Vegan or vegetarian ?

Its_now_or_never31
Its_now_or_never31 Posts: 59 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi everyone,
Yesterday I saw the "Farm to Fridge" documentary on YouTube and it seriously tore me apart.
I couldn't help but cry to see what they do to these poor animals, it's cruel and in humane and those people deserve to be punished. I hate judging people but there was nothing good about the way those workers handled the animals. I get it, it has to be done to feed the U.S and make money some how but dang I just could not bare it. If you haven't seen it and plan on watching it, please prepare yourself. I had to shut off the video. But in reality it was definitely an eye opener. I thought about going vegan or vegetarian, but not to sure where to start. I know this may be a drastic change but after watching that video, meat and dairy is not even worth it. I know there is alternatives and can replace with soy and such things.
I would love some advice and your experience and if it was tough to transition. Please add me as well. Thanks for reading.
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Replies

  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    Here is a group: https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/45-happy-herbivores
  • leanjogreen18
    leanjogreen18 Posts: 2,492 Member
    elphie754 wrote: »
    "Documentaries" like these are very biased toward one side. I put documentaries in quotes because most of them are just scare tactic propaganda. They twist things and only show you the parts that fit their agenda.

    And sometimes its real...
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/tyson-animal-abuse-chicken-breeding-farm_us_57acbddde4b007c36e4d90f1?section=&
  • JC77721
    JC77721 Posts: 65 Member
    How about you do some research about companies that don't treat animals poorly? I guess there might be some or many. Not necessarily to go vegetaian/vegan because of a documentary
  • ClareMillsRoberts
    ClareMillsRoberts Posts: 28 Member
    I've been pescetarian for about a year now but I only eat fish very occasionally. For me it was quite a gradual process (probably over the course of about 5 or 6 years). I initially tried to eat less meat and only buy organic and free range and more sustainably sourced fish etc but it got to the point when I was eating meat so rarely I thought I may as well cut it out completely. I also read the book 'Eating Animals' by Jonathan Safran Foer which had a big impact on me. Ideally I'm looking to cut out fish completely at some point in the future. Anyway, my tip would be to start introducing more non-meat based dishes into your diet so that you get used to not having to always base a dish around meat. I make lots of vegetable pasta dishes, curries and stews with veggies and chick peas or lentils, stuffed peppers, falafels, I use tofu in curries and stir fries and I occasionally use meat substitutes like soya mince or quorn as that allows me to replicate some of the dishes I enjoyed before giving up meat. I find cooking without meat means you have to be a bit more thoughtful about seasoning and spicing because you can't rely on the natural tasty-savoury-umami-ness from the meat but you can replicate it using other ingredients e.g. yeast extract and soy sauce. Don't be afraid to experiment and you can find lots of recipe ideas online. Good luck.
  • cee134
    cee134 Posts: 33,711 Member
    So I would recommend phasing out meat with a reasonable time table until you are vegetarian. That way the changes you make will last. Also do some research, because their are certain nutritional supplements you may need that you can not get from plants alone. B12 and it's hard to get iodine.

    There is a diet that is regularly awarded as the healthiest diet in the world. It's called the DASH diet, but it's not a diet, it's just a healthy way of eating. See if you can follow the suggested servings (ignore the sodium restriction), it's basically a very healthy vegetarian diet that allows no more then 6 oz of lean meat. Then start phasing out the meat, and watch your protein intake as you do that. As a vegetarian, you will need to eat more beans and legumes so keep that in mind too.
  • cee134
    cee134 Posts: 33,711 Member
    edited August 2016
    This page exists to help people be healthy and live sustainability as a Vegan and not to give some misinformation out there that exists on some "vegan" sites.

    Recommended Supplements for Vegans
    http://www.theveganrd.com/2010/11/recommended-supplements-for-vegans.html
    An effort to prove that a whole foods vegan diet is the ideal or foolproof diet of all humans gives rise to all kinds of potentially harmful myths. These include the unfounded position that vegans can meet vitamin B12 needs by consuming unwashed organic produce, or that we have lower calcium needs than omnivores, or that it’s been “proven” that no one needs long chain omega-3 fats in their diet.
    This is where we are with vegan diets: We promote a way of eating that is well outside the mainstream and, therefore, are challenged to prove its safety every step of the way. The things at stake are the health of the people to whom we promote it, and the lives of the billions of animals who depend on us to make veganism a realistic and safe choice for everyone. So we’d be very wise to err on the side of caution in making recommendations about how to eat.
    Vegans do need supplements or fortified foods, and admitting that a vegan diet is not automatically pure perfection is way better than getting sick.
  • littlechiaseed
    littlechiaseed Posts: 489 Member
    cee134 wrote: »
    This page exists to help people be healthy and live sustainability as a Vegan and not to give some misinformation out there that exists on some "vegan" sites.

