Veganism

[Vanillaphant]

Hello, hello.

I’m kinda intrigued by veganism, and I was just wondering what people thought about it.

On the off-chance that anybody reading this is a vegan, how did you cope with the change in your diet? Was it more or less difficult than you thought it would be? And were you, as I think most vegans are, a vegetarian first?

And for those who are not vegans, could you imagine yourself ever becoming one?

Also, I’d like to know what people make of the recent rise in the popularity of veganism – what do you think accounts for it?

Cheeyers! 🙂 

 

[Sensualswitch10]

I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would choose to be vegan. What's the point of being at the top of the food chain if you're not going to take advantage of it? I could never intentionally be a vegan.
My guess as to the rise of veganism? Misinformation lol

 

[Bugman]

I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would choose to be vegan. What's the point of being at the top of the food chain if you're not going to take advantage of it? I could never intentionally be a vegan.
My guess as to the rise of veganism? Misinformation lol

Hah, I'm with you on that. Love my BBQ too much. But if that's what someone wants to do, more power to them. There's an actress named Elizabeth Gillies(?) who went vegan because she has so many food allergies. Or at least that's what I read somewhere.

 

[chicago]

I like meat and dairy a lot. I also like cooking and eating and trying new things . I'd probably try a cat or a dog if it was a delicacy presented to me in another country.

I'm all good with veganism as long as they don't call me a murderer for not being like them lol

 

[rdhd]

I could go vegan based on the price of meat these days. Well, no, I couldn't. Gotta sate them caveman instincts. Then again, veggies aren't exactly cheap either. And, if you have food allergies.... I knew a gal who couldn't eat meat because of an allergy to it. Can't be fun.

 

[Vanillaphant]

I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would choose to be vegan. What's the point of being at the top of the food chain if you're not going to take advantage of it? I could never intentionally be a vegan.
My guess as to the rise of veganism? Misinformation lol

I assume that what you’re getting at is that you would only become a vegan if circumstances forced it upon you…? It’s just the way you worded it, sounded you like you were maybe open to being tricked into veganism. 😛

But to be serious for a second (cos one second is my personal record), do you not think that the rising popularity of veganism is down to more information being available – as regards farming etc.

Understand, I’m not a vegan myself. Like I say, I’m just intrigued by it. 🙂

 

[milagros317]

I am an omnivore. God or nature gave me both molars, useful for grinding up grains, fruits, and vegetables, and also incisors, useful for tearing flesh off of bones. I make use of both. I see no reason to stop using both.

Like Chicago, I have no quarrel with vegans, who include one of my nieces, as long as they don't proselytize me or try to convert me to their diet.

 

[Vanillaphant]

I'd probably try a cat or a dog if it was a delicacy presented to me in another country.

lol That's interesting. What if it was "presented" to you in a shitty American diner? (I'm just playing devil's advocate here, you understand.)

 

[Sensualswitch10]

I assume that what you’re getting at is that you would only become a vegan if circumstances forced it upon you…? It’s just the way you worded it, sounded you like you were maybe open to being tricked into veganism. 😛

But to be serious for a second (cos one second is my personal record), do you not think that the rising popularity of veganism is down to more information being available – as regards farming etc.

Understand, I’m not a vegan myself. Like I say, I’m just intrigued by it. 🙂

Put it this way Vanillaphant, cows eat vegatables so I don't have to.
If I was stranded on a desert island with no animals to eat, I suppose I would eat plant matter rather than starve.

 

[Vanillaphant]

Put it this way Vanillaphant, cows eat vegatables so I don't have to.

