Why Vegan/Vegetarian?

Question

I'm curious as to what in your life turned you vegan/vegetarian. I am neither, but do enjoy a varied diet, so meat tends to not be on the forefront of my menus.

I'm also curious if any of you are bodybuilders, and what your sources of protein are. I know that there are vegan bodybuilders, but I have never had the opportunity to talk to them.

My experiences with vegetarians were from my cousins, who claimed to be vegetarians but ate fish and chicken because they "didn't have a face." Here I thought choosing a veggo lifestyle was to prevent the suffering of animals, face or not...and here I thought two eyes and a mouth made a face :)

That's another question: if you're a vegetarian that still eats some meat, why do you call yourself a vegetarian instead of just saying "I don't eat pork/beef/whatever?" I don't eat some meats, but I don't call myself a special kind of vegetarian. I think that's just for attention.

You're welcome to email me at [e-mail] to discuss.

Answer 1

I'm... well according to your comment, I don't eat pork, lamb, pork, veal, beef, chicken, pheasant, venison... er there are too many.

I eat small fish and seafood but no other meat, basically ;)

I get protein from the above, and from beans, grains, pulses, tofu, soya, quorn, mushrooms, dairy, eggs.

I turned veggie (ish) because my parents started a small farm, and I was quite young. I had not realised before the direct connection between the meat on my plate and the animals in the field. I've always loved animals, and that was it for me really. I wouldn't have been able to kill them myself, so I didn't eat them.

I eat fish and seafood because: 1.) My parents aren't vegetarian and so at home they were a lot happier if I'd eat SOME meals with them 2.) I will happily kill and gut a fish, or would kill and clean shellfish, but I wouldn't be able to kill a sheep, goat, cow, pig, chicken etc myself. I think it would be hypocritical to eat it if I wouldn't be able to kill it. 3.) I don't think small fish and shellfish are as clever or aware as larger fish and mammals. Feel free to show me proof they are!

Answer 2

i dont like the taste of meat and the though of a chicken period freaks me out. i had no problem with milk but found it unnecessary so i went vegan

Answer 3

I'm vegan--not by any means "partial vegetarian," but I would imagine it is a lot easier to just say "vegetarian" and not have to explain to people why you aren't eating the steak they're handing you.  I will make exceptions for honey if I'm out and don't have many options, but I don't tell people "I'm vegetarian but I don't eat any dairy or eggs or wear leather or wool"--I tell them I'm vegan, because it helps me avoid confusion.

I've always been vegetarian, and was brought up to believe that animals shouldn't suffer unnecessarily.  By the time I was 15 or 16, I had learned enough about the world to realize that animals used to produce dairy and eggs also suffer, so I went vegan.  It was really very straightforward and simple choice for me.

Answer 4

because it takes a very small person to eat a defenceless animal and enjoy it

and you are right, all that partial veg is a load of c**p cause it is still murder

Answer 5

i gave up all flesh foods at once........to me the life of a fish is no different than the life of a cow, which is no different than the life of my dog or of me.

i made the decision to go veg because of religious and ethical reasons.  my religious beliefs have led me to feel that i should not consume another animal for food when it isn't necessary for my survival.  i also have a serious problem with the way that animals are treated when they are raised for food.  

this is my second round as a vegetarian, and the first time it was purely ethical.  i have done more spiritual searching since and that was what convinced me of the need to be a vegetarian.  

i'm not a bodybuilder for protein i eat nuts, seeds, beans, certain vegetables, whole grains, cheese, and soy products.  i have almost completely eliminated egg and milk from my diet (save for cheese).  i'm lactose intolerant, so i try to only consume cheese in small amounts and don't eat any other dairy.  soy products are a great source of protein though (and my favorite source of protein at that).  

thank you for this part: "if you're a vegetarian that still eats some meat, why do you call yourself a vegetarian instead of just saying "I don't eat pork/beef/whatever?" I don't eat some meats, but I don't call myself a special kind of vegetarian. I think that's just for attention."

i totally agree.  i don't see the need for a dozen different labels to specify that someone "eats pork and fish but not chicken or red meat." are you kidding me?! you're not a vegetarian if you eat animals.....period.  i don't like to go by the "anything with a face" rule, because scallops don't have faces, and neither do clams, snails, etc. and they are all flesh foods.  i just go by the rule that if it's an animal it isn't food. =)

Answer 6

I've been vegetarian since age 4- 10 years ago.  I don't eat any meat at all, including fish.

Basically, I used to enjoy bacon, chicken, salami, etc.  Then, I decided to ask my parents what a few of them were made of.

Despite the obvious names, like chicken, lamb, FISHsticks... for some reason I couldn't comprehend the idea that people would go out and murder animals and then eat them.  IWhen I found out the truth, I started crying.  I asked my parents WHO killed the animals, and, obviously, didn't know.   was horrified- I felt like no one had the right to kill a living thing with a brain and feelings and then EAT it, when it wasn't even necessary.  I felt that by eating meat, I was supporting the murder of innocent  animals.

