For all the vegans out there...
zinra
Posts: 31 Member
Do you ever have a cheat day? Not as in eating food that's calorie rich but do you ever have cheat days where you eat meat and dairy and everything else non vegan?
How often do you do it and what do you eat on those days?
How often do you do it and what do you eat on those days?
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Replies
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It seems like if somebody did that, they wouldn't be vegan? And I mean there's nothing wrong with that, at all, but you're not a vegan ...0
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I eat maybe 80% vegan, and I do eat some cheese and fish. But I also call myself a pescatarian, not a vegan, even though vegan is how I eat most of the time.
However, I'm one of the rare people who think it's ok to cheat once in awhile. The reason I'm a pescatarian and not a vegan is because those occasional meals with fish make it so much easier to resist the standard american diet the rest of the time. I chose my diet for ethical and environmental reasons, not because I don't like meat or dairy or eggs. By abstaining from the the majority of the time, I'm still doing WAY more good than harm.0 -
A true vegan wouldn't have a cheat day. To real vegans, it's a matter of principle, not just a way of eating.0
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I'm willing to bet most vegans would kill a mosquito without a second thought.catscats222 wrote: »keep in mind that vegans hate the thought of killing animals, they would not enjoy a cheat day at spanky's ribs.0 -
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Nope. Vegans don't have cheat days.
And yes, the only valid reason to become a vegan is for ethical reasons. If you live a vegan lifestyle (yes, it's a lifestyle, as it doesn't just involve food), you don't have a "meat" day.
That isn't veganism.0 -
Veganism is a lifestyle choice which extends well beyond diet -
"Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose." The Vegan Society
People may well follow a plant-based diet for health reasons, but that doesn't make them vegan.I'm willing to bet most vegans would kill a mosquito without a second thought.
I'm willing to bet you don't know many vegans. Those I know certainly would never intentionally kill an animal, including insects.
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I'm a pescetarian, so mostly vegetarian but with fish/seafood a few times a week. I do it because my body doesn't process meat very well; it makes me sluggish, "blocked up", interrupts my sleep if I eat it late in the day...
But I LOVE sausage!!! My grandmother was Polish and we grew up in Chicago, so Polish sausage, Italian beef, deep dish Chicago pizza with sausage and spinach and mushrooms, Portillo's...mmmm.....Usually once or twice a year, I'll indulge. It makes me so sick, but seriously...worth it.0 -
Use a different word because vegan is very specific.Do you ever have a cheat day? Not as in eating food that's calorie rich but do you ever have cheat days where you eat meat and dairy and everything else non vegan?
How often do you do it and what do you eat on those days?
And, no, vegans do not cheat. Otherwise they would call themselves something else.
People who eat mostly vegetables with meat once in a while are called OMNIVORES.
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I think plant-based is the appropriate term here. Ethical vegans most likely wouldn't dabble in animal products. A lot of people are adopting a plant-based diet for health reasons though, myself included. I personally avoid the vegan label coz it's too serious. I'm about 3 months in and in that time I've eaten 1 pizza and once a week I have my fave chocolate bar. For me though, I don't call it cheating because I've decided 95% plant-based is good enough for me so allowing 5% of my calories from animal products would be normal.Do you ever have a cheat day? Not as in eating food that's calorie rich but do you ever have cheat days where you eat meat and dairy and everything else non vegan?
How often do you do it and what do you eat on those days?
I haven't eaten meat since and don't crave it either. Even the pizza only had veggie toppings. I prefer sweets so I'd rather blow my 5% allowance on chocolate than anything else. I thought I could never give up ice cream but discovered that I'm okay with the non-dairy ice creams, esp almond and cashew milk-based ones. But they're pricey so I'm thinking of buying an ice cream maker soon.0 -
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Vegans really really don't have cheat days. It goes against every principle we hold. How can you eat an animal product when you are absolutely disgusted by the industry?0
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As has been pointed out, vegans would say those people are eating a plant-based diet. Veganism is a lifestyle.
Vegans are devoted to the animals in a way non-vegans just aren't. They stick to their guns. They don't have cheat days.
