Vegetarians found more unhealthy. Interesting article.

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Replies

  • OOh. That's interesting, I was a lifelong veggie too and now occasionally eat seafood. I just occasionally crave it. I always thought it was strange to crave something I'd never eaten, Was it the same for you?
  • Dewymorning
    Dewymorning Posts: 762 Member
    OOh. That's interesting, I was a lifelong veggie too and now occasionally eat seafood. I just occasionally crave it. I always thought it was strange to crave something I'd never eaten, Was it the same for you?

    Anecdotal evidence incoming:

    One of my mum's neighbors was a vegetarian for years.

    Then she started running, and she started getting massive cravings for meat.

    So she is back to being an omnivore.
  • FlaxMilk
    FlaxMilk Posts: 3,452 Member
    yup and she'd get smashed 10x out 10 over the blonde :)

    I guess this settles it. Clearly getting smashed in 100% of opportunities is at the top of every female's priority list.

    If we are posting pictures to debate this thread, someone should ask Sara to join in.

    Anyway, there are people who eat in balanced and unbalanced ways in every diet-vegan, veggie, paleo, primal, plain old omnivore.

    Eating in what would be out of sync for me would be harder on my mental health. I'm not going to lie though; even if I were shown 100% conclusive evidence that I could be healthier eating an omnivore diet, I still wouldn't. None of us make it out alive, we all sacrifice perfect health somewhere along the way in the name of quality of life. Some people are thrill seekers, I avoid bacon. :tongue:
  • RunBakeLove
    RunBakeLove Posts: 101 Member
    But yeah...I posted this about 2 pages ago.

    The article isn't well researched, but I found the data to be interesting.

    Meat eaters can be unhealthy, vegetarians can be unhealthy.

    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...

    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    Every time I said no to an offering of food with "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian"...people would IMMEDIATELY start to justify their choice to eat meat. They assumed there was judgement there and that I was trying to get them to come to the "better side." When I wasn't. It was a personal choice that worked for me at the time. People are hyper sensitive about this subject and can create things that aren't there, I've noticed.
  • Lives2Travel
    Lives2Travel Posts: 682 Member
    But yeah...I posted this about 2 pages ago.

    The article isn't well researched, but I found the data to be interesting.

    Meat eaters can be unhealthy, vegetarians can be unhealthy.

    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...

    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    Every time I said no to an offering of food with "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian"...people would IMMEDIATELY start to justify their choice to eat meat. They assumed there was judgement there and that I was trying to get them to come to the "better side." When I wasn't. It was a personal choice that worked for me at the time. People are hyper sensitive about this subject and can create things that aren't there, I've noticed.

    Out of curiosity, why qualify your "No thanks"? If someone offers me a vegetable that I don't want to eat, I don't say "No thanks, I'm an Omnivore". I just leave it at "No thanks". Just like when someone offers me a slab of chocolate cake I don't say "No thanks, I'm on a diet". What does that accomplish other than imply that I'm "better" than they are based on my choice to forgo cake. I'm not saying that is your intent at all, but perhaps your need to qualify your statement is the reason people respond by getting defensive?
  • hilly510
    hilly510 Posts: 46 Member
    But yeah...I posted this about 2 pages ago.

    The article isn't well researched, but I found the data to be interesting.

    Meat eaters can be unhealthy, vegetarians can be unhealthy.

    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...

    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    Every time I said no to an offering of food with "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian"...people would IMMEDIATELY start to justify their choice to eat meat. They assumed there was judgement there and that I was trying to get them to come to the "better side." When I wasn't. It was a personal choice that worked for me at the time. People are hyper sensitive about this subject and can create things that aren't there, I've noticed.

    Out of curiosity, why qualify your "No thanks"? If someone offers me a vegetable that I don't want to eat, I don't say "No thanks, I'm an Omnivore". I just leave it at "No thanks". Just like when someone offers me a slab of chocolate cake I don't say "No thanks, I'm on a diet". What does that accomplish other than imply that I'm "better" than they are based on my choice to forgo cake. I'm not saying that is your intent at all, but perhaps your need to qualify your statement is the reason people respond by getting defensive?

