Became a vegetarian today, help!
Replies
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Gotta love all the people on mfp thrownin around theatric words "peer reviewed" as if it means a study's findings are the researchers theories are iron clad. Just because something is peer reviewed doesn't mean it's a fact or that there aren't variables that weren't addressed. Lol #internetscience0
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What a shame...the OP asked for help and advice, what did she get? The usual bollocks...0
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Just because the answer doesn't start with "yes, that's a great plan" doesn't mean it's not good advice!What a shame...the OP asked for help and advice, what did she get? The usual bollocks...0 -
Just because the answer doesn't start with "yes, that's a great plan" doesn't mean it's not good advice!What a shame...the OP asked for help and advice, what did she get? The usual bollocks...
She wasn't asking for validation, she wanted some tips...simples.
ETA I live up the road from you! Saltaire here...small world.0 -
Vegetarians live an average of 7 years longer than meat eaters, and meat consumption is absolutely 100% linked to cancer and heart disease.
Lolwut?
I don't think you quite understand what you just said there. If eating meat is "absolutely 100% linked to cancer and heart disease", you are essentially saying that anyone who ever eats meat ever, WILL die from cancer and heart disease. And you, a vegelitist yahoo are completely 100% immune from cancer and heart disease. Is that really what you meant to say? Well. hot damn! You found the cure for cancer?? Stop the presses and contact the surgeon general! :laugh:
:noway:0 -
Vegetarians live an average of 7 years longer than meat eaters, and meat consumption is absolutely 100% linked to cancer and heart disease.
Lolwut?
I don't think you quite understand what you just said there. If eating meat is "absolutely 100% linked to cancer and heart disease", you are essentially saying that anyone who ever eats meat ever, WILL die from cancer and heart disease. And you, a vegelitist yahoo are completely 100% immune from cancer and heart disease. Is that really what you meant to say? Well. hot damn! You found the cure for cancer?? Stop the presses and contact the surgeon general! :laugh:
:noway:
Erm... I'm pretty much 100% certain that the post that you have just quoted wasn't intended to be serious....#justsaying0 -
She wasn't asking for validation, she wanted some tips...simples.
ETA I live up the road from you! Saltaire here...small world.
And she got some tips - just they were general tips at what she wanted, disagreeing with how she wanted to do it
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I want to be healthy ad young looking for as long as possible that I should be!
.....
I am posting this for any tips and advice someone might have for me!
And normally, yes... but I'm actually working in Kent at the moment!0 -
I applaud your resolve, I went vegetarian about 9 months ago and I love it.There are some times that I want to eat meat, but they are always when it is a convience problem, like when I am traveling or when I am out with a bunch of friends at a resturant that has almost zero vegetarian options, not because I am craving it. I really posted to tell you what my favorite thing to eat is,
Quinoa about 1/3 cup
Black beans 1/2cup
1/2 avocado
tomato
onion
and a sauce, I have a whole array, just depends on what I am hungry for, like sirracha,teriaki, hawaiian, sometimes even a little BBQ sauce!
This is so good and so healthy for you! Good Luck and send a friend request if you need meal suggestions.0 -
I actually sorta respect vegans/vegetarians more who do it out of their moral convictions rather than the generic "to be healthy" reasoning. I mean hell, if you want to go against nature and fundamentally change your life, might as well have a strong reason for it
Hey man, I hear old age is heavily correlated with a higher chance of heart disease and high blood pressure. Also I don't seem to have diabetes, sickle cells, cancer, brittle bones and a plethora of other diseases, but I'm not quite yet at the point where I attribute my miraculous condition 100% to my food choicesThere is plenty of evidence that a diet high in red meats is linked to type 2 diabetes, heart disease & high blood pressure, which I happen to have neither...
There is nothing wrong with wanting to be healthy and live a long, disease free life, if possible. I constantly get my mom to eat as much of what I do because I want her to be just as healthy as I am because I love her and want her to be around for as long as possible, to see her grand kids grow up, to see ME grow up. There is nothing wrong with being healthy. You can have ethics and be healthy.0 -
Wait. Cottage cheese is vegan now?If you understand how the vegan food triangle works then there's no worrying about getting proper nutrition. A well stocked salad w/ some fruit & low fat cottage cheese on the side for example has plenty of vitamins & minerals. Eating vegan is pretty easy, you just have to be a bit creative in the kitchen to really enjoy it...0 -
After I watched and read Fast Food nation I stopped eating beef. I under stand why you want to go vegan or vegetarian. For the most part with out junk food it is healthier. Good luck I do mostly meatless Mondays and try to eat more fish and veggie burgers.0
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After I watched and read Fast Food nation I stopped eating beef. I under stand why you want to go vegan or vegetarian. For the most part with out junk food it is healthier. Good luck I do mostly meatless Mondays and try to eat more fish and veggie burgers.
just because its on video or a documentary doesnt meal it is real0 -
There are different types of vegetarians......
semi vegetarian- (me) one that cuts all red meats & fish but eats occasional chicken.