I am an omnivore, but have a LOT of admiration and respect for the vegans and support their efforts, mostly because I think I should be a vegan, but I'm not. I did it for a while in high school, but didn't have the internal fortitude to keep it up. The very least I can do is support the people who do what I believe to be the right thing. (I realize that makes me a huge hypocrite.)
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Traveler120 wrote: »
I think plant-based is the appropriate term here. Ethical vegans most likely wouldn't dabble in animal products. A lot of people are adopting a plant-based diet for health reasons though, myself included. I personally avoid the vegan label coz it's too serious. I'm about 3 months in and in that time I've eaten 1 pizza and once a week I have my fave chocolate bar. For me though, I don't call it cheating because I've decided 95% plant-based is good enough for me so allowing 5% of my calories from animal products would be normal.Do you ever have a cheat day? Not as in eating food that's calorie rich but do you ever have cheat days where you eat meat and dairy and everything else non vegan?
How often do you do it and what do you eat on those days?
I haven't eaten meat since and don't crave it either. Even the pizza only had veggie toppings. I prefer sweets so I'd rather blow my 5% allowance on chocolate than anything else. I thought I could never give up ice cream but discovered that I'm okay with the non-dairy ice creams, esp almond and cashew milk-based ones. But they're pricey so I'm thinking of buying an ice cream maker soon.
Thanks for your response. Maybe I should have used another term then but this is exactly what I meant!
I have to say though, there are a lot of non-dairy, vegan chocolate bars out there and they are delicious! I used to have a habit of going to my local organic convenience store and buy a chocolate bar each time I pass it but I'm on this app now so I have to watch myself0 -
You can't be a part-time vegan, in much of the same way as you can't be almost pregnant.
I really detest those useless labels, flexitarian, carnivorous, plant-based. Most people eat more plants than animals. Noone eats only meat. Some eat more plants, some eat more meat. We can eat everything that is edible and feel fine. We are ominvores. That is what omnivore means.0 -
I eat plant-based 80% of the time with some fish and non-fat dairy. Purely for health reasons (serum cholesterol was high even after losing masses of weight, and I didn't want to go the drug route). I promised myself I'd eat cheese and meat once a month each so that I wouldn't feel like I was giving them up completely, but I'm finding that I've gotten so used to not having them that I forget. I just don't miss them.
Now, the funny thing is that now I eat this way, I am finding my commitment isn't purely based on health reasons. I do care a great deal about the environment, and I'm not into animals in a big way, but I don't feel comfortable with the thoughts of animals being hurt to provide me with food.
Honestly, I believe you should go with whatever you feel satisfies your values and you feel comfortable with, and I don't care about the labels so much. If I'm ordering in restaurants or for catering, I ask for vegan meals simply because it's easier than saying no meat, no cheese, no full-fat dairy etc..0 -
No cheat days as I wouldn't want to eat meat or dairy products ever again but plenty of cheat days eating too many calories!0
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So carnivore is a useless label but omnivore is not?kommodevaran wrote: »You can't be a part-time vegan, in much of the same way as you can't be almost pregnant.
I really detest those useless labels, flexitarian, carnivorous, plant-based. Most people eat more plants than animals. Noone eats only meat. Some eat more plants, some eat more meat. We can eat everything that is edible and feel fine. We are ominvores. That is what omnivore means.
Also, most people(that I know) don't eat more plants than animals. Typical diets involve eggs, butter, bacon, milk, yogurt for breakfast, and meat, fish, chicken for lunch and dinner. If you consider the percentage of calories, it's more of a meat-based diet. And when I was low-carb (which lots of people are), I'd avoid rice, potatoes, grains etc. In a typical meal of a small to medium skinless chicken breast (350 cals) and cauliflower (110 cals/pound), that's 3 times the calories of the veg if I were to eat an entire pound of cauliflower. That's huge. I usually ate half a lb at most in one meal so the ratio would be 6 to 1 in calories ie. meat-based, even though the veg occupied more space.
