Calling all vegetarians and vegans!

[ladymelissa]

What inspired the lifestyle choice?

If you chose this lifestyle later in life, was it difficult to switch? Did you have to put up with any friction from people?

Did anyone choose that discipline for one reason and it perpetuates for other reasons?

If you are vegan, did you progress from vegetarian?

Please share your thoughts and experiences. My sister recently became a vegan, so I am quite interested in this worldview.

[kiddienurse601]

I am actually just now transitioning into vegetarianism. It's been interesting since 3 others in my family are SERIOUS carnivores!!

[RosieAngel]

I'm transitioning as well. Working across the street from a Foster Farms chicken factory farm sickened me and swore me off chicken, and it didn't take long to realize that other animals weren't being treated much better...

I still eat very small quantities of free range meats and fishes around once a week from the local Farmer's Market. I'm trying to get off that, too, but I haven't been successful yet.

My family never gave me a hard time, because my vegetarian recipes are so filling and tasty that they never realized that the meat was missing! Score!

[Nikita706]

I've been an off-and-on vegetarian for years. I'm constantly struggling with situations such as finding food that is vegetarian AND healthy, finding vegetarian meals in restaurants other than salads, what to do when you go to a family member or friend's house when they're serving meat, etc. What helped me out tremendously was listening to actor Casey Affleck talk about switching over to Vegetarianism. The basic idea is to start by making little changes in your life. Start by eating less meat and using less animal products. You don't have to cut them out completely, but anything makes a difference. Just be aware of what your consuming and don't immediately rush into being a strict Vegetarian or Vegan. That will only make it twice as difficult to transition.

Anyway, best of luck to everyone!

[bichonlvr]

WOW!

This surprises me so many are animal rights!

[KMS]

I voted "animal rights". I became vegetarian for ethical reasons, but it also ties into my religious beliefs, my passion for health, and my save the environment attitude as well.

I literally became a vegetarian overnight. Driving home from class late one Thursday night I ran over a bunny, jumped out of the car, and saw it die as I knelt down over it crying on the deserted country road. I was looking in its eyes as it passed away. It broke my heart. It suddenly struck me that in my mind the accidental killing of this animal was no different from the butchering of my lunch meat - I just don't actually see that occur. I decided in that instant that I wasn't going to support that anymore. That was about 1 year and 3 months ago.

I have faced a lot of opposition, hatred, and criticism from family, friends, and even strangers. People, around here anyways, are very negative and it can be a struggle. I did not expect so much negativity. I was shocked. However, the hubby was an amazing support and became vegetarian as well. Two friends recently adopted a vegetarian diet and keep calling me to tell me how much healthier they feel, how much better their mental clarity is, etc and that makes all of the negativity vanish.

Looking back, the transition was quite difficult but now I can't imagine living my life in any other way. So many things that you're used to change and you have to alter your life in big ways. It was kind of shocking to me because I didn't realize just how much was going to change. Like I can rarely eat soup when I'm eating out because it's practically all made with chicken stock. Little things like that add up and can feel overwhelming at first. Now it's just a part of my day to day.

About 2 months ago I started transitioning into veganism. I'm pretty close to 100% vegan now. I was kinda riding the fence until I watched a powerful documentary called Earthlings online and I haven't consumed any animal products since then. It was an eye opener and I still can't stop thinking about it. I highly recommend it. :grinhappy:

[ladymelissa]

Thank you to everyone who responded. :) It helps so much. :)

I found out about vegans in high school when I met a family that followed the practice.

Last fall, my sister saw a truck load of cattle on the highway, she believes they were most likely on their way to a slaughterhouse (maybe, maybe not, but it is her story). She said that she looked in one cow's eyes and connected. She felt that people need far more respect for animals and won't partake in the consumption of meat. As of now she has converted to being completely vegan. I understand her and support her, but my parents give her nothing but grief and/or misunderstanding. She is very gracious though.

My mom got on her for eating too much of the bean dip on one occasion, despite the fact that everyone else had more than enough to eat.

Another example:
My sister, stepmom and myself were discussing what it means to be a vegan (SM didn't have any idea) so after at least 15 minutes of that my SM asks my sister if she wants cake. :bbeek: And I don't mean vegan cake, I mean store-bought cake! They don't get it at all! And whether or not I could do it, I totally respect my sister's choices and understand!

I try and stick up for my sister, but no one else seems to get it!!!! I keep telling them that it is her choice and leave her alone! She is so gracious, she just doesn't eat what she doesn't want, she makes no demands for special recipes and our parents still don't get it!!!! :(

[Whitewater]

One of my good friends cannot eat meat. You know how some people have aversions to things? (Like me, I cannot eat egg whites unless they're completely pulverized, like in cake or something like that -- if they're not completely subsumed into the final product, I will involuntarily vomit them back up. I've been this way since I was a kid.)

Well, my friend has an aversion to meat. She can't stand the taste, texture, feel, smell -- none of it, and particularly raw. Through therapy she's ok now if we all go to a restaurant and somebody orders steak or something right next to her, but she still can't eat it.