    I'm not the person you asked but thought I'd give my 2 cents. I usually don't qualify, I'll politely decline but I'll be with family or my boyfriend and THAT person will pipe up and say "She's a vegetarian!" I've also just had people notice my eating habits and when I decline meat they ask "So what? Are you a vegetarian?" In general people just get very defensive when vegetarians come around because they've had exposure to a whack job vegan or vegetarian and think we're all like that.
  • jmv7117
    jmv7117 Posts: 891 Member
    But yeah...I posted this about 2 pages ago.

    The article isn't well researched, but I found the data to be interesting.

    Meat eaters can be unhealthy, vegetarians can be unhealthy.

    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...

    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    Every time I said no to an offering of food with "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian"...people would IMMEDIATELY start to justify their choice to eat meat. They assumed there was judgement there and that I was trying to get them to come to the "better side." When I wasn't. It was a personal choice that worked for me at the time. People are hyper sensitive about this subject and can create things that aren't there, I've noticed.

    I liken this to the trend that those who have an alternate gender preference simply have to let you know within the first couple of sentences after meeting them. The work around is instead of saying "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian" simply say "No thanks." You do not need to justify your food choices or make excuses for them. Then it doesn't become a huge topic of discussion and if the person offering pushes, simply change the topic. Works for me :flowerforyou:
  • Quoting fail.

    Wanted to give thumbs up to confirmation bias comment.
  • lthames0810
    lthames0810 Posts: 722 Member
    in
  • Lives2Travel
    Lives2Travel Posts: 682 Member
    But yeah...I posted this about 2 pages ago.

    The article isn't well researched, but I found the data to be interesting.

    Meat eaters can be unhealthy, vegetarians can be unhealthy.

    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...

    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    Every time I said no to an offering of food with "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian"...people would IMMEDIATELY start to justify their choice to eat meat. They assumed there was judgement there and that I was trying to get them to come to the "better side." When I wasn't. It was a personal choice that worked for me at the time. People are hyper sensitive about this subject and can create things that aren't there, I've noticed.

    Out of curiosity, why qualify your "No thanks"? If someone offers me a vegetable that I don't want to eat, I don't say "No thanks, I'm an Omnivore". I just leave it at "No thanks". Just like when someone offers me a slab of chocolate cake I don't say "No thanks, I'm on a diet". What does that accomplish other than imply that I'm "better" than they are based on my choice to forgo cake. I'm not saying that is your intent at all, but perhaps your need to qualify your statement is the reason people respond by getting defensive?

    I'm not the person you asked but thought I'd give my 2 cents. I usually don't qualify, I'll politely decline but I'll be with family or my boyfriend and THAT person will pipe up and say "She's a vegetarian!" I've also just had people notice my eating habits and when I decline meat they ask "So what? Are you a vegetarian?" In general people just get very defensive when vegetarians come around because they've had exposure to a whack job vegan or vegetarian and think we're all like that.

    I think you're 100% correct. People who militantly espouse causes (a particular diet, a certain religion, a political viewpoint) have made us hyper sensitive to certain buzz words. And I'm like you, I don't qualify. Nothing good comes of it and the last thing I want to do is be perceived as someone who thinks their choices are superior to those of others. I say do what works for you in your life and don't push that on others.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    But yeah...I posted this about 2 pages ago.

    The article isn't well researched, but I found the data to be interesting.

    Meat eaters can be unhealthy, vegetarians can be unhealthy.

    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...

    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    Every time I said no to an offering of food with "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian"...people would IMMEDIATELY start to justify their choice to eat meat. They assumed there was judgement there and that I was trying to get them to come to the "better side." When I wasn't. It was a personal choice that worked for me at the time. People are hyper sensitive about this subject and can create things that aren't there, I've noticed.

