The Vegetarian & Vegan Thread

[misssakura]

Well the statement "is pizza bad" is a bit ridiculous to start off with as far as I'm concerned. I mean, to be honest I wasn't too keen on that post, blowing off a friend just because it's more difficult to say no. My friends would abandon me if I looked down on them like that. But hey each to their own.

I see where you're coming from though, but I'd really miss vegans, pescatarians, etc if we made different threads. Google is available to anybody who is confused or even just the search thread function.

I just don't want people to have the impression that not doing a certain thing is 'bad' which is what can happen if we divide pescatarianism from lacto-ovo vegetarianism, or vegetarianism from veganism. We already have a raw foods thread which is a step further than veganism. I think if vegans support this thread then it really gives people who don't live that lifestyle encouragement to maybe make even more of a change

I just hope this thread enables people to question why they eat what they eat and then decide if it is right for them.

 

[Crakk]

I guess pizza isnt bad for lacto ovo vegetarians, lacto vegetarians, and pescatarians. I dont like to eat cheese and dairy, unless it is ABSOLUTELY unavoidable (Original Gardenburgers which i love have cheese in them), i guess one slice or two cant hurt, i just hate thinking that way. Its as if i am losing control of my lifestyle, so i rather abstain from it.

 

[misssakura]

Just say you're lactose intolerant.

 

[Crakk]

Just say you're lactose intolerant.

Hmm. That might work. Thanks!! Lactose intolerant and allergic to meat!

 

[Whitelinen]

Is anyone here a fruitarian? What's your experience on it?

 

[LilyBird]

Is anyone here a fruitarian? What's your experience on it?

you can check here: http://www.veganoutreach.org/health/stayinghealthy.html

and look under, "Nutrients that Need Attention in Vegan Diets"

hope that helpsB)

 

[SiennaInLondon]

I think vegetarianism is amazing, I think raw foodism is amazing... but can someone explain the appeal of veganism to me please? I mean why do you follow this path? I don't see how it is healthier.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

does anyone know of any vegan resturants (or places that serves vegan food) in london?

YES YES YES YES. I discovered it awhile ago online and went to it the other day. The reason I went to this one was because it has a raw menu which completely suits me. It is called Vita Organic and is on Wardour Street in Soho. http://www.vitaorganic.co.uk/

Here is a list of other Vegan/veggie restaurants http://www.veganlondon.co.uk/

 

[Bel]

I think vegetarianism is amazing, I think raw foodism is amazing... but can someone explain the appeal of veganism to me please? I mean why do you follow this path? I don't see how it is healthier.

Eggs are undeniably healthy, except for the chance of bacteria or disease which should be killed by cooking anyway.
Dairy is debatable. Although it is full of calcium I've heard that our bodies aren't able to absorb it for some reason.

Health isn't the only reason people chooses to be vegan. Some do it for animal rights (free range is not necessarily cruelty-free). The reason I want to be vegan is because it is better for the environment. It wastes grain and land and promotes deforestation, and the huge population of cows required actually makes so much methane that it is a major cause of global warming.

Now can someone explain raw food? I see the logic behind not cooking, but why are freezing and drying considered okay? Those must drain just as many nutrients as cooking does.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

I don't think dairy is healthy AT ALL but eggs, honey, maple syrup? Yes they are in my book.

I suppose the ethics issue is where vegans lose me. In terms of environmentalism I support veganism. If you are not going to be eating the meat, there is no point in using leather products and not only wasting the meat but wasting the land. But in terms of "the bees get hurt when we take their honey". I'm sorry but if roles were reversed, other species would not think twice about hunting us.

Raw foodism? Many many reasons -there is a raw food thread here. Freezing is considered ok because when you freeze food, the enzymes aren't destroyed -they are dormant. Heat is a destructive thing. Drying (dehydrating) is necessary for some recipes and it is not bad because the process does not involve heat as high as can kill enzymes. Nothing above 118 degrees.

 

[Bel]

Well ethically I don't think it's wrong to kill animals for food the way Native Americans, for example, did, it's the factory farms that bother me.
Personally if I do become vegan I will still eat honey (so technically I won't actually be vegan...)
Maple syrup has animal products?

 

[Organic]

Although it is full of calcium I've heard that our bodies aren't able to absorb it for some reason.

calcium from dairy is counter productive, as it contains so much protein, your bones actually wind up at a calcium deficit.