Cows are vegetarians now? Shit... I can't keep up with all these dietary trends. 😛

 

[arachnid95]

Oooh, this here's a can of worms that probably ought not be opened...
But fuggit, let's open it! XD
Personally? Not a vegan. No way could I ever be a vegan. Vegetarian, maybe. Probably not, but maybe. But never, ever could I be a vegan. It's just too extreme. Plus, I've tasted what vegans call "food." Those crappy substitutes they have for meat and dairy products that are made from soy and shit. Yeeeeeeeah... nasty.
We humans evolved to be predators, yo. We're supposed to eat meat. If you wanna be vegan, please, by all means, you eat what you want. What you put into your body is your own business. Just please don't pull the morality card on me and act like you're better than me because I like bacon and burgers while you munch on your kale and shitty meat substitutes, m'kay? That's my philosophy on the matter. X3

 

[Wolf]

I like meat and dairy a lot. I also like cooking and eating and trying new things . I'd probably try a cat or a dog if it was a delicacy presented to me in another country.
I'm all good with veganism as long as they don't call me a murderer for not being like them lol

Dog isn't so bad. It's a little fatty, and tastes like dark meat; closer to duck than chicken.
(I served in Korea. Gaegogi is kind of a ritual for new arrivals.)

 

[chicago]

lol That's interesting. What if it was "presented" to you in a shitty American diner? (I'm just playing devil's advocate here, you understand.)

Just might!

 

[desdemona]

In China, dog is considered a delicacy. And you have to order it a week in advance... or so I've been told. I couldn't... ever. For personal reasons. But you know, that's how the Chow-Chow got it's name.

Sorry, OT.

Um... vegan... no. Not me, not ever. And I think it is more about conscientious and health choices. There are also more options made possible for their dining pleasure. But it still comes down to soy products or such.

 

[rdhd]

Since some have mentioned eating lil ol doggies... Back in the late 70's. I worked with a major oil company, who entertained some Chinese. They were driving to a restaurant for lunch, when the the Chinese started making comments, laughing, about a car ahead of them. There was a small dog (a fancy one) walking along the the back. The driver asked what they found so interesting about the dog. He said, they wondered what it would taste like.

 

[hoseman2248]

Tried to be vegan several times. Couldn't last more than a few days each attempt. Tried vegetarian about a half dozen time and longest I made it was a week. I believe humans are, and have always been, omnivores (eat meat and vegetation). I think that when you go vegan you are depriving your body of essential complete proteins. I have never seen a vegan that looked to be a healthy weight. They always appear too thin, as if not properly nourished. Since fresh/frozen eating fruit and fresh/frozen vegetables all day can be expensive, not to mention lacking in protein and daily required calories, many vegans overcompensate by eating lots of rice and pasta. They overdo the carbs because they are not eating meat or dairy proteins.

Yes, you can get complete proteins by buying the soy protein isolate powders, and the soy milks, but if you are trying to be an all natural vegan that isn't using heavily processed vegan foods, you are really limited for what you have to work with and you have to do a lot of creative cooking, which becomes time consuming and expensive buying fresh vegetables all the time. If you are a vegan and on a tight budget, you are pretty much looking at eating lots of beans, brown rice, cheap fruits, frozen vegetables (cheaper than fresh), and nuts (which can be expensive since a week long serving size bag of almonds and/or walnuts is more expensive than packs of meat).

I feel bad eating animals, which is why I primarily eat only fish for protein. I have not found any conclusive and indisputable evidence to show fish feel actual pain, nor do they have actual emotions, so I don't feel guilty eating them. I'm not worried about mercury poisoning because I stick to all low mercury seafood like sardines, cod, and salmon. I eat a can of chunk light tuna maybe once or twice a week, which is fine. Aside from that I use whey protein powder in my morning breakfast smoothie.

 

[rdhd]

you feel bad eating animals, which is why you eat fish.......a fish is also an animal. Plain and simple.

 

[chicago]

He did explain that he doesn't feel bad for fish because they seem to be treated better and don't feel pain.

 

[likeasong]

Could never be a vegan. I enjoy not just meat, but also dairy and eggs way too much.

 

[Sensualswitch10]

I feel bad eating animals, which is why I primarily eat only fish for protein. I have not found any conclusive and indisputable evidence to show fish feel actual pain, nor do they have actual emotions, so I don't feel guilty eating them. I'm not worried about mercury poisoning because I stick to all low mercury seafood like sardines, cod, and salmon. I eat a can of chunk light tuna maybe once or twice a week, which is fine. Aside from that I use whey protein powder in my morning breakfast smoothie.

