Vegetarians Are Just Better People

Adynata

At runningneo122: I'm not sure if you quoted me because you found my comment humorous, so I just wanted to clarify. I was speaking perhaps too generally by saying that people can live without killing animals in the process. As a vegetarian, a lot of the food that I eat still comes from cows or chickens, and it is not possible to track down every single farm that supplies the products contained in all of my food. However, a vegan diet is also not cruelty free - vegan diets often require a larger number of vegetables and crops to maintain, therefore an increased amount of harvesting is needed, which in turn damages the environment and animals that live in it.

Vegetarian diets and vegan diets are therefore not necessarily that great for the environment. There is much controversy about the destruction of forests, particularly to make way for the planting of vegetarian substitute foods. There is no such thing as a perfectly cruelty free, eco friendly diet. Sacrifices have to be made somewhere, as this is the only way we can survive. I personally choose my diet because I feel it is a lesser evil when it comes to animal cruelty. Do I think it'll make a real difference to the world? No. But I would rather not eat meat as a personal protest against the way that a lot of animals are treated in the meat industry than roll over and do nothing about it at all.

frostiegurl

Listen to the Fruits and Veggies, people.

freerange

At runningneo122: I'm not sure if you quoted me because you found my comment humorous, so I just wanted to clarify. I was speaking perhaps too generally by saying that people can live without killing animals in the process. As a vegetarian, a lot of the food that I eat still comes from cows or chickens, and it is not possible to track down every single farm that supplies the products contained in all of my food. However, a vegan diet is also not cruelty free - vegan diets often require a larger number of vegetables and crops to maintain, therefore an increased amount of harvesting is needed, which in turn damages the environment and animals that live in it.

Vegetarian diets and vegan diets are therefore not necessarily that great for the environment. There is much controversy about the destruction of forests, particularly to make way for the planting of vegetarian substitute foods. There is no such thing as a perfectly cruelty free, eco friendly diet. Sacrifices have to be made somewhere, as this is the only way we can survive. I personally choose my diet because I feel it is a lesser evil when it comes to animal cruelty. Do I think it'll make a real difference to the world? No. But I would rather not eat meat as a personal protest against the way that a lot of animals are treated in the meat industry than roll over and do nothing about it at all.

OMG, I never thought I would say I love a vegan. Well said!

I'm going to send you a friend request, I will understand if you decline, because I'm pretty outspoken about vegans, but understand it's the millitant vegans I have a problem with.

Dizzle_65

A lot of people claiming to be vegetarians but eat fish? Is that not a contradiction in terms?

I don't care what people dop or don't eat it is an individuals choice. Unfortunatrly there are way too many preachy people on both sides of the argument.

I like animals, I find the idea of animal cruelty abhorrent, but that doesn't mean you can't eat meat.

Personally I eat lots of fish and chicken / Turkey and whilst I do eat some red mesat it wouldn't bother me if I never had any ever again.

vayax

why are we arguing about vegetarianism?
i am a vegetarian and it was the best choice i ever made.
I dont care if your not, and you shouldn't care that I am.

The general impression I get from this thread is people are just stating what their choices are, and why; not arguing. It's great you're happy with your food choice.

Agree...I don't really see anyone arguing here... everyone is just stating their choice and no one seems to be preaching.

Barneystinson

Pescetarian...includes fish
Lacto...includes milk
Ovo...includes eggs
Lacto-ovo...includes both milk and eggs
Vegan (sometimes known as "Strict vegetarian")...excludes all animal products
Fruitarian...only fruit.

Let me know if I'm forgetting any classifications.

vayax

Quite refreshing to see a lot of non preachy vegetarians and meat eaters on this thread. I'd love to add you all as friends!

Agree! add me if you wish...I'm a carnivore

freerange

Pescetarian...includes fish
Lacto...includes milk
Ovo...includes eggs
Lacto-ovo...includes both milk and eggs
Vegan (sometimes known as "Strict vegetarian")...excludes all animal products
Fruitarian...only fruit.

Let me know if I'm forgetting any classifications.

Is there a Dumbassatarian, eats only McDonalds and other fast foods.

mom23nuts

our friend is a vegetarian but mostly a picky princess of an eater she only eats lettuce and peanut butter and pasta....yo think she'd be a twig but she is a hefty chick.

Veggies or eating crap to forgo meat won't automatically make you thinner or better or healthier.

You do what is right for you. I remember reading the book Eating Animals right before Easter last year and all I coulod do was eat the veggies and did that for a few weeks and caved.

Sorry veg people, I just needed some chicken and bacon.

I do try now to be better about buying meats with no hormones or steroids and grass fed stuff.

Barneystinson

Pescetarian...includes fish
Lacto...includes milk
Ovo...includes eggs
Lacto-ovo...includes both milk and eggs
Vegan (sometimes known as "Strict vegetarian")...excludes all animal products
Fruitarian...only fruit.

Let me know if I'm forgetting any classifications.

Is there a Dumbassatarian, eats only McDonalds and other fast foods.

That's the "SAD" diet

Helice

I'd want to die a hell of a lot sooner though...imagine a life without bacon. Or steak. Or burgers. Or hotdogs. The horror of it all.

Ow dear god, a life without kfc, big mac burgers, meat feast pizzas... bbq sauce would never of been invented =O
I dont want to even think about it.
Quick lets kill all the veggies before the government decide they have a point!!

