Anonymous wrote:What puzzles me is when vegetarians eat over processed vegan/veggie items like soy milk, fake hot dogs, vegan nuggets, etc.

How are those reconstructed foods any healthier than meat? I would think they are just as unhealthy as they are certainly not close to their natural state and require a lot of processing and salt to make them taste right.

I think the same logic would apply to people who eat non-vegetarian/vegan items like hot dogs and nuggets and fish sticks.

I know more than a few non-meat eaters who hate most vegetables and eat like crap. I also know meat eaters who are careful to pick the healthiest meat products and balance them out with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, etc. Eating vegetarian doesn't necessarily mean you're eating healthy. I, for example, was raised vegetarian and if I had my way, I'd probably exist exclusively on bread, cheese and wine.

Anonymous wrote:What puzzles me is when vegetarians eat over processed vegan/veggie items like soy milk, fake hot dogs, vegan nuggets, etc.

How are those reconstructed foods any healthier than meat? I would think they are just as unhealthy as they are certainly not close to their natural state and require a lot of processing and salt to make them taste right.

Of the vegs I've known, 95% of them say they are doing it for the animals.

What puzzles me is when vegetarians eat over processed vegan/veggie items like soy milk, fake hot dogs, vegan nuggets, etc.

How are those reconstructed foods any healthier than meat? I would think they are just as unhealthy as they are certainly not close to their natural state and require a lot of processing and salt to make them taste right.

Anonymous wrote:I am vegetarian-- have been all my life. My family is not vegetarian, so it was strange to them that I made this choice, but I have always had an aversion to meat ever since I can remember.

I try to limit eggs and dairy for environmental reasons, but am not vegan. I think it's a great thing to do for your health and the environment, but it's a difficult lifestyle to maintain.

Have you read The China Study, OP? It's eye-opening.

Truly, no snark intended, but it's been pretty well debunked.

I am vegetarian-- have been all my life. My family is not vegetarian, so it was strange to them that I made this choice, but I have always had an aversion to meat ever since I can remember.

I try to limit eggs and dairy for environmental reasons, but am not vegan. I think it's a great thing to do for your health and the environment, but it's a difficult lifestyle to maintain.

Have you read The China Study, OP? It's eye-opening.

My friend is vegan because she thinks it makes her seem more worldly.

^ PP here. I also should add that I am far from an animal-rights activist. I come from a long line of hunters and have a to each their own attitude. I get embarrassed when people find out about my dietary restrictions. Oh, the probing personal questions. Very annoying.

I'm more vegetarian than vegan, but I have severe allergies to fish and have since childhood. I must avoid fish, so when out at a restaurant, I seek out vegan dishes.

I just detest most all meats and poultry; again, have been this way since childhood. My mom was the worst cook (think overly-done, dry roasts and steak) and my father insisted upon meat at every single meal and also insisted that I at least try a bite of meat/chicken. It became a battle of the wills and I recall sitting at the dinner table, alone, staring at a huge piece of steak and gagging at the thought of eating just one bite. Usually, my mom would call a truce and excuse me from the table.

Sometime about the time I was 17, I just stopped eating meat. I can occasionally taste some bacon (delicious) and possibly have a chicken nugget (I know, this makes no sense) , but that it perhaps twice a year.

My husband is a total carnivore; I cant even stand to handle raw meat/chicken, so I buy prepared meats and reheat or he will grill out.

Anonymous wrote:I am a vegan because I don't believe it is morally or ethically acceptable for me to consume/wear animals. The thought of an animals dying for my pleasure only is very upsetting to me. There is no need for me to eat meat, wear leather, drink milk, etc. Also, the meat and dairy industry is just awful. Animals truly are tortured. It's sickening.
That being said, I realize my lifestyle is still considered "fringe." My husband eats meat, as does the rest of my family, and my 10 month old son is not vegan. I want people to make the choice for themselves and I do not force it on anyone. All I know is my personal choices allow me to sleep better at night.

