Vegan or not Vegan?

[Lilaminallover]

okay i know i post a lot of polls, but this one i think is my best one.okay i was just on this one site,and my book said the same thing, are you going to far when you turn vegan for the love of animals?i love animals too but i wouldnt go that far.what about you guys?

[Kim H.]

If those were my principles, then my dogs would have to go Vegan, too. None of us would go for that.:) But it is certainly a personal choice.

[Me&DappledDuo]

A truly vegan lifestyle is incredibly difficult to maintain. Animal products are used in SO MUCH! One of my friends is a vegan- and still catches himself using stuff he can't, eating things with ingredients he can't. There are various types of vegans- some eat eggs and/or milk products, some, like him- eat NOTHING from an animal (at least, try). Shoes, belts, accessories have to be bought very carefully. All in all- NO WAY could I do it.

I was a vegetarian for several years- but had a hard time staying healthy on that diet. I still can't eat much red meat without gagging. But, heck- I can barely keep a regular meal schedule anyway. It's definitely a very personal choice.

Vegan/Veggie pet owners are often very conflicted when in comes to feeding their pets- but it's important to remember that canines are carnivores- and NEED meat to maintain health. It's okay to choose for yourself- we're omnivorous- but dogs and cats would never make that choice.

[onebigmickeyfan]

I love animals. But I am not giving up my meat.

[juliette]

Not a hope in my ever becoming vegan. First off, being in training for a marathon it is completely unrealistic - secondly, I figure our dogs were designed to be meat eaters and so while Chrissie is correct that we are omnivorus, I can't live without meat or fish!

Ironically, in my case it's chicken or eggs I could live without!

cheers
J

[Heide]

First off
Hubby would just die, if we did not have meat in this house. HE is definetly Meat and Potatos man.
I would definetly not like going without a steak or burger.
Nah couldnt do it.

[PennyLover]

I already don't eat red meat(I just don't like it). I eat fish, chicken(only if I cook it myself and it's pretty much blackened). I could never give up dairy though.

[babajay]

If I had to kill the animal/fish in order to get meat, I might become a vegan. I love meat, but I don't think I could kill any animal - except in self-defense. Barbara :flower:

[quavec]

Not a choice I could make. I am of the belief that all food groups are necessary. I love meat AND veges. I am amazed at true vegans. Their motivation is true, their self discipline is amazing and I applaud their efforts. Me? I like my steak just shy of mooing and I have eaten deer, snake, bear, rabbit and frogs (no they don't all taste like chicken). I truly do admire those who are able to live the vegan lifestyle. It just isn't for me.

[littlepig]

Hi,
I was a vegetarian for most of my teenage years. I was quite healthy on that diet. I ate dairy, eggs and nuts and soy for protein. Vegan is a bit more strict than that.
I think it can be a very healthy diet if done right, and I've had thoughts of returning to it at some point. Right now it's not really practical for me with a family. It cuts out almost all fast food! ;)

[roxysmom]

I could never be a vegetarian. I don't like vegetables that much! I would probably starve to death. I'm a farm girl, when I grew up we drank milk straight from the cow(none of the pasteurized,homogonized stuff) and of course beef, pork, chicken,etc. I don't eat as much meat now as I did growing up and it is now mostly chicken or turkey,although I still like an occasional steak. As far as the milk, now that I work in a food processing plant, I won't drink "organic" milk. It has to be pasteurized!

[Lilaminallover]

okay my friends dad eats snake, bear, rabbit and frogs too.i just have to ask,carrol what do they taste like?just curious.:confused:

[juliette]

Well, I can vouch for Alligator (cross chicken and squid), Frogs Legs (yummy..but largely a vehicle for transporting garlic butter to your mouth), Venison (more intense than beef, richer than lamb - best served with a strong current or berry gravy); Kangaroo (chewy venison); duck (my personal favorite, especially baked in maple syrup glaze); Moose (simply the best, most flavourful burgers in existance); rabbit (no nutritional value and little on the taste side either).

[blueyezz74]

I know a couple of vegetarians and it is a tough lifestyle to maintain. One did it because he just didn't like meat. The other did it to have a more healthier lifestyle.

My own personal choice is to have meat in my diet. There are some days where I don't eat any or just go non-beef for a while. I did try to go vegetarian for about a month and i couldn't do it because it was too hard for me to do. Plus, I missed Chic-Fil-a!!! I'm also lactose-intolerant so I have to limit my dairy intake and had to give up ice cream almost completely. :crying:

Alligator???? The most exotic meat I've had is ostrich, venison and buffalo.

