Calling Vegetarians - deciding?

[Elmorton]

What made you decide to not eat meat and when in your life did you make the decision? What was the transition like (if there was one)?

I love the taste of red meat. But there is something about it that''s been bothering me lately. I think some of it might be the video of the mistreated cows... I can''t help but think that it''s irresponsible to eat the body of another living creature. I''ve been discussing this with my husband and how it would affect our lifestyle if I did go vegetarian. I told him that I''d prefer to "only eat things that have smaller brains than our cats" - so I''d probably still eat fish and some poultry (even though when I think of seeing a whole chicken or turkey, I have the same feelings as I do when I think of slaughtering cows).

But, I still have lots of ?s. Will our grocery bill go up? How hard will it be to eat out? What should I know nutritionally (I know protein is a concern, what else)? Will it be more difficult to be creative in the kitchen (I love to cook). What should I know before making the decision to stop eating meat?

 

[ladypirate]

We eat meat, but rarely--bf grew up vegetarian and I was a vegetarian for 6 years in high school and college. Perhaps rather than going all the way right away, you could try cutting back on how much meat you do eat. We end up having chicken or fish about once a week and very occasionally will have pork. If we''re over at a friend''s house for dinner and they serve steak, we''ll eat it, but other than that, very little red meat.

I think I''ve recommended it before, but The Omnivore''s Dilemma is a great book about what we eat that advocates the "mostly veggie" lifestyle. As far as veggie dishes go, there are a ton of great recipes out there. We do a lot of homemade pasta (making your own noodles is super fun) usually with pesto, risottos, enchiladas, etc.

Part of the process is definitely figuring out how much meat you eat now--if you already don''t eat very much, then going all the way veggie may be easier, but otherwise, I''d try it gradually. Just my $.02.

 

[Independent Gal]

Hi El,

I've been mostly veg since I was 16, and partly veg my whole life, since my dad is a life-long vegetarian.

If you're still going to eat the occasional fish or poultry, you will have absolutely no problem eating out. That's what I do when I'm out (no meat at all at home though), and there's always a few things on the menu. My dad, who is much stricter, usually asks the waiter if the cook can grill him up some veg or make something special for him. Usually that's no problem in nicer places.

Nutrition is something you have to really pay attention to. I suggest you meet with a dietition or read a sensible (non-fad) book about vegetarian nutrition. You need to pay attention to the different kinds of protein (whole vs. partial) and to getting it from a variety of sources. Also, iron can be an issue.

It can certainly be done. My dad and I are both sound as a pound, totally healthy and well. My dad looks 15 years younger than he is, in fact. But we also are both very careful about how we eat and know what we're doing.

Your grocery bill should certainly not go up, unless you're buying lots of processed pre-fab veg foods. Meat is very expensive! Bean, lentils, vegetables, etc... not so much. If anything, your grocery bill should go down.

Hope that helps.

 

[Independent Gal]

Hey Ladypirate... hope you''re getting your protein, iron, and veg too! That sounds like a lot of carbs.

 

[monarch64]

A huge part of the decision for me (2+ yrs. ago) was when my dad was ill with colorectal cancer. My paternal grandfather died from the same disease. After doing some pretty extensive research, most studies I read showed that if one has a propensity toward the disease, a vegetarian diet can be one of the preventative measures. It''s not just about animal rights issues for me...it''s about my health in general. I''ve given up smoking since then, and also cut way back on drinking. I still eat fish once in a while, and I really strive to eat well by including a wide variety of veggies, fruits, nuts, legumes, soy, etc. in my diet. My grocery bill has stayed about the same...sometimes I buy meat for DH but not nearly as often as when we were both eating meat. HTH.

 

[Independent Gal]

Hey SDL, I can understand your frustration! I have a couple of ideas. First, why not buy your step-daughter a book about nutrition that focuses on vegetarianism, as well as a couple of vegetarian cookbooks. Then ask her to pitch in with the cooking. Maybe she can cook veg for everyone 2 or 3 times a week to give you a break, and make some veg main courses to substitute for the meat you're cooking for everyone else on the other nights.

Just a thought!

Monarch I didn't know that about colorectal cancer and vegetarianism! It's good to know though since that's a major (the major--est?) killer in my family... ON BOTH SIDES!

 

[brazen_irish_hussy]

I think you have a few choices.
The first is to eat only free range animals as they have much better lives and tend to die better as well. One of my BM''s is vegan except at home where she will eat things from free range animals since it is a much better lifestyle.

