The Vegetarian & Vegan Thread

[ChloeFrancoise]

By definition it's a vegan who would never have eggs and dairy, not a vegetarian. Also it depends on someone's reason for why they don't eat meat. It's not the same reason(s) for everyone.

 

[myown]

I eat eggs, but only the white ones and bio-products.

 

[fashionista-ta]

I'm going through a recent dilemma!
To quickly run down my dietary history: I'm 11 years no beef and 5 years vegetarian (with a 1-year pescatarian gap). I also generally eat vegan, except when I eat out.

The dilemma is; a friend recently brought up the issue that she hates when people call themselves vegetarians and consider eating eggs acceptable. She is a meat-eater/lover, but her point has got me thinking. The guilty conscience that kicked in when I gave up meat all those years ago has started knocking on my mental door again.

A full move to veganism seems difficult, if only because it limits incredibly the places you can eat, both conveniently and socially. I know I'm over-thinking this completely right now, but I can't help it. I'd like to know your opinions!

The question is: What are your thoughts on 'vegetarians' consuming eggs? Is there an ethical difference between eating eggs masked in the facade of baked goods and eating eggs alone (such as in omelets)? Should it be considered another sub-category?

As an omnivore, I think your friend is full of it! Her offhand and ignorant comment has you agonizing. If you weren't bothered by eggs before, why be bothered now?

I wish I had a tape of the hilarious conversation around the table the other night as we were eating with a 'vegetarian' who also eats seafood, plus meat from random animals she considers unpetworthy (such as wild boar, which was on the menu). She was explaining at length how dogs and pigs are interchangeable, and I said I sure would be surprised to find a pig curled up in my bed Sometimes you just can't pay too much attention to people who don't make that much sense.

I would just ask yourself, does an egg feel like something that's good for me to eat? And then listen to how you feel.

 

[hautechild]

I'm going through a recent dilemma!
To quickly run down my dietary history: I'm 11 years no beef and 5 years vegetarian (with a 1-year pescatarian gap). I also generally eat vegan, except when I eat out.

The dilemma is; a friend recently brought up the issue that she hates when people call themselves vegetarians and consider eating eggs acceptable. She is a meat-eater/lover, but her point has got me thinking. The guilty conscience that kicked in when I gave up meat all those years ago has started knocking on my mental door again.

A full move to veganism seems difficult, if only because it limits incredibly the places you can eat, both conveniently and socially. I know I'm over-thinking this completely right now, but I can't help it. I'd like to know your opinions!

The question is: What are your thoughts on 'vegetarians' consuming eggs? Is there an ethical difference between eating eggs masked in the facade of baked goods and eating eggs alone (such as in omelets)? Should it be considered another sub-category?

An egg is not an animal. Your friend is wrong.

 

[Bgeltunsd]

I'm going through a recent dilemma!
To quickly run down my dietary history: I'm 11 years no beef and 5 years vegetarian (with a 1-year pescatarian gap). I also generally eat vegan, except when I eat out.

The dilemma is; a friend recently brought up the issue that she hates when people call themselves vegetarians and consider eating eggs acceptable. She is a meat-eater/lover, but her point has got me thinking. The guilty conscience that kicked in when I gave up meat all those years ago has started knocking on my mental door again.

A full move to veganism seems difficult, if only because it limits incredibly the places you can eat, both conveniently and socially. I know I'm over-thinking this completely right now, but I can't help it. I'd like to know your opinions!

The question is: What are your thoughts on 'vegetarians' consuming eggs? Is there an ethical difference between eating eggs masked in the facade of baked goods and eating eggs alone (such as in omelets)? Should it be considered another sub-category?

I've been a vegetarian with a few "gaps" like you call them for the past 14 years and my take on this is: do as you like.
People criticizing your ethics because you're not "going all the way" will always be there.
I buy local & organic products, I know my goat cheese comes from goats that are well treated and that the chicken that laid those eggs aren't caged and suffering. To me that's just fine.

 

[Bgeltunsd]

Oh and about the chocolate: if you don't want to give it up, you can find chocolate very high in cocoa that doesn't contain mlik (Lindt make that, super yummy too) or give carob a shot, you might like it!

 

[myown]

or soja chocolate.

 

[Party_Vixen]

I am by no means vegetarian, however I do enjoy vegeterian meals from. Could some one recomend a source of great tasty healthy vegetarian recipes?

Me neither but I do love a good vegetarian meal and would love to hear some of your guys favourites!

 

[MussedPorcelain]

As an omnivore, I think your friend is full of it! Her offhand and ignorant comment has you agonizing. If you weren't bothered by eggs before, why be bothered now?

