44 replies to this topic

[Oldschooler81]

I've been one since Summer '01. I'm not a hardcore vegan or anything (that'd just be TOO hard, lol), I still have fish and dairy, just no turkey, steak, chicken, beef etc.

What's funny is, I just did it as an experiment while I was getting in shape (esp jogging) and I was only gonna do it for a month, but turns out I got so used to staying away from meat that I never went back. For a few months afterward, I kinda did crave things (I used to love chicken sandwiches from Burger King!)...but I haven't in years now.

Does anyone know too - is it true what they say about needing protein from meat? One of my buddies at the time was (in a friendly way) razzing me about it a little, he was pretty much saying that. In almost 9 years I haven't noticed much of a difference though. I'd think it'd almost be healthier, I'd think breaking down meat is harder for your body.

[AMETHYST PRODUCTIVITY]

No, meat protein isn't needed. My 13 year old daughter has never had any meat or fish and she's incredibly healthy, barely ever gets sick and is an a+ student so her brain is healthy too.

She has a need for different types of protein such as both dairy and legume (beans and nuts.) Obviously not everyone needs dairy but her body does. It's good to have a variety of proteins.

[Oldschooler81]

No, meat protein isn't needed. My 13 year old daughter has never had any meat or fish and she's incredibly healthy, barely ever gets sick and is an a+ student so her brain is healthy too.

She has a need for different types of protein such as both dairy and legume (beans and nuts.) Obviously not everyone needs dairy but her body does. It's good to have a variety of proteins.

Thanks, good to hear. Yeah, I agree with you - your daughter is probably more of a "moderate vegetarian" like I am, glad to hear that works for her too. I've heard the same thing too, that as long as you have some kind of protein, it pretty much makes up for anything you'd be missing from regular meat.

[AMETHYST PRODUCTIVITY]

She drinks milk every day, has cheese every day and eats peanut butter 6 days a week, as well as raw peanuts.

She's had 8 different doctors (we moved a lot) and ALL of them were supportive and good with it. She's had blood work every couple of years to check and every single time, they came back perfect.

I wish she'd eat eggs but she won't.

[Steve Heard]

Does anyone know too - is it true what they say about needing protein from meat?.

Common but erroneous belief.

We need protein, but it does not have to be animal protein. In fact, the problem with animal protein is that it can come with animal fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, dyes, hormones, anti-biotics and lord knows what else.

There are entire societies of vegetarians who manage to lead long healthy lives without animal protein.

I am not a vegetarian, but I eat animal-free for most meals. I still get my monthly Manderes burger, the occasional Chicago Fire pizza or their awesome wings, cook a chicken or a turkey now and then, and love seafood, but beans, greens, veggies, fruit, tofu, and whole grains make up most of my diet.

[supermom]

Common but erroneous belief.

We need protein, but it does not have to be animal protein. In fact, the problem with animal protein is that it can come with animal fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, dyes, hormones, anti-biotics and lord knows what else.

There are entire societies of vegetarians who manage to lead long healthy lives without animal protein.

I am not a vegetarian, but I eat animal-free for most meals. I still get my monthly Manderes burger, the occasional Chicago Fire pizza or their awesome wings, cook a chicken or a turkey now and then, and love seafood, but beans, greens, veggies, fruit, tofu, and whole grains make up most of my diet.

Huh- I've been a vegetarian for a year now. It just happened. I didn't plan it or choose it. I just can't stomach meat-anymore. At first it was really bad. Even the smell would. Send me heaving. Then after a while I starting loosening up and could eat chicken once a week. But then I travelled to somewhere- stayed for while- and now- nothing. I can't bear meat looking up at me-on my plate. Anything. I can't drink milk- but if I am careful I can consume cheese. mostly-(because I am not much of a fruit eater, either)-I stick to salads, mixed veggies and bean and veggie stews. And ofcoarse, my vegetarian gyros with extra tomato. Or sezchuan spicy hot tofu and veggies.
Yes, I do occasionally get tofu-but haven't figured out how to make a lot of meals with it.

[Bill Z]

I'm a vegetarian.

They (you know who they are) say "You are what you eat".

So I'm a vegetarian because I eat vegetarians.

Cows, pigs, etc are vegetarians so I must be one too!

[bordercolliefan]

My daughter's doctor said it is perfectly fine for a kid to be a vegetarian, but you must watch the protein intake. It's not okay for them to simply eat the starch and veg at every meal, while skipping the meat, because then they won't get enough protein.