    Recommended Supplements for Vegans
    http://www.theveganrd.com/2010/11/recommended-supplements-for-vegans.html
    An effort to prove that a whole foods vegan diet is the ideal or foolproof diet of all humans gives rise to all kinds of potentially harmful myths. These include the unfounded position that vegans can meet vitamin B12 needs by consuming unwashed organic produce, or that we have lower calcium needs than omnivores, or that it’s been “proven” that no one needs long chain omega-3 fats in their diet.
    This is where we are with vegan diets: We promote a way of eating that is well outside the mainstream and, therefore, are challenged to prove its safety every step of the way. The things at stake are the health of the people to whom we promote it, and the lives of the billions of animals who depend on us to make veganism a realistic and safe choice for everyone. So we’d be very wise to err on the side of caution in making recommendations about how to eat.
    Vegans do need supplements or fortified foods, and admitting that a vegan diet is not automatically pure perfection is way better than getting sick.

    Generally most people have issues getting enough B12 because it's just not that available. Alot of people have low vitamin D due to most of us working inside all day and not getting any sunlight These vitamin issues are exclusive to vegans, they apply to alot of people. Best thing anyone can do just take a multivitamin daily and they should be okay.
  • dustedwithsugar
    dustedwithsugar Posts: 179 Member
    I went vegetarian after watching documentaries. Actually I'm pescetarian now and not eating diary. If you feel like it - go for it. For me it was one of best decisions in my life. I'm planning to stop eating fish too in some time. There is plenty of info online, but it's true most of it is biased and manipulative on emotions (unfortunately especially from vegans). I can recommend channel on YouTube "unnatural vegan". It's very informative with plenty of scientific evidence instead of playing on emotions. There are videos about basic nutrition as well. Good luck! :wink:
  • queenofpuppies
    queenofpuppies Posts: 189 Member
    I live in the no-coast and can tell you that there are plenty of family farmers still trying to make a living off of grass fed/yard fed beef and chicken. If you have a big enough freezer you can buy a whole side of some happy cow from a small farmer off the internet. look here: http://www.eatwild.com/products/farmsthatship.html I know factory farms can be pretty messed up, but there really are other options if you do still want to eat meat.
  • CrabNebula
    CrabNebula Posts: 1,119 Member
    JC77721 wrote: »
    How about you do some research about companies that don't treat animals poorly? I guess there might be some or many. Not necessarily to go vegetaian/vegan because of a documentary

    This is what I did. I decided I didn't like some particular commercial dairy practices. I started looking into it and found a regional dairy that hits all the marks for me for responsible husbandry and stewardship. Yeah, I have to pay more, but it is worth it me. I also make a lot of dairy products on my own - butter, buttermilk, yogurt, some cheeses, and that also saves some $$.

    As sad is it makes me, I have decided to drastically reduce the amount of pork I eat after reading this. I will just have to source better and bend good over to pay for it, not give it up altogether.
  • littlechiaseed
    littlechiaseed Posts: 489 Member
    queenofpuppies wrote: »
    I live in the no-coast and can tell you that there are plenty of family farmers still trying to make a living off of grass fed/yard fed beef and chicken. If you have a big enough freezer you can buy a whole side of some happy cow from a small farmer off the internet. look here: http://www.eatwild.com/products/farmsthatship.html I know factory farms can be pretty messed up, but there really are other options if you do still want to eat meat.

    How happy was that cow when it died tho?
  • FatmaMalik
    FatmaMalik Posts: 18 Member
    I want to go vegan because it is healthier ,, but unfortunately I live in Egypt where the vegan products are rare ....
    I don't take it ethically bc in Egypt the majority is muslim so they have to be careful when treating animals before they use their products - or their meat- because we don't eat animals that are (dead or killed in a bad way)
    but I don't have much information if they do harm them here too bc in our era everything is being cheated!!!

    mum always tells me that the taste of everything has changed,, in the past everything was a lot better than now :neutral:
  • fishshark
    fishshark Posts: 1,886 Member
    its almost impossibly to get dairy that is ethical unless you have your own cow. I contacted every organic pasture local "ethical" farm near me here in San Diego. They treat these animals amazing.. in fact Straus only milks their cows once a day and then they are out the pasture ( this is not even close to the norm around the country in fact i think there are about 15 farms that do this)... sounds amazing right? Any calfs that are born male get shipped off to the beef/veal factory. So while not eating meat is great dairy is still pretty bad as well... especially commercial dairy.

    edit I am not vegan or vegetarian but I have a masters in Nutrition and have done a lot of research on the subject. After I get my Crohns disease in check ( i don't absorb nutrients and can't get my anemia in check without meat right now) i will be cutting out meat again.
  • Its_now_or_never31
    Its_now_or_never31 Posts: 59 Member
    Thank you all for the feedback, I have a lot of research to do and I know everyone does it different so just thankful for you all sharing your own experience.
  • brichards_
    brichards_ Posts: 113 Member
    I'm vegan and it's the second best decision I've made in my life!
  • LazSommer
    LazSommer Posts: 1,851 Member
    Why do you need a group consensus on a personal moral decision?
  • Aola23
    Aola23 Posts: 17 Member
    edited August 2016
    littlechiaseed wrote: »
    Just stop eating dead animals. Easiest place to start. There was no good reason for an animal to die to be in your plate.

