im a vegetarian!

[gpigluver14]

i'm part vegetarian, became one recently a few weeks ago. became one after watching some videos of meat industries and etc. and i just couldn't stand it. it's sick how they cruel people are to animals. and being an extreme animal lover myself, i can hardly stand it. however, i am not fully vegetarian. haven't given up milk, cheese, etc. yet, but i know what they do to cows now to get those things. I may give up fish, and seafood soon. Another big animal cruelty thing: lab testing. you should go on the website about the second largest company, huntingdon life sciences:
Huntingdon Life Sciences - Welcome
When I went on the gallery and saw all those animals, it made me cry.

[TheQueen]

That's great that you are taking steps to prevent animal cruelty! If you are still eating milk and cheese you are a vegetarian. More specifically, since you still eat fish, you're a pescatarian. If you didn't not eat any animal products, such as milk and cheese, then you would a vegan. And yes, animal testing is a horrible thing.

Anyways, congratulations on becoming a vegetarian, and good luck if you decide to cut out fish, and furthermore, become a full blown vegan!

[gpigluver14]

Thank you. My goal is to become a vegan, with absolutely no meat or animal products in my diet. I may be a pescatarian now (thanks for the correct term!) but I'm cutting out meats little by little. The hardest part about it, is just finding foods without animal products in them! Even vegetable soup has chicken stock in it.

[JarBax]

You really have to go on a label search! Not every vegetable soup has meat stock in it - especially home-made!

[Maisiepaisie]

Congratulations on your decision to become vegetarian. If you want to become vegan the easiest way is to cut out each non-vegan food type one by one. Since I became vegan I have a lot more variety in my diet. Its much easier if you cook your own food. I'm not a brilliant cook but I make a lot of vegetable stews and stir frys which are really healthy. Pasta dishes, spaghetti bolognese (with Releat vegan soya mince) and curry and rice are some of my favourite foods and really easy to make.

[akintolife]

It took a long time for me to go vegan, but when I finally did I just decided that was it and got rid of everything non-vegan in my kitchen and within six months got rid of the few non-vegan things throughout the rest o f my house (wool jackets, leather shoes etc).

I found for me going vegan 'overnight' was the easist and fastest way to become vegan. Now almost two years later I've never gone back and most people that know me assume I've been vegan all my life.

Learning to cook for youself is one of the best things you can do to keep with a veg*n diet. And don't be afraid to eat things you may not have before. Some of the things I eat now I'd never even heard of before I went vegan. I've found that a lot of Asian and Indian dishes can be very easily veg*nised and taste really yummy.

Having a good cookbook helps too - especially one that explains how easy it is to replace things like eggs in baking.

[gpigluver14]

Thanks for the post! I have been experimenting with different foods. Just the other day I had a frozen meal that had tofu and organic vegetables in it. I'm not sure if it was the tofu, but I didn't really like the taste of it. But hey, vegetarians can't like every food they try!

Anyone thinking of going vegetarian: great tip! If you don't want to be a vegan because you can't give up icecream, there's frozen yogurt! It tastes very similar to it, and is a whole lot healthier! And it isn't made with milk.

[Terekins]

That's great Gpigluver14

Yes, it's surprising how many things contain animal products! I sometimes wonder why they even need to put it in there, like it would make that much of a difference anyway in such small amounts. I too found that learning to cook made things easier and cheaper. Also, changing the way you think about meals. For e.g. I used to think of meals as "meat+vegetable+starch", and now I eat whatever combination sounds good! I eat so many things I never ate before, and have learned to like so many new things.
Good luck with everything, and don't hesitate to ask for advice here.

[SoCalCavies]

Originally Posted by gpigluver14

i'm part vegetarian, became one recently a few weeks ago. became one after watching some videos of meat industries and etc. and i just couldn't stand it. it's sick how they cruel people are to animals. and being an extreme animal lover myself, i can hardly stand it.

[FONT=Century Gothic]What I can't stand is when I ask vegetarians if they are that way because of the animals, and they look at me like I am the biggest freak on the planet. (And the look is always inevitably followed by, "Of course not. I just do it because it's healthy.") Now THAT makes me sad.

Oh and if you think animal testing is bad, don't ever look up vivesection. It'll change your outlook on the human race forever.[/FONT]

[MCR_Rox]

I wish I could become a vegetarian, but I doubt my mom will let me. When we went to get pizza, there was a slaughterhouse or something there, and she said that if they didn't do what they do there, everyone would have to be a vegetarian. I'm still going to ask her if I could become one, and show her the videos, though. Right now I'm trying to not eat meat at school.

