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vegetarians--who? why?

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 2:32 am
by Marv
i've been a veggie for a couple of months now. i did it mainly for dietary reasons, although im having to take protein powder as a supplement. i havn't really thought of the moral implications of eating meat. anyone else?

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 2:39 am
by mrsnull
My husband, Dennis, is a vegetarian.
For moral reasons.

But, not me.
That said, I do make a lot of our meals completely vegetarian. And when I don't, I end up make two of the same kind of dish - one with a soy subsitute and one with the real thing. I'll do things like make a veggie stir fry or pasta primavera. I am always reading cook books or watching cooking and trying to figure out how I can create something for Dennis. I was very upset when he became vegetarian, but I finally embraced my role as his cook and have found some fabulous ways to be creative. I have made Italian, Cuban, Mexican, Asian and German vegetarian meals.
Julie

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 2:48 am
by Lady Revel
My best friend is a vegetarian. He was raised as one. He has never, ever eaten a piece of meat in his entire life. That just blows me away.

I asked him over dinner if he would ever try meat (with a forkful of filet mignon ready to go), and he said no and cited ethical reasons. His feeling is that we have the knowledge to nourish ourselves without meat, and it uses less energy (or something to that effect) so isn't it the right thing to do?

I just smiled at him and continued to eat my filet mignon.

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 2:54 am
by Worm of Despite
Unless it's a special occasion (restaurant/holiday/holiday leftovers), my meals are always grain-based (cereal, oatmeal, bagels, etc.). The liquid of choice is usually water, and dessert is usually a fruit or vegetable. Maybe I'm a vegan 90% of the time, then? But that's a weird "half-pregnant" statement, heh.

Anyway, my dietary choices are purely out of health reasons. I have no ethical qualms about chowing down on some tasty bovine or pig. Way I figure, we'd be on a plate had we not won the evolution race. Might as well celebrate being on top of the food chain!

And of course, the immortal Simpsons quote: "You don't win friends with salad!"

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 3:05 am
by mrsnull
Doh!!

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 4:11 am
by Sunbaneglasses
mrsnull wrote:My husband, Dennis, is a vegetarian.
For moral reasons.

But, not me.
That said, I do make a lot of our meals completely vegetarian. And when I don't, I end up make two of the same kind of dish - one with a soy subsitute and one with the real thing. I'll do things like make a veggie stir fry or pasta primavera. I am always reading cook books or watching cooking and trying to figure out how I can create something for Dennis. I was very upset when he became vegetarian, but I finally embraced my role as his cook and have found some fabulous ways to be creative. I have made Italian, Cuban, Mexican, Asian and German vegetarian meals.
Julie
German vegetarian meal is an oxymoron,like a beerless Oktoberfest.

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:05 am
by mrsnull
Oh, how wrong you are, my dear...

I tasted his food and it compared to my beef dish.

The soy meat strips are very versatile and very much like real beef.
I was very please with how the beef in beer dish turned out, even Dennis' soy version. And the soy sausage substitutes quite well for the knockwurst The red cabbage and apples called for no meat. And the potatoes were sans meat, as well.

And of course, there's no meat in the black forest cake.

Julie

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:39 am
by Prom_STar
mrsnull wrote: And of course, there's no meat in the black forest cake.
Schwarzwelderkierschtorte....

Oh, es schmeckt so gut!

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:32 am
by sgt.null
and when the hurricane hit and i was stuck at the prison i ate nothing but mustard, cheese and pickle sandwiches the first two days. when i had a grilled cheese finally it was the best damn sandwich i had ever had. :)

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 12:03 pm
by drew
Me and the ol' Lady went veggie a few years ago-slowly, but after a year or so, we were completely meatless-no dairy, no eggs. When the kids came out, we slowly switched back...now we eat a variety of foods, veggie, meaty..we mostly drink soy milk, but eat eggs now.

Usually have fish once a week, and a chicken of beef or pork dish twice a week...the rest of the meals are meatless.
It was more ethical than health reasons, but they played into it too.

I don't mind eating animal flesh..I just don't like th way we raise animals for food; which is why I don't mind eating fish as much-and I'd rather eat hunted food than raised food.

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 5:31 pm
by The Laughing Man
If I didn't have FLESH RIPPING TEETH in my head I might agree on the "moral/ethical" thingy, but geez, come on, we were MADE to eat meat, and we were also made TO BE EATEN. It all evens out, in theory, altho we have somewhat removed ourselves from the foodchain, so it's not an "even trade" anymore, but hey, if you're hungry, EAT, it's simple.

And I also don't approve of people "assuming" it's a better choice ethically/morally because for someone like me, who believes plants are as alive and aware as any other form of life, killling is killing. Killing a lettuce to eat it is ending a life just the same as killing a cow, so........ :roll:

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 6:15 pm
by Worm of Despite
Truly? Is the lettuce head aware that its existence is about to end--or that it even exists? The implications are staggering!

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 7:55 pm
by The Laughing Man
are you saying you know for a FACT that it doesn't know? :roll:

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:09 pm
by Prom_STar
Lettuce is most certainly aware of its own existence. In fact, it is also one of the most intelligent vegetables I've ever met. We humans thing we're so great because of our cities, atomic energy, digital watches, etc. But we really have nothing on the lettuce. Trust me, an hour spent with a head of lettuce will change your life.
Mark my words: Lettuce will rule the world some day and when that day comes, they will remember who chose to eat their brethren.

Will they remember you?

Join THOOLAH (The Humble Order Of Lettuce Assaulter Haters) today.[/i]

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:50 pm
by Marv
can you be sure that a lettuce doesn't already rule the world.
this is why i love this place, you ask a simple question and you get lettuce as world leaders. fantastic stuff people. :D

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:50 pm
by Cail
Every Vegetarian I've known, without exception, has been horribly unhealthy. They're either rail-thin and malnourished, or they're chunky from all the breads in their diet.

I simply couldn't give up meat, it's too good. Like Esmer said, we were designed to eat meat, so I have absolutely no qualms whatsoever with tearing into a piece of chicken or veal. That's right, I said veal.

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 9:57 pm
by lucimay
ah yes! carnivores unite! gimme a big, bloody rare steak! delish! can't live without!! must have meat!! bread makes me fat!!

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:07 pm
by High Lord Tolkien
Image

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:08 pm
by Lady Revel
This is my rationale:

We have flesh tearing teeth and grinding teeth.

Also, cows are vegetarians, they have seven stomachs; a very long gastrointestinal tract. Cats (domestic and wild) are carnivores, they have very short gastrointestinal tracts. Humans have mid length gastrointestinal tracts.

That makes me think that perhaps humans were meant to be omnivores.

But, heh, that's just me. *shrug*

Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:08 pm
by lucimay
i'm carnivorus but THAT is a NASTY thought, HLT!!!! eeeeyewwww! :|