Vegetarian or not?
Healthy4lyfe419
Posts: 12 Member
I recently stumbled upon the book "How Not To Die" written by Michael Gregor and it provided a whole new viewpoint on food for me. Even before I started reading, I was considering eating less meat and maybe going vegetarian. However, I was talking to my mom about it the other day and she is completely against it. She believes that it is not a meal without meat. What do you guys think? Is meat all that bad? Right now I eat about 6-8 ounces a day to get my protein ( 2 eggs in the morning, 3 oz. chicken for lunch, and 3oz. beef/chicken for dinner).
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Replies
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I avoid animal products for ethical reasons. I have not read Greger's book, but I find myself in disagreement with some of his ideas generally.
That said, if you are interested in trying vegetarianism, lots of people have perfectly satisfactory and balanced meals without including meat. If someone thinks a meal isn't complete without meat, that's an opinion -- not a fact.
Beans, grains, tofu, tempeh, seitan, nuts/seeds, and vegetables all have protein and can serve to meet the nutritional needs of those who don't eat meat.14 -
It can definitely be healthy. If you are interested in it, try it, or start by having some vegetarian days, maybe.6
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"Is meat all that bad?"
No, meat is nutritious and healthful. Eat your meat.4 -
You've been thinking about going vegetarian. Try it, and see what you think. Your opinion will be a lot more useful to you than mine.
I've posted this before and I'm sure I'll post it again.
This stuff ^ makes the yummiest tacos around.5 -
I'm not vegetarian, but I do like to make vegetarian meals. It's certainly possible to have a meal without meat if you're willing to try it (my brother, for instance, would agree 100% with your mom!) Vegetarianism is not inherently healthier though, nor would it make one lose weight any quicker than a meat filled diet, as long as there's a calorie deficit. (I know you didn't say anything about weight loss, but many people seem to think that way)
I personally like cooking vegetarian meals because it forces me to eat my more veggies, and, to not get bored, trying different veggies that I maybe wouldn't otherwise. Uncommon grains are often also more popular in vegetarian diets, such as quinoa, and even different varieties of rice. Try being a vegetarian for a couple of weeks and see how you feel, and if you think you can adhere to it. Even if you decide not to stick with it, you might find some new recipes you really love, and you might find that eating LESS meat feels good for you.6 -
I have been a vegetarian for 17 years. It was easy for me because my dad was one. I think this should be a personal choice.
That being said, I always tell newbies or those who say they are thinking about it...research protein alternatives and make sure you have a method to get nutrients that you may miss from meat. The main ones are iron and b12.
I've had so many people say they almost wasted away being vegetarian/vegan. That's because they did not do their research -- believe it or not, some people think vegetarans only eat pb&j and salads. Also, if your mom sees you looking sickly, she's definitely going to think being a vegetarian is a bad choice. And you'll probably NEVER convince her otherwise.
As for your mom, make a conscientious effort to help her out in the kitchen. For example, say you'll cook all the side dishes one evening. That way you can make sure you have your food, and mama's happy because you helped her out.11 -
One can be healthy and eat nutritiously with or without meat...it's really not the meat that is typically the issue.12
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I m not sure which country you live in but most have national health organisations advising on healthy diets. Direct your mum there to get facts right. Me and my non vegan partner manage to cook for two or four (if kids are around tgat is who are also not vegan but sadly coeliac) and eat together the same meal.0
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Try it out. There are a lot of factors that go into why people go vegetarian. People argue against it saying 'well, meat is healthy too and both meat and veggies have pesticides so there's no difference a steak and a piece of broccoli!' For the sake of not starting a heated debate, I'm not gonna argue with that. But even if people just had one day a week like "meatless mondays", health debate aside, that can make an impact on the lives of animals, the state of the environment and redirecting grain from feeding livestock to feeding humans. I think the numbers were something like reducing meat consumption by 10% would free up enough produce to feed 60 million more people each year, which is about how many people die of starvation per year.
Don't listen to the people who are super passionate about "protien protein protein, only animal protein is valid protein" but also don't listen to crazy vegans who try to force you into vegetarianism. Thousands upon thousands of people live without eating meat so it is at least equally as viable a lifestyle as being an omnivore. I recommend watching the "glass walls" video with Paul Mccartney or a documentary about the meat industry, then either stick with it because you've found your own personal reason to do so, or go back to your regular diet if it's not for you.