SabrinaJL

My 17 year old is a vegetarian. I fully support her in it and buy her veggie products, pastured eggs from the farmer's market (which are freakin' $5 a dozen), make extra/different foods at dinner for her and all that stuff. But she does get a little preachy and it makes me wanna smack her.

FitCoachJen

It's also a pain to visit New England and have to order grilled cheese because that's the only non-meat option they have during the winter (true).

What? Not true at all. I've live in New England and as a vegetarian, I've never had this issue. Maybe you were eating at a steakhouse? Almost every restaurant has salads and at least one vegetarian entree. I did go to a restaurant in Utah where literally every item on the menu (including salads) had meat in it.

It's not a blanket statement covering all the states and restaurants in New England. It also wasn't a steakhouse (I'm fully aware when I'm eating at a steakhouse). It is 100% true to my experience at the time...just like your experience in Utah. So, thanks for offering your critique of my experience.

tmarie2715

I eat meat...nothing against vegetarians but I have vegetarian friends that are really fat. So being a vegetarian doesn't mean you'll lose weight.

I'm pro "everything in moderation"

Yes, sadly for some people it seems like vegetarian = processed, pasta, junk food fans.

End6ame

Oy vey. If you absolutely cannot live without _______, that's an addiction and I feel sorry for you.

This is a stupid blanket statement to make. Could you live without sleep, water, food? NO?!?!?!? OMG you are addicted, and I feel sorry for you.

femmerides

so here's something interesting. i've been a meat eater my whole life. when i got pregnant with my daughter in 2007 i couldn't handle to smell or taste of ANYTHING from an animal. So i became vegan. As a vegan I ate pretty well but since I was vegan I thought that eating a little bit of vegan ice cream everyday was okay because it was vegan. I gained 70lbs with that pregnancy. However, I lost 36lbs within 2 weeks of my daughter being born. By the time she was a year old I had lost every pound I had gained with her. I then got pregnant with my son and was a meat eater and ate SUPER healthy and walked like 3 miles a day. I still gained 60lbs. How much did I lose when he was born? A measly 9lbs. That's it! Even when he was 6 months old I was still only down like 15lbs. It was awful.

I loved being vegan because there are some really wonderful recipes. However I love being an everything eater now. So I eat meat but I also eat a lot of vegan dishes. It's quite a balance and works really well for me. :-)

runningneo122

Oy vey. If you absolutely cannot live without _______, that's an addiction and I feel sorry for you.

This is a stupid blanket statement to make. Could you live without sleep, water, food? NO?!?!?!? OMG you are addicted, and I feel sorry for you.

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

myofibril

Ow dear god, a life without kfc, big mac burgers, meat feast pizzas... bbq sauce would never of been invented =O
I dont want to even think about it.
Quick lets kill all the veggies before the government decide they have a point!!

If it comes down between me having a sirloin steak cooked rare and a vegetarian? The vegetarian is gonna diiiiiiiie.

I think most people can respect each others individual choices and live in harmony as long as they don't get preached at...

christinathompson1

i'm a vegetarian and since becoming one i've lost a great amount of weight. there are plenty of ways of getting plenty protein

FearAnLoathing

I only eat people

Schwiggity

I only eat people

Man. The most dangerous game.

runningneo122

I only eat people

Man. The most dangerous game.

Zodiac. It's you.

Helice

I only eat people

I heard we taste like chicken...
Is that true?

mamagooskie

I'm a vegetarian because I feel healthier doing so. I feel "cleaner" or "lighter" and my digestive system is working soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much better now. I get tons of protein in my diet (not of which include milk or eggs) and my sodium is lower, my calories are easier to keep in check. My daily intake of fat is lower and overall I just feel great.

my hubby and kids eat meat though and I have no problems with them doing so. Just vegetarian is the way for me. Oh and I don't miss any meat at all!! I love what I eat and the variety It offers me.

FearAnLoathing

I only eat people

I heard we taste like chicken...
Is that true?

more like rattlesnake.I feel I am much more evolved than all you plant and animal eaters.I am also helping the planet because we all know there is just to many damn people.Im thinning the herd .......your welcome lol:laugh:

elliecolorado

I was a vegetarian for a couple of years. But it definitely wasn't a healthier diet, I know it can be, but I just found myself eating tons of carbs and almost no protein. But I didn't do it for health or moral reasons I just wanted to see how long I could go without eating meat.

sunyg

I only eat people

Thank you soooo much for the laugh. I really needed it today.

Aurelina

I only eat people

Apples!

....apples apples apples!

runningneo122

I only eat people

I heard we taste like chicken...
Is that true?

more like rattlesnake.I feel I am much more evolved than all you plant and animal eaters.I am also helping the planet because we all know there is just to many damn people.Im thinning the herd .......your welcome lol:laugh:

Thanks for thinning the herd. If it weren't for all these dang humans, Green energy initiatives would have started working out by now.

_Bro

No disrespect to veggies but I eat so much Chicken I think I'm starting to grow feathers, LOL.

Also I have a question about this - do motives matter?
I know some vegetarians that do long workouts without any pre/intra workout nutrition.
Obviously, this is catabolic -- they are eating their own muscle. Is the aformentioned veg. Really vegetarian??