Lacto ovo vegetarian - a vegetarian that excludes all chicken, red meats & fish but includes all dairy.
Lacto- vegetarian- a vegetarian that excludes all red meats/fish & chicken as well as eggs and any product containing eggs but still drinks milk & eats cheese.
then of course, vegan... a vegetarian that excludes all animal products entirely.0 -
I think this person just wants help making the adjustment to being vegetarian - it isn't helping to debate whether vegetarianism is healthy or not, or healthier than eating meat - that is for another thread I think. While there are loads of references in popular books and academic medical journals which point to vegetarians/vegans living longer and healthier lives, for instance the American Journal of Medicine says that 97% of heart attacks would be avoided by a veggie diet, among others, and The near-vegan diet designed by Dean Ornish in the 90's is the first ever to halt and even reverse heart disease, the list goes on - my point is that somebody is not wrong simply because they have left their references out, so let's give them a break and just answer their question.
I am 99% vegetarian and have been veggie for over 10 years, and if you need any help or advice on something specific, let me know. I have made veggie dishes tasty and desirable for even the most avid meat eaters. I recommend getting some great-looking vegetarian cookbooks, because if you are used to eating "meat and two veg" type meals, you may not actually know how to cook tasty vegetarian meals. Sure, there are fake meat products like soy burgers and tofu dogs, but what I mean is that you need to learn how to make good, tasty meals that started out vegetable - that aren't modifications of better-tasting meat dishes. I was eating vegetarian in Alabama for years before I officially became "vegetarian" - In my home, we just had so many good vegetables, we weren't really concerned if there was meat on the plate - we certainly didn't miss it if it wasn't there. My in-laws, for instance, cook me a hunk of "veggie meat" plus peas and potatoes. Other than meat, the only thing they know how to cook is fake meat. They cannot actually fathom a real vegetarian meal. So get yourself some great cookbooks, and in the meantime, look at this website for ideas:
This one is good if you are vegan, but it may be a bit strict for you at first, 'cause a lot of these recipes use fake eggs or vegan cheese - I just make them vegetarian by using real cheese, real eggs, real milk etc.
http://vegweb.com/
Also, it doesn't hurt to give this one a try, and search for "vegetarian" recipes (though maybe search for "healthy" "vegetarian) because these people can use butter and cream and stuff - remember if you use the recipes from this website, substitute healthier fats such as olive oil instead of butter; use low fat/fat free mayos and cheeses when you can, etc. etc.
http://allrecipes.com/0 -
Here are some more:There are different types of vegetarians......
semi vegetarian- (me) one that cuts all red meats & fish but eats occasional chicken.
Lacto ovo vegetarian - a vegetarian that excludes all chicken, red meats & fish but includes all dairy.
Lacto- vegetarian- a vegetarian that excludes all red meats/fish & chicken as well as eggs and any product containing eggs but still drinks milk & eats cheese.
then of course, vegan... a vegetarian that excludes all animal products entirely.
Pollotarians eat chicken (that's you), pescetarians eat fish/seafood, pollo-pescetarians eat chicken/fish/seafood, ovo-vegetarians eat eggs... Semi-vegetarians, of as I prefer to call them, flexitarians, will occasionally eat meat (could be beef, could be fish, whatever). I'm sure there's more, too.0 -
Hello,
I am on board with the Vegetarian thing as well now. I was going to try Vegan but I found "true" free range eggs through a local farmer. She has allowed me to see how the chickens live. I prefer almond milk to dairy anyways, so I will be avoiding milk products whenever I can.
I don't judge those who eat meat, poultry and fish. I just focus on what is right for me, and so far I feel healthier.
I do suggest people watch some documentaries on how the animals are treated on the farms that supply food to the grocery store. Furthermore, the farming industry creates more pollution world-wide than the transportation industry, so I think if you can find local farmers who will let you see how the animals are treated, that is the way to go.
There are numerous famous athletes out there who are Vegetarian or Vegan.
It takes some work to balance the amino-acids to ensure you are getting adequate protein, but it is possible.
There are a lot of cook books out there and online recipes etc.... Vegetarian versus Vegan isn't that difficult at all.