I wish I had a tape of the hilarious conversation around the table the other night as we were eating with a 'vegetarian' who also eats seafood, plus meat from random animals she considers unpetworthy (such as wild boar, which was on the menu). She was explaining at length how dogs and pigs are interchangeable, and I said I sure would be surprised to find a pig curled up in my bed Sometimes you just can't pay too much attention to people who don't make that much sense.

I would just ask yourself, does an egg feel like something that's good for me to eat? And then listen to how you feel.

I've met someone like your friend, too. You're right, they are full of it.

Since that mildly irrational comment, I've eaten eggs a few times and felt very little guilt about it, so I think I have my answer. Thank you for your help.

 

[TREVOFASHIONISTO]

i dont think you should worry so much about offending him. i know many vegans that give into cravings occasionally and partake in non vegan items.

thanks for the input you too. I realized that my eating habits have changed recently, but not from him but watching the documentary Food Inc I barely eat red meat, but now I think I am completely switching to no red meat or pork. Plus, shopping at Trader Joe's makes these temptations a lot easier because they do have so many organic options that are not breaking my college student budget. I had a friend before I met him who is a vegetarian and we never judged her because she chose that lifestyle I usually would forget she was one because it is so common in NY that it isn't some weird or taboo idea. Every time we would get chipotle and I would ask her why she didnt get chicken and then i'd feel stupid for forgetting she didnt eat meat. I think it is pretty easy to take meat out of your diet because there are so many ways to get protein without it.

A big issue I have is when people judge me for my eating habits. Which is why I always tell people that I don't care if they eat meat because that's their choice just like it's my choice to be a vegetarian. We just have to respect each-others differences. But if you like being a vegetarian then that's fab, just make sure you aren't still feeling pressure from him (or anyone else) about it. I think ultimately we have to do what's right for ourselves, whether that's being a vegetarian or not.

 

[Polevshchikova]

Hi Guys! I am a vegetarian for over 7 years and really amazing all the benefits it has brought me!

 

[daniellat]

Me neither but I do love a good vegetarian meal and would love to hear some of your guys favourites!

Just made this recipe today and I loved it. I'm not a vegetarian but don't need to eat meat with everything, this is the perfect example. Even my meat lover boyfriend liked it...not that we are turning vegetarian though, I could never give up poultry or seafood. Veganism is obviously out of the question

 

[paz2992]

I come here for an advice, i've never been a fan of meat, i remember when i was younger we had BBQs and i would complain about the meat. That always encourage me to persue been a vegetarian when i would turn 18. Then i discover salmon and camarons, and a lot type of fishes. Been a pesectarian was the option. They i discover mcdonalds and my mum delicious homemade hamburguers.

I'm 20 now, i barely eat meat just in spaghetti, or hamburguers. And last week i went with my best friend to her aunt house for a family dinner, she has been a vegetarian for 13 years now and she hasn't had any struggles about it.(she also showed me all the possible ways a vegetarians could still eat good, soy hamburguers were a brilliant thing too) That put me in the mood of doing it again. (my friend just became vegetarian about 3 months ago... she's doing great.)

The main issue here is that i believe vegetarians as they don't eat meat they don't get the enought proteins they diserve am i right? (i have a friend from college who's a veggie and takes protein pills) but what if i become a pesectarian (i eat tuna and fish at least twice a week i love it). does fish complements the absence of meat and chicken? (and i didn't eat meat that often as i already mention, chicken about once every 2 weeks.) i believe also almonds and legumes/beans/peas have a very good amount of proteins...

what would you suggest? (i also found a new store right next to my house that sells everything natural, soy meat, soy milk, dry fruits, among other things) should i go for pesectarism? visit a nutrionist maybe so he would advice me on how to get proteins?

 

[lucy92]

i get massive amounts of proteins even though i only eat meat once a week or less.

in the AM before i leave for the work i have a "breakfast scramble". its got tomtoes, vegan cheese (i like daiya), leeks, onions, garlic and tofu in it. i also add some tumeric for color.

i make a fruit smoothie with a lot of fresh fruit (strawberries and blueberries are local where i live) mangoes , pineapple and a bit of juice or coconut water. bananas are crucial because they add froth. alternatively, if i wish i can add protein powder or a few blocks of tofu if i feel like it.

at work sometimes i eat a mini second breakfast around 10 AM. i eat kashi cereal wth soy milk. both the cereal and the soy milk have protein in it.

basically, i think the lack of protein thing is a myth. i dont think the general populace really is lacking it. i certainly dont think i am.

if you are worried about a lack of protein you can always add some protein powder to your drinks. a lot of them arent really detectable and you wont taste them.

 

[Cinthia]

There is a good post on the No Meat Athlete blog about protein: http://www.nomeatathlete.com/vegetarian-protein-primer/

 

[fashionista-ta]

I come here for an advice, i've never been a fan of meat, i remember when i was younger we had BBQs and i would complain about the meat. That always encourage me to persue been a vegetarian when i would turn 18. Then i discover salmon and camarons, and a lot type of fishes. Been a pesectarian was the option. They i discover mcdonalds and my mum delicious homemade hamburguers.