And just because we're capable of eating everything edible, doesn't mean it's optimal for us. Some of us have lowered cholesterol by eating less animal products. Some doctors like C. Esselstyn use a plant-based diet to reverse heart disease in his patients. Dr. Neal Barnard uses it to reverse diabetes in his patients. The head of American College of Cardiology, Dr. Kim Williams used a vegan diet to lower his cholesterol and recommends it and plant-based diets to his patients as well.
Do what works for you and use whatever label you see fit.0 -
Don't get hung up on labels. People go vegan and veggie for a variety of reasons. I think any reduction in animal consumption is a positive thing.0
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dopeysmelly wrote: »I eat plant-based 80% of the time with some fish and non-fat dairy. Purely for health reasons (serum cholesterol was high even after losing masses of weight, and I didn't want to go the drug route). I promised myself I'd eat cheese and meat once a month each so that I wouldn't feel like I was giving them up completely, but I'm finding that I've gotten so used to not having them that I forget. I just don't miss them.
Now, the funny thing is that now I eat this way, I am finding my commitment isn't purely based on health reasons. I do care a great deal about the environment, and I'm not into animals in a big way, but I don't feel comfortable with the thoughts of animals being hurt to provide me with food.
Honestly, I believe you should go with whatever you feel satisfies your values and you feel comfortable with, and I don't care about the labels so much. If I'm ordering in restaurants or for catering, I ask for vegan meals simply because it's easier than saying no meat, no cheese, no full-fat dairy etc..
Yeah, when I don't want to use the word vegan and ask if there's any dairy in something, people freak out and immediately ask if I'm allergic.
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Anyone that claims to be vegan but then goes and eats meat isn't a vegan.0
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Traveler120 wrote: »
So carnivore is a useless label but omnivore is not?kommodevaran wrote: »You can't be a part-time vegan, in much of the same way as you can't be almost pregnant.
I really detest those useless labels, flexitarian, carnivorous, plant-based. Most people eat more plants than animals. Noone eats only meat. Some eat more plants, some eat more meat. We can eat everything that is edible and feel fine. We are ominvores. That is what omnivore means.
Also, most people(that I know) don't eat more plants than animals. Typical diets involve eggs, butter, bacon, milk, yogurt for breakfast, and meat, fish, chicken for lunch and dinner. If you consider the percentage of calories, it's more of a meat-based diet. And when I was low-carb (which lots of people are), I'd avoid rice, potatoes, grains etc. In a typical meal of a small to medium skinless chicken breast (350 cals) and cauliflower (110 cals/pound), that's 3 times the calories of the veg if I were to eat an entire pound of cauliflower. That's huge. I usually ate half a lb at most in one meal so the ratio would be 6 to 1 in calories ie. meat-based, even though the veg occupied more space.
And just because we're capable of eating everything edible, doesn't mean it's optimal for us. Some of us have lowered cholesterol by eating less animal products. Some doctors like C. Esselstyn use a plant-based diet to reverse heart disease in his patients. Dr. Neal Barnard uses it to reverse diabetes in his patients. The head of American College of Cardiology, Dr. Kim Williams used a vegan diet to lower his cholesterol and recommends it and plant-based diets to his patients as well.
Do what works for you and use whatever label you see fit.
Of course meat and animal products will provide the most calories for most people (who are not vegetarians), because they are more calorie dense. Cutting carbs to that extent we often see today, is not natural, it's a fad. Cholesterol in the blood does not correspond with dietary cholesterol, and any improvement of diet will improve health.
Cats, wolves, and to a lesser extent dogs and bears, are carnivores. Humans' teeth and intestines, plus our evolutionary success, tells us that we can eat anything.0 -
kommodevaran wrote: »Traveler120 wrote: »
So carnivore is a useless label but omnivore is not?kommodevaran wrote: »You can't be a part-time vegan, in much of the same way as you can't be almost pregnant.
I really detest those useless labels, flexitarian, carnivorous, plant-based. Most people eat more plants than animals. Noone eats only meat. Some eat more plants, some eat more meat. We can eat everything that is edible and feel fine. We are ominvores. That is what omnivore means.
