Vegetarianism - would you try it?

jimmycrackcorm

I once spent some time managing a team in India. In the hotel the vegetarian menu choices were better than the meat dishes by far so I ended up basically eating those.

Papillon!

Im Veggie for about 4 years. Never going back. Best decision I ever made:)

bbam

Just for interest sake why do most people give up meat?
It it an animal rights issue, do you not miss meat, I can't imagine not having a nice medium rib eye steak, nothing comes close in taste or sadisfaxtion from a meal.
Do you ever get the craving for red meat?

smash

1: I don't see the point in being a vegetarian.
2: Meat tastes too good to stop eating it.

humbert

Shenshen wrote: »

I suspect you would replace the white bread with something as well, if you were to cut it out.
Wholemeal bread, for example. Or rice crackers.
Simply cutting bread out of your diet without replacing it anything at all would probably affect you long-term just as deciding to cut out meat.

I'm not aware of any nutritional requirement that white bread fills which isn't more than fulfilled by foods like rice, pasta, potatoes or even breakfast cereals which are part of most people's diets. I don't think the same can be said for meat.

Shenshen

bbam wrote: »

Just for interest sake why do most people give up meat?
It it an animal rights issue, do you not miss meat, I can't imagine not having a nice medium rib eye steak, nothing comes close in taste or sadisfaxtion from a meal.
Do you ever get the craving for red meat?

I can't answer for most people. At work, there is one person who was raised vegetarian, she tried meat but never liked it so stayed vegetarian.
Two people are vegetarian because they don't like the taste or texture of meat.
One person is vegetarian for health reasons (I'm not going into if that's sensible or not, at the end of the day it's his choice).

Me, I'm vegetarian because there's no point for me to prepare meat at home, since my husband's vegetarian, and when eating out I've got no way of finding out where the meat came from and how the animals it came from were actually treated.

My husband is vegetarian because the thought of eating something that once was a live animal turns his stomach.
His brother and my sister in law are vegetarian for health, animal rights and environmental reasons (all in one).

Edit : No, I honestly don't miss meat. At all.
It was a little tricky at the beginning as you have to re-think much of your approach to cooking, but at this point I cannot imagine wanting to eat meat again.
What I do miss - sadly, is the choice you have when eating out. Usually, a menu will consist of 8+ meat dishes, and one dish containing either overboiled pasta, aubergine or goat's cheese, or any combination of these.
It has turned eating out from a treat into something best avoided, unfortunately, as my own cooking (and I say this without arrogance) is just so much better than what most places serve up as "vegetarian option".

_GOD_

darlett wrote: »

An interesting experiment though, surely? Going balls out and trying it. One of the nicest foods I ever had was BBQ shrimp. Only problem being, A- Ive never been able to repeat the marinade of my favourite BBQ shrimp, and B- are shrimp and fishfood vegetarian enough to be called vegetarian?

The trick is that veggie bbqs dont have to be healthy.
you can make really good veggie burgers with 2 tins of black beans mixed with breadcrumbs, black pepper, flour and cholula chipotle hot sauce. It takes about 2 minutes to make and is deadly. If you go to the effort of making guacamole its goes really well with it too. you can also throw some linda mc carthney sausages on and portabello mushrooms.

seamus

humbert wrote: »

I don't think the same can be said for meat.

It can. There is nothing which meat provides that is not more than fulfilled by alternative foods.

You don't even have to go mental with nut-roasted-quorn-breaded-tofu supplements. A mixed vegetable diet which includes eggs and dairy has all the nutrition required.

Part of the problem is dividing meals into individual servings, thinking about "meat & two veg" and that if you remove the meat you have to slot something else in there. You don't.

St.Spodo

Morally I can't think of any good reason not to be a vegetarian, yet I'm not a vegetarian. Through convenience, the taste and being in a long-standing habit of meat-eating, I've just never had enough motivation to commit to being a vegetarian. I probably never will. And I do admire others for making a lifestyle change on moral grounds.

Shenshen

humbert wrote: »

I'm not aware of any nutritional requirement that white bread fills which isn't more than fulfilled by foods like rice, pasta, potatoes or even breakfast cereals which are part of most people's diets. I don't think the same can be said for meat.

So you would replace the bread with an increased consumption of rice, pasta, potatoes, etc.
Most people replace the meat with increased consumption of eggs, dairy products and pulses, which in most cases already are an everyday part of their diet anyway.