If you do go veggie, health is a real concern. My bro was a veggie for 12 years but had to stop becuase it was killing him. He got all his protien from soy, which hinders the body''s ability to absorb iron. Add a family pattern of anemia and he kept passing out for no reason and when they took blood to test for it, and it put him in danger doing that. Needless to say, he is no longer a veggie and is much healthier. I am not trying to scare you off it. One of my mom''s close friends and one of my BM''s are both veggies and very healthy, but they researched and talked to their doctors and came up with a good plan.

As for difficulty in eating out, that depends a lot on where you are. Urban California, not a problem. Rural Wisconsin, probably difficult.

 

[cara]

San Diego, would your stepdaughter be more receptive to a meeting with a nutritionist? Perhaps a pro-veggie nutritionist that could take a look at her diet and explain what the special concerns are for vegetarians? I suppose it depends if she is 15 and doesn't want to hear it period or 15 and doesn't want to hear it from parental figures.

Also I think she should totally be involved in the cooking and family meal planning. You don't get to make a "choice" like that and just impose it on the family without making some effort yourself. BUT if she were to take some responsibility for her choice, then it would be good for others to help accommodate (hmm, well maybe she should also be required to come up with a better reason for her imposition, but that seems secondary.)

My mother went veggie as a teenager and she was promptly in charge of cooking for herself.

I do know several vegetarians that had serious health consequences from their diets after several years of no meat, so it might be worth it to try to address the diet with her again. My first friend sounds somewhat like your daughter, young, eating a lot of carbs without much attention to protein or money. Didn't actually eat a lot of vegatables. She also used vegetarianism to help mask an eating disorder. During recovery, she decided with her doctor that it was too challenging for her to maintain a healthy vegetarian diet so she went back on the animal flesh.

The other young woman paid much better attention to getting protein and actual vegetables in her vegetarian diet, but got severe anemia after 4-5 years of no meat. Basically it can take years for your body to use its iron stores, but it can also take years to rebuilt them. This woman also wasn't necessarily getting enough complete protein even though she was consciously trying, so she decided to add fish, and is probably going to be on iron supplements for several years, as her body has a hard time absorbing it properly.

There are of course millions of healthy vegetarians out there, but some people have problems with it.

 

[AmberWaves]

Elmorton: I have been a vegetarian all my life. It was a choice made for me when I was born. My father and I are vegetarians and my mom and my brother eat anything. It wsa a little complicated for my mom who had to make two different meals. I''ve married a major meat eater, but he knows I won''t make anything I don''t eat, and he''s okay with that. I really don''t think it''s any harder to eat out, but in a lot of dinery places I have to watch how they cook, as I''ve had bits of bacon slip into my hashbrowns. Pretty gross. I have so many cookbooks just based on vegetarian dishes, so no, I don''t think it''s going to be harder to cook gourmet meals! I was told to take supplements (although I''m on prenatals because we''re TTC), and especially B12 as vegetarians often lack it! I don''t know what else to tell you, but good luck!

 

[Fancy605]

I''ve been trying to cut meat from my menu at least 1 or 2 times a week and come up with some creative vegi oriented meal (DH and I love egg plant, artichoke, squash, salads, and vegi-goodness). I''m not big on preparing side dishes, so some days I don''t think we get enough greens with all of my meat dishes I make (some of them are very vegi heavy, but others are basically meat and cream sauce and noodles and other straight-to-the-hips goodness).
Plus, I read that cutting 1 day of meat from your diet is good for the environment b/c the skipped meat will add up and fewer resources will be needed to feed the animals that you eat, etc. But, when I started thinking about that, I wondered--does my not eating meat really make a difference? What if my whole neighborhood randomly decided not to eat meat one day, and no one bought it at the local store. The meat available would just go bad. I really wonder how much meat actually ends up going bad on shelves each week--or how much produce for that matter.
Plus, I have also read that many animals die in the harvest of vegetables--rabbits, mice, snakes, birds, whatever. I dunno, I feel like unless you grow all of your own food, you end up doing harm somewhere along the way. I''ve actually struggled with this myself.
That being said, I think the best thing that can be done is to research different companies that produce animal products for our consumption and see which ones are working in the most ethical ways. Really, the FDA ought to be making sure everything is done ethically in every slaughter house--but I am sure regulations are hard to enforce 24-7.
Anyway, good luck with your decision.

 

[Elmorton]

WOW...you guys are FAST with the feedback!!

Ladypirate: Thanks for the book ref! When I finish here it's off to Amazon I like that idea of the "mostly veggie" lifestyle - I think that might actually cater to my conscience (and DH's appetite) in the most productive way.