    Out of curiosity, why qualify your "No thanks"? If someone offers me a vegetable that I don't want to eat, I don't say "No thanks, I'm an Omnivore". I just leave it at "No thanks". Just like when someone offers me a slab of chocolate cake I don't say "No thanks, I'm on a diet". What does that accomplish other than imply that I'm "better" than they are based on my choice to forgo cake. I'm not saying that is your intent at all, but perhaps your need to qualify your statement is the reason people respond by getting defensive?

    I don't understand this post at all, but I think it does demonstrate the hypersensitivity the previous poster mentioned.

    Why owuld one infer "No thanks, I'm on a diet" as saying "I'm better than you". I would infer it as "I'm trying to stick to my calorie goal so please don't offer me any more cake."**

    Likewise, saying "No thanks, I'm vegetarian" may simply be a means to let the offerer know that no meat is wanted, lest they offer an alternative thinking the person simply doesn't like whateve meat was offered.

    While it's true that one is not obligated to justify their food choices, doing so certainly doesn't always mean they are saying "I'm better than you".

    ** for those hyper-sensitive to the word "diet", please do not infer my response to mean that everyone on a diet should not want cake. In this example, we already know the subject does not want cake and the reason is a diet.
  • scrittrice
    scrittrice Posts: 345 Member
    Science FTW
    [img][/img]nigellagillian.jpg

    this image is really suggestive. I will never become a vegetarian...

    Maybe the lesson is that we should all be snorting cocaine:

    http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/apr/03/nigella-lawson-stopped-boarding-flight-us-cocaine-confession
  • JustinAnimal
    JustinAnimal Posts: 1,335 Member
    But yeah...I posted this about 2 pages ago.

    The article isn't well researched, but I found the data to be interesting.

    Meat eaters can be unhealthy, vegetarians can be unhealthy.

    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...

    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    Every time I said no to an offering of food with "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian"...people would IMMEDIATELY start to justify their choice to eat meat. They assumed there was judgement there and that I was trying to get them to come to the "better side." When I wasn't. It was a personal choice that worked for me at the time. People are hyper sensitive about this subject and can create things that aren't there, I've noticed.

    Out of curiosity, why qualify your "No thanks"? If someone offers me a vegetable that I don't want to eat, I don't say "No thanks, I'm an Omnivore". I just leave it at "No thanks". Just like when someone offers me a slab of chocolate cake I don't say "No thanks, I'm on a diet". What does that accomplish other than imply that I'm "better" than they are based on my choice to forgo cake. I'm not saying that is your intent at all, but perhaps your need to qualify your statement is the reason people respond by getting defensive?

    I don't understand this post at all, but I think it does demonstrate the hypersensitivity the previous poster mentioned.

    Why owuld one infer "No thanks, I'm on a diet" as saying "I'm better than you". I would infer it as "I'm trying to stick to my calorie goal so please don't offer me any more cake."**

    Likewise, saying "No thanks, I'm vegetarian" may simply be a means to let the offerer know that no meat is wanted, lest they offer an alternative thinking the person simply doesn't like whateve meat was offered.

    While it's true that one is not obligated to justify their food choices, doing so certainly doesn't always mean they are saying "I'm better than you".

    ** for those hyper-sensitive to the word "diet", please do not infer my response to mean that everyone on a diet should not want cake. In this example, we already know the subject does not want cake and the reason is a diet.

    I've wanted to chime in for a while, especially with an incredibly strong and healthy vegetarian wife, but I've decided I'll probably just get shouted down by those darn paleo folk and everyone else who is seeming to hate on vegetarians. I truly don't understand how you can demonize one group for cutting out one food group (and also assuming they eat massive dairy and are unhealthy in that respect, too), yet whatever you want to cut out is gold. Studies, studies, studies...

    Anyway, my point is that this poster NAILED IT! I read the first two paragraphs and wondered about what kind of awful, stupid, repetitive, unnecessary responses will she get. But the footnote, hopefully, was so well-worded it hopefully prevented those from happening. Well-phrased, sir or ma'am, and way to predict those responses.
  • Cortelli
    Cortelli Posts: 1,369 Member
    I guess this settles it. Clearly getting smashed in 100% of opportunities is at the top of every female's priority list.

