Going Vegetarian or Vegan

[smarch]

I've been thinking for a very long time about going Vegetarian or vegan. I'm getting older will be in a place of my own soon enough cooking all my own meals, and I've been thinking now is a good time to really start thinking about it.
When I say Vegetarian or Vegan I don't exactly mean the same way as others. I'd still eat meat if it was hunted or farmed by me (or a local friend). More or less my opinion is grocery meat is kind of a cheating way out since said animal never really had "a chance" but that could go on and be debated and I don't even need to get into that. There's also all the antibiotic crap and hormones and stuff... I mean it's never seemed appealing.
I know there's many here who are vegetarian or vegan, i guess I'm just looking for advice or how to start since I can't just throw out animal products I have. I tried tofu today... I mean it wasn't terrible. Other good substitutes and how to cook tofu into yummy dinners would be welcomed greatly!

 

[Turtlepete]

The idea of eating meat only hunted or farmed by you is admirable. Good idea. But the vegan thing has never made sense to me. "Vegan" is a person that doesn't eat anything that comes from an animal….Cheese, milk, eggs….Kind of silly to me, considering that you can buy all of these from free-range animals for a little bit more. The animals didn't suffer to produce it…But whatever.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

2 months ago my family of 4 transitioned to what I call a "plant based" diet. None of the other titles really seem to fit..lol

We try to eat as much live plant foods as possible.
We will eat meat on rare occasion (1x these past 2 months and it was a tiny side of chicken in a veggie heavy dish) ya, I don't like factory farm practices (for the animals or the workers) but animal protein isn't needed in the large quantities our culture now consumes. Opinion on that varies but multiple studies have me convinced.
We also limit processed foods and refined sugar as much as possible. Refined sugar is in everything!! It's interesting how some compare it's addiction to heroine.

We mainly juice, blend smoothies, eat rice, beans, nuts, fruits and veggies, sprouted bread with other foods being the minority. We also use natural soaps and hair products, oils for lotion and avoid injecting toxins into our bloodstream.
We left cows milk for almond milk, limited chesse and drink lots LOTS of water.

Honestly, If you expect to ditch everything bad you'll feel like you fail and beat yourself up on it. You can't get away from everything. So, do what you can.

In these 2 months my family has seen huge health improvements!

Anyway, you asked about getting started... Joe Cross offers great resources for juicing fasts. It helps you detox while supplying your body with the micro nutrients it needs.
It also helps re train your taste buds.
I think it's rebootwithjoe.com he also has tons of recipes categorized by meal type and color. I use it daily

We started with a 10day juice fast.
Then we went to 2 juices a day and added a plant based meal with raw nuts, fruits or veggies for snacks.

Now we all have a big morning juice, fresh smoothie for/or with lunch and the plant based meal for dinner.
Snacks include the raw fruits, veggies, nuts etc. Or things that are considered healthy and minimally processed.

It's about time too.... I feed my tortoise as naturally as possible, fed my dogs and cat raw diets (natural for them) why not my human family, right?
We love it and are thriving on it. We now feel sick when we eat processed foods :/

You'll find support online if you don't have anyone around you...support really helps!

I love it....My boys (4 and 5) LOVE broccoli and will drink a juice of kale, cucumber, green apples, celery, lemon and ginger root (this morning's juice) begging for more! LOL

 

[Prairie Mom]

You really should watch the documentary "Vegucated." It's on Netflix, Amazon, etc.

It answers a lot of the questions and misconceptions people have who don't understand the Vegan lifestyle. It also answers some of the questions raised in the previous post. It's pretty convincing. I am NOT a Vegan. I eat meat regularly, but have begun preparing more and more totally Vegan (not just vegetarian) meals for my family. In fact, we're having one tonight...Spaghetti made with zucchini, soy protein, and cauliflower on top of spaghetti squash instead of noodles.--Just for fun and my kids will actually eat it!

I've seriously considered getting my own chickens to use the eggs, because even eggs marked "Humane" and "cage free" aren't really either of those things. But even the hen buying industry is so corrupt! The mother hens are treated horribly and male chicks are sorted and chucked into grinders ALIVE. -It's pretty disgusting. Germany has just spent a ton of money studying chickens and has made it illegal to kill male chicks like this. Instead they created the first system to incubate female Chicken eggs and do without the gross killing. -WAY TO GO, GERMANY! I hope we'll follow this example some day!

Good luck with whatever you decide Sarah! Check out the film!

