Trying To Go Vegiterian!

[pennykit&amanda]

After watching the movie "Earthlings" I refuse to be part of what happens to "food animals".

This is going to be extremely hard for me, my brother is completely against the idea and thinks I'm stupid for doing it. He's one of those people who thinks that all the horrible suffering happens "on accident" and "not that often". I used to be vegetarian, but I quite because of him, he gave me such a bad time with it (I was just a kid then) that I couldn't take it anymore... My mom has been making fun of me since I made the decision (that I made last night!!). She thinks we were put on Earth to eat other animals, I don't see how she could think that, I just don't get it... and she claims to love animals, too. She also refused to watch Earthlings because (like they said in the movie) people don't want to know what they're eating. Sadly, she knows what happens to them, but continues to eat it.

Another reason this is going to be hard, I eat meat without even thinking and crave it all the time; I had to stop myself when I almost grabbed the lunch-meat to make a sandwich .

Can it get expensive to feed three omnivores and a vegetarian? I've been hearing my brother say that.

[ColoradoMama]

I have found it not to cost anymore to be a vegatarian than to be a omnivore. I've been a vegatarian for over 4 years now and have simply made a shift in my expenses. It will only be more expensive if you let it be. I'm not sure what your living situation is, but if you live at home I understand that it can be hard when your family is sitting down to a meal of death right in front of you. It can make it hard when everyone around you thinks it's "stupid". I went through that too. But if you give up due to pressure from those around you, it just makes it look even more "stupid" to them. Stand up for what you believe in and prove to them that you are serious! I found that it was best to just not make a big deal of it around people that don't understand. Some people will NEVER understand, and you will just be wasting your energy trying to argue with them. I will try to make an effort to answer any questions you may have. Feel free to PM me or just keep asking questions in this thread. I think it's great that you want to do this, and it helps to have support. YOU CAN DO IT!!

[AnimalHouse36]

Ughh brothers eh?

Mine would try to shove turkey in m mouth, and throw all the insults in the book. After about 6 months(!!!) they subsided. And now it's been a year and I hardly hear them.

I show'd my brother a video, and he laughed. It wasn't earthlings though. He said "It's just one farm. I doubt they're all like that.". But you know what? Let them be ignorent human beings. One say they'll realize.

Sorry for the rant!

My grandma is just like that with the vegetarian thing. But I just laugh it off. I mean why should she care what I eat and what my beleifs are. Eventually, the insults will stop.

I come from a HUGE meat eating family. The first month 9for me) was the hardest. But i know that CavySpirt still craves, and I'm sure many others do. but we shouldn't kill innocent beings just to satisfy our taste buds.

I don't think that going veggie was to much of an expense extra for my household.

Hope I was of some help!

[Tarot]

Its not any more expensive. With the cost of meat now, its actually cheaper to eat avocados and beans than it is to eat a hamburger.

If this is something you really believe in, then you'll succeed. Its like kicking any other habit, just give yourself 3 weeks to change your "urge" and you'll be fine

Not that I don't crave the occasional cheesesteak, but when I really think about biting into that "meal of death" the craving quickly passes

[pennykit&amanda]

Thanks guys! Luckily, my brother is a little too mature to try to shove meat in my mouth and throw insults, and he does respect my choice... somewhat. And I've got to the point where I don't really care what he thinks, mainly because I know he's wrong.

Today, I realized how much my family eats meat; the only veggies had have (other than the piggies veggies) was a carrot(literally just one, and it was oldish looking), some green onion, and lettuce!

You don't have to take vitamins and stuff if your vegan, do you? (another thing my brother said ) I thought that was BS.

[Tarot]

I believe some vegans take supplements, but so do some vegetarians and regular omnivores, it all depends on how healthy their diet is.

[pennykit&amanda]

After a few days I've realized it's not that hard to rule out meat from my diet. The only problem I have is fast food places, my family goes to them a lot and I don't know of any having vegetarian foods (other than just grilled cheese sandwiches, ect. ).

I've always been really picky about food, but I just learned I like a lot of vegetables. Oh, and I love salads too! I'm so happy I made this decision, should've done it sooner!

[Tarot]

Burger King has a veggie burger, Subway has its veggie and cheese sub that you can add a veggie patty to :yep

Or, sometimes, you just eat fries and pretend that no meat has encountered them.

[pennykit&amanda]

I think I'd be better off not eating there, they aren't the healthiest of restaurants anyway.

[AnimalHouse36]

Originally Posted by Tarot

Or, sometimes, you just eat fries and pretend that no meat has encountered them.

What do you mean? They cook fries in meat?

[Tarot]

No, but employees don't wash their hands after touching a burger or whatever meat product there is, so there is bound to be cross-contamination.

[AnimalHouse36]

Originally Posted by Tarot

No, but employees don't wash their hands after touching a burger or whatever meat product there is, so there is bound to be cross-contamination.

No more fries for me...