    Ahhaahahahahahaahaa! My kids are looking at me funny -- "why the hell is dad laughing out loud . . . and why does he continue to giggle at the computer screen?"
  • stef_monster
    stef_monster Posts: 205 Member
    I think the study is interesting, but I wish they would have been more specific- how long the subjects had been eating said diets, WHY they followed said diets, whether or not they exercised and what kind/ how often, and broken down the results by socioeconomic status. Maybe thrown in education as a factor, too.

    A few previous posters suggested that the people who adopted vegetarian diets were already unhealthy, and were looking to improve their health through diet. I think this is entirely plausible. I also know it's common for people with eating disorders to adopt a vegetarian/ vegan lifestyle to make it easier to turn down food without seeming to have disordered attitudes toward food.

    I like the idea of this study, I just wish it was more detailed.

    Personally, I've been a vegetarian for about 5 years now. I always joke that I'm a 'bad vegetarian' because I still eat eggs, cheese, Greek yogurt, chicken and beef broth/ stock, and an occasional bite of seafood. I was one of those people looking to improve my health by eliminating certain things from my diet- beef, pork, and milk give me SERIOUS digestive issues (cramps, bloating, tying up the bathroom all day, etc). So I quit eating them, and I feel awesome. I have more energy to fuel my workouts, my skin is clear, and I have less grogginess and mind fog when I first wake up. It is extra 'work' to get all my nutrition in. My diet is kind of my hobby. However, I've tried so many different foods and learned so much about nutrition over the past 5 years, it's worth a little extra time to research and plan my meals. I'm the healthiest now that I've ever been, but I can't attribute all my success to my vegetarianism. Incorporating exercise, eating a wider variety of foods, watching macros, and controlling my portions also helped greatly.

    I don't preach at people about their diets, because what works for me might not work for them. I will share with them what I've learned if they specifically ask me, or give them suggestions if they want. Diet is kind of like religion or sexuality, in my opinion- really it's no one else's business.
  • fitness_faeiry
    fitness_faeiry Posts: 354 Member
    I've been a Vegetarian for 18 years+ and I look (apparently) a lot younger than my age. Hardly ever get ill, and have never had a problem with my weight (I eat a very balanced diet and seldom drink)
  • Lives2Travel
    Lives2Travel Posts: 682 Member
    But yeah...I posted this about 2 pages ago.

    The article isn't well researched, but I found the data to be interesting.

    Meat eaters can be unhealthy, vegetarians can be unhealthy.

    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...

    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    Every time I said no to an offering of food with "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian"...people would IMMEDIATELY start to justify their choice to eat meat. They assumed there was judgement there and that I was trying to get them to come to the "better side." When I wasn't. It was a personal choice that worked for me at the time. People are hyper sensitive about this subject and can create things that aren't there, I've noticed.

    Out of curiosity, why qualify your "No thanks"? If someone offers me a vegetable that I don't want to eat, I don't say "No thanks, I'm an Omnivore". I just leave it at "No thanks". Just like when someone offers me a slab of chocolate cake I don't say "No thanks, I'm on a diet". What does that accomplish other than imply that I'm "better" than they are based on my choice to forgo cake. I'm not saying that is your intent at all, but perhaps your need to qualify your statement is the reason people respond by getting defensive?

    I don't understand this post at all, but I think it does demonstrate the hypersensitivity the previous poster mentioned.

    Why owuld one infer "No thanks, I'm on a diet" as saying "I'm better than you". I would infer it as "I'm trying to stick to my calorie goal so please don't offer me any more cake."**

    Likewise, saying "No thanks, I'm vegetarian" may simply be a means to let the offerer know that no meat is wanted, lest they offer an alternative thinking the person simply doesn't like whatever meat was offered.

