Going vegan/vegetarian- Page 2

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 9:15pm

I don't have to label my eating regimen. My body tells me when it craves something, whether it be a citrus fruit or once in a while, a big juicy hamburger.

[soapguy17]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 10:00pm

Yero, have you read an Oreo label lately? There's no animal products in them, they stopped using whey a while ago.

Parks, if you're going vegan an iron supplement would be a great idea, but otherwise I wouldn't worry about it.

I'm a vegan and I only take a vitamin cocktail because I'm really bad at tallying those things up and I need to be sure. A close friend of mine, who was raised by health nuts, can actually make sure she has her needed nutrition. I don't think its going to be nearly as difficult as you think it is. I'm a southern and I didn't die. You'll be fine, eating out might be a problem.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 10:11pm

Good news on the non-dairy cheese front. There is a product currently available in Canada, made by the Daiya company, that tastes like real cheese and melts like real cheese. I've only tasted the cheddar, but damn it was good! A handful of restaurants in NYC are ordering it from Pangea until it becomes more readily available. (I had it at Candle 79 on the Upper East Side.) And I just noticed that Slice on 2nd Ave offers pizza using the mozzarella-type.

Google Daiya since I can't seem to be able to cut and paste successfully at the moment.

[soapguy17]

Posted: 8/13/09 at 10:19pm

love, Love, LOVE Daiya!!!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 10:49am

A dairy free cheese that tastes and behaves like cheese?! Sweet!

I've missed having cheese, but the whole lactose intolerant thing throws a crank in that.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 2:45pm

I want and had a slice of pizza with the Daiya non-cheese for lunch. It was good, but is clearly not the REAL thing. Since I eat dairy, it probably won't totally win me over, but for a vegan, it is definitely an attractive alternative.

[Shawk]

Posted: 8/14/09 at 3:16pm

This has already been touched on, but humans aren't designed as carnivores (have you ever looked at cat or dog's teeth?), we're omnivores.

I've been vegetarian for over 10 years and never had the slightest problem getting enough protein or getting enough of any particular kind of vitamin. Just eat a variety of fruits, veggies and grains... Being vegan of course has more restrictions, but I wouldn't get hung up on fitting into any particular descriptor-- I hate people who try to invalidate someone else's choices ("Oh, you have leather shoes, so you're not a REAL vegetarian!" As if not meeting some "perfect" standard of vegetarianism makes your food choices contemptible and invalid.) Eat what you are comfortable eating and what works for you.

Frankly, I'd be happy if everyone in a position to do so made an active decision about what they were eating, no matter what that decision was. Most people seem very uninformed about how food is processed, and would perhaps make different choices if they were informed.

Updated On: 8/14/09 at 03:16 PM

[The Boy From Ohio]

Posted: 9/15/09 at 8:04pm

I'm a veggie! It's been about 4 years now. I started as a raw vegan to lose weight. I lost over 60lbs. After the weight loss (about 8 months or so) and it being impossible to eat with friends, I gave up the raw vegan part and switched to vegetarian. I did gain about 15lbs. back after I gave up the raw part.

About a year or so ago, after major sushi withdrawals I decided to eat fish again. So I'm a sushi-tarian. LOL. I say no rules, life is short.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 9/15/09 at 8:30pm

Domino's has two winners! From their site:

American Legends Pacific Veggie Pizza with roasted red peppers, spinach, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes and black olives with feta and provolone cheeses.

Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich with roasted red peppers, banana peppers, diced tomatoes, spinach, onions, feta, provolone and American cheese.

I have had both and they are great. The sandwich is brand new. I just had it tonight. It's great to know when you're with a group, you can order something that isn't too weird.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/15/09 at 8:30pm

Holy crap! I was about to post that, no, Oreos have and always have had dairy ingredients, but then I went to look and sure enough, they no longer contain milk! That is amazing. Thank you for posting that!!

[Parks]

Posted: 9/15/09 at 9:23pm

I had 2 oreos last night!

...For some reason, my post (that brought this thread back up) appears to be gone? Weird.

[xilch]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 12:07am

Woot woot raw Vegans!

Definitly go straight to vegan. Ive been a veg since birth and vegan for oodles of time, and it really is worth it. Cutting out cheese and dairy alone will make you feel a thousand times better. Whole Foods generally marks their items as vegan with post-it like stickers, and as does Trader Joes. Make sure not to eat too much vegan junk (yes, it exsits) as you will still feel crappy the next day.

Easy peasy cheap meals include tofu scrambles and stir fry. Really, if you eat correctly, not only will you not have to take an supplements (i never have) nor will you be sick (I can count the number of times on one hand. Pretty snazzy...)

Good luck, be fierce, and be wary of Casin and leather products!

P.s- fish, still an animal. keep in mind they eat other aquatic animals poop. Now imagine yourself eating that. yummmm...