Also, most people(that I know) don't eat more plants than animals. Typical diets involve eggs, butter, bacon, milk, yogurt for breakfast, and meat, fish, chicken for lunch and dinner. If you consider the percentage of calories, it's more of a meat-based diet. And when I was low-carb (which lots of people are), I'd avoid rice, potatoes, grains etc. In a typical meal of a small to medium skinless chicken breast (350 cals) and cauliflower (110 cals/pound), that's 3 times the calories of the veg if I were to eat an entire pound of cauliflower. That's huge. I usually ate half a lb at most in one meal so the ratio would be 6 to 1 in calories ie. meat-based, even though the veg occupied more space.
And just because we're capable of eating everything edible, doesn't mean it's optimal for us. Some of us have lowered cholesterol by eating less animal products. Some doctors like C. Esselstyn use a plant-based diet to reverse heart disease in his patients. Dr. Neal Barnard uses it to reverse diabetes in his patients. The head of American College of Cardiology, Dr. Kim Williams used a vegan diet to lower his cholesterol and recommends it and plant-based diets to his patients as well.
Do what works for you and use whatever label you see fit.
Of course meat and animal products will provide the most calories for most people (who are not vegetarians), because they are more calorie dense. Cutting carbs to that extent we often see today, is not natural, it's a fad. Cholesterol in the blood does not correspond with dietary cholesterol, and any improvement of diet will improve health.
Cats, wolves, and to a lesser extent dogs and bears, are carnivores. Humans' teeth and intestines, plus our evolutionary success, tells us that we can eat anything.
Umm, are you really comparing us to cats, wolves and dogs? Everybody knows our closest animal relatives are Chimpanzees and Bonobos (we share 99% of DNA). Have you looked at a smiling chimp lately?
Look familiar? It's like looking in the mirror, lol. They're omnivores like us, yes, but how much animal food do they really eat even with their longer canines? 1.4% meat and 4.2% insects. Everything else is plant food. http://www.wildchimps.org/wcf/english/files/chimp4.htm
Compare that to carnivores.
Not even close!
Short story: Yes we're omnivores. We're capable of eating meat. You want to eat lots of meat or little to no meat? Do what you like. Live and let live.0 -
Traveler120 wrote: »
So carnivore is a useless label but omnivore is not?kommodevaran wrote: »You can't be a part-time vegan, in much of the same way as you can't be almost pregnant.
I really detest those useless labels, flexitarian, carnivorous, plant-based. Most people eat more plants than animals. Noone eats only meat. Some eat more plants, some eat more meat. We can eat everything that is edible and feel fine. We are ominvores. That is what omnivore means.
Also, most people(that I know) don't eat more plants than animals.
Average macro breakdown in the US is around 50% carbs, 15% protein, and 35% fat. Lots of that fat isn't animal fat, so that's more plants than animals for most people.0 -
Traveler120 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Traveler120 wrote: »
So carnivore is a useless label but omnivore is not?kommodevaran wrote: »You can't be a part-time vegan, in much of the same way as you can't be almost pregnant.
I really detest those useless labels, flexitarian, carnivorous, plant-based. Most people eat more plants than animals. Noone eats only meat. Some eat more plants, some eat more meat. We can eat everything that is edible and feel fine. We are ominvores. That is what omnivore means.
Also, most people(that I know) don't eat more plants than animals. Typical diets involve eggs, butter, bacon, milk, yogurt for breakfast, and meat, fish, chicken for lunch and dinner. If you consider the percentage of calories, it's more of a meat-based diet. And when I was low-carb (which lots of people are), I'd avoid rice, potatoes, grains etc. In a typical meal of a small to medium skinless chicken breast (350 cals) and cauliflower (110 cals/pound), that's 3 times the calories of the veg if I were to eat an entire pound of cauliflower. That's huge. I usually ate half a lb at most in one meal so the ratio would be 6 to 1 in calories ie. meat-based, even though the veg occupied more space.
