Hey guys,

I was wondering-- is anyone here a vegetarian or a vegan?

How long have you been a vegetarian or a vegan?
Why did you decide to do so?
If you're vegetarian, are you thinking about going vegan?
How has your body reacted and how have you felt since changing your diet?
What are your favorite meatless [and dairy-less] dishes?

--

Personally, I haven't had meat in roughly a month. It would have been longer, but I broke down and ate meat a few times the first two weeks or so because of stress [when you're stressed, your body wants meat]. Otherwise, I've been pretty good about not eating meat and sticking to vegetables and fruits for my meals.

I decided in the spring that once I got back to school in the fall, I would go vegetarian when I'm living off my own money and off of campus food and not living in my parents' house. For the most part, it's been economically beneficial-- what I have been eating has been cheaper than buying what foods have meat in them, and my meals have just been all around better.

As of right now, I don't plan on going vegan, but that can change after I've been a vegetarian for a longer time.

As for how my body's reacted-- I feel overall better about what I've been eating and how much. There's [even more] salads in my meals, along with rice. My stomach has stopped hurting a lot, which I find really nice. While I have gotten kind-of sick in the past month, I think that was more allergy than anything else. My weather is in the middle of changing seasons, so everyone's at the mercy of the weather.

So... Anyone else give up meat and dairy for any particular reason?

I have considered it a few times. But I like steak too much. I am going to give up meat this Lent, though.

Well, you know I am. And I'm actually really glad to see a thread about it!

To answer the questions here, I've been a vegetarian since December 2010, so... going on three years. Since then, I haven't intentionally eaten anything containing meat or a meat by-product (you'd be surprised at some of the things that have meat and such in them, and you would never know unless you did your homework).

Me, become vegan? Yeah, not in my immediate future...or my distant future either. lol I really respect Vegans though.

As for how I felt and such, actually, I felt the difference right away. I felt lighter, and more balanced. It was really refreshing. The main thing people assume is that when you quit eating meat, you lose weight. Well, that never happened to me. I saw no changes in my weight, which makes sense if you think about it: eating 1,200 calories of meat, or eating 1,200 calories of vegetables, rice, etc. Which causes more weight gain? Neither.

Favorite foods:

Boca meatless patties (there's a vegetarian flavor and a vegan flavor). They're a great meatless burger patty, and they are simply amazing (better than real hamburger, in my opinion). My family actually eats them instead of real hamburger now, even though I'm the only vegetarian here. They can be used in hamburgers and chili, and probably more that I haven't tried yet.

Eggs. Not vegan friendly, but a staple of my vegetarian diet.

Beans. Simple, tasty, and a great source of protein and fiber. Another staple.

Peas. Staple again. Lots of protein.

Salad. I make it with one head of lettuce, two tomatoes, one cucumber, six eggs, and garlic salt. It's delicious, and only around 200 calories when I heap my plate to the overflow point. Bear in mind, that many eggs and such is to feed three to five people. Oh, and I use McCormick's Bac'n pieces, which surprisingly are made with a Vegan friendly recipe. When I use them and garlic salt, I don't need any dressing (shaves off over a hundred calories for me).

Rice. Just yummy. Enough said.


I would also remind you that you need plenty of protein rich foods to replace the protein you lose from cutting meat out, as well as B-12 supplements. Beans, Peas, Boca patties, and eggs are the best protein foods I've found for a vegetarian. If I recall correctly, there is no source of B-12 outside of meat, that's safe to eat. However, you can find B-12 supplements that are labeled as being a vegetarian formula.

Well, that's about all that I can think of for now. Good luck on the Vegetarian lifestyle!

No way no how I will never succumb to any eating fad.  It is perfectly possible and easy to eat health using common sense instead of preset trendy rules.

A man I deeply respect always told me: "It's isn't supper unless something died".

I do respect vegetarians, the life style does make sense for more than one reason. But I very much enjoy meat; too much to give it up. Bacon, salmon, chicken....

I give two thumbs up to those who choose to be vegetarian.

As for vegans... I really don't see the reasons like I do with vegetarians.

How long have you been a vegetarian or a vegan?
Since late nineties.