She was vegan for a while until her doctor got alarmed (us too! She looked like a holocaust victim, though she swore she was fine -- she wasn't), because she was missing vital something-or-other in her blood. Now, she eats eggs, milk and cheese and the occasional sushi, and she's much healthier.

What I like best about her is that though she's passionate about her vegetarianism, she has never (unlike others I've met, typically passing out leaflets or some such) tried to guilt me for my carnivorism nor tried to get me to convert to her ways. She accepts that I *have* to have meat proteins to be healthy, I accept that meat makes her barf, and we're all good :)

Would that be 'other' in the poll?


Whitewater

[ladymelissa]

I'm transitioning as well. Working across the street from a Foster Farms chicken factory farm sickened me and swore me off chicken, and it didn't take long to realize that other animals weren't being treated much better...

I still eat very small quantities of free range meats and fishes around once a week from the local Farmer's Market. I'm trying to get off that, too, but I haven't been successful yet.

My family never gave me a hard time, because my vegetarian recipes are so filling and tasty that they never realized that the meat was missing! Score!

We might need some of your recipes!!!! We're in the family feud!

[ladymelissa]

One of my good friends cannot eat meat. You know how some people have aversions to things? (Like me, I cannot eat egg whites unless they're completely pulverized, like in cake or something like that -- if they're not completely subsumed into the final product, I will involuntarily vomit them back up. I've been this way since I was a kid.)

Well, my friend has an aversion to meat. She can't stand the taste, texture, feel, smell -- none of it, and particularly raw. Through therapy she's ok now if we all go to a restaurant and somebody orders steak or something right next to her, but she still can't eat it.

She was vegan for a while until her doctor got alarmed (us too! She looked like a holocaust victim, though she swore she was fine -- she wasn't), because she was missing vital something-or-other in her blood. Now, she eats eggs, milk and cheese and the occasional sushi, and she's much healthier.

What I like best about her is that though she's passionate about her vegetarianism, she has never (unlike others I've met, typically passing out leaflets or some such) tried to guilt me for my carnivorism nor tried to get me to convert to her ways. She accepts that I *have* to have meat proteins to be healthy, I accept that meat makes her barf, and we're all good :)

Would that be 'other' in the poll?


Whitewater


Your friend sounds like she would be option #1. :)

[RosieAngel]

We might need some of your recipes!!!! We're in the family feud!

Most of my made-up recipes are vegetarian and not vegan, but I'll see what I can come up with.

There is a cookbook, Vegan with a Vengeance, that I highly recommend. It's paperback and super-cheap! The recipes are affordable, too!

http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Vengeance-Delicious-Animal-Free-Recipes/dp/1569243581

[KMS]

Vegan with a Vengeance, Veganomicon, & Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World are all great cookbooks. :grinhappy:

[RosieAngel]

Rosie's Black Beans and Rice with Mixed Veggies - Feeds 3 (My family has three members)

Ingredients:
1 10-oz can black beans, drained (Eden brand is my favorite - their caribbean flavored black beans are definitely best!)
1 cup uncooked brown rice
1 red bell pepper, diced
3/4 cup frozen peas (can substitute fresh shelled English peas when available)
3/4 cup frozen corn (can substitute fresh shucked corn when available)
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tbsp canola oil
cayenne pepper to taste

1. Drain beans, cook rice with beans according to package directions. I prefer to use a rice cooker, but if you don't have one, the stovetop will do!

2. While rice is cooking, defrost peas and corn in the microwave. If using fresh peas and corn, skip this step.

3. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add bell pepper and spices, and cook about 8 minutes until the pepper is tender. If using fresh peas and corn, add them about 4 minutes into cooking the peppers. If the veggies finish cooking before the beans and rice are ready, cover and set aside.

4. When the beans and rice are done, transfer them into the skillet, toss to distribute all of the ingredients evenly, and serve in bowls! If you are not vegan, you may also use cheddar cheese as a garnish.


Rosie's Perfect Stir Fry - Feeds 3

Ingredients:
1/2 lb firm tofu (wildwood brand is my favorite)
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp honey
Soy sauce to taste (usually two dashes is just right for me)
1 tsp crushed ginger (in a jar)
Asian sambal (hot chili) sauce to taste (optional)
2 handfuls snow or sugar-snap peas
1 colored (not green) bell pepper, cored and cut lengthwise into thin strips
1/2 lb white or button mushrooms, quartered (for a special occasion, shiitakes are lovely too!)
3 cups cooked brown rice

1. In an airtight container, place tofu, vinegar, honey, soy sauce, and ginger. Mix well and marinate overnight.

2. The next day, transfer the contents of the airtight container into a large skillet. If desired, add sambal sauce to taste. Heat over medium-high heat.

3. Add bell peppers and cook 6 minutes stirring frequently, until the color starts to fade and the edges start to soften. Add snow or sugar-snap peas and cook an additional 2-4 minutes, until the bell peppers are softened, then add the mushrooms and cook until they are brown and have soaked up much of the sauce.