Indy - Thanks for the info re: food bill. I really like the vegetarian bacon (real bacon, not so much) and I know that stuff is super expensive, but yes, I probably wouldn't be bulking up primarily on processed foods. Thanks also on the info on proteins (didn't know there was a difference!) and iron. Everyone I know who is a vegetarian also seems to look younger/healthier, so that's definitely a big draw there, too, but I knew there were things to be cautious about. Thanks!!

SDL - I didn't at all mind your threadjack. Ahhh 15 year olds.. around that age, I went vegan for Lent and it was a total mess. I'm an only child and my parents pretty much don't cook - so my mom didn't really mind it and took me to a health foods store where we got soy milk (vanilla is muuuuch better than the regular), vegan pastries, vegan lunches, dinners... I didn't last the 40 days at all - I got really sick and after about 15 days, I was eating chicken soup. At that age though, being vegetarian WAS a super cool thing to do (I think I only tried the vegan thing because the super cool English teacher was one and it sounded interesting and different, not really because it had anything much to do with Lent). She'll grow out of it quickly (or here's hoping she will!) - esp if she notices her jeans are fitting tighter from the carbs and sugar overload.

Monarch - I'd never heard of colorectal cancer until your post. The veggie lifestyle definitely appeals to me also because I think it would cause me to really think about what's going into my body. And, congrats on quitting smoking!!

Brazen - Wow, I didn't know about soy/iron. Good to know, thanks for sharing! Haha, we're in Eastern IA...not too far from WI...not rural though, so I guess I'd probably be OK. Good point about free-range!

Cara - thanks for sharing about the women you know. Sounds like a good move then is to still incl fish - and I'll definitely get in touch with a doc before doing this.

Fancy - We'd been trying to cut out meat once a week for environmental reasons earlier this year also. You raise really good points, though...Oprah did a show awhile back about "Freegans" who basically dumpster dive at grocery stores and they showed all the produce, means, non-perishables, even frozen foods that people would get for free - it was scary how much food goes to waste, and it can't even be given to the hungry b/c of legal issues. I'm not really willing to go that far, but it was very eye-opening to see.

I hope I didn't skip anyone! Thanks so much for your thoughtful responses and advice!!!

 

[diamondfan]

If you ate egg whites that would help. Protein, if you cut out all meat, is tough to come by, so you have to combine things like beans and peas.

I also sometimes get sick thinking of meat though I like the taste...

Soy is a good option as well though some people really have issues tolerating it.

I adore all fruits, veggies, grains, etc, and dairy.

Many restaurants have vegetarian options, but know that some things use beef stock as flavoring even if there is not actual meat in the dish.

I have a great healthy meatless split pea soup recipe if you want it!

 

[Elmorton]

Heck yes, please post the recipe! I love pea soup. Thanks!!!

 

[diamondfan]

It is from the California Pizza Kitchen cook book.

I will dig it out and post it.

It has pearl barley, water, carrots, onions, celery and seasoning. I cut the salt by using low sodium soy sauce, and using less of it, plus less salt too.

There is no meat or dairy in it, and it is awesome, and not too hard to make. You can make it and freeze some of it.

 

[ladypirate]

Date: 4/7/2008 7:57:29 PM
Author: Independent Gal
Hey Ladypirate... hope you''re getting your protein, iron, and veg too! That sounds like a lot of carbs.

We definitely eat a lot of other stuff--we do a lot of grilled & steamed veggies, salads, vegetable side dishes, etc. I was just listing a few of our "fun to make" and tasty main dishes, since Elmorton wanted to know if she could still experiment in the kitchen. Also, even when we do things like risotto, we usually throw in a ton of veggies with it so we''re getting our vitamins.

 

[Dreamer_D]

I was raised vegetarian and wsh that my mom had fed me a little meat so I could handle the taste and texture... now I can''t eat it at all... well, I could if I force myself but it is very unpleasant.

Indy had some great suggestions, and I ditto those. You really need to watch the protein, and legumes can be really high in fibre so when you switch over you will need to do so gradually to avoid digestive issues. Most people don''t eat enough fibre (like 10g a day on average) and a good vegetarian diet can have as much a 30-35g per day. And drink lots of water, because legumes/beans are a soluble fibre for the most part, and not enough water = bad stomach issues! haha TMI TMI!!

The best vegetarian cook books are by the Moosewood Collective. I have three of them and all the recipes taste GREAT and they are super easy to make. My fave, which is falling apart thats how much we use it, is "Moosewood Cooks as Home: Easy Recipes" or something, it has a green and blue cover. Buy it please, you will love it and it has the nutritional informtion. Also includes recipes for Fish.

If you aren''t used to Asian/Indian foods and plan to go veggie, I think you better get used to those cuisines! Those cultures use lots of legumes and tofu, both of which are great protein sources, and so foods from those cultures can become the staple of any good veggie.

