The Vegetarian & Vegan Thread

[cosmogrl5]

^ Yeah, I get disapproving looks from my family. I live on my own, but my parents live nearby and if I eat dinner there, I usually prepare a non-mean alternative to get my protein and then eat the side dishes my mom has prepared for everyone. She thinks I am too thin (as all moms do!) and that being a vegetarian will make me deficient in vitamins. I try to explain that I get more than enough nutreints and vitamins, but I just don't think they get it. It bums me out sometimes, but they do not try to force meat upon me, so it isn't worth getting too upset over.

 

[seanutbutter]

The barbecue I went to today was interesting. As I was reheating my veggie burger, my aunt explained to me that she "had turkey burgers, but forgot to cook them." I didn't quite know what to say, but luckily my grandma mentioned how I was a vegetarian. Unfortunately my aunt simply replied with, "Oh, I know," not realizing that I don't eat turkey.

I thought most people knew that vegetarians don't eat turkey.

 

[cestmagique]

^One would hope so...

 

[cosmogrl5]

^ Sometimes I think people confuse "overly healthy picky eater" and "vegetarian."

 

[cestmagique]

^exactly right.

 

[cosmogrl5]

And it is sort of comical. I mean, I know plenty of vegetarians who eat tons of junk food! Not eating meat/animal products does not automatically make you a health nut. People forget that being a vegetarian is a priniciple. It is about a love for animals and God's creations. It is not about looking hot in a bathing suit.

 

[cosmogrl5]

OMG. There is a massive thunderstorm right now, so I put on a movie..."Charlotte's Web." I seriously am bauling. How could anyone kill a cute little piggy?

 

[seanutbutter]

^ Off topic, but there is a massive thunderstorm where I'm at as well.

 

[cosmogrl5]

^ Off topic, but there is a massive thunderstorm where I'm at as well.

The storms here in NC terrify me! They are the worst of anywhere I have lived.

 

[Priestess]

I just made the yummiest veggie burger. Heck, it's even vegan. 1 can of chickpeas, 3 large mushrooms, 1 small zucchini, garlic, dried mixed herbs, salt and pepper to taste, plus about a tablespoon of plain flour.. Process until really mushy. Coat in some more flour, then shallow fry.

I had it on a roll with tomato, tomato sauce and soy cheese. It was so simple. I'm freezing the rest of the mix to use later. The mix seems like it would be a good mince replacement. I think I'm going to make lasagne out of it.

 

[Guessgirl96]

Thanks for sharing the recipie!! About how many burgers do you think the mix would make? I'm want to see the calories per burger.

 

[leeyone]

The barbecue I went to today was interesting. As I was reheating my veggie burger, my aunt explained to me that she "had turkey burgers, but forgot to cook them." I didn't quite know what to say, but luckily my grandma mentioned how I was a vegetarian. Unfortunately my aunt simply replied with, "Oh, I know," not realizing that I don't eat turkey.

I thought most people knew that vegetarians don't eat turkey.

the same with my mom.
mom: "eat this fish"
me: "i don't eat meat"
mom: "fish is not meat"

o_O

she also believe the chicken is not meat.... i really wonder why.

 

[TheKiwi]

^ My dad doesn't quite grasp that concept either. We'll be out at a restaurant, and he'll say "I think you should get the chicken caesar salad". I'm like "Dad, chicken is not vegetarian"! I think it's hard for people who are not vegetarian to grasp that sometimes, because to them, there's nothing wrong with chicken.

 

[castingcrowns]

omg thats exactly like my mom too! she's like "you can eat chicken, there's nothing wrong with chicken!!"

 

[cosmogrl5]

^ This is so funny! About an hour ago, I was approached by my assistant who wants to make a going away basket for our intern when she goes to college. She wants to fill it with detergent, household cleaner, food, etc. She asked me what the intern is into as far as food, and I said, "Well, she is a vegetarian..." and the assistant interrupts me and goes, "Great! Then we can get her cans of tuna. Perfect!"

 

[cosmogrl5]

Sorry to be posting 2x in a row, but I found some links I thought I would share. Just some basic tips for vegetarians/vegans (some are pretty common sense but thought I would share anyway...).

How to be a good vegetarian guest
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Good-Vegetarian-Guest

How to accommodate vegan and vegetarian guests
http://www.wikihow.com/Accommodate-Vegan-and-Vegetarian-Guests

How to eat healthily on a vegetarian diet
http://www.wikihow.com/Eat-Healthily-on-a-Vegetarian-Diet

How to be a polite vegan/vegetarian in social settings
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Polite-Vegan/Vegetarian-in-Social-Situations#

 

[misssakura]

It's funny you bring up the chicken and fish thing. I was explaining this to my friend in Japan who is doing scouting for vegetarian food for me, before I go over there. I was telling him about the weird myth that chickens don't count as meat. He couldn't believe it. I don't know where the rumour started but isn't it shocking that people don't see chickens as being sentient, intelligent animals? Personally, living with many farm animals (no, not my boyfriend and flatmate), chickens are my favourites. Chicken was the first meat I felt a moral twinge over, although I didn't stop eating it for years. Chicken was the first meat I stopped eating, even when I was eating other meat.

Chickens, from my experience, are intelligent. Of course there are the occasional dimwit chickens, just like there are smart people and stupid people. Overall though they're funny and caring. They love a good snuggle under the blankets or a good tickle under the chin. They will snuggle up with domesticated pets like dogs and will even foster kittens who have been abandoned.

So does anybody know where the myth "chickens aren't meat" comes from?

 

[laisla]

count my sister as one of those people who thinks its ok for me to eat chicken. I dont think she'll ever get it

 

[cosmogrl5]

Hmmm....maybe it is because they are categorized as "poultry"? Still doesn't make sense to me though!

 

[chanelnumber5]

Thanks for the links cosmo. I normally find eating at my friends fine, but it can be kind of awquard as at my age most of my friend's parents still cook for them. The majority of my friend's parents are great about it, especially the ones who have known me since I was young, but one makes me feel so uncomfortable about it I eat before I go there or just avoid going there at all. How does everyone else find being vegeterian in dinner party situations, especially those of you who have dinner parties at work/hosted by clients as that must be tricky sometimes.

Also do any of you get so frustrated with the often identical vegeterian dishes served at resteraunts: literally always a vegeterian lasagne (which is OK but it is not exactly healthy and often not that nice either) or some other kind of cheesy pasta dish and most dishes nearly always contain read and yellow peppers (which make me feel ill). In some places you can get a great selection of meals but in others there is often only one veggie dish.