Questions! Questions? Questions!

[newpiggiemommy]

Okay! Where to begin? I am at the moment (and have been my whole life) a meat eater. I was raised on meat and potatoes! And to tell you the truth, until I was married 12 years ago, I never had a problem with eating meat. When I got married and had to handle the raw meat it made me ill!!! I have come to terms with it and with a pair of rubber gloves I can get through handling it. Now, my family up bringing has taught me that you have to have meat and potatoes to be healthy! I now know that this is not the case, but it is really difficult to change my ways after 36 years of living this way.

Now for the questions...

I see a lot of recipes for vegitarian meals that contain eggs, cheese, butter, and other animal products.
Is this really vegitarian if it contains these products?

Is it really healthy to cut all meat out of your diet?

Once you cut meat out of your diet, are there any side effects to your body if you decide one day to have a piece of meat? Will your body reject it?

Is it healthy enough for children to eat a vegitarian diet? Will it effect the way they grow?

That is all of the questions I will put on you right now. I have tons more but I don't want to be a complete pest!

Thank you in advance!

[wickedrodent]

I see a lot of recipes for vegitarian meals that contain eggs, cheese, butter, and other animal products.
Is this really vegitarian if it contains these products?

Yes, those would be vegetarian. Lacto-ovo Vegetarian to be more specific. That means a Vegetarian that eats eggs and drink milk, etc.. Living a life with no meat, cheese, milk, honey, butter, eggs, and any other products that come from animals in any way would be Vegan.

Is it really healthy to cut all meat out of your diet?

Very! As long as you eat right. You could be a junk-food loving vegetarian and live your life eating cheetos and loads of starches. That wouldn't be very healthy. However, if you do it the right way, it is the best thing you could ever do to your body! I just recently saw a list of the 5 heathliest foods. I know that NONE were meat. #1 was soy and another was Lentils.

Once you cut meat out of your diet, are there any side effects to your body if you decide one day to have a piece of meat? Will your body reject it?

I would be harder on your stomach. I accidentally ate some potato soup with bacon in it and had pretty bad stomach pains.

Is it healthy enough for children to eat a vegitarian diet? Will it effect the way they grow?

I don't have kids and haven't been a vegetarian for all my life, so I really can't defiantly answer this one. I do believe I read on here somewhere about a member's son that was raised Vegan since birth is in the top percentile for his age group. As healthy, if not healthier I would imagine.

That is all of the questions I will put on you right now. I have tons more but I don't want to be a complete pest!

Don't think you are being a pest- you aren't! Ask as many questions as you have!

[socal805]

Thank you for doing some research and trying to get a better understanding of being a vegetarian.
There are several different levels of being a vegetarian-For myself I eat no meat at all, no fish, chicken or anything like that, but I do eat dairy. At different times in my life I did not eat any animal products at all and people who eat like this are Vegans.

Is it healthy enough for children to eat a vegitarian diet? Will it effect the way they grow?

My daughter who is 10 has never had a bite of meat in her life, she eats organic dairy but other than that no meat. She has always been in the top percentile in her age group. She was a pure Vegan for the first 2 years of her life and did not get ear infections, colds, cough...no real illness until she actually started school and was around other sick kids. She is a competitive dancer who dances 2 hours a day 4 to 5 days a week (more during heavy competition season) and is actually stronger than many oth the kids she competes against! So yes kids can be healthy!
Don't worry about asking questions, I think it's great!

[thalestral]

Originally Posted by newpiggiemommy

I see a lot of recipes for vegitarian meals that contain eggs, cheese, butter, and other animal products.
Is this really vegitarian if it contains these products?

A vegetarian is someone who eats nothing that directly involves the death of an animal, this includes meat and some byproducts such as gelatin and animal rennet (found in non-vegetarian cheeses). A vegan is someone who eats nothing that in any way involves the death or expoitation of an animal and that also includes eggs and dairy products. Where you draw the line personally is up to you as any action is good action! But it can be handy to know the right labels too.

This is the Vegan Society's website but I find it the best personally for reading about the different animal products and nutrition:

Facts

Originally Posted by newpiggiemommy

Is it really healthy to cut all meat out of your diet?

Absolutely. Humans eat far more meat than they are biologically supposed to and there is nothing in meat that you cannot get from other natural sources. Protein is what people usually worry about but every food contains protein :] Eating a wide range of food is key to any healthy diet and trying new dishes is brilliant fun.

Vegan / Vegetarian Recipes and More for the Vegan Diet and Lifestyle

Vegweb has loads of great easy recipes that are rated by users and commented on. It's a great way to try tasty new things and eat healthily.

Originally Posted by newpiggiemommy

Once you cut meat out of your diet, are there any side effects to your body if you decide one day to have a piece of meat? Will your body reject it?

There can be yes. Meat is far harder for the body to digest than plant foods as even though we are omnivores we are better designed for plant matter than meat, especially the meat available in stores which is laden with additives and hormones. I found that once I stopped eating meat though my taste buds changed dramatically and I was able to appreciate flavours I couldn't taste before. The idea of meat now is very bland tasting and fake to me.

Originally Posted by newpiggiemommy

Is it healthy enough for children to eat a vegitarian diet? Will it effect the way they grow?

Children can be just as healthy or more so on a balanced vegetarian diet than on a balanced omnivorous diet. Veggieboards is a huge veg*n forum and there is a board dedicated to veg*n parenting, perhaps you would find it useful to browse there?

Raising Vegetarian Children - VeggieBoards - Vegetarian Forum

Remember, there are cultures all over the world where vegetarianism or veganism is the norm, and typically they have far less health problems than we do!

[newpiggiemommy]

Well last night we had our first meatless dinner! We had tacos in a bag. Instead of meat we had taco flavored rice as the "meat" portion.

Believe it or not, my children ate it all and my son even had seconds!!! That never happens!

Thanks for all of your advice! I think I will research this a little more. My family could definately benifit from this lifestyle!

[newpiggiemommy]

A little update! I have been trying really hard to cut out all meat. This Wednesday it will be one month without beef, chicken, pork, and turkey! My children continue to eat meat only at school, but have been very happy to eat meat-free at home!

I have had words with a few people. My mother thinks I am ruining my childrens lives!!! She says they need meat to grow properly.

And I have been called a hypocrite because I have not cut fish out of my diet completely, yet.

My question to all of you veg*ns: Is it better to cut out most meat (all beef, pork, and poultry) and still eat meat once in a great while, or to give up and go back to my meat eating ways? Because I had someone tell me if I don't give up fish I am no better than the typical meat eaters.

I am not giving up meat because it is cruel, I am giving up most meat because I want to live healthier! And I want my kids to eat healthier!

Please if you have an opinion share it with me!!!

[PiggieMamaKelly]

Congratulations!

For the people who think if you eat still eat fish that you are "no better than the typical meat eater"- I'm pretty sure the chickens, pigs and cows don't feel that way! You are making a difference. We can't have an "all or nothing" attitude because there is ALWAYS more that can be done, even for the strictest of vegans.

[newpiggiemommy]

Thanks! I have just been a little discouraged lately! I am trying very much! I have only slipped once in a month. I had taco bell couldn't help it! LOL And I have only had fish 3 times in the month! I am feeling healthier and more energetic!

[Pumpkin_RIP]

That's great congratulations!! Just keep trying to eat less and less fish, and you will eventaully not want it at all! For some people, weaning themselves of meat is easier than stopping "cold turkey"