DD

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 4/7/2008 11:16:29 PM
Author: diamondfan
If you ate egg whites that would help. Protein, if you cut out all meat, is tough to come by, so you have to combine things like beans and peas.

I also sometimes get sick thinking of meat though I like the taste...

Soy is a good option as well though some people really have issues tolerating it.

I adore all fruits, veggies, grains, etc, and dairy.

Many restaurants have vegetarian options, but know that some things use beef stock as flavoring even if there is not actual meat in the dish.

I have a great healthy meatless split pea soup recipe if you want it!

I think this is a fibre issue, hubby couldn''t eat it when we first started dating, but now he can, and I have no issues with it now.... so I think if people are really motivated with eating soy they can gradually introduce it and have better luck.

DD

 

[erica k]

Date: 4/7/2008 10:00:09 PM
Author: SanDiegoLady

Date: 4/7/2008 7:44:45 PM

Author:Elmorton

I hope whatever you decide is good for you.. and.. well big hugs your way. Its a hard decision, huh?

You''re a sweetie.. I didn''t mean to jack your thread..

SDL--
is your daughter on the white-food diet?

i went through a phase of not eating meat in college. but since i was terrible at feeding myself and obstinate about everything, pretty much all i ate was cream of wheat, oatmeal, mac & cheese, linguine aglio et olio, bagels with cream cheese, toast, soy milk and yogurt. i called it my white-food diet. for some reason i just wasn''t in the mood for most foods. that phase lasted several months. i ate vegetables if they were placed in front of me, but i never went out of my way to eat well.


anyway, i used to be vegetarian, and then vegan, but nowadays i''m just pro-vegetable. i won''t refuse meat, but i don''t really enjoy eating most meat, poultry or seafood. usually the thought of meat makes me feel a bit squeamish. plus, i hate handling raw meat.

i second dreamer dachsie. i love the moosewood cookbooks!

 

[Haven]

I was raised vegetarian but I ate a hamburger one night in college after a long night out and haven't turned back since!

I suppose I made the opposite decision, but for me it was just a paradigm shift--I went from being a lifelong ovo-lacto vegetarian one day to someone who was open to eating meat and meat by-products the next. I'd say slowly eliminate the foods that you find offensive and eventually you'll find yourself in a comfortable place.

For me, I definitely did NOT hit the ground eating (more) hamburgers after that one night, but I slowly started trying things I had never eaten before like chicken, turkey, ham, etc. I'd have a piece or a bite at every meal and I really liked it all. THEN I went for the things that were "scarier" for me--steak, hamburgers (HEAVEN!), lobster, etc. It's been 8 years since I started eating meat and I still haven't tried a lot of seafood because I'm not ready yet. I just think it should be a process, because that will probably feel most comfortable to you.

As for the ease of eating vegetarian, it is MUCH easier now than ever, I think. When I was younger we couldn't eat in many restaurants because they didn't have any vegetarian options and now everyone does. There are so many great cookbooks, too. I think it will be a fun way to motivate you to start experimenting in the kitchen with new recipes (if you like that sort of thing).

Good luck. I LOVE eating meat now, but I must admit that I relapse at times, such as when a student brought in a PETA magazine and left it on my desk. I read it cover to cover and didn't eat meat for a couple of months. (We actually cancelled a reservation at Morton's, my FAVORITE, because of it.)

 

[AmberGretchen]

I''m sure I''m echoing a lot of what has already been said in this thread, but as someone who has been a vegetarian by choice since age 5 (I was a strange five year old...), and who has been both healthy and unhealthy at various points in my life, I have to stress that being healthy eating a veggie diet is the same as being healthy eating a non-veggie diet. The key in both cases is eating consciously and really paying attention to getting all the nutrition you need.

One thing I''d suggest when making the transition is to maybe try tracking your intake online on a website that will calculate how much protein, fiber, etc... you''re getting daily. Sprakpeople.com is great for this - it will calculate all the basics (protein, fat, carbs, fiber), and will also track a lot of other things if you''re concerned - calcium, whatever. That way you could see if you are getting enough protein and other nutrients and if not, adjust accordingly.

Most of our meals in my home are built around addressing the major food groups - we try to include one lean protein (low fat cheese, tofu, etc...), one whole grain (brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat pasta), and lots of veggies and/or fruits. Not too complicated as formulas go, and we find it easy to make lots of tasty foods.