He also made a distinction between vegetarian and vegan. He said it is NOT okay for a kid to be vegan -- he has seen too many cases of malnourishment and bone problems resulting from that.

[chris v]

Just for the record... you can't be a vegetarian and still eat fish. Doesn't work that way.

[Zanzan]

My husband, six year old daughter and I are all vegetarians. It started because my husband got massive food poisoning about 3 years ago from some tainted ground beef. He swore off all meat in the midst of his poisoning, and actually stuck with his promise. I decided to just go with it because I didn't want to be cooking two separate dinners each night, even though I was a carnivore through and through. Since then, I have become convinced of the incredible benefits to the vegetarian diet. I'm very careful to make sure we're getting a variety of foods, and we don't eat anything (rarely) that is processed. Lots of beans, whole grains, rice, tons of fruits and veggies. We eat eggs, which are a complete protein, have a little milk and a little cheese as well.

Eliminating meat from our diets has forced us to try foods I never would have considered. Things like parsnips, dandelion greens, quinoa, barley and foods that I would never give a second glance now have become loved favorites in our home. I thought I would hate being a vegetarian or go back to meat within a short time, but I have actually never felt better in my life.

[supermom]

My husband, six year old daughter and I are all vegetarians. It started because my husband got massive food poisoning about 3 years ago from some tainted ground beef. He swore off all meat in the midst of his poisoning, and actually stuck with his promise. I decided to just go with it because I didn't want to be cooking two separate dinners each night, even though I was a carnivore through and through. Since then, I have become convinced of the incredible benefits to the vegetarian diet. I'm very careful to make sure we're getting a variety of foods, and we don't eat anything (rarely) that is processed. Lots of beans, whole grains, rice, tons of fruits and veggies. We eat eggs, which are a complete protein, have a little milk and a little cheese as well.

Eliminating meat from our diets has forced us to try foods I never would have considered. Things like parsnips, dandelion greens, quinoa, barley and foods that I would never give a second glance now have become loved favorites in our home. I thought I would hate being a vegetarian or go back to meat within a short time, but I have actually never felt better in my life.

quinoa?

really?

is that a rice?

[supermom]

Just for the record... you can't be a vegetarian and still eat fish. Doesn't work that way.

I saw a book one time that was a dieticians guide to healthy eating.

There were 31 types or "degrees" of vegetarians.

By an far the most common vegetarian is one whom will eat vegetables, fruits, grains, eggs, dairy and fish.

The most "extreme" diet is the true vegan-where absolutely nothing from animal or still "living" on a vine or branch may be consumed.

There are many moderate diets that one can choose.

Some vegetarians will not any land form animal meat except for fowl.

Some won't eat fowl-or fish-but will eat shell fish.

Some won't eat any meat except fresh water 'fish' or mollusk.

[chris v]

I saw a book one time that was a dieticians guide to healthy eating.

There were 31 types or "degrees" of vegetarians.

By an far the most common vegetarian is one whom will eat vegetables, fruits, grains, eggs, dairy and fish.

The most "extreme" diet is the true vegan-where absolutely nothing from animal or still "living" on a vine or branch may be consumed.

There are many moderate diets that one can choose.

Some vegetarians will not any land form animal meat except for fowl.

Some won't eat fowl-or fish-but will eat shell fish.

Some won't eat any meat except fresh water 'fish' or mollusk.

And there are names for all of those that are not vegetarian... like the ones who eat only fish are pescatarians.

[Zanzan]

quinoa?

really?

is that a rice?

I think quinoa is actually a seed, not a grain, but has all the texture of an ancient grain. It has a nutty taste, and apparently it is a super-food, packed with so many nutrients and antioxidants per serving. I put it in soups, use it with black beans to make a burger patty, or stand alone as a salad, with chard or spinach and mushrooms. My daughter loves it with cinammon and brown sugar, we call it porridge.

And there are names for all of those that are not vegetarian... like the ones who eat only fish are pescatarians.

Correct!

I think we are "lacto-ovo vegetarians" which means eggs and dairy are included.
Then ovo-vegetarians eat eggs but not dairy.
Flexitarians consume much less meat, once a week, but are not full vegetarians.

Then there are those raw foodists, they're the hard-core ones: nothing cooked at all. Kind of the "Adam and Eve frolicking in the garden of Eden diet".

[aztransplant]

Check out Brendan Brazier's Thrive Diet (he's a vegan triathlete). www.brendanbrazier.com

You can sign up for 30 days of free email lessons (Thrive in 30) at www.myvega.com.