And just because we're capable of eating everything edible, doesn't mean it's optimal for us. Some of us have lowered cholesterol by eating less animal products. Some doctors like C. Esselstyn use a plant-based diet to reverse heart disease in his patients. Dr. Neal Barnard uses it to reverse diabetes in his patients. The head of American College of Cardiology, Dr. Kim Williams used a vegan diet to lower his cholesterol and recommends it and plant-based diets to his patients as well.
Do what works for you and use whatever label you see fit.
Of course meat and animal products will provide the most calories for most people (who are not vegetarians), because they are more calorie dense. Cutting carbs to that extent we often see today, is not natural, it's a fad. Cholesterol in the blood does not correspond with dietary cholesterol, and any improvement of diet will improve health.
Cats, wolves, and to a lesser extent dogs and bears, are carnivores. Humans' teeth and intestines, plus our evolutionary success, tells us that we can eat anything.
Umm, are you really comparing us to cats, wolves and dogs?
I believe kommodevaran was contrasting us with those animals, in that they are carnivores and we are not.
My cat's diet should be very low carb (and the amount of carbs in many commercial cat foods is disturbing). I, however, need not eat a low carb diet, and in fact do well eating lots and lots of plants. (As a human, of course, I am an omnivore.)0 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Traveler120 wrote: »kommodevaran wrote: »Traveler120 wrote: »
So carnivore is a useless label but omnivore is not?kommodevaran wrote: »You can't be a part-time vegan, in much of the same way as you can't be almost pregnant.
I really detest those useless labels, flexitarian, carnivorous, plant-based. Most people eat more plants than animals. Noone eats only meat. Some eat more plants, some eat more meat. We can eat everything that is edible and feel fine. We are ominvores. That is what omnivore means.
Also, most people(that I know) don't eat more plants than animals. Typical diets involve eggs, butter, bacon, milk, yogurt for breakfast, and meat, fish, chicken for lunch and dinner. If you consider the percentage of calories, it's more of a meat-based diet. And when I was low-carb (which lots of people are), I'd avoid rice, potatoes, grains etc. In a typical meal of a small to medium skinless chicken breast (350 cals) and cauliflower (110 cals/pound), that's 3 times the calories of the veg if I were to eat an entire pound of cauliflower. That's huge. I usually ate half a lb at most in one meal so the ratio would be 6 to 1 in calories ie. meat-based, even though the veg occupied more space.
And just because we're capable of eating everything edible, doesn't mean it's optimal for us. Some of us have lowered cholesterol by eating less animal products. Some doctors like C. Esselstyn use a plant-based diet to reverse heart disease in his patients. Dr. Neal Barnard uses it to reverse diabetes in his patients. The head of American College of Cardiology, Dr. Kim Williams used a vegan diet to lower his cholesterol and recommends it and plant-based diets to his patients as well.
Do what works for you and use whatever label you see fit.
Of course meat and animal products will provide the most calories for most people (who are not vegetarians), because they are more calorie dense. Cutting carbs to that extent we often see today, is not natural, it's a fad. Cholesterol in the blood does not correspond with dietary cholesterol, and any improvement of diet will improve health.
Cats, wolves, and to a lesser extent dogs and bears, are carnivores. Humans' teeth and intestines, plus our evolutionary success, tells us that we can eat anything.
Umm, are you really comparing us to cats, wolves and dogs?
I believe kommodevaran was contrasting us with those animals, in that they are carnivores and we are not.
My cat's diet should be very low carb (and the amount of carbs in many commercial cat foods is disturbing). I, however, need not eat a low carb diet, and in fact do well eating lots and lots of plants. (As a human, of course, I am an omnivore.)
Yes - yes, that was what I did, I think
Thinking about it, it's shocking that cat food contains grains. Cats are true carnivores. I have scars that prove that
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And I do agree that chimpanzees are the animals that are most like us. I also think they'd eat more meat if they were better hunters or farmers, and could cook.0
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My cat likes to hunt, kill and eat lizards, birds and mice. Heads, eyes, fur, feet, all of it. Generally, she's eating lizards and Fancy Feast, because I don't let her out of the pool cage, but given the choice, she'd choose birds and mice.
That's not how I want to eat. Not like a cat or a monkey or any animal. Because Ick.0
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