I wish everyone luck in becoming healthier whichever route they follow.0 -
video sounds interesting.. thanksBBC documentary of 'How to live to be a 100' and in that they introduced a community of 7th day Adventists, who had a higher then average life expectancy and aged better then the average American and one of the defining differences was that they ate a vegetarian diet, exercised moderately, and didn't smoke or drink.
thanksI think this person just wants help making the adjustment to being vegetarian - it isn't helping to debate whether vegetarianism is healthy or not, or healthier than eating meat - that is for another thread I think. While there are loads of references in popular books and academic medical journals which point to vegetarians/vegans living longer and healthier lives, for instance the American Journal of Medicine says that 97% of heart attacks would be avoided by a veggie diet, among others, and The near-vegan diet designed by Dean Ornish in the 90's is the first ever to halt and even reverse heart disease, the list goes on - my point is that somebody is not wrong simply because they have left their references out, so let's give them a break and just answer their question.
I am 99% vegetarian and have been veggie for over 10 years, and if you need any help or advice on something specific, let me know. I have made veggie dishes tasty and desirable for even the most avid meat eaters. I recommend getting some great-looking vegetarian cookbooks, because if you are used to eating "meat and two veg" type meals, you may not actually know how to cook tasty vegetarian meals. Sure, there are fake meat products like soy burgers and tofu dogs, but what I mean is that you need to learn how to make good, tasty meals that started out vegetable - that aren't modifications of better-tasting meat dishes. I was eating vegetarian in Alabama for years before I officially became "vegetarian" - In my home, we just had so many good vegetables, we weren't really concerned if there was meat on the plate - we certainly didn't miss it if it wasn't there. My in-laws, for instance, cook me a hunk of "veggie meat" plus peas and potatoes. Other than meat, the only thing they know how to cook is fake meat. They cannot actually fathom a real vegetarian meal. So get yourself some great cookbooks, and in the meantime, look at this website for ideas:
This one is good if you are vegan, but it may be a bit strict for you at first, 'cause a lot of these recipes use fake eggs or vegan cheese - I just make them vegetarian by using real cheese, real eggs, real milk etc.
http://vegweb.com/
Also, it doesn't hurt to give this one a try, and search for "vegetarian" recipes (though maybe search for "healthy" "vegetarian) because these people can use butter and cream and stuff - remember if you use the recipes from this website, substitute healthier fats such as olive oil instead of butter; use low fat/fat free mayos and cheeses when you can, etc. etc.
http://allrecipes.com/0 -
As long as you don't become obsessed and start telling your friends to also stop eating meat, and that they are animal haters for enjoying turkey on thanksgiving and so on.
I had that happen, and I'm no longer friends with her, because she went all psycho ***** on me about eating meat, when she had only recently when vegetarian herself. I have another friend who is vegetarian, and she has never once told me not to eat meat, and I've never tried to get her to eat meat either. We just let it be and its not a big deal.
If you can stick to it, then go for it!0 -
You win. At life.0 -
How has the road been? What tips do you have for others?0
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I was a vegetarian for five years. after becoming anemic i went back to white meats and fish.
I have debated going back as I personally am becoming more aware of what is being put into the animals and overall not a big fan of meat eating.
I have contemplated going back to just eggs and dairy and fish and removing poultry.
i think if you do these things over time its not as dramatic. make sure to keep your protein up though.0 -
That's pretty new propaganda for vegans....that study came out last year I think. Anyway, all comparisons for diet against meat is for the 1st percentile of the Standard American Diet, basically the most unhealthy with pretty much every unhealthy marker elevated like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, MetS, etc.......it does fool most people simply because people want to believe and confirmation bias takes over and then look for supporting networks for that support and pretty much every study in these comparisons are epidemiology type........basically most reactions to these are deer in headlight because you can formulate any correlation you want so it's easy to manipulate, hence the 7 years longer. Reality of course is that we would need to see a vegan community that outlives the longest living humans on the planet by 7 years, no, not even close.Vegetarians live an average of 7 years longer than meat eaters, and meat consumption is absolutely 100% linked to cancer and heart disease.
Lolwut?
I don't think you quite understand what you just said there. If eating meat is "absolutely 100% linked to cancer and heart disease", you are essentially saying that anyone who ever eats meat ever, WILL die from cancer and heart disease. And you, a vegelitist yahoo are completely 100% immune from cancer and heart disease. Is that really what you meant to say? Well. hot damn! You found the cure for cancer?? Stop the presses and contact the surgeon general! :laugh:
:noway:
Comparing vegan to one that is equally structured but also includes animal protein is not available and from my research a pescatarian diet trumps a vegan diet, even a vegetarian diet trumps a vegan diet..............For some reason belief is a very large part of veganism which is why it's generally a pretty emotional stance......unfortunately when actual science enters the picture, these threads generally go off the rails.0 -
There are different types of vegetarians......
semi vegetarian- (me) one that cuts all red meats & fish but eats occasional chicken.
Lacto ovo vegetarian - a vegetarian that excludes all chicken, red meats & fish but includes all dairy.
Lacto- vegetarian- a vegetarian that excludes all red meats/fish & chicken as well as eggs and any product containing eggs but still drinks milk & eats cheese.
then of course, vegan... a vegetarian that excludes all animal products entirely.