I can honestly say I think it is completely do-able though - I currently manage to get plenty of protein (above the recommended amount), lots of fiber (I average 35-40 g/day), and plenty of veggies and fruits, and I''m on a restricted calorie diet while trying to lose weight, so I"m guessing if you were able to be more flexible with your calories, it wouldn''t be tough at all to get all your nutrients.

Good luck, and I hope that''s helpful!

 

[cellososweet]

hey there. I think it's great that you are thinking about becoming a vegetarian, and even better that you are asking questions.

I was a vegetarian for years as a kid. My own decision. Not quite sure why. Went to In N' Out in high school, had a burger, rest was history. But, tomorrow actually marks my one year vege-anniversary, this time round. And now i'm sure it will stick. I became a vegetarian because I have three cats and the thought of eating them or someone thinking that they would make a good sandwich killed me. They are my children. They have feelings. The love me. I love them. Also, I had a hard time digesting meat and wasn't enjoying my stomach aches. On top of that, if I can live a life where I can make a stand to try and lessen the suffering of others, then that is something that makes me happy. If people want to eat meat, that is fine with me. As long as they know where their meat comes from and the conditions that the animals face and they are ok with that, that is their own decision. I might see them diffierently, but I'm not some crazy hippie who is going to condemn for their decision. Any decision is ok, as long as it's an informed one. That's how I feel.

I cut out the meats that I didn't eat often first. I didn't eat a lot of red meat and since I was trying to lose weight as well (not the reason I went vege though. Just a coincidence), this worked great. The only red meat I really ate was fast food and it made it a lot easier not to go and get a burger.

There will always be that one meat that is hard to give up. Whether it be poultry, fish, red meat, etc. For me it was chicken. It was so convenient and at the time I wasn't very nutrition-savvy, so chicken=protein=good was all I knew. Getting rid of the chicken was hard, but watching Earthlings helped

I suggest that you get creative in the kitchen. I love love love to cook and do-so several times a week. Nothing makes me happier than making a huge meal. Soups from scratch, salad, main entree, dessert. The whole nine. This has helped my transition to vegetarianism a lot. Getting creative and proving to yourself that you don't need meat to have a hearty meal makes things easier.

Where do you live, might I ask? Perhaps I can recommend some restaurants if I'm familiar with the area. Or, you can go online and look for vegetarian restaurants. They are always great sources of inspiration. Go try them out and then try to knock off the dishes at home

For nutrition, I generally eat balanced meals, but if I'm in a rush and I'm being lazy with reading the labels, I follow a general rule: Everything that is "good" I want close to 20% on the label, everything that i not so good, I want closer to 5% on the label. So I'm looking for closer to 20% fiber, closer to 20% protein, definitely closer to 5% sugar, etc. This is based on a 2,000 calorie diet, but if you are in a rush, it's a pretty good way to gauge whether something is ok.

For protein: cottage cheese, string cheese, peanut butter, beans and lentils, tofu (give it a go. it takes some getting used to. marinate it in sesame seed oil, soy sauce, red pepper, garlic, and sesame seeds. yummy. pan "sear" it.), egg whites (i put them in salads, sandwiches, wraps, make omelets. Egg whites though. The yolk all the time isn't really great. Once in a while is ok though, of course).

Funny enough though, we live in a society where a high protein diet is hailed as the holy grail to health, when in all reality, most of us (vege and non vege alike) get more than enough. If you're not a body builder, there's no need to eat ridiculous amount of protein. One BIG things to focus on is B-12. It doesn't really exist in any veges or grains in big quantities. Thankfully your body stores it for a long time and it would take a reallly long time for you to deplete your natural supply, but focus on bolstering it with fortified soy products (soy milk, etc).

Also, when you go out, use vegetarianism as a way of being creative. Look at the menu for what it could be, not what it is. Chicken enchiladas can become black bean and corn enchiladas with a special request. Peppers and onions or mushrooms can replace meat in meals. If you are doing italian, try stuffed dishes (though usually not the healthiest, but yummy nonetheless). Raviolis in saffron sauce with portabellos. Mmmmmm. Yum. I go to BJ's all the time and order a turkey cobb sandwich with no turkey and no bacon. It still comes with a dijon sauce, lettuce, onion, tomato and avocado with cheese. Be creative. And if you have any more questions, ask

good luck!!

 

[Rhea]

I've been vegetarian since I was 11 and DH has been veggie his entire life.

I couldn't tell you about the transition, mine was horrible because at 11 I wasn't able to handle the diet change and my parents weren't entirely sure what to do with me. DH had no transition.

