Should I stop being vegetarian?

Question

Now before you rant, I live in a small town and the only veg thing we have is morningstar meats and soy milk. All of it is between $3.95- $5.00 each. I have asked the other 2 grocery stores for veggie stuff,and they added it to their store just far too high tho. I'm on fixed income and I cant live off beans,peas and rice especially when these hurricanes turn off the electricity for 2 days.I find that I can get meat products a third less and many are on sale than I can fake meats. Please don't give me that rant about animals that died to feed me and that I'm a cruel person. I can not help I can't afford the fake stuff. Also I know when accidental or coincidently veg stuff comes on a semi which im this town is always covered with millions of bugs. Therefore can't really say anything is cruelty free. Not including the amount of road kill but thats beside the point. Anyone else agrees?

Answer 1

so,  in your town there's no fresh produce???????

why do you need fakey meat anyways?   for the protein?   well, hate to tell you this but you get more than enough protein (from fiber not fats)  in veggies and fruits alone.    

i'm sure fresh produce is still readily available and affordable like in most small and large towns.

Answer 2

I live in a pretty small town myself and I know just where you are coming from, however, cheap food without meat is readily available and can be found just about anywhere. Raman Noodles are dirt cheap and there only downfall is the amount of sodium in them, which can be reduced drastcially simply by how much powder you add to them. Lean Cuisine and some other frozen food vendors also offer vegeterian dishes.

Ultimatley, as others have mentioned, it is your decision, but there are other inexpensive options available.

Answer 3

Its totally up to you. No one should fault you for having to do what you have to do to stay healthy. If you don't feel that you can afford to live on the vegetarian choices available to you, there are animal based choices that you can eat. I live in the 2nd largest city in California with almost ALL options available as far as food goes and I STILL have problems locating specific vegan items! =)

I would suggest picking up a vegetarian cookbook and seeing if there are any cheap recipes that you can make. For me personally, I have saved a lot of money on not buying meat since veggies are typically less expensive than meat. The fake meats are awesome, but you certainly don't need them to create a meal.

Play around with it, and see what works out well for you. When you are in a difficult situation such as being in a shelter, it is indeed tough to turn down a free meal, and nobody should fault you for doing what you need to do to get nutrition. Best of luck,  

Answer 4

Do what yo think is best for you not what others tell you what you should do. Unless they are willing to pay for your groceries or send you money, I don't think they have much to say about how you should live.

It's your life. You are in the best position to decide.

Answer 5

It's your personal choice.  I understand that it's hard for you to find appropriate food.  If you find it easier then go ahead.  I personally wouldn't because I've been a veggie for 13 years and meat would seriously hurt my system.

Answer 6

Fake meats and soymilk are not the only things that are vegetarian.  For vegetarians on a budget, I'd suggest getting frozen/canned vegetables and fruits, canned beans, grains, etc.  

I don't understand what you mean about "can't live off beans, peas, and rice especially when these hurricanes turn off the electricity for 2 days."  Am I mistaken?  Don't you need electricity to cook meats as well?  In that situation you could always just make yourself a couple peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and potato chips.  No big deal.

I think you are looking for an excuse to stop being a vegetarian because you are having meat cravings.  It's really affordable to be vegetarian, just stay away from the processed fake meats.

Edit** Oh I see. Well, in times when you are handed food in a life threatening situation, you have to make that decision.  Is it possible to take the meat out and give an extra helping to someone else? If you are in danger of starving, then of course you should eat it, though.

Answer 7

Yes, reduce global warming, eat a cow. Methane causes global warming. Cow farts have lots of methane. You eat a steak or hamburger, less cows, less cow farts. Foolproof logic.

Answer 8

You can make your own faux meat products.  You can make your own tofu if it's not available.  You went too far with the bug thing.  Go to www.meat.org and tell me if you're still so worried about bugs.  You lost me there.  You seem lazy.  Anyone can google vegetarian recipes.  I don't live on faux meats alone and you don't have to either.

Answer 9

That is honestly you decision. Nobody else can make that for you. If you can't afford the stuff you want then your gonna have to make some changes. There are a lot of stuff out there you can have with meat or animal products just depends on what you like.

Have you ever read the book "Skinny *****" yes that's the real tittle. Its a great book

Answer 10

Yes. Eat meat. It tastes sooo good.

And its a cheap way to get all the nutrients you need, and your health should come before ideology.

Answer 11

Animals were made to be eaten. It tastes great, too =D I promise!

Answer 12

I can understand your desire to go cruelty free, trying to go "meatless." There are meat-eaters I know who go out of their way to go grocery shopping at local Co-Ops, farmers markets and natural food stores to try & get "cage free" eggs or poultry, grass-fed beef etc. to aid their respective consciences.  But all those things are just as expensive if not more so than the "fake meat" products also sold by such stores.

It's all well and good to do what you can to eat less meat, to eat cruelty-free meat when you can etc if it really bothers you to think of all the tiny little souls that were sacrificed to bring you dinner.

But the real world that I live in, it won't stop being cruel to cows and chickens if I decide to go vegetarian or to only buy the expensive meat from the local farmer just down the road from me. Major manufacturing won't change its habits even if a few of us consumers do. If you feel guilty eating the cheap chicken, pork or beef from the chain grocery store in your area, remember its not your fault. You're not the one who set up global agribusiness to be the way it is, and you can't help that you're not about to break your bank just to be able to eat a meatless dinner every night. If it really bothers you, eat meatless as much as you can afford, and choose small amounts when you do actually eat animal protein.  And if you're interested in changing the way the free-enterprising world defines "cruelty free," you'd probably want to start running for state legislature, because lord knows i wouldn't put stock in any politician doing it for you.

Answer 13

being a vegetarian is foolish cause when you eat greens they were alive once till someone grabbed the knife and cut them and plus now that hurricanes are happening you should just grab whatever you can even if it contains meat and anyway healthy stuff is expensive and the junk food is cheaper so yeah go for it

Answer 14

Eat meat, just make sure you eat the lean part. No guilty feelings, it is good protein and good for you.

Answer 15

well its probably better for you to be healthy and eat meat than not eat meat and be too poor to afford healthy food.  so its up to you if you want to be poor and unhealthy or not