I'm not vegan, I'm vegetarian working my way toward veganism for those same reasons. I sort of stumbled across a documentary on Netflix a while back about the meat and dairy industry and after I watched it I was disgusted and appalled, and haven't eaten meat since. I do still eat eggs but they are from my sister in laws farm, her chickens roam freely. I'm working on losing the dairy. My kids and dh are meat eaters though, I don't judge and I won't force my choices upon them. It was a personal decision made by me for me.

I'm not completely vegan (I slip from time-to-time) but I had IBS and it really helps my digestion not to eat meat/dairy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a vegan because I don't believe it is morally or ethically acceptable for me to consume/wear animals. The thought of an animals dying for my pleasure only is very upsetting to me. There is no need for me to eat meat, wear leather, drink milk, etc. Also, the meat and dairy industry is just awful. Animals truly are tortured. It's sickening.
That being said, I realize my lifestyle is still considered "fringe." My husband eats meat, as does the rest of my family, and my 10 month old son is not vegan. I want people to make the choice for themselves and I do not force it on anyone. All I know is my personal choices allow me to sleep better at night.

I'm not the OP, nor am I a vegan, but I want to applaud you for doing what is right for you and not prosthelytizing your personal views. Bravo.

I agree, and I say that as someone who views a life without meat, cheese, butter or eggs as somewhere between the fourth and fifth circles of hell.

I am vegetarian because I was raised vegetarian and that's what my normal is. I've eaten meat in the past, but I don't particularly enjoy it, don't really know how to cook it, and don't consider it necessary for a healthy diet. All of those things are a direct result of not having been socialized to eating meat as a child. I have been vegan in the past, but much like a meat eater becoming vegetarian and being disappointed with the meat substitutes that exist, I am disappointed by the dairy substitutes. My decision was that I am too fond of fancy cheese and Greek yogurt to give them up. I know the evils of the dairy industry and would love if I could buy ethically sound products, but often those things are more expensive than I can afford.

My mom is vegan because she has health issues that are soothed by a non-inflammatory diet. She is a physician who has concluded this is what's best for her body, in consultation with HER physician. She doesn't force it on anyone else, except in so far as to say that people facing similar health issues to hers might benefit from adopting a vegan lifestyle.

My best friend is vegan for the same reasons as the PP above.

I am not raising my daughter vegetarian. Her dad (we are divorced) is not vegetarian and does not keep a vegetarian house. My house IS vegetarian because I just don't eat meat. She's welcome to eat whatever she wants. I actually think it is good for her to get a taste for a variety of food, given that many of my issues with the flavor and texture of meat are related to never experiencing those things when my palate was forming.

Anonymous wrote:I am a vegan because I don't believe it is morally or ethically acceptable for me to consume/wear animals. The thought of an animals dying for my pleasure only is very upsetting to me. There is no need for me to eat meat, wear leather, drink milk, etc. Also, the meat and dairy industry is just awful. Animals truly are tortured. It's sickening.
That being said, I realize my lifestyle is still considered "fringe." My husband eats meat, as does the rest of my family, and my 10 month old son is not vegan. I want people to make the choice for themselves and I do not force it on anyone. All I know is my personal choices allow me to sleep better at night.

I'm not the OP, nor am I a vegan, but I want to applaud you for doing what is right for you and not prosthelytizing your personal views. Bravo.

I am a vegan because I don't believe it is morally or ethically acceptable for me to consume/wear animals. The thought of an animals dying for my pleasure only is very upsetting to me. There is no need for me to eat meat, wear leather, drink milk, etc. Also, the meat and dairy industry is just awful. Animals truly are tortured. It's sickening.
That being said, I realize my lifestyle is still considered "fringe." My husband eats meat, as does the rest of my family, and my 10 month old son is not vegan. I want people to make the choice for themselves and I do not force it on anyone. All I know is my personal choices allow me to sleep better at night.

I'm interested in hearing thoughts on why you've chosen a vegan lifestyle. Could you share why you are vegan? Thanks.