vegetarian/vegan?

[selah]

I'm just curious if anyone here is, has ever been, or is considering being a vegetarian or vegan?

If you are or are considering it what are your reasons? (health/ethical issues/etc.?)

If you have been but are no longer, why did you initially become vegetarian/vegan and why did you decide to give that up?

[Pensee]

I am vegetarian for ethical reasons. Also, reading The Food Revolution greatly influenced my decision.

[butterfly]

I am a vegetarian for ethical reasons. Not so much the whole killing and eating of the animal, but because of modern animal farming practices which I see as cruel. There's also the whole issue with inequal distribution of food resources and stuff like that. I don't generally discuss this very much though cause it's a bit of a touchy subject.

PS. Crystal, would I be able to find that book at the library or is too new for that?

[selah]

Crystal, I'd be interested to hear what your ethical reasons are--basically along the same lines as Butterfly?

Butterfly, I don't think I'm quite making the connection here, what does the unequal distribution of food resources have to do with being a vegetarian? Forgive me if this is a dumb question lol! :blush:

[Pensee]

***Disclaimer: these are my personal beliefs; please don't anyone get offended. I don't usually discuss this.***

Yes, the way animals are treated are part of it. The conditions are just awful. I can't see how anybody with any feeling can eat veal if they knew the process of making it. I also find it unethical to eat other living beings when there is an abundance of plant-based options. Why should a cow or pig or fish have to suffer, when I can eat grain and vegetables and fruits... Just think about how horrible it must be to be boiled alive (poor little crawfish!) Just because they can't talk or communicate their pain doesn't make it any less real. Even if you accept that animals are part of the food chain and humans are at the top of it, I could see hunting wildlife for FOOD--not sport! But I can't see raising animals with the sole purposes of being killed for food, unless there is a major food shortage. (Yes, I do consider human life to be above animal life.)

Additionally, we have to grow so much grain to feed all of these cows that are being purposely born & raised to be killed for their meat. If we would take that grain and instead of feeding the cows, give it to people, world hunger would end. Just like that! Then there's the whole issue of water run-off from cow fields. When it rains, all that manure is washed into streams & lakes and often contaminates the water supply.


Cath--I'm not sure if it would be in the library yet or not. It is a couple of years old. I guess it would depend on your library. But if not, he has a much older book along the same lines that should be there. I can't remember the name of it, but the author is Tim Robbins. He was the heir to Baskin Robbins ice cream fortune, but walked away from it all because he turned vegan.
Hold on, I think the name of the older book is The New Diet Revolution or something like that.

[butterfly]

Kipepo Additionally, we have to grow so much grain to feed all of these cows that are being purposely born & raised to be killed for their meat. If we would take that grain and instead of feeding the cows, give it to people, world hunger would end. Just like that!

That's kind of what I meant when I was talking about inequal food distribution. I think I remember seeing a World Vision study once that basically said there's more than enough food on the planet to feed everyone, it's just that it's not distributed equally. I know that my not eating meat isn't exactly going to change any of that, I just don't feel comfortable doing it given what I've learned.

[Bristow]

I wish I could go vegetarian. Because I don't think I could personally kill an animal to eat it. But I actually don't like some of the more common vegetables, but I like how almost any meat tastes. And the little I have read about diet, I would be healthier as well. So I respect those who are able to go that route, but I don't know if I will ever be able to do that.

[InvisaChick]

I believe God allows us to eat animals therefore I will. It's supplemental to the diet.

I've thought about going veggie before, but I couldn't do it.


There is one animal I will NOT eat anything from. PIGS!! :yuck: :sick: They raised them down from my house and I just couldn't stand them. They also taste bad in my opinion.

I'm not forcing my opinion on anyone. I just wanted to share.

[Multimom]

Just a caution to the Vegan, be sure that you eat plenty of "starchy" beans, peas, dried beans, soy beans etc.

Low protein can cause iron deficency in women and young children.

[selah]

Hey Ladies :) I really appreciate your responses, they've been interesting! (And any more will be appreciated as well!)

I think it's good that we can share our opinions and disagree at times in such an open way. I'd just like to throw this verse into the mix because it applies!

Romans 14
6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.


God bless!

[JesusMyTruLuv]

my responce is that god gave us the food for us to eat... therefore i use the perpous and eat it... i have alot of vegitarian friends who hate me for it but it was a gift from god so im going to happily take if from him.

[butterfly]

boy am I ever rude. :blush:

Crystal, thanks for the info, I'll check it out! Sorry I didn't respond to you before.

[CalledByGrace]

I am a vegetarian and have been all my life. It's part of the health teachings of seventh-day adventists, although quite a few of them are straying away from that. Also, I do not feel it is right to take another life away when we can live perfectly heathy without it. I try to go by the original diet given to adam and even as much as possible.

[rudyhiebert]

My beliefs in this topic are based in scriptures which do not restrict eating of meats and being an offense to a "bother". Other than that, it's totally a preferrence to taste, availablilty, and diet that keeps your health thriving and stable. I know that some protiens and nutrients the body needs are only available in red and white meats and fish. Monitoring your blood and hair samples would tell you what you needed or what you should not eat. I also know that certain blood types are compatible and not compatible to certain types of foods.

[selah]

I also know that certain blood types are compatible and not compatible to certain types of foods.


I've never heard that! Can you give us more information?

[rudyhiebert]

Originally posted by kipepeo
I've never heard that! Can you give us more information?

Sure. There is a book by almost those words. If you do a search with those words you should find it and others. For once I know something someone else doesn't:-) I'm not supposed to eat bread and grains but I love them and eat them in moderation of course.

[trixiepup]

i think it is probably the blood type diet you guys are referring to. from what i've read, it's a diet plan that limits certain foods to certain people with specific blood types because their bodies developed differently in evolution, and therefore can't handle certain foods efficiently.

the nutritionist reports i've read about it say it's not particularly healthy, because you should have a variety of foods in your diet.

i'm a selective vegetarian. since the smell of raw meat makes me queasy, i don't eat a whole lot of meat. but i will have a bit of chicken or turkey every so often.

it's helped being in california, because a lot of the restaurants in my area cater to people wanting to eat healthy, and a lot of healthy food is vegetarian. it's really neat to see all the crossover cuisine that melds multiple cultures together into a single meal or dish.