Now can someone explain raw food? I see the logic behind not cooking, but why are freezing and drying considered okay? Those must drain just as many nutrients as cooking does.

http://www.rawguru.com/
http://www.living-foods.com/

 

[TheKiwi]

^ If milk contains so much protein that the calcium doesn't get absorbed, then what about enriched soy milk? It contains calcium, vitamin D, and protein. Is that not getting absorbed either then?

 

[Organic]

^ If milk contains so much protein that the calcium doesn't get absorbed, then what about enriched soy milk? It contains calcium, vitamin D, and protein. Is that not getting absorbed either then?

well, it varies depending on which ones, but generally soy milk has less protein per serving than milk does, and since it's plant based, it absorbs differently.

i promise i'm not making this stuff up, i've been studying nutrition on my own for years, and i'm starting actual school for it in the fall.

 

[misssakura]

I don't eat honey, and I'm not vegan. The reason I don't is because many farmers don't manage their honey farms well. There is a lot of disease and poor conditions. This then can spread to wild bees and cause huge parasite problems. I'm a bee fan, even though I've been stung by one because I trod on it. Honey is used in too m uch and a lot of the time it tastes like feet. I personally prefer maple syrup or golden syrup.

 

[SiennaInLondon]

Well ethically I don't think it's wrong to kill animals for food the way Native Americans, for example, did, it's the factory farms that bother me.

Well I suppose that is the crux of it. Modern farming is so horrendous that it is either shut your eyes and hope for the best or abstain. I am going the former way at the moment but getting gradually closer and closer to the latter.

 

[golightlyfan]

i have wanted to become a vegetarian for a while now, and what's really stopping me is finding recipes that i can actually do. my cooking skills are somewhat limited, and my budget is extrememly tight. i also am watching what i eat for health reasons. i'm kind of hoping to get in shape and lose weight, and i want to be able to do this on a vegetarian diet, but i don't want to fall into the pasta-bread-potatoes trap. any advice? i've browsed this thread for a while now and i still have no idea what's easiest and best to eat for your health! thanks in advance.

 

[misssakura]

Ok well what I would suggest to you is getting good kitchen utensils. It isn't your cooking trust me. Anybody can cook...with money. Sad fact but true.

For example, if you want to be a vegetarian I'd recommend a GOOD food processor of some sort. This makes burgers, purees, sauces, sausage mix etc.

I would definitely recommend a rice cooker otherwise you'll go insane. Risotto is a cheap, tasty and easy to make dish.

Make sure you have a good frying pan with a lid and also some covered microwave dishes for cooking things like butternut squash.

The easiest recipes are things like pita pizzas where you're just making a simple basil and tomato puree for the base and then putting vegetables on top. If you still want to eat veggie cheese then you can put that on with a bit of salt and pepper...

Nachos is another easy one. Kidney beans, tomato, sweet chili sauce, garlic, onion, mushroom and if you want some meat alternative.

Then cold soups are great, gespachos (its just blended onion, garlic and vine tomato), any sort of cold puree with ovened pita breads, spaghetti napolitana...

Stuffed potatoes with baked beans, baked beans on toast, homemade sushi, tortillas, god i'm so hungry bbl

 

[golightlyfan]

misssakura, you're awsm. i hadn't thought of those things at all! and it turns out my roommate has a rice steamer and a million other cooking things i had no idea she had. so we have made a delicious vegetarian lasagna with organic whole grain pasta, and some sushi the othe rnight. i am quite interested in making wraps as well. doyou have a recipe for a tomato basil wrap? like maybe is that what a pizza pita would be on?

 

[Bel]

i have wanted to become a vegetarian for a while now, and what's really stopping me is finding recipes that i can actually do. my cooking skills are somewhat limited, and my budget is extrememly tight. i also am watching what i eat for health reasons. i'm kind of hoping to get in shape and lose weight, and i want to be able to do this on a vegetarian diet, but i don't want to fall into the pasta-bread-potatoes trap. any advice? i've browsed this thread for a while now and i still have no idea what's easiest and best to eat for your health! thanks in advance.

One thing that's really easy is Indian food. You can buy dishes that only take microwaving, or at Whole Foods I've gotten basmati rice packets that take more work but are still really easy. You saute the rice in oil, then cook it and just throw in some veggies. They also have seasoned rice/lentil mixes that are good.

But seriously, you don't need recipes to cook. Go to the store, buy a bunch of random veggies and throw them a frying pan, add some seeds or nuts or something and you're done.