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pandainatrashbag wrote: »Try it out. There are a lot of factors that go into why people go vegetarian. People argue against it saying 'well, meat is healthy too and both meat and veggies have pesticides so there's no difference a steak and a piece of broccoli!' For the sake of not starting a heated debate, I'm not gonna argue with that. But even if people just had one day a week like "meatless mondays", health debate aside, that can make an impact on the lives of animals, the state of the environment and redirecting grain from feeding livestock to feeding humans. I think the numbers were something like reducing meat consumption by 10% would free up enough produce to feed 60 million more people each year, which is about how many people die of starvation per year.
Don't listen to the people who are super passionate about "protien protein protein, only animal protein is valid protein" but also don't listen to crazy vegans who try to force you into vegetarianism. Thousands upon thousands of people live without eating meat so it is at least equally as viable a lifestyle as being an omnivore. I recommend watching the "glass walls" video with Paul Mccartney or a documentary about the meat industry, then either stick with it because you've found your own personal reason to do so, or go back to your regular diet if it's not for you.
I've met some really passionate vegans, but I haven't yet met one who was trying to use force to try to impose veganism upon others.5 -
I went vegan 22 days ago..... very strict..... Im eating great foods... and plenty of it... I love it.... mostly whole foods little Fiber one cereal in the mornings... ( ask for teh code if you want to look at my food diary for the past 3 weeks) I have been a low carber for ever... I am a type 2 diabetic and in that 3 weeks, I have lost 24 pounds, blood pressure is below normal now and my blood sugar has come from around 200 to like 105 to 110 daily.. I love this way of eating..... there are so many great foods to eat.. and i feel so much better...sleeping better... everything is working better... would love to talk to you about this.... hope we can be friends on here..... good luck and work hard at whatever you do.... Bill6
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willnorton wrote: »I went vegan 22 days ago..... very strict..... Im eating great foods... and plenty of it... I love it.... mostly whole foods little Fiber one cereal in the mornings... ( ask for teh code if you want to look at my food diary for the past 3 weeks) I have been a low carber for ever... I am a type 2 diabetic and in that 3 weeks, I have lost 24 pounds, blood pressure is below normal now and my blood sugar has come from around 200 to like 105 to 110 daily.. I love this way of eating..... there are so many great foods to eat.. and i feel so much better...sleeping better... everything is working better... would love to talk to you about this.... hope we can be friends on here..... good luck and work hard at whatever you do.... Bill
how are you vegan and low carb?6 -
NorthCascades wrote: »You've been thinking about going vegetarian. Try it, and see what you think. Your opinion will be a lot more useful to you than mine.
I've posted this before and I'm sure I'll post it again.
This stuff ^ makes the yummiest tacos around.
I tried to use this stuff for sloppy joes and I hated it. I normally use the Boca or Gardein crumbles, which I like a lot better for that particular application.
Tacos though? I may have to try it that way before I give up on it.
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been vegan 2.5 years and no issues here. I even have muscles
To each their own imho, but it's def not necessary, 3 -
I started out as a vegetarian from 2007-2010, and turned vegan from 2011onward. There are many forums that debate furiously about meat eaters versus veganism/vegetarianism. Educate yourself and if it is a viable option meet with a nutritionist who specializes in plant based eating. I actually go to a nutritionist who is a practicing vegan and it has made my journey even better. I read Dr. McGregor's book and it was informative. Keep an open mind and I wish you much success on your journey whichever one you select.1
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Hi there!
I went through a bit of the same dilemma about a year ago or so. I ate meat for every meal except for breakfast. I wanted to become a vegetarian and many people in my life advised me that it wasn't normal in one way or another (even though the men in my family have history of heart disease and have had major heart attacks in their 50's). Basically, if you do your research you can get all the protein you need from other sources: nuts, beans, dairy, protein supplements, etc.
If you want to become a vegetarian, give it a go for a day, week, month or whatever. You can always switch back if you don't like it. I love Beyond Beef and Gardein if you want meet substitutes. There is a spicy version of those Beyond Beef crumbles which I like even more for tacos. Also, Morningstar makes great fake spicy sausage patties that a great for sausage, egg and cheese biscuits. The only thing I actually miss is really good BBQ and chicken wings, but it kind of grosses me out to think about how much meat I used to eat honestly.
Let us know how it goes if you switch up your diet
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I'm not a vegetarian but eat meatless meals often. I like eating meat but I don't have to eat it at every meal.