I'm 20 now, i barely eat meat just in spaghetti, or hamburguers. And last week i went with my best friend to her aunt house for a family dinner, she has been a vegetarian for 13 years now and she hasn't had any struggles about it.(she also showed me all the possible ways a vegetarians could still eat good, soy hamburguers were a brilliant thing too) That put me in the mood of doing it again. (my friend just became vegetarian about 3 months ago... she's doing great.)

The main issue here is that i believe vegetarians as they don't eat meat they don't get the enought proteins they diserve am i right? (i have a friend from college who's a veggie and takes protein pills) but what if i become a pesectarian (i eat tuna and fish at least twice a week i love it). does fish complements the absence of meat and chicken? (and i didn't eat meat that often as i already mention, chicken about once every 2 weeks.) i believe also almonds and legumes/beans/peas have a very good amount of proteins...

what would you suggest? (i also found a new store right next to my house that sells everything natural, soy meat, soy milk, dry fruits, among other things) should i go for pesectarism? visit a nutrionist maybe so he would advice me on how to get proteins?

Suggest reading Diet for a Small Planet--it will help you understand how to get complete proteins from either 100% plant sources, or a combination of plant and animal. Many ethnic vegetarian dishes are actually complete proteins, such as beans and corn. If you drink milk with your peanut butter sandwich, the milk completes the incomplete proteins in the sandwich, etc. I think this book would put your mind at rest about protein ...

You could try making your spaghetti sauce with lots of mushrooms, and dash some soy sauce in there, for lots of umami without meat.

A recent vegetarian meal I enjoyed was little 'pizzas' made with flour tortillas spread with mango chutney, thinly sliced red onions, and shredded sharp cheddar on top, and baked. (I'm an omnivore, but I usually eat some vegetarian meals every day.)

 

[cloudyshambles]

Suggest reading Diet for a Small Planet--it will help you understand how to get complete proteins from either 100% plant sources, or a combination of plant and animal. Many ethnic vegetarian dishes are actually complete proteins, such as beans and corn. If you drink milk with your peanut butter sandwich, the milk completes the incomplete proteins in the sandwich, etc. I think this book would put your mind at rest about protein ...

You could try making your spaghetti sauce with lots of mushrooms, and dash some soy sauce in there, for lots of umami without meat.

A recent vegetarian meal I enjoyed was little 'pizzas' made with flour tortillas spread with mango chutney, thinly sliced red onions, and shredded sharp cheddar on top, and baked. (I'm an omnivore, but I usually eat some vegetarian meals every day.)

thanks a lot for the book suggestion, I'll definitely check it out as I'm very interested in that topic!

 

[paz2992]

^^ thanks so much! i'm not really a big fan of soy sauce, but i do love spaghettis with mushrooms, so i guess i'll try them out.

 

[cloudyshambles]

From the link Cinthia posted ( ) I find this bit very reassuring:

While it’s tempting to want to combine these “incomplete” proteins to form a whole, the truth is there’s no need to combine protein sources within a given meal.

Really. I know you have heard this one over and over—even the college textbook I teach from says it’s a must!—but trust me, it is not necessary to form complete proteins within single meals. Our bodies pool the amino acids we need as we eat them, and we use them when needed.

Some combinations happen naturally—think pinto beans with rice, chickpeas with couscous, or granola with soymilk. But this is not a requirement in order for us to get all of the indispensable amino acids. Combining proteins was popularized in the 1970’s, and even though it has been deemed unnecessary for decades, the idea lives on.

If that is really a myth I'm actually relieved

 

[fashionista-ta]

^^ thanks so much! i'm not really a big fan of soy sauce, but i do love spaghettis with mushrooms, so i guess i'll try them out.

People think of soy sauce as an Asian flavor, but I use it in many things I cook that aren't Asian. It's a good way to add salty, umami flavor to just about anything. Molasses is great too in spaghetti sauce for a bit of sweetness and depth of flavor.

An obsession with protein goes back a fair ways in US culture and still lingers ... you can see it reflected in WIC policies, for example. It would make sense for WIC to emphasize and provide well for fresh fruits and vegetables, but it's my understanding it doesn't. I suspect it would be challenging to find someone in this country who's protein deficient--and the first person you found might be someone with a mental health issue rather than an access issue.

I think it's highly likely that we have evolved to get the nutrients we need over an annual cycle. It used to be common to almost gorge on greens in the springtime, when it wasn't possible to get them year round. No one could eat blueberries for breakfast every day. It also used to be feast or famine--either all you can eat wooly mammoth, or a few nuts and berries we were lucky to find. That said, many traditional meals feature complete proteins.