    While it's true that one is not obligated to justify their food choices, doing so certainly doesn't always mean they are saying "I'm better than you".

    ** for those hyper-sensitive to the word "diet", please do not infer my response to mean that everyone on a diet should not want cake. In this example, we already know the subject does not want cake and the reason is a diet.

    I understand your point and agree that the issue lies with those who are more sensitive than others. It doesn't bother me in the least when people qualify statements. I'm not easily offended and when I am, I move on and ignore the offender. But, there are those who are easily offended and seem to have very thin skin. I've experienced weird reactions to what I consider non-offensive statements time and time again. I guess it's just human nature for some people to perceive things negatively more readily than positively.
  • RunBakeLove
    RunBakeLove Posts: 101 Member
    But yeah...I posted this about 2 pages ago.

    The article isn't well researched, but I found the data to be interesting.

    Meat eaters can be unhealthy, vegetarians can be unhealthy.

    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...

    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    Every time I said no to an offering of food with "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian"...people would IMMEDIATELY start to justify their choice to eat meat. They assumed there was judgement there and that I was trying to get them to come to the "better side." When I wasn't. It was a personal choice that worked for me at the time. People are hyper sensitive about this subject and can create things that aren't there, I've noticed.

    Out of curiosity, why qualify your "No thanks"? If someone offers me a vegetable that I don't want to eat, I don't say "No thanks, I'm an Omnivore". I just leave it at "No thanks". Just like when someone offers me a slab of chocolate cake I don't say "No thanks, I'm on a diet". What does that accomplish other than imply that I'm "better" than they are based on my choice to forgo cake. I'm not saying that is your intent at all, but perhaps your need to qualify your statement is the reason people respond by getting defensive?

    I'm not the person you asked but thought I'd give my 2 cents. I usually don't qualify, I'll politely decline but I'll be with family or my boyfriend and THAT person will pipe up and say "She's a vegetarian!" I've also just had people notice my eating habits and when I decline meat they ask "So what? Are you a vegetarian?" In general people just get very defensive when vegetarians come around because they've had exposure to a whack job vegan or vegetarian and think we're all like that.

    It wasn't always that I outright said it, but it normally would enter the conversation somehow. Sometimes it would be other people that would say it. Or like another poster said, it was to stop the offers because I'm going to keep saying no and that was my reason...rather than feeling like I'm better than them. I have come to see food as a personal, friendly offering and I guess that was my way of trying NOT to hurt their feelings - it wasn't because it looked gross or I didn't think they could cook, it was because I didn't eat meat at all.

    But I do understand what you are saying that if I were to qualify it, then it could imply that. Ah the joys of human miscommunication!
  • LoseYouself
    LoseYouself Posts: 249 Member
    Eh there are fat people who are meat eaters, and there are fat people who are vegetarians.

    There are ALSO healthy meat eaters, and healthy vegetarians.

    Eat whatever diet works for you and leave the others be.
    why are there so many "my diet is better than yours" arguments on this site??

    THIS.

    Perfectly said. Different diets work for different people. Do what makes you feel healthy and happy. This can look very different for each person. You're right about there being so many "my diet is better than yours" arguments in these forums. Yes, it's a public forum and people will voice their opinions, but what's the point or debating what another person chooses to eat? Maybe eating meat is what is healthiest for YOU, maybe being vegetarian or vegan is what is healthiest for YOU. No need for people to shove their opinions down each others throats. I try intentionally try not to come across as a vegetarian who "preaches" because I don't care what others eat... I just do my own thing.

    Mind you, I'm not referring to this thread specifically, but in general because this comes up a lot.

    Live and let live, people.
  • Eh there are fat people who are meat eaters, and there are fat people who are vegetarians.

    There are ALSO healthy meat eaters, and healthy vegetarians.

    Eat whatever diet works for you and leave the others be.
    why are there so many "my diet is better than yours" arguments on this site??

    THIS.

