Vegetarians and Vegans

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Good luck avoiding chocolate? XD

Well... there's always vegan chocolate. So guess what! You get to still be a girl!

Oh yeah. There's vegan chocolate. We even have entire dessert books should she miss cookies and cake.

[ShiroiHikari]

Yes Corrie. XD

I could probably be a vegetarian, actually, but I don't really see how it would make that big of a difference. XD Plus I don't want to.

I could never go vegan, though. It costs too much and I'd go crazy from the lack of ice cream. XD Also, my fiance and I wouldn't be able to eat the same stuff anymore and that would cause all kinds of problems.

[RobinSena]

I love my meat nice and rare...XD blood anyone?

Rare ftw. (^_^)



As for going vegan, whether it's for health or personal belief, good for you either way. I just know I never could.. 0_0

[Shao Feng-Li]

A lot of the time, milk and eggs will go to waste if we don't consume it. It's not harming the milk cows in anyway... Vegan is just kind of silly.

[Nate]

The problem is cows don't just produce milk for no reason. They only produce milk when they give birth, and keeping the cows constantly pregnant just to milk them can be seen as a form of abuse I guess.

[animewarrior]

The problem is cows don't just produce milk for no reason. They only produce milk when they give birth, and keeping the cows constantly pregnant just to milk them can be seen as a form of abuse I guess.

O.o I had no idea...*feels bad for cows for a minute* However, RARE STEAK IS STILL THE AWESOMEST!! XDD sorry off topic but now I feel rather bad for cows... I hate milk... XD Well the way we produce things in excess just leads to corruption and hurt. Whether this affects animals or humans, it's not that different.. GOOD LUCK BEING A VEGAN DOUBLESHADOW...

and I just totally messed up that post... it's so.... RANDOM.

[Sheenar]

The problem is cows don't just produce milk for no reason. They only produce milk when they give birth, and keeping the cows constantly pregnant just to milk them can be seen as a form of abuse I guess.

The cows are treated humanely, so it's not abuse. Coming from an animal science background, yes, the cows have to be bred and re-bred for parturition and milk production, but cows only can calve once a year...they have a 9 month gestation period. And nowadays, almost all breeding is done through AI so it's safer for the cows. I think dairy cows have a good life --they graze and then go to the milking barn and then out to graze again. The only problem I have with the whole process is the sale of the calves as veal calves...but it would cost a lot to feed them up to maturity for slaughter as beef cattle...


Anyway, Doubleshadow, good luck! Just make sure to eat foods in the right combinations to get the nutrition you need.
Ex: beans + rice = complete protein (learned that in chemistry)
I know with several foods (like peanuts), you have to eat something else with it in order to gain the nutrition from it. (Don't remember what you have to eat with peanuts).

A vegan diet can be done, it just has to be done carefully.

[Doubleshadow]

I'm thinking I should visit the doctor for this one after further consideration. I described the symptoms that made me decide to become a vegan to some friends (they were ragging on me: "You don't need to become a vegan, you're skinny enough!"), and some of the symptoms point towards potential trouble. Probably a good idea in any event since I'm taking this seriously.

Now, if I could stop craving salmon...

[Mr. SmartyPants]

The problem is cows don't just produce milk for no reason. They only produce milk when they give birth, and keeping the cows constantly pregnant just to milk them can be seen as a form of abuse I guess.

Not only that, but many vegans just find it disgusting. You're drinking the fluids of another animal that's for baby cows. They find that idea quite repulsing. XD

[Gabriel 9.0]

Now a lot of SDA members are Vegetarians and Vegans, I however enjoy , Turkey, Chicken( a world without chicken is chaotic:P), Lamb, Beef in a meal. More power to you and Godspeed on your choice of diet.

[AsianBlossom]

I'm thinking I should visit the doctor for this one after further consideration. I described the symptoms that made me decide to become a vegan to some friends (they were ragging on me: "You don't need to become a vegan, you're skinny enough!"), and some of the symptoms point towards potential trouble. Probably a good idea in any event since I'm taking this seriously.

Now, if I could stop craving salmon...

Yeah...it's smart to talk to your doctor before starting some major diet change.

Mmmm, salmon...so wait, why not just eliminate only certain foods from your diet, like red meat and poultry? Fish is very good for you...and not to mention delicious...*is thinking about salmon nigirizushi *

Just a thought.

