"Strict" Vegetarian

[Anonymous]

I think everyone makes their own decisions. I try to avoid meat. I do not consider myself a vegetarian. Many people who know me would probably say I am a vegetarian. If I eliminate 95% of animal products in it, I have achieved my goal. If I eat some chicken broth and a gummy bear..NBD to me.

[Anonymous]

I call myself a flexitarian. I try to eat plant based as much as I can. I have trouble getting enough protein as I can eat legumes in limited quantities and cannot eat soy in general. As a result, I do eat fish and/or chicken a few times a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been a vegetarian for 25 years. I realize people have different definitions of what vegetarian means. Some people think it's no solid meat. Some people think it's no chicken broth. Some think no Worcestershire sauce. Fish sauce in food is OK.....etc.

How do you define what being a vegetarian means? If you go out to a restaurant and want a soup, do you make sure it's vegetarian? Do you avoid barbecue sauce that is "house made" and may have Worcestershire sauce in it? Do you eat caesar salad? How about tomato sauce at an Italian restaurant?

Please, vegetarians and people who are familiar with a vegetarian's diet only.

I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian, so I do eat dairy and eggs. I DO NOT eat, however, any products made FROM (rather than BY) animals. Therefore, I do not consume:

-- Flesh of any kind
-- Worcestershire
-- Chicken, beef, or bone broth/stock
-- Animal collagen powder
-- Gelatin made from animals
-- Caesar dressing
-- Fish sauce

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What’s in Worcestershire sauce?

Fish/ anchovy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, avoid all those things you mentioned like chicken broth, Worcestershire and other things like gelatin. Always ask at restaurants if soup has chicken broth.

Yes I forgot about gelatin! No skittles, no starbursts, no jello (unless it's a jello shot).

This to me means vegan.
Vegetarian is no meat/animal flesh. No animal dies to provide the food itself.
Vegetarians eat eggs, dairy.

Animals absolutely die to make gelatin.

[Anonymous]

Most vegetarians I know are “no meat.”

They will avoid chicken broth but do eat seafood, eggs, butter etc. I do ask about the individual’s specific choices if I’m going to be feeding one.

I understand that vegan allows for none of that.

[Anonymous]

No Thai restaurants, never trust soups.Two years into a place we vacation at in Mexico realize they use beef stock in their guacamole! I’m a strict vegetarian-but get tripped up on things like this.

[Anonymous]

I am a strict vegetarian, but I do eat cheese made with animal rennet at restaurants. At home, I only buy microbial rennet cheese. I stopped checking alcohol at restaurants but at the store I only buy wine and beer that is not made with animal fining or filtering agents. Same with all eggs at restaurant, only free range eggs at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most vegetarians I know are “no meat.”

They will avoid chicken broth but do eat seafood, eggs, butter etc. I do ask about the individual’s specific choices if I’m going to be feeding one.

I understand that vegan allows for none of that.

Vegetarians don't do seafood. Dairy and eggs, yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, avoid all those things you mentioned like chicken broth, Worcestershire and other things like gelatin. Always ask at restaurants if soup has chicken broth.

+1

[Anonymous]

Where does honey fit in? Because beekeepers often kill their bees seasonally.

[Anonymous]

I don't eat meat, chicken, or fish. I ask about things that I know commonly contain broth or gelatin (soup, certain desserts). But I'm sure other desserts contain them and I just don't think to ask (I'm looking at you, whipped cream...)

I know the deep fryer is likely contaminated but I'll eat fries or whatever.

Also, random pet peeve - Buffalo Wild Wings: why do you fry cauliflower wings in beef fat?! I don't miss chicken but some fun spicy sauce on greasy food is appreciated sometimes!

I also hate it when menus are labeled but not completely (the garden salad missing the leaf label? How can I trust the rest of the labels...)

Also, good news - Skittles stopped using gelatin years ago! This has improved Halloween and the weeks that follow for me... Sadly, starburst still has it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What’s in Worcestershire sauce?

Fish/ anchovy

Not sure if this counts (since we’re not vegetarian) but the Kroger house brand of “Worcestershire” does not contain fish/anchovies. Just “hydrolyzed soy” (not soy “sauce”). It’s a decent substitute. Took me awhile to find one since DH hates anchovies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m pescatarian so not a vegetarian (so I don’t avoid fish sauce or worchestshire or Caesar) but do avoid chicken stock and gelatin. Another thing I avoid is refried beans made w lard (I only eat vegetarian refried beans). I know avoiding lard seems obvious but my in laws recently made refried beans assuming I’d eat it and were surprised when I asked if they were vegetarian beans so not something everyone necessarily considers.

Oh also boxed cake mixes often have lard in them in case you didn’t know.

Not at all accurate.
Most commercially available ones are kosher and by definition don't have lard.
Premade pie crusts are more complicated. They got through phases of having lard in them or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me, vegetarian= no animal meat. Vegan is no animal products which is harder, so gelitan which is in many products would be a no go. I also know pescatarians too, so that easier. I always try to accommodate all as possible, but true vegans are the hardest especially when grilling for a group

Agree.