    Perfectly said. Different diets work for different people. Do what makes you feel healthy and happy. This can look very different for each person. You're right about there being so many "my diet is better than yours" arguments in these forums. Yes, it's a public forum and people will voice their opinions, but what's the point or debating what another person chooses to eat? Maybe eating meat is what is healthiest for YOU, maybe being vegetarian or vegan is what is healthiest for YOU. No need for people to shove their opinions down each others throats. I try intentionally try not to come across as a vegetarian who "preaches" because I don't care what others eat... I just do my own thing.

    Mind you, I'm not referring to this thread specifically, but in general because this comes up a lot.

    Live and let live, people.

    +1

    My thoughts exactly!
  • Bernadette60614
    Bernadette60614 Posts: 707 Member
    I didn't read the actual scientific discussion, but I think it would be more accurate to say: 343 subjects in an Austrian study were unhealthy and reported feeling unhealthy.

    I don't have a huge social circle, but I suspect that I could find at least 30 veggies friends who have great health both physically and emotionally.

    You can probably also find 343 Paleo people who are healthy and feel great.

    The point being: 343 people in one study is inconclusive, though I did love the pictures of Nigella!
  • Dragonwolf
    Dragonwolf Posts: 5,600 Member
    But yeah...I posted this about 2 pages ago.

    The article isn't well researched, but I found the data to be interesting.

    Meat eaters can be unhealthy, vegetarians can be unhealthy.

    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...

    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    Every time I said no to an offering of food with "No thanks, I'm a vegetarian"...people would IMMEDIATELY start to justify their choice to eat meat. They assumed there was judgement there and that I was trying to get them to come to the "better side." When I wasn't. It was a personal choice that worked for me at the time. People are hyper sensitive about this subject and can create things that aren't there, I've noticed.

    Out of curiosity, why qualify your "No thanks"? If someone offers me a vegetable that I don't want to eat, I don't say "No thanks, I'm an Omnivore". I just leave it at "No thanks". Just like when someone offers me a slab of chocolate cake I don't say "No thanks, I'm on a diet". What does that accomplish other than imply that I'm "better" than they are based on my choice to forgo cake. I'm not saying that is your intent at all, but perhaps your need to qualify your statement is the reason people respond by getting defensive?

    I don't understand this post at all, but I think it does demonstrate the hypersensitivity the previous poster mentioned.

    Why owuld one infer "No thanks, I'm on a diet" as saying "I'm better than you". I would infer it as "I'm trying to stick to my calorie goal so please don't offer me any more cake."**

    Likewise, saying "No thanks, I'm vegetarian" may simply be a means to let the offerer know that no meat is wanted, lest they offer an alternative thinking the person simply doesn't like whateve meat was offered.

    While it's true that one is not obligated to justify their food choices, doing so certainly doesn't always mean they are saying "I'm better than you".

    ** for those hyper-sensitive to the word "diet", please do not infer my response to mean that everyone on a diet should not want cake. In this example, we already know the subject does not want cake and the reason is a diet.

    Unfortunately, people's responses aren't always logical. If you look through the forums, you'll find dozens of threads about how coworkers or family members have responded horribly to "no thanks, I'm on a diet" or "I'm trying to watch what I eat," or whatever sort of qualification. Very often, it results in responses like "just one piece of cake won't hurt you!" or sometimes even worse vitriol, where the other person responds as though the dieter did say "I'm better than you."

    No, it doesn't make sense. No, the dieter probably didn't intend it that way. A lot of communication is misunderstood, though, in part thanks to listeners applying their own interpretations or not actually processing the conversation, context, and other things that would put the situation into perspective. This is especially the case when someone is faced with having to actually consider the choice that they've made (such as being confronted with someone who doesn't want a given thing offered). There's a surprising number of people in this world who seriously have never put any thought into why they act or make any of the decisions that they do. Being presented with someone who does something differently forces them to confront that difference, even if only on a subconscious level.

