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What kind of vegetarian are you?

There are many different terms vegetarians and vegans use to define their diets. How do you define yourself and why?

Tags: definition, vegan, vegetarian

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Permalink Reply by Lemon_Yellow on May 21, 2009 at 9:33pm
Payless is the place to go for cheap man-made materials shoes, I stock up for the kids when they run their BOGO deals. I've never been comfortable with the idea of ordering shoes online, but there are some great sites with vegan shoes and belts too.
Permalink Reply by Heidi Robinson on May 23, 2009 at 3:24pm
I agree why do people suggest you eat some fish or chicken when you tell them that you're vegetarian. Although not completely Vegan, I've resorted to telling them that's what I am, since they don't get that VEGetarian means "no meat". I wonder who coined the word vegan?

Rick Hughes said:
I guess I call my self, mostly vegan. Unless some milk or egg is an ingredient in something I can't control (bought out on the fly). I just found a lady locally that has a few chickens (layers) and she feeds them only organically. I am considering an egg or two under those conditions. The mostly comes in to play also with the fact that some things I owned prior to my awakening are leather, but I try nbot to buy animal products anymore.

I made the switch two years ago without forethought. I wathed the movie "Earthlings" and by the time the credits rolled... I was done with animal products.

I find it very strange that some vegetarians eat all kinds of dairy and fish!! VEGetarian?
Permalink Reply by Rick Hughes on May 23, 2009 at 7:00pm
EARTHLINGS should be required to be seen by all students. Here is the trailer for anyone that hasn't seen it.
Permalink Reply by Rick Hughes on May 23, 2009 at 7:03pm
Veganaise is excellent! I also enjoy the rice cheese by Galaxy.

Lemon_Yellow said:
I'm an aspiring vegan, I usually just say I'm vegetarian to avoid having to explain what a vegan is. I hate milk, but sometimes I miss cheese and egg whites and Hellman's Mayonnaise (ick I know)

I stopped eating meat at 15, but when I moved in with my (now-ex) husband I went back to eating poultry and some fish to simplify things, as he was not vegetarian but would put up with having a red-meat free house. My children were brought up never eating red meat, and very little poultry/seafood. That's how things were for almost 7 years. But when I became separated it occured to me that I could be vegetarian again. After visiting vegan friends a few summer ago I decided to move us towards veganism, for many reasons. We aren't perfect vegans but we do our best living in a small town where even vegetarianism is considered 'weird'. I'd say we eat 1 serving of dairy/eggs 3-4 times a week. The kids can choose up to 1-non-vegan food/meal per day. It's been about 1 year since we made the switch, and they have slowly come on board, they are 5 & 8. It's hard for the kids at school, birthday parties, etc. because they get teased (especially if they eat something non-vegan like a Babybel!). Where we fall short in diet, I try to make up for by being vigilant in the other areas of our life. We don't wear leather/fur/down, or use products tested on animals, etc.

It's the dbl standard that I can't stand. If you are a vegetarian who is allergic to milk/eggs...that's ok, people feel sorry for you. If you are a vegetarian who chooses not to eat milk/eggs (vegan)..then people thinks you're a freak who has gone too far! My ex-husband told the kids that veganism is "going too far" and he would sabotage me at the beginning taking the kids out for ice cream etc. I used to send things with the kids, but it was pointless, foods would come back spoiled or unopened. I'm hoping he'll come around eventually and at least start stocking some vegan options at his house. At least he doesn't force them to eat meat, they'd kick up a major fuss.
Permalink Reply by Vega Kelly on May 25, 2009 at 10:35am
Earthlings is a must-watch. It's what really convinced me to stop eating meat once and for all.

Rick Hughes said:
EARTHLINGS should be required to be seen by all students. Here is the trailer for anyone that hasn't seen it.
Permalink Reply by Dave Shishkoff on May 25, 2009 at 11:43am
Hey y'all - in response to Heidi, "vegan" was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson. He grew up around ("family") farm animals, and concluded at a young age that this was all very problematic. The definition is below, and is maintained by the Vegan Society of the UK, which Watson also founded in '44:

"[T]he word "veganism" denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practical — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."

Note a few key words there.. Veganism is a *philosophy*. It is an outlook, or perspective.

While there is a vegan diet, and a vegan lifestyle, it's inaccurate to refer (or limit) veganism to either.

Also, very explicitly and appropriately used is the term 'exploitation' -- this is rarely understood. I would hope all readers would agree that exploiting other humans is wrong....and it stands to reason that exploitative mentalities are also wrong, and of concern. This is extended to other animals with veganism -- that they also deserve respect and consideration, and you could say the right to simply live their lives without human interference.

In essence, veganism is a philosophy opposing exploitation, specifically relating to animals, and of course includes humans. This is manifested through a change in behavior, where we stop supporting practices that use and exploit animals, and instead utilize those that do not. Veganism is a part of the peace movement, and encourages peace and respect for all!

Hope that answers a few questions! =)
Permalink Reply by Frances Worster on May 25, 2009 at 5:13pm
I know what you mean! I admit, though I understood vegetarianism, I once thought Veganism was too far however, since reading up and educating myself, I stopped eating meat, dairy, eggs, etc. cold-turkey - and didn't miss anything. It wasn't "weird", though people think I'm strange (the most common question I get asked - after "how do you get your protein?", is "what do you eat?!"). I don't have any real proof but I tell people that, at this point, I probably couldn't digest dairy properly anyway. It's funny too, but since changing my diet I can't drink anymore either - guess it's all those sugars! I can handle a little wine but that's about it!