I personally don't care a whole lot whether or not fish feel pain. However, conclusive and indisputable evidence that fish do feel pain is a pretty high bar for someone to set who claims to feel "guilt" about what they eat. Maybe it's just easier to empathize with animals that are cute and cuddly, rather than icky and slimy.

 

[Cosmo_ac]

My brother is essentially vegan (He doesn't identify as such, because every once in a while, like 1 or 2 times a year, he'll have meat), but aside from that, he eats an incredibly strict diet of vegetables, seeds, and fruits, and predominantly sweet potato, and he is incredibly healthy. Seriously, he has been tested, and his results have been off the charts good. Now, he has done research, and spent time identifying what fruits and vegetables have what nutrients that body needs, and in this day and age, you can get along just fine with fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts.

So, you can do it, and you'll actually be very healthy for it. If you want to give it a shot, I say go for it, knowing that you'll probably be healthier then you are now for it. Me, not going to lie, I couldn't do it unless I was forced to. But that being said, it does give some food for thought (no pun intended) about how we can change our regular diets and still get all the things we need without eating the large amounts of meat we usually do eat.

PS: I could never eat a dog, or a cat. Just wrong, in my opinion.

 

[The Internet]

My brother is essentially vegan (He doesn't identify as such, because every once in a while, like 1 or 2 times a year, he'll have meat), but aside from that, he eats an incredibly strict diet of vegetables, seeds, and fruits, and predominantly sweet potato, and he is incredibly healthy. Seriously, he has been tested, and his results have been off the charts good. Now, he has done research, and spent time identifying what fruits and vegetables have what nutrients that body needs, and in this day and age, you can get along just fine with fruits, vegetables, seeds, and nuts.

So, you can do it, and you'll actually be very healthy for it. If you want to give it a shot, I say go for it, knowing that you'll probably be healthier then you are now for it. Me, not going to lie, I couldn't do it unless I was forced to. But that being said, it does give some food for thought (no pun intended) about how we can change our regular diets and still get all the things we need without eating the large amounts of meat we usually do eat.

PS: I could never eat a dog, or a cat. Just wrong, in my opinion.

I'm the same way, I know plenty of vegans, they're some of the most healthy, vibrant people I know. I know for me, every few months I cut out meat and sugar and processed foods for a week or so, however long I can stand it. Basically salads and fruit and potatoes and oatmeal. Eventually the craving for something gets the better of me. But I must say: I sleep better, I need less sleep, my complexion is better, the circles under your eyes start to fade, I don't get that mid-day slump, everything to do with digestion is better,from the second you stand up from the table, I feel more like myself, like when I was younger, it's hard to explain...........I do feel like sex drive goes down slightly. Slightly. But maybe that's a good thing!

I don't know where this idea that they're all anemic or something comes from. People I know who make the transition, they literally start to age backwards. Their complexion gets so much better, it's like a glow. There's actually a guy down my block who's doing it now, every time I see him, it's literally like he's aging backwards, it's bizarre. I've never noticed a particular "difference" like us vs. them. It's a lifestyle choice, I don't understand why people are so threatened by it. "What? Give up meat? I 'd never give up meat, never! And those who do? They're ignorant! Ignorant hypocrites!" lol.

Wish I had the discipline to do it! It definitely has it's benefits. Apparently the cravings for some stuff goes away, but some stuff never leaves you.

 

[hoseman2248]

He did explain that he doesn't feel bad for fish because they seem to be treated better and don't feel pain.

Thank you. Nice to see some people actually read an entire post before revving up to crap on someone else.

 

[The Internet]

Thank you. Nice to see some people actually read an entire post before revving up to crap on someone else.

....and on a thread about diet choices, of all things, unbelievable......

 

[Wolf]

Thank you. Nice to see some people actually read an entire post before revving up to crap on someone else.

Internet is right; that's an excellent point.
Who gives a shit why someone does or doesn't eat something?