A vegetarian diet can be healthy or unhealthy depending on if you are meeting your nutritional needs. You should make sure you get enough protein and fats from non-meat sources. I wouldn't try to do a low carb vegetarian diet.
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I'm a vegetarian because I simply don't like meat. I think your mother has the right idea that protein is important, but that protein doesn't have to come from meat.
I'm very particular about hitting my protein goals, and like other posters mentioned above, I also use Beyond Meat products. Even my meat eating husband and son like them. But most of my protein comes from beans and grains, cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt.
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I always try to go vegan when possible. I do eat meat, but I recognize how important it is for our environment to eat veggies! A palm sized portion of meat is all I need once in a while and certainly not daily. I can get protein and fats from certain veggies. Peanut butter alone is high in protein, avocado for fats, and sprouted bread for fiber. Good stuff!1
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I have done a ton of research on this subject for my book. Eggs and fish do not have the same harmful effects as meat and dairy. I am a sort of Ovo-Pescatarian but without dairy. I started out giving up one meat per month, pork, then beef, then chicken over a 6 month period. I thought it would be really hard to give up but it really wasn't that bad.1
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GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »I'm a vegetarian because I simply don't like meat. I think your mother has the right idea that protein is important, but that protein doesn't have to come from meat.
I'm very particular about hitting my protein goals, and like other posters mentioned above, I also use Beyond Meat products. Even my meat eating husband and son like them. But most of my protein comes from beans and grains, cottage cheese, and Greek yogurt.
If you dislike meat, why eat something that's supposed to taste just like it?
It's like me disliking olives, but then eating little balls of olive flavored tofu. These things seem contradictory to me.0 -
CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
how are you vegan and low carb?
I don't understand this question.
Vegan: not eating any animal products.
Low carb: not eating carbs.
I'm not sure how they relate to each other?
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The idea that every meal must contain meat is an odd one. For starters, why would every meal need it? Beans on toast is a common lunch. Cereal is a common breakfast...
Meat everyday is a very modern concept only made possible by modern intensive farming methods.0 -
@heiliskrimsli
If you dislike meat, why eat something that's supposed to taste just like it?
It's like me disliking olives, but then eating little balls of olive flavored tofu. These things seem contradictory to me.
Because it doesn't. It gets close, sure, but it does not taste or have a mouthfeel that is EXACTLY like meat. Food is complex -- it's not just taste, but texture and presentation that make something delicious. Maybe somebody likes the taste of olives, but not the texture or the fact that they look like rubber. Tofu has a different consistency and appearance, making those little balls taste like heaven to the person who dislikes traditional olives.
EXAMPLE: I went vegetarian for religious reasons mostly, but I also was getting more and more finicky about meat. The veins and just general signs it came from a dead animal were giving me the heeby jeebies. I stopped eating chicken off the bone and started just eating the boneless stuff. Then even that skeeved me out after a while. So I was barely eating meat before I gave it up. Now I will demolish some vegetarian chicken nuggets or strips -- taste is similar, but the texture and general animal parts are missing.1 -
jbirdgreen wrote: »@heiliskrimsli
If you dislike meat, why eat something that's supposed to taste just like it?
It's like me disliking olives, but then eating little balls of olive flavored tofu. These things seem contradictory to me.
Because it doesn't. It gets close, sure, but it does not taste or have a mouthfeel that is EXACTLY like meat. Food is complex -- it's not just taste, but texture and presentation that make something delicious. Maybe somebody likes the taste of olives, but not the texture or the fact that they look like rubber. Tofu has a different consistency and appearance, making those little balls taste like heaven to the person who dislikes traditional olives.
EXAMPLE: I went vegetarian for religious reasons mostly, but I also was getting more and more finicky about meat. The veins and just general signs it came from a dead animal were giving me the heeby jeebies. I stopped eating chicken off the bone and started just eating the boneless stuff. Then even that skeeved me out after a while. So I was barely eating meat before I gave it up. Now I will demolish some vegetarian chicken nuggets or strips -- taste is similar, but the texture and general animal parts are missing.
I guess I will just never understand it, because there's nothing about an actual made of chicken type chicken nugget that even resembles a chicken either. The faux chicken nuggets and the real ones look the same, they feel the same, they supposedly taste the same with the same texture as those chicken nuggets that are made of the formed chicken paste (mechanically separated chicken, it's called). Is it really that you're just worried about there being a bone in the one that's made out of actual chicken?0 -
SarahLascelles1 wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
how are you vegan and low carb?