[chibiphonebooth]

i dunno where you live, but if there is a trader joes nearby, they ususally have lists of all the food they have that is vegan.

i'm sure you could ask for a list and see. I know they have one for gluten free products. XD

and plus, the food there is freaking AMAZING.

but if you dont live near a trader joes... then that sucks for you. XD

[NekoChan_C]

You know.. my older sister is pregnant and hasn't had one bit of morning sickness... I have to wonder if it's because of her vegan diet?! O.o

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Some pregnant women don't get morning sickness. It's possible it's the vegan diet but who knows.

[FukuokaGirl]

Hi hi!
I'm new here.

But I'm a vegan! I have been for two years now!
I looooove it!
And I'm not really sure why people are so upset by it. I mean... they become very angry over it sometimes.
I loooooove cooking.
Most people always say "well, I bet you eat a lot of salad." But actually I hate salad. I hardly ever eat it!
My roommate is studying holistic nutrition and alternative medicine. We're always cooking new and tasty recipes.

Would any vegans/vegetarians/open minded eaters like to swap some meal ideas?

[Nate]

And I'm not really sure why people are so upset by it. I mean... they become very angry over it sometimes.

I think most people don't really have a problem with vegetarians/vegans. The only time I get angry about it is when they a) try to force me to be one too, or b) make themselves out to be morally superior for not eating meat.

Vegetarians/vegans that leave me alone and let me enjoy my steak peacefully, I got no problem with 'em.

[FukuokaGirl]

Well... I guess most of the resistance I come up against is actually from Christians.
I don't know why.... they like to throw out Bible verses and such saying I'm wrong haha!

The reason I abstain is because I find the industry to be unnecessarily cruel and greedy and there is revelry in that. (Plus, health/environmental reasons) I think most vegans feel a sense of happiness and satisfaction when they feel that they are abstaining from something so dreadful. Not necessarily I'm better than you, but more "I'm so happy I am aware of what's going on and am avoiding it."

Yes, I admit that seeing certain foods turn my stomach at times, but I don't think anyone should ever be pushy with anyone. However, I can understand wanting to explain veganism so that it isn't held in such a negative light. I want my friends to understand where I'm coming from. It doesn't mean they have to incorporate it into their lives though.

And sometimes it gets a bit frustrating when people try to get me to eat food against my will too! haha You don't know how many times ice cream is put in my face...
but it's alright because I have aaaaaaamazing vegan mocha almond fudge swirl awaiting in my freezer!
oishii~~!~

[ShiroiHikari]

Vegetarians/vegans that leave me alone and let me enjoy my steak peacefully, I got no problem with 'em.

I'm pretty much the same way. I don't like the "holier than thou" attitude that a lot of vegans have, which is the only reason that I sometimes get mad.

It also upsets me when people think they can be vegan and healthy by just eating lettuce, bread, and junk food. :\

[Fish and Chips]

If God hadn't meant for us to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat.

[Tsukuyomi]

If God hadn't meant for us to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat.

I couldn't help, but to chuckle at that XDD

I love my veggies, but I also love mah meatz \o.o/

[termyt]

Well... I guess most of the resistance I come up against is actually from Christians.

That's because we consider ourselves to be the self-righteous moral authority for everyone and everything. It busts our bippies to see someone else being more self righteous than us.

Honestly, though, by Biblical standards, it is not amoral to eat meat, so being told it is amoral (which many vegans do) contradicts scripture. As long as you are making that choice for reasons you feel good about and recognizing it is a choice, not a moral obligation, no one should have a problem with that.

[Doubleshadow]

I feel like I'm being indirectly teased.

As I already stated, I'm doing this for health reasons, not because I think I'm better than everybody else. I have been eating less and less meat for years to avoid certain troubles and I just don't want it. The only thing I still want on occasion is fish.
I'm also a 'rabbit' by nature. I was routinely mistaken for a vegetarian before I committed to changing my diet, just because that was the food I gravitated towards.
I am partly doing this out of concern for animal welfare. When I found out what has happened to turkeys, I wasn't at all happy I was supporting that. And as far as how horses are treated for slaughter and estrogen replacement? Don't get me started.
I'm not saying that eating meat or drinking milk is in anyway wrong, or that there aren't farmers and hunters out there who treat the animals they raise and/or kill ethically. I just would rather do without.
If I seem short-tempered, I apologize. I found out people have been taking about me behind my back over this and it stings.