Quite simple, really.

seamus

bbam wrote: »

Just for interest sake why do most people give up meat?

I don't think there is a "most" answer tbh. Every vegetarian has their own reasons and most will differ in one way or another as to their reasonsing.

Do you ever get the craving for red meat?

Jeebus no. Was never a big fan of red meat anyway, usually too acidic and chewtastic to enjoy.

Most of the meat dishes I liked were generally where the meat was heavily supplemented with other ingredients to enhance the flavour - sausages, black pudding, etc.

When I first considered eating veggie (at 17), I did have trouble letting go of chicken for a couple of months, but I think that was because I didn't really have a clue what to eat instead; I didn't really consume cheese or milk back then (didn't like it) and although I loved eggs they were just a breakfast food.

DB21

Pescetarian for nearly 2 years now, and I've never looked back. Lost a ton of weight, and I've become healthier overall.

TheBoss!

seamus wrote: »

Though I suppose in some parts of this country, heroin addicts and prostitutes would be held in a better light than vegetarians.

Not just Ireland, the world over seems to view vegetarianism is picky eating.

One thing that really bugs the fcuk of me is in movies, when there is some relationship at the start of a film and a woman is deciding between two guys, the one she leaves is always a vegan with allergies or something and in the end she will go for the other guy and they almost always make a point of showing him being care free with food choice and enjoying a steak or whatever.

humbert

Shenshen wrote: »

So you would replace the bread with an increased consumption of rice, pasta, potatoes, etc.
Most people replace the meat with increased consumption of eggs, dairy products and pulses, which in most cases already are an everyday part of their diet anyway.

Quite simple, really.

No, I didn't say I would increase the consumption of those things. I wouldn't have to. That's the point. I could just drop white bread. I'd say there's a better chance of my health improving as a result that deteriorating.

(All the fullstops make that paragraph look like a telegram)

seamus wrote: »

It can. There is nothing which meat provides that is not more than fulfilled by alternative foods.

You don't even have to go mental with nut-roasted-quorn-breaded-tofu supplements. A mixed vegetable diet which includes eggs and dairy has all the nutrition required.

Part of the problem is dividing meals into individual servings, thinking about "meat & two veg" and that if you remove the meat you have to slot something else in there. You don't.

Ah, I'm not suggesting that becoming a veggie is terribly difficult, I just don't agree that it's comparable to giving up white bread.

I agree with you on the stigma in Ireland about meal components. As soon as I started cooking for my self 'spuds' were no longer the bulk of the meal and all veg were treated equally. Much more enjoyable, varied and healthy meals.

_GOD_

TheBoss! wrote: »

Not just Ireland, the world over seems to view vegetarianism is picky eating.

One thing that really bugs the fcuk of me is in movies, when there is some relationship at the start of a film and a woman is deciding between two guys, the one she leaves is always a vegan with allergies or something and in the end she will go for the other guy and they almost always make a point of showing him being care free with food choice and enjoying a steak or whatever.

I have never seen that in a movie. Veggies can be badasses in films, like Downfall.

bbam

Thanks guys.
I would often choose a vegetarian option if out for a meal but just because I like to vary my intake.
We keep pigs, cattle and chickens so are sure of the source of our meat.

One thing I would say is that animal welfare is very high on Irish farms, yes they are reared with the killing in focus and i appreciate this is a problem for some, but they are treated well.

KamiKazeKitten

I dan't ever see me going veggie. If I was going to give up meat I'd probably go vegan, don't ask me why. Sort of an all or nothing approach I guess, if the ethics of killing animals bothered me I'm pretty sure animal products would too.

Not completely rational, but sure there ya go...

--Kaiser--

I've never been a vegetarian and I never will be. I know far too much about nutritional science and evolutionary biology to ever think that it's either good or natural. I also don't have the moral compass of a five year old

L.Jenkins

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

I've never been a vegetarian and I never will be. I know far too much about nutritional science and evolutionary biology to ever think that it's either good or natural. I also don't have the moral compass of a five year old

You should try some of the food items available. Just as good, if not better than non-vegatarian options in some cases.

I was a vegatarian for over a year, when I had to start for a while, but I'm taking it up again soon.

--Kaiser--

Itzy wrote: »

You should try some of the food items available. Just as good, if not better than non-vegatarian options in some cases.

