Vegetarians/Vegans (Page 3) Page2000: As a child I liked meat enough, but always felt bad about the kill. It nearly killed me becoming strict vegetarian, but I did in time. It is still hard being beast free. I could understand if it makes some people mean. Page2000: On such an industrial planet the meat industry should be taxed to subsidise humane practices, and to also subsidise alternative forms of protein foods.  stacycarlsen: If people don't like what you want to eat if you enjoy it I'm a meet eater. Eat what you make you feel good honey  quarks: I am in strange sub group. I eat fish and products like bread made with milk and eggs. milk is good to drink but I do not like eggs unless in baked goods. no red meat is ever eaten because it is unhealthy for my body. I do not eat birds because they seem not tasty to me. mostly my food is vegitables and fruit but some fish. maybe this makes me a fish eating vegiterian. for sure not a vegan. also, being young with no money to not eat fish where I live in Denmark would mean on some days I would not get to eat at all. we have many fish and little other foods unless you have much money to spend. Page2000: maybe you could offset the fish diet by making vegetable soup with lentils. They are high protein.  Big Bopper: I suggest reading The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. This well researched and written book refers to a person enjoying meat as a food, yet believes the animal should live a good life. His book analyzes the food chain: industrial, organic and personal. In it he challenges the modern person to consider where his food came from and how it was grown. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Omnivore%27s_Dilemma It may not make you a vegetarian, but it will cause you to reconsider your role in the food chain.  phoenix714: I have been a vegetarian since 1978, when I was 16 years old. I am 52 now, and have 2 daughters, 10 and 14, who have never knowingly eaten dead animals. We are lacto-ovo vegetarian, which means we use milk and eggs in our foods. I tell people we don't eat anything with eyes or a mother. lol When I started out as a vegetarian in the late 70s, in Southern California, USA, my parents (old fashioned meat and potato eaters), and society in general thought a person would die without eating meat. Or at the very least, would become very sickly and weak. We were thought of as weird hippies...health food fanatics. Now, its ironic that the people who were telling me I needed to eat meat to survive, and secretly slipping me meat in foods they told me had no meat in them, (causing me food poisoning each time) avoid meat on the advice of their medical professionals. I think its funny. I got married and started having babies at the age of 34 in 1997 after living with my boyfriend for 18 years, and my mom said I needed to eat meat to support the baby while I was pregnant. I didn't think that was true based on my life and research, but asked the pediatrician and midwife just to be sure. They both asked if I was healthy. I knew I was very healthy and was having easy pregnancies, so they said the baby would be healthy as well...and they were. Both babies were born at home with the support of midwives and home-birth assistants/doulas. Their births were awesome miracle moments in my life. My older girl remembers being home when her baby sister was born. Children are an incredible gift from God. When my daughters were babies and very little girls, we had no problems with trying to force them to eat yucky meat. I remembered as a child my parents telling me I had to finish my meat before getting any desert, or leaving the table. I never liked it, especially after I made the mental connection between the meat we were eating and animals I loved. My baby's first solid foods at age 6 months were mashed avocado and applesauce and rice cereal. Typical grocery store baby foods were usually fine. I just needed to read the ingredients, as I already did with my own packaged foods. I nursed my precious babies as long as I could. The older one for 10 months, then switched to formula, thinking that would be easier. Boy was I ever wrong! The expense and hassle of cleaning bottles and making formula everyday was such a drag. As a new mother with loads of diapers and laundry, the last thing I needed was more work. I had thought my husband would help with the frequent feedings, but of course, he rarely did. Nor did he help with making bottles. Now, I had twice as much work, and a husband living the life of a bachelor. Then, when she was 3, and I took her for her first dental appointment, I was shocked when I was told my sweet innocent child had 5 cavities! The tooth decay had been caused from the sugary formula. The bottles were immediately "lost". I vowed the next child would never use formula or bottles...and she didn't. My younger daughter nursed until she started pre-school at age 3. We talked about the fact that the big kids at school didn't do that, and it was a natural part of growing up for her. We had a couple of challenging days, but other than that, the transition was pretty easy for both mother and child. She never got baby bottle tooth decay and I never had the extra work and expense of bottles. It was so cute when she would see other babies with bottles or pacifiers and ask me what they were. I explained that some kids had those, but she didn't need them. Now, in my early 50s, I look