but protein is overrated anyway.

It's a choice.


EDIT: its a LOT healthier than the average american fast-food diet. Most of you are walking dietary disasters.

You can get protein from eating beans or fish (some vegetarians eat fish)

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Jfrag

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Jfrag
Good question. I am interested to know this as well.

It doesn't make any sense to me since we are omnivores and all.

Well, if you look at the overall cost in resources to produce a pound of meat it make some sense. Think about how much grain and water you have to run through a cow before you finally slaughter it. Then think about how many people all that grain could theoretically feed.

Why does it have to be a cow?

If I go catch a fish and eat it, I am still eating meat... sans the cost you mentioned.

I would much rather have a medium cooked steak as to a loaf of bread any day... so damn the costs... I earn my money and I am willing to pay it for said steak.

The cow was an arbitrary choice, but I'll point out that a LOT of the fish you eat is farmed unless you go out and catch it yourself (which most people do not). Besides, it's not about cost to you, it's about not gorging yourself on a steak when the resources that went into that steak could be feeding those in need. I know that's just way too hippy for most of you here so I'll just leave it at that.

 

[GT1999]

I was a vegeterian for over a month (over all of Christmas break plus some). I did it for health reasons. I've adopted a hybrid diet though, I eat white meats now -- so basically I just avoid pork and beef. You'll NEVER catch me eating ground beef.

It's very hard to put down a well made steak, but I have to.

 

[maziwanka]

im trying to stop eating beef. its not for any particular reason - i just want to see if i have the resolve to cut that out of my diet (its the easiest meat for me to cut out, also, it means that ill probably avoid lots of fast food and all - so ill be eating healthier); and no, i absolutely do not force this on anyone else.

 

[JoeKing]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: Joeyman
I dated a Vegan for a few months and for her it was mainly a health concern. But she was also loved animals and hated the way many are raised and processed. Many of her vegetarian and vegan friends did it for the animals. And I must admit after seeing a few of the propaganda PETA videos they had, I tryed being a vegan for a while.... but I couldn't do it. I need a good Steak and Burger once in a while.

heh i dated a vegan once (didn't know she was until our date) when i took her to a BBQ joint. she was horrified when i ordered a steak med-rare. she got pissy at me and called me a murder and left.

I called up my friend who set us up and asked why he didn't tell me she was a vegan and why he didn't tell me NOT to take her to a BBQ joint.

but thats OK. heard she got busted for cocaine a few months latter. but man she was cute!

yeah my vegan was really into health...... I just couldn't keep up. They do stay in fairly good shape though, and many can cook really well since much of their lives are centered around that aspect.

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: NTB
And, despite what they might think, it isn't entirely healthy, either - there are some nutrients that you just can't get by strictly eating veggies, aren't there? My girlfriend knows a girl who is a vegetarian she's apparently a bit anemic, and she's told me herself that it's because of how she eats. I might be way off here, though.

Nate

It's a healthy lifestyle . . . there are millions of vegetarians worldwide; it does take a little extra care in choosing food combinations (and B-12 should probably taken as a suppliment) but protein is overrated anyway.

It's a choice.


EDIT: its a LOT healthier than the average american fast-food diet. Most of you are walking dietary disasters.

I'm perfectly aware of that. I was simply saying that concentrating too much on any one thing, be it veggies or fast food, might not be the best thing to do. But to each their own; I certainly wouldn't hold it against anyone - as long as they didn't try to take my hamburger away

Nate

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: NTB
And, despite what they might think, it isn't entirely healthy, either - there are some nutrients that you just can't get by strictly eating veggies, aren't there? My girlfriend knows a girl who is a vegetarian she's apparently a bit anemic, and she's told me herself that it's because of how she eats. I might be way off here, though.

Nate

If you're not healthy, you're doing it wrong. You can get all of the nutrients you need from rice and beans alone. You just have to balance your diet and make sure you get all the necessary vitamins/minerals, through supplements if necessary.

I'm not a vegetarian but I eat vegetarian whenever I can.

 

[CraigRT]

I am not vegatarian but I do prefer vegetables to meat, and I wont eat any meat that is thick and bloody.. that's just nasty. I prefer poultry also.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: NTB
And, despite what they might think, it isn't entirely healthy, either - there are some nutrients that you just can't get by strictly eating veggies, aren't there? My girlfriend knows a girl who is a vegetarian she's apparently a bit anemic, and she's told me herself that it's because of how she eats. I might be way off here, though.

Nate

It's a healthy lifestyle . . . there are millions of vegetarians worldwide; it does take a little extra care in choosing food combinations (and B-12 should probably taken as a suppliment) but protein is overrated anyway.