Lemon_Yellow said:
It's the dbl standard that I can't stand. If you are a vegetarian who is allergic to milk/eggs...that's ok, people feel sorry for you. If you are a vegetarian who chooses not to eat milk/eggs (vegan)..then people thinks you're a freak who has gone too far! My ex-husband told the kids that veganism is "going too far" and he would sabotage me at the beginning taking the kids out for ice cream etc. I used to send things with the kids, but it was pointless, foods would come back spoiled or unopened. I'm hoping he'll come around eventually and at least start stocking some vegan options at his house. At least he doesn't force them to eat meat, they'd kick up a major fuss.
Permalink Reply by Lisa Whalen on December 1, 2011 at 2:47pm

Hello.  I have pretty much been a vegetarian since I was in my twenties, although I did in fact eat meat when I was pregnant because the baby craved it in the third trimester for brain and bone developement and I could not afford any alternatives (which were very rare to find) back then.  I have replaced milk easily with coconut milk, almond mild, and soy so I actually drink more now, as it is tasty in my coffee, lol.  As far as eggs and cheese go, I opt for egg beaters if I am in fact desperate, otherwise the alternative is what I prefer, and the vegan cheese is excellent that I purchase and melts on anything.   I have always been able to eat more healthy food and feel more energetic than those around me.  I burn the calories up fast because they are plant based and kinder to my system.  I found that digesting fatty foods or fried greasy forms of food is not tolerable to me since I was very young.  I love what I am, but others are not always accommodating even now where I live.  I am in my forties and look and feel better than many who are very much younger than me. 

Permalink Reply by monica rossi on December 5, 2011 at 6:19pm
Hello Sarah,
I have been running now for about six months and I train really hard and I just did my first marathon in Sacramento. Iam nervous about not having meat or enough to keep me going and strong, can you help me understand , I want to quit eating meat and dairy but Iam afraid of being week. Thanks monica

Sarah Dzikowicz said:
I define myself as a Raw Foodist - I went straight from the Standard American Diet to a Raw Vegan Diet about 11 months ago. I lost 20 lbs ... my running has improved ... and, my cholesterol has dropped to 132! I made the switch for health reasons.
Permalink Reply by mongi fantar on December 9, 2011 at 1:26pm

I´ve been vegan for about 12 years now, but I do indulge in some goat milk or yogurt occasionally. I never planned to go vegan one day, it just happened. Well  I would leaf through in a health food magazine among those lying about in health food places where i would buy all my "stuff" ...There went by quite a few weeks one day without me really realizing I hadn´t eaten meat in a long time. So I noticed, one could do without meat, but I had to find out about supplements...Fortunately I´ve always drunk green tea, today I add a lot of dry dill, (dry) dill being unbeatable as far as minerals are concerned , but the best supplement is brewer yeast in powder which I never spread over salads and the like, but just stir in water and gulp, 2 times a day, like one hour after the meal...

My conviction is that the more modest the choice (or frugal if you like), the healthier...All I have for breakfast are oat flakes, also here I just poor water over them and eat...I never eat fruit -apples- here also until at least one hour goes by, for the more copious and richer the mixture the harder for the stomach that´s slaving all day anyway...without enough liquid though -mainly water- , nothing happens, again nothing happens, simply it doesn´t benefit not to go into details...Now to close, I´d like to mention a little detail, I´ve no longer coughed or sneezed or run a temperature ever since I came across green tea...I was a regular in that health food place run by a friendly lady that told me if I drank one litre and a half green tea every day, I would no longer sneeze or cough or run a temperature and I followed her advice and indeed what she said eventuated...     

Permalink Reply by monica rossi on December 9, 2011 at 5:36pm

Thank you so much what great tip's I will try them. Thank's Monica

Permalink Reply by mongi fantar on December 10, 2011 at 2:24am

thanks Monica Rossi, hi everyone, comments and mutual exchange are the fuel for a group

( one minute between "water tap, sauce pan and hotplate", turn up the heat to soon turn it down, leave to simmer for 20-25 min while you´re doing the chores...)

now your comment caused me to come back to green tea and tell which "make" and how I prepare it. It´s gun powder I´ve drunk ever since. One day I happened to overlook that I ran out of gree tea, it was at a weekend, so I ran to the Central Station and got some green tea there, am not sensitive or easily get a headache, but that day after I drank the stuff, thought o boy.  Really !... it soon disappeared...Super Store has it in North America, but you can get it in all big Chinese shops too I guess and It comes in packages of 100 - 1000 grammes, dark green with yellow drawings, a camel and a temple on it, got the tip from a family in Holland and stayed true to it ever since... Honestly I don´t have a big opinion of those " nice & tender " recipies like a teaspoonful in a cup and pour hot water on it, because otherwise as some tell, vitamins volatilize, the hotter the water, sure, indeed vitamins disappear at a temperature of 60 degrees, --but  we want the minerals-- in it and we only can extract them out of the tea if we bring the water with the tea in it to the boil (as I read in a very interesting book that I still have, cause I can´t recall someone mentioned this detail ever ), so, 20-25 minutes from the boiling point on, you can cover with a lid and leave to simmer gently as soon as it starts to boil if you´re not in a hurry-so, this, as minerals never volatilize unlike vitamins !!!--...I add three or four soup spoons of dry dill to 2 teaspoonfuls of green tea...you´re gonna have a wonderul whiff wafting from the dill after 15 min or so and that´s when I realize, now I can turn off and take down the sauce pan...leave to draw for 10-15 min, sweeten with honey -sure not vegan, but with sugar,  " it boils down ". You can delute with water if too strong, but use the " dregs " 3 or 4 hours later adding nothing at the most though some green tea if you kinda deem...Whether all this benefits us when we eat too much meat I don´t know...but now I´ll finish going too flowery, I like this site.  

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