 

[Prairie Mom]

HEATHER!!! WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE SAME EXACT THING AND SHARE THE EXACT SAME MENTALITY YOU JUST POSTED!!! You totally speak to my other personal beliefs... I hate factory farm practices and am strongly opposed to Ag-gag bills!!! If you ever blog or post about what your family is doing and how things are going, please tag me!

2 months ago my family of 4 transitioned to what I call a "plant based" diet. None of the other titles really seem to fit..lol

We try to eat as much live plant foods as possible.
We will eat meat on rare occasion but really rare. I don't like factory farm practices (for the animals or the workers) and animal protein isn't needed in the large quantities our culture now consumes. Opinion on that varies but multiple studies have me convinced.
We also limit processed foods and refined sugar as much as possible. Refined sugar is in everything!! It's interesting how some compare it's addiction to heroine.

We mainly juice, blend smoothies, eat rice, beans, nuts, fruits and veggies, sprouted bread with other foods being the minority. We also use natural soaps and hair products, oils for lotion and avoid injecting toxins into our bloodstream.
We left cows milk for almond milk, limited chesse and drink lots LOTS of water.

Honestly, If you expect to ditch everything bad you'll feel like you fail and beat yourself up on it. You can't get away from everything. So, do what you can.

In these 2 months my family has seen huge health improvements!

Anyway, you asked about getting started... Joe Cross offers great resources for juicing fasts. It helps you detox while supplying your body with the micro nutrients it needs.
It also helps re train your taste buds.
I think it's rebootwithjoe.com he also has tons of recipes categorized by meal type and color. I use it daily

We started with a 10day juice fast.
Then we went to 2 juices a day and added a plant based meal with raw nuts, fruits or veggies for snacks.

Now we all have a big morning juice, fresh smoothie for/or with lunch and the plant based meal for dinner.
Snacks include the raw fruits, veggies, nuts etc. Or things that are considered healthy and minimally processed.

It's about time too.... I feed my tortoise as naturally as possible, fed my dogs and cat raw diets (natural for them) why not my human family, right?
We love it and are thriving on it. We now feel sick when we eat processed foods :/

You'll find support online if you don't have anyone around you...support really helps!

I love it....My kids LOVE broccoli and will drink a juice of kale, cucumber, green apples, celery, lemon and ginger root (this morning's juice) begging for more! LOL

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Also on Netflix:
Fat sick and nearly dead 1 and 2 (how I learned of Joe Cross)
Food Inc.
GMO OMG
Forks over Knifes
...and then some LOL

I'd love to raise my own chickens. For eggs and occasional meat.

Here in Oregon I have many resources to real free range chicken eggs and meat, real grass fed beef and multiple farmers with organic and local produce... It's pretty cool

HEATHER!!! WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE SAME EXACT THING AND SHARE THE EXACT SAME MENTALITY YOU JUST POSTED!!! You totally speak to my other personal beliefs... I hate factory farm practices and am strongly opposed to Ag-gag bills!!! If you ever blog or post about what your family is doing and how things are going, please tag me!

I don't do any blogging. No FB or other social media. TFO is it LOL

But I bet we have lots more in common let's email or text hehe

 

[Prairie Mom]

Also on Netflix:
Fat sick and nearly dead 1 and 2 (how I learned of Joe Cross)
Food Inc.
GMO OMG
Forks over Knifes
...and then some LOL

2 of those are already on "My list." I'll add the others to my queue.

Also on Netflix:

But I bet we have lots more in common let's email or text hehe

Sneaking suspicion you may be correct on this

 

[smarch]

Ah so much to reply to in the 2 hours it took to eat dinner and go walk. So rather than replying to all individually and repeating myself I'm assuming you'll see this (since on the phone it doesn't let you tag people).

I've always been against eating meat from my dads farm just because I didn't like the fact that they raise them to eat them... I don't know i just never liked It since I grew up naming them and petting them. And they don't get much roaming space, and treatment medically if they get sick it's more or less hoping for the best. But I could go off on a whole rant about that, I mean in reality they're taken care of much better than the "industry" ones and aren't shot up with hormones and stuff and are definitely fresh. But I honestly can't wait to try venison for the first time, the idea of an animal having its shot and living as nature intended before coming to me just seems the purest form of meat. So I mean I'm really not specifically going vegan or veggie, but more or less in times I can't access meat like I want i would go plant based. I can not wait for garden season! (And the grass to grow for free tortoise food!)