    I read a quote similar to your comment the other day that particularly resonated with me. It went something along the lines of... "There are reasons to be vegetarian and only excuses to eat meat"

    I thought it was pretty powerful as it just cut the BS and its message was clear!!
  • lmmacleod96
    lmmacleod96 Posts: 7 Member
    First of all, congratulations on taking the first steps towards a plant based diet! I'm a vegetarian working on transitioning to veganism. Going meatless is easier than you think! Here is the way I look at it: Consuming meat means taking living things and converting them into waste. It's completely unnecessary to sustain our lives, so why do it? Even if you aren't completely convinced yet, I would recommend trying to substitute meat for plant based proteins little by little - just to show you that this lifestyle is not only possible, but sustainable and enjoyable as well!
  • Electric_Warfare
    Electric_Warfare Posts: 30 Member
    Thanks to meat eaters we can now live a vegan lifestyle.
  • CrabNebula
    CrabNebula Posts: 1,119 Member
    fishshark wrote: »
    its almost impossibly to get dairy that is ethical unless you have your own cow. I contacted every organic pasture local "ethical" farm near me here in San Diego. They treat these animals amazing.. in fact Straus only milks their cows once a day and then they are out the pasture ( this is not even close to the norm around the country in fact i think there are about 15 farms that do this)... sounds amazing right? Any calfs that are born male get shipped off to the beef/veal factory. So while not eating meat is great dairy is still pretty bad as well... especially commercial dairy.

    edit I am not vegan or vegetarian but I have a masters in Nutrition and have done a lot of research on the subject. After I get my Crohns disease in check ( i don't absorb nutrients and can't get my anemia in check without meat right now) i will be cutting out meat again.

    Well, yeah, what else are they supposed to do with males? It is a business. I don't expect them to kill themselves financially to keep every male that comes from the process. It is the best I can do without owning my own dairy animal (and I would eat the males or sell the meat otherwise, so...yeah) and I have no interest in giving up dairy completely. :)
  • salembambi
    salembambi Posts: 5,585 Member
    i went vegetarian as a teen after seeing a 3 minute video of a farmer dragging a cow behind his truck cause somehow the cow got caught and was being dragged

    hearing the cow scream and cry seeing how it was being treated as if it was just an object no regard or care to stop to help because "its just a cow" it really really pissed me off. that very next day i told my mom id never eat meat again and that was it

    been vegan now 5 years and it was a great decision no regrets about it what so ever
  • Its_now_or_never31
    Its_now_or_never31 Posts: 59 Member
    Thank you all for the advice support and friend requests I appreciate all that has been given. I stopped eating meat the day before this post and feel great and don't see me going back. Still learning on what to eat but I know with enough research I will find out what works for me and may not work for others but that's ok. Any change we do helps. Thanks again
  • KetoneKaren
    KetoneKaren Posts: 6,412 Member
    @cee134 I don't think the DASH diet is a vegetarian diet.
  • littlechiaseed
    littlechiaseed Posts: 489 Member
    TheLegendaryBrandonHarris wrote: »
    In my youth, I worked more years than I should have in the beef industry. The main takeaways from that experience follow:

    Everything that lives will die.
    You, me, a tree, a steer, a deformed chicken, everything.

    Everything is reused.
    It might not be reused or consumed today or tomorrow or until our sun reaches its red giant phase, but everything is reused.

    Nature is cruel.
    If left to nature, and in a best-case scenario, a cow will lose her teeth and starve to death. It takes several months. (Predatory deaths are not pleasant, either, and often expedite starvation deaths.)

    Humanity can be cruel.
    The operation I worked for tried to avoid this, however, I've probably seen the same videos and agree that people can be far more inhumane in providing meat than is necessary. Humanity can be cruel, and we can also be humane.

    For me personally, based on my own observations, consuming meat and using animal products is ethical...provided the animals were not abused while they were alive and not killed in a cruel way. (Nature often uses methods we would consider cruel: poison, suffocation, crushing, drowning, etc.)
    A big question I ask myself is, "Is it better to never exist, or to exist and meet a quick and humane end?"

    For anyone wondering what a more humane meat provider looks like, search for White Oak Pastures.
    I am not affiliated with them.
    Just because everything sucks doesn't mean you have to contribute to it. There is no humane murder for meat.

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