younger than my meat eating counterparts. I don't have the crows feet and other wrinkles they have. I have been told I look 15 to 20 years younger than my years. My health is great despite extremely difficult living conditions of homelessness and poverty over the last few years due to the abuse inflicted by my husband. We are free of his bondage and cruelty, and are starting out on our newer better life. I am a single mom, and God gives me the strength to pick up the pieces and move on. I hope my story helps someone who reads it here. I like to chat in the Coffee Shoppe, and just set up a Domestic Abuse Survivors support room. Please feel free to message me with any questions or comments you may have about vegetarianism, natural childbirth, domestic abuse, or homelessness. I have lots of valuable resources and would love to help anyone who needs it. I have been helped by so many, it is my responsibility to pass it on and pay it forward. Take good care of you and yours, = ) Blessings, Phoenix714  robertbatchelor: Now I am 80 years old I am a VEGAN I can see if you have vitamin C it collects iron from what ever food it can. Yet is you eat red meat vitamin C will give you too much of the wrong type of IRON. I find it hard to buy a meal like fast food what is there to eat. I go on bus trip that means I am limited to eating CHIPS. I often have to take my own lunch lol. Big Bopper: I would say that, if you have dietary constraints, you should always pack the minimum you need for every day you are away from home. Big Bopper: I saw a video on food in the Darwin area the other day. I would be able to eat more fruit and veggies, as a percent of my diet, if I had the quality and diversity as grown near Darwin. I may find everything I need near Darwin and never want to leave. Big Bopper: I bet you could make a helluva mushroom/pasta casserole! Slice a pound or two of tasty brown mushrooms. Sautee this in several tablespoons of oil. Don't crowd your mushrooms, you want them to brown not poach. Add finely minced garlic, lots of it, once the 'shrooms are browned and you turn the heat down. Add about a teaspoon of flour to bring it all together, before you add other fluid, so it won't go lumpy on you. A little cream, a little chicken stock, a little white wine. Cook on med-low stirring frequently. Vegetarians can leave out the chicken stock. While this is going on, cook the pasta. When nearly done drain off most of the water. Add the mushrooms and a few ounces of grated cheese. Stir well and bake for about 1/2 hour. (Edited by Big Bopper) Big Bopper: Cole slaw - super easy, nutritious, flexible and will keep in the fridge for a few days. red and green cabbage, grated into a big bowl a few carrots, also grated chop these vegetables fine: celery red, green, yellow or orange peppers For best results when keeping it in the fridge, sprinkle on and mix in a little lemon juice or vinegar and store in an airtight container or plastic bag. Here's where your preferences, creativity and bravery come in. You could add any vegetable that is good raw. Peas, green beans, zucchini, radish or leafy greens. I make a Ceasar dressing with mayo, anchovy paste, pureed garlic and salt. This is a versatile dressing that will be good in the fridge for several days. Don't add the dressing until you serve the slaw. You could use your choice of dressing. I bet it would be great with grilled tofu seasoned any way you like. It would be wonderful with fresh tomatoes sliced on top. You could add canned chickpeas, artichoke heart, or even fruit. (Edited by Big Bopper) phoenix714: bb- gosh this looks like a great recipe!! thanks so much for sharing... im gunnna try it next time I get to enjoy some time in the kitchen. if youre ever online chatting, give me an add... id like to chat with you! Big Bopper: Hey Phoenix! Heh heh, I don't usually follow a formal recipe; I need to use what I have before shopping for more, so I need some flexibility in the ingredients I use. Cole slaw is what this type of dish is called, but you could consider it a cabbage-based salad. There are a few types of cabbage and other vegetables that work well. Green and red cabbages of course, Napa cabbage, sui choy, Taiwan cabbage. Then you could use any combination of veggies that are good raw. I like the crunchy aspect of this dish so haven't tried it with cooked vegetables. Big Bopper: Hey Pheonix! I thought about you while cooking today. Have you tried using Indian spices in your vegetarian meal preparation? There are many cultures within India, but most of the population are vegetarian. I made Aloo Gobi...cauliflower and potatoes, seasoned with garlic, ginger, chillies, coriander, turmeric and cumin. Wonderful flavours! phoenix714: big bopper... I am sorry for the delay in my response. my legal troubles with my abusive husband have overwhelmed my online time looking for pro bono legal help. I have eaten indiian food a lot at restaurants, but never attempted making it at home. love aloo gobi,,, it is always a staple of my plate at the restaurant. have you tried Ethiopian food? omg... most of it vegetarian and very good!! they also have special coffee and popcorn and an appetizer. you must trry it!! ps: do you have a profile photo with clothes on? quarks: phoenix, I not know you but hope your problems with abusive husband find solution. Also, hope you are doing well and here is hug for you.  | Food Chat Room Similar Conversations |