I'll have to look into the juice cleanse, I specifically have to avoid Apple since my gut isn't a fructose fan and apes really disagree, I can retrain taste buds but my gut wins that. I also certainly need some self control since I'm a bit of a munchie maniac because I crave processed crap, and I know it's terrible but I start wanting it so bad I binge out on it.

I've heard the refined sugar more addictive than cocaine not heroine but I mean addiction is addiction, and I can't argue about sugar being humanity's biggest addiction.

I've had stomach issues for 5 years now, and I know a lot is acid reflux and stress but I also know a lot is eating crap, I can feel processed foods making me feel gross, so I really think going away from those too will make me feel better.

I guess vegan and vegetarian aren't words that fit, but you guys basically picked it up EXACTLY what I'm aiming for!

If you're ever in the MA area and want to drive home a hen my friend raises them and would probably sell you one or 2, he'd offered me when I wanted to raise them, now I think I'll just buy fresh eggs from him when I can (or the flea market). He also has a sulcata tort and several monitors, and other exotics, I didn't know we had so much in common when we worked together, he's actually how I found my tortoise vet he also raises geese and was raising turkeys. And he lets males age, at least to more than industry's do.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

I went vegetarian for a couple of weeks thirty odd years ago.
A gorgeous young lady I fancied was veggie and told me she wouldn't kiss a guy who ate meat. So I stopped.
It was very difficult, as there wasn't the range of alternative products there is now, but I stuck it out until I was lured by the smell of cooking bacon and I cracked.
I was honest and told her and we split, amicably.
My best friend of 40 years is a vegetarian, but does eat dairy products and eggs. He's healthy and a little chubby.
Now, I only eat red meat a couple of times a week and white meat maybe once. Fish, I don't much like.
I love the organic veggies we always eat, but I relish the meat more when we have it.
We do have wild venison, wild boar, rabbit and even hedgehog sometimes and they are all delicious.
Tofu is vile. In my opinion.

 

[smarch]

I went vegetarian for a couple of weeks thirty odd years ago.
A gorgeous young lady I fancied was veggie and told me she wouldn't kiss a guy who ate meat. So I stopped.
It was very difficult, as there wasn't the range of alternative products there is now, but I stuck it out until I was lured by the smell of cooking bacon and I cracked.
I was honest and told her and we split, amicably.
My best friend of 40 years is a vegetarian, but does eat dairy products and eggs. He's healthy and a little chubby.
Now, I only eat red meat a couple of times a week and white meat maybe once. Fish, I don't much like.
I love the organic veggies we always eat, but I relish the meat more when we have it.
We do have wild venison, wild boar, rabbit and even hedgehog sometimes and they are all delicious.
Tofu is vile. In my opinion.

After my first Warped Tour I read into a pamphlet PETA gave me during the day (yeah I know not the people to listen to but heck it was my first encounter with them) just flat out refused to eat meat for a good couple of weeks... Until I realized that incised bacon I cried a little then gave up, and ate bacon. That darn bacon!
I'd eat all of the above wild ... Except hedgehog, nope too cute couldn't do it! And tofu isn't great, it certainly isn't meat or even close to it, but it was not nearly as terrible as some people have said to me.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

After my first Warped Tour I read into a pamphlet PETA gave me during the day (yeah I know not the people to listen to but heck it was my first encounter with them) just flat out refused to eat meat for a good couple of weeks... Until I realized that incised bacon I cried a little then gave up, and ate bacon. That darn bacon!
I'd eat all of the above wild ... Except hedgehog, nope too cute couldn't do it! And tofu isn't great, it certainly isn't meat or even close to it, but it was not nearly as terrible as some people have said to me.

Bacon v tofu?
No contest.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

You know what....Maybe refined sugar was compared to cocaine, not heroine. I'm not well versed in drugs lol.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

Never had tofu. Not sure if I'll get to it eventually or not.

I don't really miss meat..but again it isn't "forbidden" in my diet. It's just kept to a minimum. We used to have it multiple times a week and sometimes in more than 1 meal a day.

I did have a small amount of chicken (1/4 breast for 4 of us) in a veggie stir fry last month and next week I'll be having some crab at Red Lobster (wedding anniversary).
Oh wait, I had a hamburger on Easter.

So see, meat is not forbidden but it's not eaten often by any means.

Let us know how you do with your diet changes good luck!

 

[leigti]

I could be a vegetarian if I absolutely had to. But I just don't think there's anyway I could be vegan. I am an omnivore, I can't help it.

 

[mikeylazer]

A burger a day keeps the doctor away.