Our grocery bill is low in comparison to people I know, but I don't know if that's because we don't eat meat or because we rarely use prepared items. As far as your love of cooking - we both enjoying cook. I like to cook simple dishes. I take pride in finding a dish I can prepare in 30-45 minutes and makes left-overs for the next night. DH likes the fancy and complex. 3 course meals with many spices and hours in the kitchen. For him it has to look as good as it tastes. We've yet to have a problem with cooking, but part of this has probably been that there has been no trial by fire for us.

Eating out is not an issue for us...but we live in the UK. When I lived in the US it was an issue and we hardly ever ate out. We were able to find some things at local places on my town's Main Street. In the UK, it's so easy. Every place has options and we hardly ever walk into a chain (thank god!). At a burger joint, most have veggie burgers. Pizza places are no issue. Indian is one of my favorites with TONS of options. Chinese is another one where there is always something. Same with Italian.

But inexpensive, nationwide chains simply aren't an option. Applebee's has no veggie main. Chili's used to have a black bean burger but took that off their menu leaving only the nachos. Olive Garden has some options but they are limited.

 

[angel_nieves]

Darn it seems I am late to this topic. I have been vegan (no animal products, no eggs, dairy, or meat for nearly a year now). ). For me it was a combination of heath reasons and animal rights. I saw a slaughter house IRL and no thanks, also all the hormones they give the livestock are just scary. I have to say that the first few weeks I craved a whopper or any type of hamburger. Now the smell of meat makes me gag. Our grocery bill is about the same; my hubby and son still eat meat. I love that becoming vegan has got me to be more creative in the kitchen. Sure I had nights where the dog would even eat the food, but the nights that when everything came out perfect was priceless. Now I have my SIL calling me up to find out when I am doing rice dumplings and stir-fry or when am I doing my special vegan lasagna.

I am very diligent when it comes to my diet I eat tons of veg, fruit, beans, and have an ungodly love of Indian and Asian food. Also when I had my iron levels checked it was fine. I do take a prenatal vitamin and extra vitamin B-12. I watch and plan my diet very closely due to my type2 diabetes, so not too many starchy things allowed. I also have a soy protein or hemp protein shake in the morning and have not had a problem with too little protein yet. If you have any questions post and hopefully I can help. Also I have tons of links to food blogs with really good recipes. I hope this helps a little.

Oh SDL I am sorry for you predicament with your daughter. Just hang in there, sending you fairy dust.

 

[cnspotts]

I haven't read through all the posts but wanted to give you my story since it sounds much like what you're feeling and going through currently. I've never been a big meat eater anyway and off and on have totally given it up without there being a real reason for it. Sometime last year I gave it up officially drastically going vegan due to cruelty and factory farming lack of standards for the poor animals. Okay as it turns out I like leather, and I like eggs and cheese too. So slowly I've added those back in but with guidelines so that I don't compromise my original feeling of wanting to not participate in the inhumane production of cows, chickens and pork.

The more I educate myself about "factory farming" the more disgusted I get now. I absolutely will not eat mass produced beef, chickens or pork period. I don't miss it either. I do eat fish & shrimp (no lobster tho, they clean the reefs). I eat buffalo maybe twice a year too, and recently I did eat a little bit of a delicious steak in Honduras but the Rancher's beef is free range organic grass fed....the way it should be. I buy free range hand collected eggs and organic dairy for my coffee otherwise I'm a soymilk girl all the way. I don't do "fake" meats.....why, it's not meat anyway. I'm all fruit and veggies now. I prefer cheese that is imported.

I guess for me I really take time to find out about the source of my food now and how it was handled along the way to me. I'm also currently cutting out HFCS (high frustose corn syrup), do some reading on that and you'll feel differently about everything else you eat. I use Stevia as my sweetner or Agave syrup, or honey or none at all.

In Mother Earth News FEB issue there is a really great article about US Beef production, it pretty much sums up everything I've come to understand about that subject in the past few years in one neat sad article. If other countries refuse to import our beef shouldn't we be asking why?????? Good READ.

My husband eats meat, so I'm trying to get a better source of it for him the more I learn. He definitely eats better now than he use to and he's not bothered by my choices nor do I press him to join me. We have no problem eating together, he eats what I won't and I eat what he doesn't like as far as veggies go. It works out for us both.

I guess that makes me a vegetarian these days.

Our Grocery bill is the same or less actually because we rarely waste anything, we shop more often, smaller quantities, fresher, less packaged things. We eat out all the time but choose restaurants that will suit both of us and I'm not afraid to ask for specialty things like just fish and veg no other stuff, etc.

I do watch my iron, vit D, protein, but no real issues and I'm super healthy. There is soooo much info online and always talk to someone or a doc if you have questions. Most importantly....listen to your body. I had to add in some dairy (protein, calcium) because I was craving it! And it's too hard to cook things without eggs so thankfully there's free range, etc. I also like NOW soy protein powder, plain & unsweetend, great mixing no grittiness. And supplements galore.