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 12:19am

My wife read Skinny Bitch and it changed some of the eating habits in our home. I eat meat and I love it! But, I also enjoy her awful stupid meals that she serves. My kids eat meat, cheese, etc, but are open to tofu. Overall, having a vegan with fish privileges in the house is great. We eat less fat and sugar and pounds of fiber.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 12:23am

I saw a video where a person was picking apples off a tree, and the tree was screaming in pain at having its fruit ripped from its branches. I decided to give up fruits and vegetables.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 5:17am

I have no problem with folks that choose to be vegetarians or vegans. Your body, your choice.


BUT: the environment would be better if we all were??? (I forget who made that statement on the first page) Really? So we would be better off if the oceans became OVER stocked with fish? Or if cows and pigs were running rampant?

Yes, I agree that we are pretty selfish with our consumption, and need to become more aware of our food sources and protecting them for the long term....but there needs to be a natural balance of all life forms.


Veggie Shreds makes a a few cheeses, that I believe are 'vegan'....but perhaps only vegetarian (I don't currently have any in the fridge to check.). You can find it in the produce section of your market. It has a grainy texture, but isn't awful. But it doesn't do a great job of replacing regular cheese. I love cheese....I dont' eat a lot of it due to it's high fat content, but when I do have a piece....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 8:19am

That would have been me, dear. I'm late for work so let me just give you a wind-up. The oceans are not our personal grocery store, so they are not likely to become "overstocked" with fish. Ever. Let's just continue with your shopping metaphor, ill chosen as it is. Did the oceans have to have 50% off sales to clear out some of the stock on its shelves before humans all but stripped the oceans of their bounty with the greedy yet inefficient midwater trawling? No dear, they did not.

Your notion that meat eaters are doing a great service by preventing "cows and pigs" from "running rampant" is riotous on the face of it. Where did you get this notion? You think these pigs and cows that are slaughtered for your consumption were in roving gangs terrorizing people in woods and alleyways and your demand for pork and beef product has acted like some sort of middle manager in keeping the numbers down? Are you that naive?

The impact of meat production on the environment to meet increasing demand is enormous. Rainforests in Brazil stripped to make grazing land for increasing herds to meet demand. Greenhouse gasses increasing. Warehouse raised cattle (those would be the inhumanely treated animals who are born and raised unhealthily for your eating benefit [70% of cattle slaughtered in the US are diseased with cancer before they get to your plate according the Omnivore's Dilemma] are force fed enormous amounts of grain grown on former rainforest land as well.)

The positive environmental effect of people cutting down on meat consumption, or eliminating it, would be astronomical.

You should look into it. And stop worrying about marauding herds of pigs and cattle.

Updated On: 9/16/09 at 08:19 AM

[blueroses]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 10:05am

Gangsta.

[Parks]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 12:05pm

True dat, Namo.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 1:08pm

There IS a natural balance to all life forms- and humans are the ones f***ing it up. The ocean is an ecosystem perfectly capable of maintaining itself without our interference. If there are "too many" fish, there may not be enough food for a generation until the population balances out. There may be an increase in natural predator fish. Either wat, nature will take care of itself fixing the mess we made of it, but the ocean is SUPPOSED to be brimming with fish to the extent that it's sustainable. It managed fine for millions of years before humans got involved.

And really- artificially inseminating cows and chickens to make sure the offspring are all female is what you consider a "natural balance"? Do you even know how real meat-producing farms work? The overabundance of cows, chickens and pigs is easy to solve- humans stop over-breeding them.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 8:37pm

Veggie Shreds are available in both vegetarian and vegan. The vegetarian version has casein, so make sure to read the label carefully if you have allergies.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 8:59pm

I eat some meat, chicken and fish, and I don't feel guilty for it. I also don't feel like I'm f**king anything up.

I'm not sure what the vegetarians wish would happen. Is it that you'd like everyone to give up meat, chicken, fish, cheese, eggs, etc. and eat beans, nuts, fruits and veggies?

Would you like to see all those industries go out of business? I'm not being sarcastic, I'd like to know if that's what your wish is, so I hope someone answers.

What should I eat, then? I'm allergic to most raw fruits and vegetables. Certain seeds can kill me. I guess beans would be my entire diet, no?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 9:02pm

I hate self-righteous veggies who think they are doing the world a favor by not eating meat & try to make those who do feel guilty about it.

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 9:04pm

Yes, I believe you should eat and let eat!

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 9:06pm

Cheers Jane!

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/16/09 at 9:15pm

Theatre fan, that is my all time favorite food! I had some today instead of birthday cake (which I had yesterday, lol)

Also-if you have to take supplements to replace what you're not getting in your diet, then you are not eating a healthy diet. Ideally, we're to get everything we need from the food we eat.