I don't understand this question.
Vegan: not eating any animal products.
Low carb: not eating carbs.
I'm not sure how they relate to each other?
It's challenging to be vegan and low carb because a lot of the "healthy" low carb staples that most people know/talk about -- eggs, cheese, lean meats -- are off limits to a vegan. It's not impossible to be a low-carb vegan, just a little more difficult than it would be for a meat eater or even a vegetarian that eats eggs/dairy.
I for one want to know what @willnorton eats, because I'm thinking about eating more plant-based food (less dairy) and less carbs.2 -
SarahLascelles1 wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »
how are you vegan and low carb?
I don't understand this question.
Vegan: not eating any animal products.
Low carb: not eating carbs.
I'm not sure how they relate to each other?
It would be extremely hard. Think about what foods are low in carbs yet are not animal products, and also think about things like getting enough protein and calories. It also depends on what "low carb" means, of course.4 -
heiliskrimsli wrote: »jbirdgreen wrote: »@heiliskrimsli
If you dislike meat, why eat something that's supposed to taste just like it?
It's like me disliking olives, but then eating little balls of olive flavored tofu. These things seem contradictory to me.
Because it doesn't. It gets close, sure, but it does not taste or have a mouthfeel that is EXACTLY like meat. Food is complex -- it's not just taste, but texture and presentation that make something delicious. Maybe somebody likes the taste of olives, but not the texture or the fact that they look like rubber. Tofu has a different consistency and appearance, making those little balls taste like heaven to the person who dislikes traditional olives.
EXAMPLE: I went vegetarian for religious reasons mostly, but I also was getting more and more finicky about meat. The veins and just general signs it came from a dead animal were giving me the heeby jeebies. I stopped eating chicken off the bone and started just eating the boneless stuff. Then even that skeeved me out after a while. So I was barely eating meat before I gave it up. Now I will demolish some vegetarian chicken nuggets or strips -- taste is similar, but the texture and general animal parts are missing.
I guess I will just never understand it, because there's nothing about an actual made of chicken type chicken nugget that even resembles a chicken either. The faux chicken nuggets and the real ones look the same, they feel the same, they supposedly taste the same with the same texture as those chicken nuggets that are made of the formed chicken paste (mechanically separated chicken, it's called). Is it really that you're just worried about there being a bone in the one that's made out of actual chicken?
To me, I can tell the difference. Maybe not as much chicken or faux chicken nuggets, which are super processed and full of fillers that can mask that taste -- but mostly in things like chicken strips (beyond meat, gardein, or boca strips) and cutlets (quorn). There is a taste in real meat that is indescribable, and I haven't tasted an exact replica yet. A restaurant accidentally sold me a vegetarian burrito that had real chicken in it. I knew on one bite that something was off and that it was real meat, even though it was chopped up in a heavily-seasoned sauce.0 -
heiliskrimsli wrote: »I guess I will just never understand it, because there's nothing about an actual made of chicken type chicken nugget that even resembles a chicken either. The faux chicken nuggets and the real ones look the same, they feel the same, they supposedly taste the same with the same texture as those chicken nuggets that are made of the formed chicken paste (mechanically separated chicken, it's called). Is it really that you're just worried about there being a bone in the one that's made out of actual chicken?
I actually went vegan for ethical reasons and I liked to eat meat when I was a kid, but to me there is a difference in many meat substitute products. For me it's honestly mostly smell. I've been vegan for 20 years, so even though I used to like meat, I'm certainly not used to it now. Most "real meat" products, even those made from "pink slime" of blended up meat smell strangely metallic to me. Actually cow's milk smells like blood to me a little now. Once my old roommate got some cow's milk (she wasn't vegan but often ate vegan anyway) and poured a big glass in the kitchen and I came in and was like "are you bleeding? I smell blood?" but it was the milk. Weird.
From what I remember of chicken nuggets they had a greasier feel and a chunkier texture (I think they blend up skin and cartilage in there too) than the fake ones, but the smell will get me every time. I guess jbirdgreen says she can tell even if it's covered in sauce, and that might get past me on smell, but I think it might taste metallic to me now. It hasn't happened, so I don't really know.
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There are plenty of plant based options that aren't massively carby. Legumes, nuts, soy (technically legumes but worth mentioning). If you eat dairy, there's eggs, milk, cheese, yoghurt...
Vegetarian and vegan foods aren't just carbs.0
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