I was a vegatarian for over a year, when I had to start for a while, but I'm taking it up again soon.

You either didn't read or didn't understand any word of my post

nervous_twitch

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

I've never been a vegetarian and I never will be. I know far too much about nutritional science and evolutionary biology to ever think that it's either good or natural. I also don't have the moral compass of a five year old

I love a good superiority complex of a Monday morning

DB21

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

I've never been a vegetarian and I never will be. I know far too much about nutritional science and evolutionary biology to ever think that it's either good or natural. I also don't have the moral compass of a five year old

I'm so very tempted to take up the argument against you on this. However, I doubt any reasonable scientist/person using scientific argument would have included that last sentence. So, I shall not waste my time arguing against someone as pig-headed (heh) to believe that all non-meat eaters have the moral compass of a five year old. Good day, sir.

--Kaiser--

DB21 wrote: »

I'm so very tempted to take up the argument against you on this.

Are you one of those vegetarians who attempts to argue that humans are naturally herbivorous? If so then don't bother

Shenshen

humbert wrote: »

No, I didn't say I would increase the consumption of those things. I wouldn't have to. That's the point. I could just drop white bread. I'd say there's a better chance of my health improving as a result that deteriorating.

(All the fullstops make that paragraph look like a telegram)

I think you can only really do that if white bread is not an everyday part of your diet, otherwise you'll have to substitue it for something.
If you have two slices of toast for breakfast normally, and you decided to cut out the bread, surely you would substitute it? Or would you just go with a cup of tea and a handful of jam?

L.Jenkins

--Kaiser-- wrote: »

You either didn't read or didn't understand any word of my post

By consuming a vegatarian meal, like one should consume junk food in moderation, it can't hurt. Some of the best food I've tasted have vegatarian.

Dravokivich

Shenshen wrote: »

I think you can only really do that if white bread is not an everyday part of your diet, otherwise you'll have to substitue it for something.
If you have two slices of toast for breakfast normally, and you decided to cut out the bread, surely you would substitute it? Or would you just go with a cup of tea and a handful of jam?

Ah come on in civilized society these days, we can use spoons! :pac:

admiralofthefleet

god no. i love meat too much

DyldeBrill

Could never go veggie!

Nothing better than a good steak, or roast dinner on a Sunday! Would be in no mood to be eating those Linda McCartney Veggie Sausages as a substitute meaty treat

darlett

_GOD_ wrote: »

The trick is that veggie bbqs dont have to be healthy.
you can make really good veggie burgers with 2 tins of black beans mixed with breadcrumbs, black pepper, flour and cholula chipotle hot sauce. It takes about 2 minutes to make and is deadly. If you go to the effort of making guacamole its goes really well with it too. you can also throw some linda mc carthney sausages on and portabello mushrooms.

Agh, see that does sound good. Its bizarre thinking of all the times Ive been stuck for something to cook a vegetarian, and paniced into going the frozen veggie burger route, never even considering the option to make one which sounds a very superior bite. Oh well theres always next time.

bbam wrote: »

Just for interest sake why do most people give up meat?
It it an animal rights issue, do you not miss meat, I can't imagine not having a nice medium rib eye steak, nothing comes close in taste or sadisfaxtion from a meal.

seamus wrote: »

I don't think there is a "most" answer tbh. Every vegetarian has their own reasons and most will differ in one way or another as to their reasonsing.

Im going to be a bit anecdotal and possibly overly simple/silly. Off the top of my head I can think of about 10 vegetarians I know, 3 in particular are good friends. What all these vegetarians have in common is that they are...female. I dont know of any males personally who are vegetarian-but Im not saying they dont exist :P In this thread Ive seen evidence that they do. Question: Are there any stats to show on a large scale a difference in the ratio.
Females are generally more given to compassion. Males are generally more given to justice. Psychology 101 right there. I believe the justice approach is a bit like "we can get the nutrient elsewhere and its more healthy vs we treat the animals correctly, we need the nutrients, we ll eat them". Compassion argument is a bit more based on "I dont wish to eat something that was living or has a face vs...eh its just too tasty-or we re MEANT to eat meat". Basically theres no real way of beating the compassionate argument apart from been able to ignore it which males are 'better' able to do. From conversations with my vegetarian friends this is the most common reason I've heard for their giving up meat. Thats my overly simplified opinion

mrsoundie

Just had a Ham Sandwhich. Yum Yum!