It's a choice.


EDIT: its a LOT healthier than the average american fast-food diet. Most of you are walking dietary disasters.

I'm perfectly aware of that. I was simply saying that concentrating too much on any one thing, be it veggies or fast food, might not be the best thing to do. But to each their own; I certainly wouldn't hold it against anyone - as long as they didn't try to take my hamburger away

Nate

That's the trick with a vegetarian diet; you have to really watch what you eat. This is the reason you hear so many people telling you about their friend that was a vegetarian, that was really unhealthy, anemic, whatever. It's because they just eat a lot of salads and cheese sandwiches and then wonder why they're passing out all the time. You have to be pretty creative when cooking to make sure you get what you need, but it's doable. I was racing bikes like a madman the whole time I was a vegetarian and won my fair share of races. A fellow by the name of Chris Newton was the 2002 Cycling Points Race world champ and he's been a vegan for most of his life.

 

[Kadarin]

For those who consider it a moral choice, don't you think you're guilty of a little unfairness toward the Plant Kingdom? Just think of what those poor plants go through; imagine spending your entire life scrounging for nutrients and sunlight, to eke out a living under hard conditions, only to be savagely pulled out of the ground and eaten, as if you were the victim of a barbarian raid...

Who will stand up for the rights of plants?

 

[JoeKing]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: NTB
And, despite what they might think, it isn't entirely healthy, either - there are some nutrients that you just can't get by strictly eating veggies, aren't there? My girlfriend knows a girl who is a vegetarian she's apparently a bit anemic, and she's told me herself that it's because of how she eats. I might be way off here, though.

Nate

If you're not healthy, you're doing it wrong. You can get all of the nutrients you need from rice and beans alone. You just have to balance your diet and make sure you get all the necessary vitamins/minerals, through supplements if necessary.

I'm not a vegetarian but I eat vegetarian whenever I can.

The squash family is supposed to be able to fullfill most of your dietary needs, and when cooked right can be damn tasty.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
For those who consider it a moral choice, don't you think you're guilty of a little unfairness toward the Plant Kingdom? Just think of what those poor plants go through; imagine spending your entire life scrounging for nutrients and sunlight, to eke out a living under hard conditions, only to be savagely pulled out of the ground and eaten, as if you were the victim of a barbarian raid...

Who will stand up for the rights of plants?

Gosh. That's really, really clever. I'll bet you're the first person ever to make that joke. You should patent it and head out on the standup circuit.....you'll make millions.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: NTB

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: NTB
And, despite what they might think, it isn't entirely healthy, either - there are some nutrients that you just can't get by strictly eating veggies, aren't there? My girlfriend knows a girl who is a vegetarian she's apparently a bit anemic, and she's told me herself that it's because of how she eats. I might be way off here, though.

Nate

It's a healthy lifestyle . . . there are millions of vegetarians worldwide; it does take a little extra care in choosing food combinations (and B-12 should probably taken as a suppliment) but protein is overrated anyway.

It's a choice.


EDIT: its a LOT healthier than the average american fast-food diet. Most of you are walking dietary disasters.

I'm perfectly aware of that. I was simply saying that concentrating too much on any one thing, be it veggies or fast food, might not be the best thing to do. But to each their own; I certainly wouldn't hold it against anyone - as long as they didn't try to take my hamburger away

Nate

That's the trick with a vegetarian diet; you have to really watch what you eat. This is the reason you hear so many people telling you about their friend that was a vegetarian, that was really unhealthy, anemic, whatever. It's because they just eat a lot of salads and cheese sandwiches and then wonder why they're passing out all the time. You have to be pretty creative when cooking to make sure you get what you need, but it's doable. I was racing bikes like a madman the whole time I was a vegetarian and won my fair share of races. A fellow by the name of Chris Newton was the 2002 Cycling Points Race world champ and he's been a vegan for most of his life.

Most of you don't get it at all . . . You REALLY DO have to WATCH what you eat on ANY DIET. If you eat too much animal fat you are clogging your arteries and setting yourself up for heart disease (and alzheimers).

VEGETARIANS do NOT eat FISH!

 

[DougK62]

A friend of mine doesn't eat meat because he believes it "cleanses his soul". He doesn't have a problem when I eat meat around him.

Personally, I think it's a bit bizarre to not want to eat meat. After all, humans are omnivores.

Not eating meat used to be very unhealthy and could foster some serious conditions. With modern supplements and such it's really not too big of a deal if you know what you're doing. You could probably live on a diet of ricecakes if you had a good supplement regimen...