4. Serve on plates over cooked brown rice.

I also have a ton of pasta dishes and soup recipes, but I need to figure out which ones work without milk and cheese, first.

[Nekochanpurr]

I wish there was an 'i'm not a vegan or vegetarian, just nosey' option. :D Cuz that would be me...

[Nikita706]

I have faced a lot of opposition, hatred, and criticism from family, friends, and even strangers. People, around here anyways, are very negative and it can be a struggle. I did not expect so much negativity. I was shocked. However, the hubby was an amazing support and became vegetarian as well. Two friends recently adopted a vegetarian diet and keep calling me to tell me how much healthier they feel, how much better their mental clarity is, etc and that makes all of the negativity vanish.

I was surprised by this too. FH really didn't care one way or the other. He understood my feelings toward the matter, and respected my wishes. But it really is sad how people have a bit of a vendetta against vegetarians. I mean, what is it hurting if I decide not to eat meat? I think the main problem that I came across was when we'd go to family or social functions and everyone felt like they needed to 'accommodate the vegetarian'. I'd insist that I was fine eating whatever was there, even if it was just a salad, but people would feel guilty and end up with hostile feelings towards vegetarians in general. Not to mention, it's frustrating when, in my mind, I feel like I'm doing a wonderful thing by possibly saving a couple animals, but when I tell people I'm a vegetarian, they roll their eyes, or just look at me and go 'why?'. Same thing applies to my environmental efforts. I feel like I do a lot to reduce my impact on the environment, which in my mind is a good thing, but for some reason others feel slighted and offended by it and shrug me off as 'being a hippy'. Judgmental people can be so frustrating.

[RosieAngel]

I was surprised by this too. FH really didn't care one way or the other. He understood my feelings toward the matter, and respected my wishes. But it really is sad how people have a bit of a vendetta against vegetarians. I mean, what is it hurting if I decide not to eat meat? I think the main problem that I came across was when we'd go to family or social functions and everyone felt like they needed to 'accommodate the vegetarian'. I'd insist that I was fine eating whatever was there, even if it was just a salad, but people would feel guilty and end up with hostile feelings towards vegetarians in general. Not to mention, it's frustrating when, in my mind, I feel like I'm doing a wonderful thing by possibly saving a couple animals, but when I tell people I'm a vegetarian, they roll their eyes, or just look at me and go 'why?'. Same thing applies to my environmental efforts. I feel like I do a lot to reduce my impact on the environment, which in my mind is a good thing, but for some reason others feel slighted and offended by it and shrug me off as 'being a hippy'. Judgmental people can be so frustrating.

I think that the haters realize that you're doing the right thing by helping the environment and not eating meat, and they ought to do the same. But they don't, and they take their resulting guilt out on you.

People who are complacent about their eating habits and choices don't hate on other people. For the longest time, I had vegetarian friends when I was not vegetarian. It never bothered me. I happily ate my meat, they happily ate thier salads, and all was good in the world.

[ladymelissa]

Most of my made-up recipes are vegetarian and not vegan, but I'll see what I can come up with.

There is a cookbook, Vegan with a Vengeance, that I highly recommend. It's paperback and super-cheap! The recipes are affordable, too!

http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Vengeance-Delicious-Animal-Free-Recipes/dp/1569243581

Thank you so much!!!! :D

[FFC]

I was raised vegan/vegetarian. I started eating cheese and ice cream at about 14 (when I first went to school). When I was 18 I tried meat for the first time and very slowly progressed from chicken to other meats - I'm still very picky though. I didn't even eat eggs till I was 20, and I still won't drink milk.

We were vegetarians for several reasons - religious beliefs and for health purposes. I have strayed just because it's easier. I do plan on raising my kids as healthy as I can afford to, so I might raise them vegetarian and let them choose when they get older - we'll see :) I've also got to have Matt's support and that's going to be the hard part.

[sweetvenus]

I'm not one, but I call myself a wannabe-vegetarian. Basically, if I actually think about what I'm eating and think about how it once used to be an animal or if it looks too much like an animal, I cannot eat it at all. But I have a huge aversion to most vegetables, and can't eat lettuce at all (literally can't swallow it, it makes me gag), so I have a feeling if I actually became a vegetarian, I'd be a very hungry one, heh. But I admire all of you who are. :)

[tootsie]

I wish there was an 'i'm not a vegan or vegetarian, just nosey' option. :D Cuz that would be me...

Me too! :)

[RosieAngel]

I'm not one, but I call myself a wannabe-vegetarian. Basically, if I actually think about what I'm eating and think about how it once used to be an animal or if it looks too much like an animal, I cannot eat it at all. But I have a huge aversion to most vegetables, and can't eat lettuce at all (literally can't swallow it, it makes me gag), so I have a feeling if I actually became a vegetarian, I'd be a very hungry one, heh. But I admire all of you who are. :)

Whoa, I thought I was the only one! I LOVE most vegetables, but lettuce makes me gag, too! It's one of the few things I can't stand eating...