How come vegetarians eat cheese. Doesn't cheese contain rennet, a culturing agent, which comes from the slaughter of newborn calves and lambs?0 -
Well let me say this. Automatically being a vegetarian or vegan doesn't automatically make you healthy. Actually, it can make you become much more unhealthy if you're not careful.
That being said, I have been a "vegetarian" for three months now. I've only lost 10 pounds during that time span... no exercise just diet. It wasn't hard for me to switch and I did so cold turkey (aha no pun intended). I don't like to call myself a vegetarian because I don't have a self-righteous humanitarian pull towards saving cute little animals from harm. I wish I had that ethical sincerity.. but I don't. I like bacon just as much as the next omnivore. My mouth still drools when my mom makes baked chicken or when my uncle grills some burgers on the grill. Heck. my family are big hunters and it's freaking deer season as we speak ( deer sausages are the best). But anyway, I digress...
I just prefer not to eat it for dietary reasons. I had my gall bladder removed and decided to cut out my fat intake. I found that I ate way too much meat and so I simply cut it out. I wasn't grumpy or irritated or craved meat because I engrossed myself in vegan/vegetarian books and learned the essentials. I started eating at this whole food co-op that takes their own organic produce to produce lunch items. I started shopping from the "natural foods" section at Kroger, I started eating more greens. My tastes changed. I actually started to enjoy vegetables of many varieties.
So I love that I became one because it promoted self awareness of what I put in my body... which is excellent since I'm on a weight loss journey. However I also find that it's hard to get all of my nutrition daily. I generally don't have time/like to cook. So that's something I'm working on because sooner or later I'll get unhealthy. I don't get enough protein not because I can't but because I'm not cognizant of the ratio of nutrition per meal. So it's a give and take. You need to be more aware when you're either of the two. Otherwise, you'll end up suffering. Also it's easy to binge of vegan "snacks" cause it's easier to trick yourself into thinking it's healthy. Like I love Stacy's baked pita chips. I can binge eat a whole bag in one sitting. The whole time I'm going (WELL IT'S BAKED. And no hydrogenated oils, no artificial flavors, no trans fat. YAY)... But a whole bag later..... It's just the same as me binging on doritos.
Anyway. Do what's best for you. The world won't hate you if you eat meat. The world won't hate you if you choose otherwise. Do it for you. Just know that you have to become self-aware of your body more so than when you can just eat anything.0 -
Check out "Vegan with a Vengeance" or "Veganomicom" by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. Her recipes make being veg*n EASY.
Tom (veg*n since 2005)0 -
Thanks! I've already watched Forks Over Knives (my life changer) Food Inc, Food Matters, and Vegucated, and I am thoroughly convinced, and I don't care what there think! I'm surprised so many people are defensive on this issue. Thank you!
I am not sure that anyone is being defensive...they are just giving their opinion.
I tried vegan...I found it too restrictive.
I then tried vegetarian...it was okay but I missed meat.
I have tried carb cycling...that about drove me nuts.
I now just eat whatever I want(Itry for 80% healthy...20% some maybe not as healthy)...within reason...within my daily calorie goals...trying to make sure that I have a variety.
My point...find what works for you...if you don't...you won't stick to it.0 -
Read "Eat to Live' and "Forks over Knives"
Watch Earthlings a documentary on You tube.
These will help strengthen your convictions.
Remember there will always be those who will oppose. Just do your own thing.
Skinny ***** did the trick for me. They also have a cookbook.
Beans are your new best friend.
Watch your carbs and processed foods.
Good Luck!
Add me if you like.0 -
Hiya!
As others have said, vegans/veggies aren't necessarily healthier than meat eaters. My best friend has been veggie all her life and her absolute favourite foods are energy drinks and absolutely anything and everything covered in cheese. And she's the most unfit human I've ever known
But yeah, get some grapeseed oil (for omega 3), whole grains, a variety of veggies, plenty of water, soya milk, cereals, leafy green veggies (kale is good apparently, never tried it myself!), spinach, lentils, chickpeas, seaweed, hummus is a brilliant substitute for butter/mayo in sandwiches... And don't forget to stock up on seasoning and spices, it makes all the difference! I find that Indian food is great for vegan/veggie dishes, this website's been a big inspiration for me: http://www.manjulaskitchen.com/category/vegan/ 0 -
I am vegan for the animals not for my health
even though my health improved massively after going vegan I was a vegetarian for 15 years previous to going vegan
watch Earthlings on youtube and The Best Speech Ever by Gary Yourofsky also on youtube
that is my advice0 -
I love how OP cited the "documentary" Forks over Knives as her life changing inspiration. That film is the biggest piece of vegan propaganda trash that I've ever seen in my entire life and yes I have watched it. It's riddled with so many fallacies it's a joke...0
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