You'll know if the choice is right for you and you may have to make that choice again and again and for different reasons each time. Good luck to you.

 

[Elmorton]

Cnspotts, I cracked up during the first line of your post - DH and I went shopping this afternoon, and I found a couple Coach purses on clearance at Marshall''s (which I managed NOT to purchase!) - he said "Hey, since you''re on this new be-kind-to-animals kick, are you going to stop buying leather?" and I just stared at him like he was insane. I could never wear a fur, but the idea of never buying a leather purse again - yeah, that could bring me to tears (seriously, I don''t know how my brain works on issues like that). Thank you so much for writing about your experience!!

Macie, thank you also for writing about your experience as a vegan! Ooooh, vegan lasagna sounds realy good...but hemp shakes? Do they taste ok?? I would love to read some of the food blogs! BTW, how were you able to visit a slaughter house???

Addy, I can''t believe Applebee''s doesn''t have a veggie option! And, thinking about it, everything I eat at Chili''s does have meat...hmmm. Sounds like you and your DH have a great time in the kitchen! My DH and I are your opposite - I like the fancy, all evening to make meals, and DH likes it simple, but we both do enjoy cooking.

Cello, that''s exactly what started all of this - I look at my kitties (who are sleeping next to me right now, aww), and think about their personalities and how smart they are and how expressive and FEELING they are, and then the idea of eating an animal who has the the same (or more) ability to do all these things really bothers me. Thanks so much for all the info - about eating out, B12, etc, and especially addressing starting by cutting out what I don''t eat often to what I do (chicken will be sooo hard - and it''s not that I absolutely love chicken, but it''s in a lot of my favorite "eating out" foods...I want to do it, but I have a feeling that''s the one thing that I''ll never fully be able to cut out).

AmberGretchen, ooh, thanks for the website! I like your simple formula, too. The second scariest thing about going veggie (the fist being if I can actually do this!) is getting my correct nutrients - but I think you''re right about how it''s no different than figuring out a healthy diet if you''re a meat eater. Thanks!

Haven, thanks for sharing your "reverse" veggie experience! Definitely, I think it will be a process.

DD, off to Amazon again! I''m going to look into those cookbooks. Really, thank you for the heads up on the tummy issues! This is probably TMI also, but my tummy won''t handle ANYTHING, so it''s good to know this stuff. I do love Asian/Indian foods, but DH is kinda eh on them. I can''t say though that I''ve ever been able to warm up to tofu..


In case I left anyone out -- thank you all SO MUCH for sharing your experiences! I''m sortof surprised how many PSers are veggies, very cool, and I just want to thank you for being so supportive. Thanks thanks thanks!!!

 

[rockzilla]

I became a vegetarian sophmore year of college - I never really liked meat, so I ate only fish and chicken. But one month, I thought, "Ok, I'll try being a vegetarian for a month" and at the end of the month, I didn't want to eat meat again! This was ~5 years ago.

To answer your questions:

-Grocery bill will likely stay about the same. Meat substitutes are expensive, but so is meat! Love the morningstar farms brand. If you live in an area with a Trader Joe's, you will be all set!

-Eating out is probably very variable depending on where you live. I live in CA (LA/SF) and it is a breeze. Other major metro areas on the coasts should be fine as well. The middle of the country or very suburban or rural areas will be tougher. One thing you will have to get used to is not being able to choose from ANYTHING on the menu. You may only have 1 or 2 options. I often will ask the waiter what is good for vegetarians (and make sure they understand your definition...for me, fish is NOT included, but sometimes I am offered that). Often times they will be able to make you something off the menu.

-Nutritionally, protien and iron are probably the biggest things to look out for. The average, red-meat-eating American actually has WAY too much protien & iron in their diet - so you don't have to try to match them gram for gram. I generally try to fit a healthy amount of protien into at least 2 or my 3 meals a day. This can be eggs, tofu, or beans. Edemame is great, so are lentils.

-Health-wise, it is possible to be unhealthy as a vegetarian or an omnivore. One BIG mistake first time veggies make (especially those in HS or College) is to replace meat with carbs or cheese. For carbs, you should try to go whole grain as often as possible. For cheese, use sparingly!

Hmmm...anything else...You'll have to decide how 'strict' you want to be about it. Will you have soup with chicken broth in it? You'll often have to ask...sometimes the "garden vegetable soup" is actually made with bacon. There is a high end restaurant in LA with a great veggie burger...thta is actually NOT vegetarian (I know, come on!) You have to ask - in this case they can do it without the sauce that contains meat, but you have to be sure. Another place had a spring garden salad - sounds veggie, but the beans were soaked in chicken broth, so I had to omit that. Also, many times beans at mexican restaurants are made with lard (pig fat...yummm) so if that's something you want to avoid, then ask.