[PiggieMamaKelly]

It probably is the best idea to just avoid fast food (for health and ethical reasons), but when you do eat at a fast food place, remember that you can get any burger without meat. I've even eaten McDonald's cheeseburgers without meat. It isn't exactly a well-rounded meal but sometimes you don't have a whole lot of options. Burger King's veggie burger isn't bad.

[BubuCandyBlue]

Originally Posted by pennykit&amanda

This is going to be extremely hard for me, my brother is completely against the idea and thinks I'm stupid for doing it.

This comes form a person who has been a vegetarian for 2 years, and then a semi-vegetarian. I was obliged by the circumstances to go vegetarian, then deciding by myself. And I wasn't horrified at all (as most people who eat meat would be). I was already used to not eating meat at all 2-3x/week, so cutting one more day, and one more, till none, happened very fast, with no issues whatsoever. Though I am not a vegetarian anymore, I respect them, and even go into arguments with people who try giving them a hard time. And I make my point, trust me. And they look at me so weird finding out I was one once and I would be anytime. But we are not here to discuss my decisions.
About those people who don't think vegetarian is healthy, if they had knowledge about nutrition and such, they would know as long as you get all the nutrients (so know all the varieties), you have no problems regarding health issues. Pennykit&amanda, do a research about all veggies and such and where to get all the nutrients you need, get as much knowledge as possible, and hang on in there. That is the most important part!

Originally Posted by PiggieMamaKelly

It probably is the best idea to just avoid fast food (for health and ethical reasons), but when you do eat at a fast food place, remember that you can get any burger without meat. I've even eaten McDonald's cheeseburgers without meat. It isn't exactly a well-rounded meal but sometimes you don't have a whole lot of options. Burger King's veggie burger isn't bad.

I am sorry, but I have to ask, why are people so much into burgers? This is something I knew for many years ago, americans have a thing for french fries and burgers, fast food in general. Even if you go for the vegetarian menu, please don't. Not healthy at all, no nutritional value. I have seen here a "culture" to eat outside and not at home. To make a salad doesn't take that long then standing in a line and paying for a Mc cheeseburger. PiggieMamaKelly you are right, and all of you, please avoid all fast foods and do it yoursef. Trust me, even a cheeseburger made at home is healthier than those fast food ones. Find out all about proteins, carbos and lipides (for a vegetarian) and if you have all the knowledge you need for how to get all nutrients, you will be very healthy.


PS: I love mushrooms and I feel like I am eating meat everytime I have them. If you have any "needs" for meat, go for some mushrooms if you like them (just a little advice).

[guineapigluver1]

Our family almost never goes out to eat. The last time I remember going out to eat was in October, because we were moving. I'm thankful we don't, either, a lot of the time it makes me feel sick, and I'm extremely picky. I like eating at home better anyways.

[ColoradoMama]

In response to your brother's comment about supplements, I think they are a good idea for everyone, vegetarian or not. While it is possible to get every single thing you need from a vegatarian diet, my guess is most people don't. It really takes a lot of thought and planning to be sure that you are getting what you need from diet alone. There are many good supplements on the market that can keep you healthy and help you get all of the obscure vitamins and minerals that are hard to come by. It is a good habit to get into, taking your supplements every morning. Just a multi-vitamin will probably do it. Just get something from a reputablt brand. Vitamin manufacturers can mislead consumers very easily. Get a brand you are familiar with and trust.

[pennykit&amanda]

I wish my family never went out to eat, because I'm slightly agoraphobic, (fear of large crowds, if you didn't know what that was) so I get really nervous in public or around strangers, and of course the vegetarian thing now. But if I didn't go, I wouldn't eat anything that night.

I'll try to find a multi-vitamin soon.

[hilary]

Originally Posted by pennykit&amanda

You don't have to take vitamins and stuff if your vegan, do you? (another thing my brother said ) I thought that was BS.

I'm a vegan, and I take a multi-vitamin daily (I accidently got on that's iron free so I also take a vegan iron supplement as well, when they run out I'll get the same vitamin but with iron). As a vegan you do not technically need this if you're getting all the nutrients you need by eating a balanced diet, but really everyone has their off days, and I know I do being young and going to school and being so busy all of the time. Someone mentioned above, how it would take a lot of planning to make sure you are eating all the right vegetables and foods to ensure you get the right vitamins and minerals and it would be a lot of work, so just to be sure I take the vitamins daily (well, sometimes I forget) and try to eat the best diet I can as a vegan.

There are tons of different types of vegan/vegetarian multi-vitamins, and whatever other type of vitamin you want or need. ( Make sure your multi has B-12, that is an essential vitamin.)

I take Rainbow Light Just Once Multivitamin (it's vegan and you can get it with or without iron)

[hilary]

Originally Posted by pennykit&amanda

I wish my family never went out to eat, because I'm slightly agoraphobic, (fear of large crowds, if you didn't know what that was) so I get really nervous in public or around strangers, and of course the vegetarian thing now. But if I didn't go, I wouldn't eat anything that night.

I'll try to find a multi-vitamin soon.

Oh and I totally know what you mean about going out to eat with family, even after being a vegan for just about two years now, I still dread it sometimes.