Why did you decide to do so?
It had more to do with ecological issues than animal rights

If you're vegetarian, are you thinking about going vegan?
Nah, been to lazy for that.

How has your body reacted and how have you felt since changing your diet?
None

What are your favorite meatless [and dairy-less] dishes?
I like pizza but that has cheese. I hate pizza without the cheese.? Well, falafels I guess. Seitan is good, though it is also basically junk food. I like tofu (when spiced right), mushrooms, all kinds vegetables and beans. I am a bad cook myself, though and go for something that is unhealthy and easy to make mostly. So being  veggie aintthat different from eating meat in that sense.

I am not a vegetarian or a vegan and I have never considered becoming one. I love meat a lot!

Yeah well, people usually dont quit because meat tastes bad. I didnt.

I can never escape the great taste of high quality meat. I don't think I would be vegan. 

I used to be a vegetarian for three years, but the urge to eat a hamburger or a BBQ pizza became too strong and I started eating meat again. I became a vegetarian because I thought that the meat in grocery stores often was full of tiny pieces of bones and it was really disgusting, I had also seen many videos of how much pain the animals had to endure before they were butchered.

A great big thank you to those who are vegetarians and vegans! It means a lot to me that you're willing to talk about it-- it's good knowing I'm not the only one.

I didn't give up meat because of the taste, but for ecological reasons [water is a major resource that is being used up by feeding cattle and processing the meat-- I'd rather have water to shower with than have it spent on raising cattle], along now for the health benefits-- I've been having less trouble with my stomach and digestive system since I went vegetarian.

For those who say it's a fad-- that's a pretty long lasting fad if it's been around for thousands of years. I think there's another term for it...

Protein-- I'm not sure what I've been eating that's keeping my protein up, but I haven't felt any adverse effects of not having certain vitamins. But I do plan on buying what supplements I need the next time I go to the store, with the winter months coming up and everything.

I couldn't be either one. Because I do like my meat!!!

I am neither, but I really like some vegetables. My family tends to joke about me becoming a vegetarian because I rarely eat meat, and I sometimes prefer vegetables over meat.

I have been vegetarian for six years now (wow, it's been that long? lol)
I gave up meat because I also care about the environmental impacts of animal agriculture and I want to reduce my carbon footprint. Besides that, I believe in the principle of non-violence. I also don't think anyone - human or animal alike - should be exploited for their body parts or secretions.

I have gone through periods of strict veganism. Right now I eat fresh eggs occasionally because I have chickens in my yard, so I cannot call myself a strict vegan.
Usually, I do not buy any products with eggs or dairy, the exception being if the only vegetarian option at a restaurant has cheese. I also do not buy from cosmetics or household product companies that test on animals. Similarly, I do not buy leather, goose down or fur.

I feel healthy and happy since going vegetarian. My doctor has discussed it with me and I have regular blood tests to monitor my overall health - the conclusion is that all of my nutrient levels are healthy. Since age 17 I have maintained the same weight of around 135 pounds. My hair grows about an inch per month. I don't get acne.

cnsulli: I wouldn't worry about protein too much. Inside your body, protein is made up of chemicals called amino acids. All food contains amino acids. Your body is able to take these building blocks, and create protein from ANY food that you eat. Even foods like lettuce and bananas will provide you with protein.
This means that in order to be protein deficient, you have to be starving yourself. If you eat a varied diet full of fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, you should not have any problems getting enough protein.

One time I tried to be a Vegetarian.. I cut out all my meats.. and the next thing I know I was sick the next week.. it is horrible for me to be without meat.. and I don't think I could live without it. I understand what Vegetarians go through and how hard it is to try and give up meat but... I just couldn't do it. I do love eating vegies and rich though! It makes me feel good!





Bintsy<33

sorry if i offend any people but why did you make the choice of being vegan there is no point your basically asking for a death wish no meat products no protein or anything else you need from meat to survive. veggietarians i will live with because they still eat meat produce sometimes at least and why would you quit the goodness of meat its the best thing on this darn planet thats edible 

I am sort of vegetarian. By this I mean that I do eat meat, but it is really rare due to how much meat costs now a days.

First I will work on quitting smokes, reefer, booze, and loose women.  After I conquer those demons then maybe I'll work on my diet.