    I agree that it shouldn't happen, and that qualifying a "no thanks" with "I'm vegetarian" should do nothing more than stop future offers for meat, but what should happen and what does happen are often two different things.
  • redraidergirl2009
    redraidergirl2009 Posts: 2,560 Member
    Less healthly? Tell that to my gains brah
  • SpicesOfLife
    SpicesOfLife Posts: 290 Member
    you can eat unhealthy on any kind of diet. if i was a vegetarian living on fries, white bread and milkshakes i would be unhealthy. if i was a vegan living on chips and bananas drenched in agave syrup i would be unhealthy. etc etc..

    with any kind of diet you need to balance your nutrients. vegetarian(especially that) and vegan =/= automatically healthy, it takes effort and im guessing a lot of people dont make it.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    Unfortunately, people's responses aren't always logical. If you look through the forums, you'll find dozens of threads about how coworkers or family members have responded horribly to "no thanks, I'm on a diet" or "I'm trying to watch what I eat," or whatever sort of qualification. Very often, it results in responses like "just one piece of cake won't hurt you!" or sometimes even worse vitriol, where the other person responds as though the dieter did say "I'm better than you."

    No, it doesn't make sense. No, the dieter probably didn't intend it that way. A lot of communication is misunderstood, though, in part thanks to listeners applying their own interpretations or not actually processing the conversation, context, and other things that would put the situation into perspective. This is especially the case when someone is faced with having to actually consider the choice that they've made (such as being confronted with someone who doesn't want a given thing offered). There's a surprising number of people in this world who seriously have never put any thought into why they act or make any of the decisions that they do. Being presented with someone who does something differently forces them to confront that difference, even if only on a subconscious level.

    I agree that it shouldn't happen, and that qualifying a "no thanks" with "I'm vegetarian" should do nothing more than stop future offers for meat, but what should happen and what does happen are often two different things.

    Boy, how things vary.

    I would like to know if my friend is dieting so that I can avoid offering them cake/other goodies that they haven't planned into their day.

    I would like to know if my friend is vegetarian so that I can stop offering them meat. As a matter of fact, when I'm bringing a dish to a potluck and I know that my vegetarian friends will be there, I make one of the dishes meat-free if it works with that dish. (e.g. mac and cheese + bacon is easy to make vegetarian if not vegan, I just didn't use the bacon fat for the base of the cheese sauce and left the bacon out for one dish, when I brought a shepherd's pie I also brought a dish of mashed potatoes). I don't do dairy-free because it doesn't work with my dishes, but if someone declines and says 'no thanks, I'm vegan/paleo/low-fat', I say 'oh, ok' and offer it to someone else/eat it myself.

    I understand why people might be reluctant to share due to other people immediately trying to argue them out of their food choices, but I for one really like to know.
  • SpicesOfLife
    SpicesOfLife Posts: 290 Member

    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...

    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    ^this :)
  • ModoVincere
    ModoVincere Posts: 530 Member
    Woo hoo confirmation bias article for the carnivores!

    omnivores....and I get my veggies through vegetarians.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    I just hate when vegetarians/vegans try to push their beliefs on me telling me that it is a healthier lifestyle ... well not necessarily ...
    But is it any worse than Atkins people trying to get everyone to stop eating carbs? Or people who are all about the protein telling vegetarians or vegans that there is no way they can survive on "so little protein"? Or missionaries or other devout religious folks who tell me I'm damned for whatever reasons they have? (Not trying to open a can of worms, just being devil's advocate here!)

    Frankly I hate all of the above. MYOB.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
    Woo hoo confirmation bias article for the carnivores!

    omnivores....and I get my veggies through vegetarians.
    I think that makes you a cannibal, not an omnivore.

    Anyway, to whomever asked, no it's no worse than Atkins people etc. pushing their diet on others. It's all really annoying. Until science does a definitive U-turn, I will stick with the science that says all things can be enjoyed in moderation.

    As for the protein point; the general population recommendations are probably fine.. for the general population. But, the general population is not especially fit or looking to change their body composition to any great deal and that's why you need to start looking into the recommendations for athletes etc. if you ARE trying to lose fat/build muscle.