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I'm thinking of going vegetarian

#11
Fassa Albrecht said:
Why??
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Don't listen to him, for some reason, there is a lot of anger cast in the direction of vegetarians, it's like you are slapping meat eaters in the face, I don't quite get it. I think people associate vegetarianism/veganism with PETA, and various animal rights extremists. A word of advice, don't shove your newfound beliefs down everyone's throats, otherwise you'll get into more scuffles with meat eaters (trust me, there are more coming to this thread who will argue with you)

But you do need to take into account that YES, it is very unnatural, and you will need to start taking vitamins or finding some other means of getting protein. Warning, all vegetarian specialty food seems to be ungodly expensive, which is one of the reasons I returned to meat.

Do some research outside Talkbass and find out what you want to find out (Google is pretty amazing), and start reading labels: If you are really going to stick by your guns, you'll have to make sure that your vegetable dishes don't contain gelatin or beef stock... or whatever.

As long as you supplement the nutrients you'll be missing from meat, it's a perfectly healthy way to live. RESEARCH ABOUT SOY though, it's advertised as this miracle health food, but it's been known to cause some health problems.
 
#14
Matt Till said:
If your meat hatred was strictly ethical (as mine was, overstuffed feed lots and various animal cruelty) you could consider finding a local farmer. I got lucky, my girlfriend's dad raises cows, not only do we get meat from cows that are treated as pets, but it's FREEEEEEEE. :D :D :D
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It's not just the whole animal cruelty of raising animals which plays on my mind but some of the horrendous ways in which the animals are killed which is a major bugbear for me.
 
#15
You don't need to make a commitment like that, start soft first by stop buying meat/animals for your home cooking and if you go out eating, look for veggie alternatives on the menu or at least cheat with fish or possibly chicken if there isn't any.

Learn how to cook veggie style and discover a new world of food, and if you like it then you do, and if you feel you're not totally going to make it, you can always decide to eat certain kind of meat or whatever you may find suitable for you.

Personally I have stopped buying meat/animals for home cookin, skipped cow milk/cream for soy milk and soy cream, swapped butter for veggie butter etc. Though I occasionally eat some animal stuff that I like if I go out eating, but most often I choose the veggie alternatives if they appeal to me.

I do eat eggs, but only from happy hens fed with "natural eco/organic" food.

Doesn't have to be black or white, find your way and as long as that makes ya happy, then you're gonna feel good about it!

Something I recommend even more, is to only buy ecological/organic food and veggies, and completely stop buyin all kind of preprocessed or processed so called food .... That made it for me and I will never go back again ... ever!

Good luck!

;)

D.Don
 
#18
Fassa Albrecht said:
It's not just the whole animal cruelty of raising animals which plays on my mind but some of the horrendous ways in which the animals are killed which is a major bugbear for me.
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Understandable, but I will say (this is what justified it for me) if I had to choose between getting the ol' spike to the brain and being eaten by a lion while I was still alive, give me the spike any day. Nature is cruel, but I am in no way trying to convert you.
 
#19
Matt Till said:
I got lucky, my girlfriend's dad raises cows, not only do we get meat from cows that are treated as pets, but it's FREEEEEEEE. :D :D :D
Click to expand...

Daddy, where's Betsy?
On the table, honey.

MattTill: snicker, snicker.
:D






The only advise I can give is read up on vegetarianism first. Could be bunk, but I remember reading about people getting sick or malnourish from not having a balanced diet.
 
#20
Matt Till said:
Don't listen to him, for some reason, there is a lot of anger cast in the direction of vegetarians, it's like you are slapping meat eaters in the face, I don't quite get it. I think people associate vegetarianism/veganism with PETA, and various animal rights extremists. A word of advice, don't shove your newfound beliefs down everyone's throats, otherwise you'll get into more scuffles with meat eaters (trust me, there are more coming to this thread who will argue with you)

But you do need to take into account that YES, it is very unnatural, and you will need to start taking vitamins or finding some other means of getting protein. Warning, all vegetarian specialty food seems to be ungodly expensive, which is one of the reasons I returned to meat.

Do some research outside Talkbass and find out what you want to find out (Google is pretty amazing), and start reading labels: If you are really going to stick by your guns, you'll have to make sure that your vegetable dishes don't contain gelatin or beef stock... or whatever.

As long as you supplement the nutrients you'll be missing from meat, it's a perfectly healthy way to live. RESEARCH ABOUT SOY though, it's advertised as this miracle health food, but it's been known to cause some health problems.
Click to expand...
Sorry I gotta call misinformation on this.

I've been vegan (no animal products whatsoever for ethical reasons) since 1996. I have never had any problems with lack of nutrients and I don't supplement at all. I just eat a health, varied diet. Its based on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts etc. I generally dont eat junk food or fast food.

The only two things you need to make sure is in your diet on a very regular basis is iron and b12. Dark green leaf vegetables for iron and soy milk for b12 works for me. Protein is a non-issue. If you educate yourself you'll be fine. Dont let the fear-mongering get to you. The FDA has approved the vegetarian diet as safe and actually recommends it because its much lower in refined sugars and cholesteral. Its much healthier if you are your responsible.

You'll get alot of flack on the veg choice, but stick to your guns. It has to come from the heart otherwise its very hard to keep to it. Nobody can force you to do it.

Google for the Vegetarian Resources Group.

Also "Diet for A New America" by John Robbins is a great book that I recommend for sound advice on nutrition and the positive effects a veg diet has on your health, the environment and its benefits to other humans.

Good luck with it!

Edit: Here's a pic of me to prove I am not an anemic dwarfed out nerd!
torinbass55665566-1.jpg
 

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