Speaking of lard, it is often used in pies. The pillsbury roll out pie crust is made with lard. Last thanksgiving, my future MIL and I both made apple pies - she used the pillsbury crust, I used a veggie one from whole foods (OK, we're lazy!) After dinner, we were serving the pies, and asking the guests "Lard or no lard?" Luckily she has an awesome sense of humor about it, I'm sure other folks wouldn't have taken it so well!

 

[Elmorton]

LOL, Rockzilla, love the story about the pie! Unfortunately, no Trader Joe''s (there is one about a mile away from DH''s grandparents though - every time we visit, I beg to go!).

Good point also about the carbs and cheese...I can definitely see that I''ve been doing that (dairy is pretty much my favorite food group). And, I didn''t even think about veggies being soaked in stuff!

Just got my Moosewood cookbook! I''m really excited to try it...the Hungarian Mushroom soup looks sooo good. I''ve noticed the prep time for most stuff is an hour. Does anybody have a 30 min veggie cookbook rec?

 

[dragonfly411]

This is actually a great thread for me to read as well. I''m slowly transitioning to a mostly vegetarian diet. At this point 80% of my diet is fruit, vegetables, beans, and peas. The other 20% is whole grains, probably 5% meat through chicken, fish, and rarely dark meats, and nuts, and cheese. I don''t eat a lot of cheese myself, my body can''t handle too much of it (food allergies). I really don''t hold dark meats well, save for venison, which I am ok with eating as they lead a wild, free roam life, and are killed in my area only for population control. My meat is some chicken (which I''m trying to reduce that even) and fish/seafood, and then I also eat free roam eggs (my SO''s mother has all free roam chickens and they normally lay 18-30 a day!!). I would like to get to a point where I only have chicken once a week at the most, and limit my meats/dairy/animal product to the free roam eggs, and free roam grass fed milk, and I don''t mind yogurt as long as it is organic, and the seafood. I''ll eat vanilla yogurt, but no other flavors, and the venison (which is honestly a once a year thing). I would love to have more information on how to move towards this, the health benefits, blogs, recipes, anything! My main challenge right now is reducing the chicken intake, as my family cooks chicken quite often, and also how to work around the red meats that other members of the family love so much. I don''t eat pork at all anymore, I got a pig and that ended that

LOL. The chickens are getting to be the same, because the "Ladies" really do have personalities. I don''t like eating beef at all, and avoid it unless there are no other options, The neighbors cows ruined that one. I don''t mind eating eggs, or the dairy so long as they are farmed in humane and natural manners. jeez this is getting long. I really want to learn more though....

 

[Brynn]

Hi!

I''ve been a vegetarian for 14 years. I stopped eating meat when I was 12 for a combination of factors-I love animals, and just have this texture thing with meat as well. It''s not been a problem eating out or cooking at home for me. My parents didn''t make special meals for me while I was growing up so perhaps I got used to the idea of eating a random assortment of things early.

My FF and I eat out for special occasions somewhat frequently (I love to celebrate ; ) ). And once you''ve gotten used to the idea of ordering a combination of either salad, side dish, or app you''re usually fine anywhere. I''m not a huge eater so I generally don''t order an entree, but there are starting to be a larger number of places offering at least one vegetarian entree. You just have to become comfortable with the fact that you may be ordering outside of the usual. In my experience, servers and chefs have been absolutely wonderful about this.

My grocery bills are usually quite low. Less than $80 for just me and sometimes FF/friends when they''re over. I buy organic when I can and when it makes sense to, and have a pretty high brand loyalty so I''m sure that I could reduce it if it was necessary.

I eat a LOT of steamed veggies. Corn on the cob, green beans, asparagus, pretty much anything that''s fresh and looks good at the grocery store. And a LOT of fruit. Mostly apples, grapefruit, pineapple, blueberries, watermelon, etc. The other key that a nutritionist I visited shared is to vary your sources of protein. I do this by trying to mix up dinner (Because I''m a law student I usually pack and eat the same lunch of an apple and protein bar every day--but this is because of convenience and not because I have to!) Edamame, any sort of beans, string cheese, cottage cheese, soy milk, tofu, egg whites, hummus, are all great sources of low fat and high quality protein.

I also snack : ) Cheese triscuits, white cheddar air popped popcorn, craisins, black licorice.

Good luck with your new adventure!