Favorite recipe:

Vegan Sushi

Nori
Rice (sticky)
Nama Shoyu Soy Sauce

And whatever veggies float your boat. I like cucumbers, carrots, and avacados.

[Nate]

And as far as how horses are treated for slaughter and estrogen replacement?

Isn't it illegal to eat horses in America though? Or at least they're trying to make it that way...I think Willie Nelson was supporting some bill or something like that. I dunno, all I know is that I ate horse when I was in Croatia and it was delicious, but I can see there being some kind of aversion to eating it in America (same with dogs and cats). I don't get it, but whatever.

[Doubleshadow]

American mustangs and various horses without buyers such as race horses and draft horses are shipped to and slaughtered in Canada and Mexico to be shipped abroad for consumption.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Personally, I see no difference between eating a cow and eating a horse, except the horse might be a little tougher. To my knowledge, the cruelest thing about animal slaughter is the whole "death" part, but by and large it's quick. If it weren't quick they couldn't reasonably put out enough meat fast enough and let's face it, these companies are about money and productivity first and foremost. They don't do it because they like to see stuff die, they do it to turn a buck.

Besides, it just wouldn't be as much fun if the animal were alive. Or would it? (6:23)

[Nate]

"I'm so happy I am aware of what's going on and am avoiding it."

See that's the attitude I hate though. I'm aware of what's going on too, but it's part of what has to be done to get the meat to my table. I could very well say, "You know, millions of skunks, rabbits, moles, snakes, and mice are killed by wheat threshers every year. I am aware of the murder that happens for vegetables, and thus I'm avoiding vegetables to protest the murder of these innocent creatures."

But I don't. Because that's making it look like I'm an arrogant snob. That's why I despise vegetarian/vegans doing it to "save the animals" because they kill as many (if not more) animals than meat-eaters do. They just don't see the bodies, so they think it's more "humane." For someone like Doubleshadow, doing it for health reasons, I think that's very admirable. I admit fully that eating meat isn't exactly the healthiest thing to do.

In fact I've heard theories that part of the reason humans lived so long before the Flood, is because they didn't eat meat. This is why God allowed humans to eat meat after the Flood, to secretly shorten our lifespan. That doesn't seem in the character of God to be underhanded and sneaky though, so I don't think it's true.

At any rate, as I said earlier, if they leave me alone, I leave them alone. XD Then again I don't really have any friends that are vegetarians so it isn't a problem. Or well...any friends. So it hardly matters. XP

However, I can understand wanting to explain veganism so that it isn't held in such a negative light.

Okay, so question. This is an honest question because I don't understand. Vegans don't eat anything coming from an animal. I get that part. But what's wrong with honey? I realize bees make it, but bees aren't imprisoned, and they aren't harmed, and it's something they do naturally. In fact you don't even have to have a beehive to get honey, you could just go out and find a natural nest and get some honey. So I don't get why honey is off-limits. It isn't abuse of animals or imprisonment.

[Tsukuyomi]

Personally, I see no difference between eating a cow and eating a horse, except the horse might be a little tougher. To my knowledge, the cruelest thing about animal slaughter is the whole "death" part, but by and large it's quick. If it weren't quick they couldn't reasonably put out enough meat fast enough and let's face it, these companies are about money and productivity first and foremost. They don't do it because they like to see stuff die, they do it to turn a buck.

Besides, it just wouldn't be as much fun if the animal were alive. Or would it? (6:23)

I remember going to the farm with my parents when I was younger o_o Those poor poor animals @__@;

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Ya know, I tried going Vegetarian for a day...

I gave up pretty quickly. XD

[Doubleshadow]

This page explains it, but I'll sum it up for you.

1. It's not vegan by definition.
2. The bees are harmfully manipulated and exploited for human benefit. Lots of bees are killed, either deliberately or by accident, that wouldn't have died in nature, and the honey and other products are "stolen" from the "slaves".

The article is a little over-the-top for me, and as I said, I don't have a problem with honey.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I don't like bees. They scare me. D: