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Considering vegetarianism

#21
Stevorebob said:
It's a kind thing to do: good for you, good for animals, good for your wallet and good for the planet. Enjoy!
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A well know Buddhist teacher named Robert Aitken addressed this subject. There is a precept in Buddhism that says "no killing."
Aitken explained that there are a lot of ways to kill. If a friend invites me over for food and serves meat not knowing I am a vegetarian that person may be expressing their love for me with the meal. If I arrogantly pronounce "I am a vegetarian, I don't eat dead animals" or something like that I have may have just killed the love that person is trying to show me.
 
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#22
The environmental aspect is very debatable. Wide spectrum pesticides can cause more problems than they solve. Excessive phosphates in soil runoff destroys water supplies. Regardless of whether the pesticides or phosphates are organically sourced. Raising animals and/or veggies is irrelevant when it comes to overall environmental impact, both can be done responsibly. It's the ethics of the individual farmer that matter.
 
#26
MJ5150 said:
I thought the same thing until the wife and I started exploring preparation techniques and recipes. It's actually quite good when prepared properly. But when it isn't? Yeah, it sucks mostly.

-Mike
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I will begrudgingly admit you are right on this one. My wife makes great pad thai with tofu. Beyond that we don't eat it.
I tried things like tofuburgers, tofu dogs even enchiladas filled with tofu. Is nothing sacred! It all tastes nasty to me and I have a hard time digesting it. The digesting part really convinced my wife not to buy that stuff. :whistle:
 
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#27
2.6kHz said:
The environmental aspect is very debatable. Wide spectrum pesticides can cause more problems than they solve. Excessive phosphates in soil runoff destroys water supplies. Regardless of whether the pesticides or phosphates are organically sourced. Raising animals and/or veggies is irrelevant when it comes to overall environmental impact, both can be done responsibly. It's the ethics of the individual farmer that matter.
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You have a point. With animals, however, it’s a doubling effect; one needs to raise plant-based feed crops first, then feed that to the animals. Animal flesh simply requires more resources — water, feed, oil, land — to produce the final product than plant-based foods, and it creates more waste product.
 
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#28
slobake said:
I will begrudgingly admit you are right on this one. My wife makes great pad thai with tofu. Beyond that we don't eat it.
I tried things like tofuburgers, tofu dogs even enchiladas filled with tofu. Is nothing sacred! It all tastes nasty to me and I have a hard time digesting it. The digesting part really convinced my wife not to buy that stuff.
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Are you making those items yourself, or buying someone elses creations? The wife and I have learned that packaged tofu items aren't that great. We won't buy or eat those either.

I wish you were closer. I would love to try your wife's tofu pad thai. My wife makes some amazingly awesome fauxrizo enchiladas and tacos.

-Mike
 
#29
Stevorebob said:
You have a point. With animals, however, it’s a doubling effect; one needs to raise plant-based feed crops first, then feed that to the animals. Animal flesh simply requires more resources — water, feed, oil, land — to produce the final product than plant-based foods, and it creates more waste product.
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Animals will produce more waste, granted, most other arguments are a wash though. Farming anything needs a lot of water, gas, land, and food.

It is also a regional thing. Not as many vegans in cold climates. It's an expensive lifestyle in winter, and finding palatable produce can be a real challenge. Me and the wife go crazy all winter trying to find decent greens to feed to our rabbit and tortoises. If you do find something decent it won't be cheap, usually undersized, and possibly coated in a preservative.

I would eat a lot more veggies if I could get them in January, just most of what you see around here is junk.
 
#32
were omnivores, dont fight it. I read your original post, you have the right idea, good luck. Going for long walks is also a good way to shed some pounds, and drink lots of water, lots and lots of water.
 
#34
Way to start a "conversation". Congratulations on your win and good luck on continuing it!

I went vegan for six months of underemployment where I was too proud for stamps and only ate rice and beans (it was a smelly winter), my return to real food took two rough weeks of adjustment.

Just saw someone mentioned soda. That stuff is atomic steroids for beerguts and moobs. My dad and uncle have been fighting a losing battle with diet coke since before reagan was president. Any time they manage a whole eight months of abstinence from carbonated drinks they look like they've only a few months to go before they're modelling suits for gq.

I've climbed from 170 to 230 since a bad wreck last year. The doctor has recommended steady meat intake. Pretty sure the steady intake of apple fritters and lornadoons, and steady no exercise regiment is my problem.

I'll probably also dial back the delicious butter-based sauce-slathered burgers and their accompanying grease fried fries that I've been having more of this past year when I'm able to do anything that would put a much missed bead of sweat on my brow.

That said, I am a way bigger fan of plain ol carrots, celery, tomatos, lettuce, peas and even beans than I am of these overwhelmingly overflavored tofu and soy concoctions. If you're lucky enough to have just one good grocer, dressings are wholly unnecessary and often cover up lovely natural flavors. A $1.50 bag of baby carrots and a $2 bottle of distilled water with a citric fruit slice inside would last me all day at work, with a 7 mile bike commute and I'd be just the right amount of hungry to be able to savor a lean filet mignon instead of inhaling it and three more buttered potatoes than one should have in one day. At my fittest, my days started with a solid >3 eggs, toast and a few links of sausage. I think it is worth noting that a couple of years ago I stopped eating a complete breakfast and would just settle for a bowl of cheerios I also lost a lot of muscle definition. So if you can, just live like Dudley Doright and ya might be better off. Or not. Who knows.

Seriously though, best wishes! I hope that it works out well for you!


Off ot topic: Is there a more offensive phrase for "food that a majority of the world eats with glee" than "animal flesh"? How bout we start using "cuddle wubble bloody death parts"?
 
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#36
slobake said:
I will begrudgingly admit you are right on this one. My wife makes great pad thai with tofu. Beyond that we don't eat it.
I tried things like tofuburgers, tofu dogs even enchiladas filled with tofu. Is nothing sacred! It all tastes nasty to me and I have a hard time digesting it. The digesting part really convinced my wife not to buy that stuff. :whistle:
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idk if anybody said yet, but soy is GMO :vomit:
 
#40
Don't do it.

I have some friends who are vegetarians, and now the texture of meat makes them feel queasy. The problem is that they miss eating some meat occasionally, but because they haven't for so long, they can't bring themselves to do it. Better to reduce and enjoy occasionally than give up and miss out forever.
 

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