 

[Levi the Leopard]

A burger a day keeps the doctor paid LOL

 

[ascott]

Ah so much to reply to in the 2 hours it took to eat dinner and go walk. So rather than replying to all individually and repeating myself I'm assuming you'll see this (since on the phone it doesn't let you tag people).

I've always been against eating meat from my dads farm just because I didn't like the fact that they raise them to eat them... I don't know i just never liked It since I grew up naming them and petting them. And they don't get much roaming space, and treatment medically if they get sick it's more or less hoping for the best. But I could go off on a whole rant about that, I mean in reality they're taken care of much better than the "industry" ones and aren't shot up with hormones and stuff and are definitely fresh. But I honestly can't wait to try venison for the first time, the idea of an animal having its shot and living as nature intended before coming to me just seems the purest form of meat. So I mean I'm really not specifically going vegan or veggie, but more or less in times I can't access meat like I want i would go plant based. I can not wait for garden season! (And the grass to grow for free tortoise food!)

I'll have to look into the juice cleanse, I specifically have to avoid Apple since my gut isn't a fructose fan and apes really disagree, I can retrain taste buds but my gut wins that. I also certainly need some self control since I'm a bit of a munchie maniac because I crave processed crap, and I know it's terrible but I start wanting it so bad I binge out on it.

I've heard the refined sugar more addictive than cocaine not heroine but I mean addiction is addiction, and I can't argue about sugar being humanity's biggest addiction.

I've had stomach issues for 5 years now, and I know a lot is acid reflux and stress but I also know a lot is eating crap, I can feel processed foods making me feel gross, so I really think going away from those too will make me feel better.

I guess vegan and vegetarian aren't words that fit, but you guys basically picked it up EXACTLY what I'm aiming for!

If you're ever in the MA area and want to drive home a hen my friend raises them and would probably sell you one or 2, he'd offered me when I wanted to raise them, now I think I'll just buy fresh eggs from him when I can (or the flea market). He also has a sulcata tort and several monitors, and other exotics, I didn't know we had so much in common when we worked together, he's actually how I found my tortoise vet he also raises geese and was raising turkeys. And he lets males age, at least to more than industry's do.

But I honestly can't wait to try venison for the first time, the idea of an animal having its shot and living as nature intended before coming to me just seems the purest form of meat.

So, does this mean you will track and hunt the animal? As this is truly the only way you will achieve entirely what you have described....it is completely different to look an animal in the eye and then shoot it dead....entirely different. That is why there is such a market in which the animal is farmed vs individually hunted....I am not starting anything...I am simply saying....if you are not going to track and kill your own...then you sound like organic is more of what you will want to look into...there are communities that raise different livestock and such and then that community trade and sale their goods amongst their community...

 

[ascott]

I've been thinking for a very long time about going Vegetarian or vegan. I'm getting older will be in a place of my own soon enough cooking all my own meals, and I've been thinking now is a good time to really start thinking about it.
When I say Vegetarian or Vegan I don't exactly mean the same way as others. I'd still eat meat if it was hunted or farmed by me (or a local friend). More or less my opinion is grocery meat is kind of a cheating way out since said animal never really had "a chance" but that could go on and be debated and I don't even need to get into that. There's also all the antibiotic crap and hormones and stuff... I mean it's never seemed appealing.
I know there's many here who are vegetarian or vegan, i guess I'm just looking for advice or how to start since I can't just throw out animal products I have. I tried tofu today... I mean it wasn't terrible. Other good substitutes and how to cook tofu into yummy dinners would be welcomed greatly!

http://allrecipes.com/recipes/everyday-cooking/vegetarian/protein/tofu/

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-suppl...tiveingredientid=975&activeingredientname=soy

http://www.utne.com/science-and-technology/the-dark-side-of-soy.aspx

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/278340.php

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I totally agree about the being on a farm thing. I can't look an animal in the eye today and eat it tomorrow. However, I could not go very long without eating meat. My brain can somehow separate the two.
I wish I had the courage to make a new life style for myself. Especially a healthier one.
Too bad that animals are so damned delicious.

 

[FLINTUS]

Not sure whether you've got a brand called 'Quorn' there, but as a meat substitute I favor that over soya-as above, does have some negative effects as well, although there are some brands here at least that say they don't do the bad stuff-, and tofu-just not a fan of it at home, never been able to cook it very well. Didn't see it on a recent visit, although that was to NY and the Carolinas.
And as already mentioned, try to go with free range and organic eggs-luckily we have banned battery hens in the UK, and our meat is free-er by comparison of antibiotics etc. due to EU laws, but even so...