[akintolife]

Originally Posted by landhermie

I wish I could become a vegetarian, but I doubt my mom will let me. When we went to get pizza, there was a slaughterhouse or something there, and she said that if they didn't do what they do there, everyone would have to be a vegetarian. I'm still going to ask her if I could become one, and show her the videos, though. Right now I'm trying to not eat meat at school.

If you're trying to convince your Mum, you might want to spend some time looking into nutrition and even possibly writing up a meal plan that you can show her so she can see that you are getting enough nutrients.

I'm a member of a vegan forum and the biggest problem people there found with their parents was that they were concerned that they wouldn't be eating well. One of the girls there wrote up a meal plan and made sure it showed all the nutrients she needed and how she would get them -- a lot of work, but it did help convince her parents.

Originally Posted by gpigluver14

Anyone thinking of going vegetarian: great tip! If you don't want to be a vegan because you can't give up icecream, there's frozen yogurt! It tastes very similar to it, and is a whole lot healthier! And it isn't made with milk.

From Wikipedia: Yoghurt or yogurt, or less commonly yoghourt or yogourt (see spelling below), is a dairy product produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. It can be made from any milk, including soy milk, but modern production is dominated by cow milk.

Another alternative is soy ice cream, such as Soy Delicious and So Good Bliss.

[gpigluver14]

Oh my goodness...Sorry about that last post I made. Major oops. Completely forgot yogurt is a dairy there with the frozen yogurt tip. Oops! Don't listen to me.

Anyway, my family has been pretty good with me becoming a vegetarian. They say I eat like a bird now though, since I have to pick out the meat when we have dinner. It's definitely worth it though. I'm trying to get more people to become one, and I think more would if it could get put out in the public some how. Like if we could tell them what is behind the meat they're eating.

And did you hear on the news how a whole bunch of stores are getting in trouble for selling "faux" fur that is actually real?? And how they use the raccoon dogs' fur...Thank goodness I never really got any clothes or anything that had any kind of fur on it.

Oh, I did hear about vivisection something. Just looking up the definition of it if you don't what it is, is enough to make you ask yourself, "Why? How can we be doing this?" It's beyond cruel and inhumane. It's disqusting.

[akintolife]

Don't worry gpigluver14 , there are a lot of things we all tend to mess up at the beginning. At least, I know I did. And it is possible, although unlikely that there are some vegan frozen yogurts, I've just never seen any.

It can also get confusing with all the additives in foods. I found myself so confused that I ended up getting a card with some of the common non-veg*n additives printed on it, so I could look at it when I was shopping (or when I go to visit my parents, when they are shopping).

The other thing that I find is important is speaking up about what you do and don't eat. I'm a naturally shy person and it doesn't come easily to me, but yesterday I had lunch with some people at work at a cafe where there was nothing vegan on the menu, so I asked if they could make me something that was vegan (and specified no egg, no dairy, no cheese...) and I ended up getting the most amazing vegan pasta and everybody was saying how wonderful it smelt. It also gave me a chance to talk to some of them about being vegan and why I am vegan, which is one of my favourite ways of making people aware of veganism and what it's all about.

[Maisiepaisie]

Originally Posted by akintolife

If you're trying to convince your Mum, you might want to spend some time looking into nutrition and even possibly writing up a meal plan that you can show her so she can see that you are getting enough nutrients.

I'm a member of a vegan forum and the biggest problem people there found with their parents was that they were concerned that they wouldn't be eating well. One of the girls there wrote up a meal plan and made sure it showed all the nutrients she needed and how she would get them -- a lot of work, but it did help convince her parents.

Thats an excellent idea. It might also help to get one of these charts. I've got one and they're really informative, showing all the different plant based sources for essential nutrients.

[TheQueen]

Just one little thing to add about the whole ice cream bit. Although ice cream, frozen yoghurt, gelatto and sherbet all have milk in them, sorbet does not. It's delicious; I love the mango kind. And of course soy ice creams.

And landhermie, if your parents are concerned about you getting nutrients, as well as making a meal plan and showing them the nutrient charts, you can also take a vegetarian support vitamin. I take one and it's really helpful; it has a myriad of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that I may not get if I didn't take it. Finding foods that will fulfill your nutrition needs can get difficult, but it's so worth it. Good luck persuading them!

[FuzzButtLover]

I am trying to become one, a vegitarian or vegan. I just can't see myself giving up chocolate. I know they probably have milkless chocolate though so that is no excuse. Also, what is Soy milk, would this be ok to drink if I were a vegan? Landhermie, I hope you can convince your parents/mom it's the right thing for you to do. My theory is that they won't force you to eat something you really don't want to eat (well that is how my parents are) Another thing I can't give up are Oreos, my favorite cookie.