So, I declared that I would never eat meat again.

My parents were like, "Yeah.  Right.  This'll last a day."  But I didn't eat any meat for 10 years.  :)

Well, I'm certainly not a "bodybuilder", but I do still need protein.  I get it from dairy, eggs, nuts, peas... and sometimes soy.  I've never had any health problems.

About the fish and chickens not having faces... I don't eat either, because, in my opinion, every animal is considered meat... even a fruit fly.

So, I obviously don't eat any meat, but my parents are kinda like what you described.  Since I'm vegetarian, they don't cook meat often.  But they eat a lot of seafood, and they have other types of meat several times a month.  So they claim to be "vegetarians, but we eat seafood, and other meat every once and a while when we feel like it".  I call them FAUXgetarians.  :)

Hope this answered your question!

Answer 7

Your cousins are obviously not vegetarians.  Vegetarians eat no animal flesh ever.  People who call themselves vegetarians but eat some kinds of meat are simply misinformed.  They read it somewhere or somebody told them and they believed it.

Show your cousins what the vegetarian society says regarding what a vegetarian is:

http://www.vegsoc.org/info/whatis.html

Tell them that this society was formed in the early 1800's...which pre-dates the false information published today.

Answer 8

There are many different types of a 'Vegetarian' as you put it.

Here is the most simple way I can think of explaining it ;)

Vegan - Consumes NO Meat,Poultry, Fish, Eggs, Dairy or Honey

Ovo Vegetarian - NO Meat, Poultry, Fish or Dairy

Lacto Vegetarian - NO Meat, Poultry, Fish, or Eggs

Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian (This probably being the most common definition of a 'Vegetarian') - NO Meat, Poultry or Fish including things like Gelatine, Rennet etc... Found in things like Yogurts, Marshmallows, Cheese & Sweets!

Pescatarian - No Meat or Poultry (But do eat Fish & other Seafood)

There are other forms of 'Vegetarians' like (Fruitarian, Raw Veg*n etc)

Hope this helps... Also, you asked what turned me veg!

Well, Here are my Top 10 Reasons for going Veg taken from my website =)

> BILLIONS of Innocent Animals are cruely slaughtered EVERY Year for the food table and human consumption!

> Not only will you Look And Feel Better, a Veg Diet Lowers the chances of Heart Disease, Strokes, Cancer & Obesity!

> Animals are Defenseless... They feel Pain, Fear & Although you choose not to hear there voices, they Scream too!!!

> A Veggie lifestyle is Cheaper than a Meat-Eating one! So you will also save money!

> No Matter how you slice or cook Meat, it is still FLESH!

> No Animal deserves to die for your Taste Buds! Why support MURDER when there are So Many Meat Alternatives!

> If you wouldn't eat your Cat or Dog, then why eat Cows, Chickens, Lambs & Fish? They are No Different!!!

> Hamburgers are Worse for you than Cigarettes! FACT!!!

> Chickens Wings were meant for Flying NOT Frying! Don't Eat Them!

> DYBA loves ALL Animals and believes that all beings were created Equal, no matter what species! Go Veg, it's easy and Something to be Proud Of! Do it For the Animals, The Enviroment, and Mostly for Yourself! Have the pride of knowing that you are doing something to change the WORLD!!!

If you are interested in learning more about Vegetarianism & Animal Rights.

Please Check out my website -

www.doyourbitforanimals.webs.com

Answer 9

I turned vegetarian aged 16. I wanted to do this earlier (since about age 5 actually!) but my parents wouldn't let me do it until I was "an adult age" - whatever that is! I always hated meat - the texture and taste, everything - knowing where it came from didn't help. I've also always been passionate about animal welfare, and so the two went naturally together in my mind.

So, I turned veggie at 16 - I'm now 41 and have never looked back. I've recently converted to veganism (3 months ago) - and frm a dietary point of view it hasn't been too difficult. The hard bit is finding places to eat out, explaining to friends why you can't eat at certain places etc. Fortunately most of my friends are very intelligent and understanding and don't give me a hard time - even making the effort to cook veg things for me when I visit - and eating the same meals themselves.

It certainly hasn't always been easy - my parents were very against it, even after agreeing to let me convert - my dad used to slip bits of meat in my meals! :-( My mum's been vegetarian herself now for 15 years though.

To answer more of your question - I've never been a "selective" vegetarian, I gave up all creatures in one go. I did enjoy some fish as a youngster, but found it very easy to give it up and do the thing properly. I am a deep thinker (it keeps me awake at night!) and I think that my lifestyle now is a natural progression for me. I feel very healthy and at peace with my life - I just wish I could stop torturing myself about the bigger issues (climate change, animal welfare abroad etc) that I have no control over! I believe this is what's known as "The vegan blues"!

Your question is very valid and interesting and shows a great deal more intelligence towards the diet than some other posts. Maybe some day you'll join us! :-)