Answers from Vegans??

[nothankyou]

I understand, I for one don't understand those who do not eat dairy products, and the so called "die hard" vegetarians that act better, but they will eat fish and some will eat chicken and claim to be vegetarian. I have a lot of vegan friends and I couldn't imagine eating like that forever.

I don't really understand them either, I think another reasong being labeled as 'vegeterian' became a fad these past years, just like owning 'pitbulls' and being labeled as 'bi-sexual' or 'lesbian' for school aged girls. It's very overrated by media, as a healthy lifestyle, when in reality being 'vegeterian' is nothing more than not eating meat, it doesn't mean you are gonna be healthy.

 

[chloesredboy2]

Veganism is totally unnatural. My two cents.

I agree,I think the whole vegetarian thing is unnatural.I dont even really care for meat myself,but its the claim that its healthier for you not to eat it is just ludacris to me.People eat meat,Meat in itself is not unhealthy.

 

[buddysmom]

There is no "right" or "wrong" about veganism / vegetarianism. Just personal choices, and they can be incredibly healthy.

However I personally have been trying to adopt "semi-vegetarianism" which simply means that meat is not the centerpiece of meals; meals don't have to have meat but when they do, it is as a condiment or accent rather than the bulk of a meal.

An example would be a stir-fry that is mainly vegetable over rice (or noodles), but may have some nice tender bits of meat (or fish) in it.

So you may have 50 percent grain (noodles or rice), and then 50 percent topping, maybe that is sauteed carrots, asparagus, onion, red pepper, and meat.

Or you make tacos with a small spoonful of meat (that may have been cooked with other veggies) along with healthy toppings of lettuce or cabbage; avocado, tomato, chilies, a bit of cheese if you desire, etc.

Either way you have a well rounded meal that's only 10 percent meat.

And since you are buying smaller portions of meat (or fish) you may be able to buy higher quality (grass fed, organic, or whatnot).

Not like I am perfect with this all the time, but swinging more in this direction has helped. I can tell when I am doing this right, (as well as cutting out the refined carbs and sugar) I feel much better!

It's all kinda cool.

---------- Post added at 11:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:46 PM ----------

Oh and beans, how could I forget?! Beans at least 5 servings per week.

Make soups with them. Burritos. Bean dip.

Beans clean you from the inside out. As my old friend (and nutritionist) Zonya Foco says, beans are like little sponges taking the bad stuff (including cholesterol) out of your body.

 

[BILLBKLYN]

If you are sexually active, there's no such thing as being a vegan. Do I have to spell it out for you? Anyway I also think that abstaining from meat is unnatural for humans also.

 

[buddysmom]

If you are sexually active, there's no such thing as being a vegan. Do I have to spell it out for you? Anyway I also think that abstaining from meat is unnatural for humans also.

Here's what I don't get. Why paint people as unnatural freaks (even to the extent of questioning their sexual activity) just because they don't choose to eat like you do? How exactly does someone else's diet choice threaten you? Do you also look down on people who abstain from eating pig flesh or refuse to have cheese on their burger?

 

[Teal]

If it tastes good, I'm eating it. If it doesn't taste good, I'm not eating it.

Eating is my FAVOURITE hobby EVER... so I only do it when I enjoy it.. which is all the time, and with yummy food! Yummy food, in case you were wondering, is... beef, pork, chicken, potatoes, pasta... rinse and repeat! lol Oh, and fast food rocks too. Grease and oil is awesome!

I will die of clogged arteries, and I know it

If one wants to be vegan/vegetarian, that's awesome... but don't expect me to try it, or not giggle at you for eating guinea pig food lol

 

[BILLBKLYN]

Where did I allude that vegetarians are "unnatural freaks"? I am not questioning their sexual activities. Read what I wrote. How is their diet choice threatening me? I could care less what other people do/don't eat. And, for the record, I do look down on people who don't eat pork or don't put cheese on their burgers. But what I really hate is the way a lot of the rest of the country puts mustard on their burgers and catsup on their frankfurters. Jesus lady, there's 2 pages worth of dialogue here and for some reason mine insults you and, true to your gender, you misread what I wrote and construe it to mean something it's not. Just kidding about the gender part.....

 

[buddysmom]

Where did I allude that vegetarians are "unnatural freaks"? I am not questioning their sexual activities. Read what I wrote. How is their diet choice threatening me? I could care less what other people do/don't eat. And, for the record, I do look down on people who don't eat pork or don't put cheese on their burgers. But what I really hate is the way a lot of the rest of the country puts mustard on their burgers and catsup on their frankfurters. Jesus lady, there's 2 pages worth of dialogue here and for some reason mine insults you and, true to your gender, you misread what I wrote and construe it to mean something it's not. Just kidding about the gender part.....

No it didn't insult me in the least. I thought it was insulting to vegans though. Every time this issue comes up there seems to be a handful of people who have to chime in with the "unnatural" business. And I just wonder, why the need to criticize anyone else's dietary choice?

 

[chloesredboy2]

No it didn't insult me in the least. I thought it was insulting to vegans though. Every time this issue comes up there seems to be a handful of people who have to chime in with the "unnatural" business. And I just wonder, why the need to criticize anyone else's dietary choice?

Well I'm not going to say everysingle one,but any vegetarian I have ever met has felt the need to criticize those who are not.I've never been around any vegetarian who misses an oppertunity to tell everyone else how much healthier they are and how meat is wrong and disgusting.

 

[buddysmom]

Well I'm not going to say everysingle one,but any vegetarian I have ever met has felt the need to criticize those who are not.I've never been around any vegetarian who misses an oppertunity to tell everyone else how much healthier they are and how meat is wrong and disgusting.

I have met a few of these myself, but it has not been the norm among the vegetarians I've known. But yeah it is every bit as freaking wrong and annoying when it's the other way around. I usually tell them, when I see a cow standing in a field it makes me hungry.

 

[BILLBKLYN]

At least you knew enough that the rest of my post was satirrical.

 

[jimmyjames]

take a look at your teeth, we are not herbivores. granted its your choice to eat or not eat whatever you want, its not "healthier" to go against nature.

 

[buddysmom]

take a look at your teeth, we are not herbivores. granted its your choice to eat or not eat whatever you want, its not "healthier" to go against nature.

I agree but what most Americans have done is to go the other extreme, eating more meat in relation to vegetables/grain than is good for us.

That is why in a lot of studies vegans/vegetarians come out looking so much healthier (lower weight, less heart disease etc.) ... Not because their diet is ideal either, but they are measured against the average which is eating high quantities of (poor quality, fatty) meat.

The fact is we are omnivores (but we are also highly adaptable and able to live off everything from zero meat, to nothing but whale blubber). But in my personal opinion, the best diet is based on whole grains and vegetables but also includes some good quality meat and fish in reasonable quantities.