[quavec]

Moose, huh? Wow....saw lots of them when we lived in Maine but never thought to eat one.....makes good burgers, huh? And ostrich? wow...lots of exotic meats out there....I know in the south (mainly in Loiusianna I think) they eat Nutra....swamp rat thing......(((shudder))) bigger than Cricket!

[juliette]

oooohhh..I forgot about the ostrich. If you love beef (especially if you love beef carppacio)..then you have to try ostrich! It's like perfect, tender filet of beef. High protein, low fat!

hmm...what started out with Julie posting a lifestye/ideals poll ended up with a discussion of food.

I know, I know, that figures with me on the thread!

:devil:

[Otto'sMom]

I for one only eat animals that have attacked me. I grew up on a farm with mean roosters and ornery hogs and cows and general assortment of fowl that just hated me. Therefore, they get eaten. I don't eat mutton, veal or bison and would prefer not to eat venison, although one did hit my old truck.

[doxunzX3]

I live on fast food and am very unhealthy because of it. As my Mother used to say years before she died was that "You would never feed your dogs that junk food!" and she was right. I hate it when someone gives the dogs a piece of candy or cake. I stayed off sugar once for 8 years. That was the best for me.
But no beef or fish or chick! Well lets just say I love to eat meat!

But also respect and admire anyone that can stick to any kind of a special diet!:thumbsup:

[Heidismom]

I do have vegan and ovo-lacto vegetarian friends, and would not dream of insulting their eating habits. Both grandfathers were farmers, so beef, chicken, lamb, and pork were part of the growing up diet! I feel about milk the way many people feel about coffee - it is hard for me to start the day without a glass of milk! I have eaten squirrel, quail, venison, frog legs, and alligator (which tastes like scallops to me). I will tell you this: one of my paternal grandfather's cow's (Pearl, by name), continued to step on my foot on purpose at milking time. When Grandaddy noticed ( he was a man of few words!), he asked me if she did that a lot, and I said, "Yes". I didn't see her for about a week, and then Grandaddy handed me some packages from the packing plant, saying, "Pearl won't be bothering you any more."
[If you don't know about packing plants, think butcher shop.] Julia B.

[Lilaminallover]

Originally posted by juliette
hmm...what started out with Julie posting a lifestye/ideals poll ended up with a discussion of food.

lol yeh it has.oh well. lol. how can you eat all those animals? and were did you get the ostrich??¿¿:confused:

[FOREVER A DAXIE]

Are you kidding? We have ALBERTA BEEF!! You can't beat that anywhere.

Actually, I prefer Fish & Chicken. But my Husband is a big beef eater. Can't give it up.

[blueyezz74]

Originally posted by Lilaminallover
lol yeh it has.oh well. lol. how can you eat all those animals? and were did you get the ostrich??¿¿:confused:

There is a upscale restaurant near me that only takes reservations. They serve a Buffalo steak and ostrich. My BF had the buffalo steak the last time we was there and I had ostrich in some orange sauce. I was suprised that it was pretty good. This is coming from someone who gives my cousins dirty looks for hunting deer and then making venison roast and sausage.

[Nanas Doxies]

I am too late to vote in this poll, howeer, I wanted to comment that I became a vegetarian just recently. My motivators were my love for animals ... and my disgust at the horrible treatment received by animals raised for eventual slaughter.

I can honestly say I have not missed meat very much. I do eat eggs and fish, however.

Debbie

[Caidanbi]

I was too late too. I wouldn't become vegan, although I could see not eating meat. I hardly eat it as it is.

[red&black]

It may be an old thread, but an interesting one at that. Maybe someone can rehash it in a modern thread.

I couldn't do vegan, personally, I dont believe. There's so much work involved in eating just in your own home, let alone going out or anything. Our area has zero vegan restaurants and the closest vegetarian restaurant I know about is 3 hours away (but mighty good food!!).

That being said, meat is an afterthought for me. I can go weeks at a time without it and not think twice. I do practice what is current termed "flexitarianism" - for lack of better term. I once read in an article a description that fits it best: Flexitarianism - when you generally dont eat meat, but also dont want to be the only one at the back yard BBQ holding an empty bun.

In my case Joe is a meat eater and although I can sneak in the occasional meatless meal he's one of those guys that can't go without it long. It's hard to mix 2 types of diets in one house.