Support NeoGAF

[missAran]

Isn't it also true that Vegans stay away from any animal related products? Stuff like leather wallets, shoes, etc etc.

BTW - Thanks for the vegan sashimi recommendation, I do enjoy the seaweed myself and tend to over indulge on it when I'm having sushi for dinner.

Sashimi is raw seafood. There's no vegan alternative for that. However, sushi, which usually contains raw seafood, doesn't HAVE to and therefore can be vegan friendly.

Vegans aren't supposed to use leather, but when I became one i had leather shoes and a leather belt. I'll eventually replace those, but I'm not walking around barefoot with my pants at my ankles because of that.

Some vegans don't use wool, but the fact of the matter is that wool is not part of factory farming, taking care of sheep (feeding them, etc.) is a crucial part of getting good wool. And taking off their wool is good for them.

 

[Deleted member 4784]

I'm like Manabanana in that I'm a Pescotarian, so the only meats I eat are fowl and fish. I don't deprive myself of these meats, but I do eat them in moderation. IMO, the healthiest diet is one that incorporates meat in some fashion. Meat is a major source of protein afterall and there are many nutrients in meat that you simply cannot substitute sufficiently with giant portions of fruits or vegetables in every meal. Giant portions of fruits/vegetables are also the only way to really get around protein and other nutrient deficiencies in strictly vegan diets too (unless you believe in supplements for everything or grazing like horses do). I've just never been much of a believer in vegetarian diets mainly because the majority of people on them don't provide their bodies with what they're doing without.

 

[missAran]

I'm like Manabanana in that I'm a Pescotarian, so the only meats I eat are fowl and fish. I don't deprive myself of these meats, but I do eat them in moderation. IMO, the healthiest diet is one that incorporates meat in some fashion. Meat is a major source of protein afterall and there are many nutrients in meat that you simply cannot substitute sufficiently with giant portions of fruits or vegetables in every meal. Giant portions of fruits/vegetables are also the only way to really get around protein and other nutrient deficiencies in strictly vegan diets too (unless you believe in supplements for everything or grazing like horses do). I've just never been much of a believer in vegetarian diets mainly because the majority of people on them don't provide their bodies with what they're doing without.

Vitamin B, Vitamin B12, Calcium, Vitamin D are the biggest ones that vegans need to worry about. Iron and Protein are found in many vegetables and soy products. Vitamin D can be gotten from the sun. Calcium is fortified in a lot of food and can be found in collard greens (broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower). And Vitamin B12 and B are usually supplemented, but most breakfast cereals have them fortified. Smart Start, for example, will you give you 100 percent of your B and B12.

 

[Saturnman]

I think I could only go vegan if I lived in hot, damp weather all the time.

When days get colder in the fall and in winter, I can not imagine being stuck eating salad and celeri. I crave meat when it gets colder.

 

[missAran]

I think I could only go vegan if I lived in hot, damp weather all the time.

When days get colder in the fall and in winter, I can not imagine being stuck eating salad and celeri. I crave meat when it gets colder.

Soups and pasta are great foods for the winter. Teas and coffee are also cool (just don't put cream in those suckers).

 

[Saturnman]

Gimme some chicken noodle soup and spaghetti with tomato-steak sauce at the very least.

 

[missAran]

Gimme some chicken noodle soup and spaghetti with tomato-steak sauce at the very least.

Now you're just being difficult. I supposed you want a banana wrapped in bacon, too?

 

[Saturnman]

:lol

The banana alone will be fine.

But to me, pasta equals some meat. I can not imagine lasagna and spaghetti without some meat in there.

 

[missAran]

:lol

The banana alone will be fine.

But to me, pasta equals some meat. I can not imagine lasagna and spaghetti without some meat in there.

I know what you mean, spaghetti without meatballs and chili without ground beef seems ridiculous -- but it's really not.

 

[Saturnman]

Since I don't have any health, religious, moral or coocoo reason to be a vegan, I'll stick with the balanced diet and have my spaghetti with some meatballs.

You vegans knock yourself out and have it your way.

 

[KingGondo]

I've been effectively Pescotarian for a while now--I was raised on chicken, and I love me some seafood (especially after discovering a killer sushi bar in my college town). It's amazing how much it helps to cut out beef and pork. I feel much better generally, although I'm sure some beef has slipped through somehow.

 

[videogamer]

Sashimi is raw seafood. There's no vegan alternative for that. However, sushi, which usually contains raw seafood, doesn't HAVE to and therefore can be vegan friendly.

There is "sashimi" made of seaweed.

Vegans aren't supposed to use leather, but when I became one i had leather shoes and a leather belt. I'll eventually replace those, but I'm not walking around barefoot with my pants at my ankles because of that.

Some don't wear silk either. You might get hippie jokes if you wear hemp though.

 

[Saturnman]

It's amazing how much it helps to cut out beef and pork. I feel much better generally, although I'm sure some beef has slipped through somehow.

How do you feel better? Were you just eating pork and beef everyday before the change?

And how can you be sure it's not a placebo effect?

 

[Manabanana]

There's a really great Chinese place near me that has vegan versions of all their foods. Their orange spice "chicken" is amazing. I like the texture of the seitan chicken more than I do real chicken. You don't get any tendons or fat strings when it's all soy It's all really well-priced, too. It's $5 for the dish, unlimited hot tea and rice and I almost always have some left over.

 

[videogamer]

There's a really great Chinese place near me that has vegan versions of all their foods. Their orange spice "chicken" is amazing. I like the texture of the seitan chicken more than I do real chicken. You don't get any tendons or fat strings when it's all soy It's all really well-priced, too. It's $5 for the dish, unlimited hot tea and rice and I almost always have some left over.

Yeah, Chinese communities often have yummy vegetarian restaurants. Milk products are not often used in Chinese cooking anyways so many, if not all, of the dishes are also vegan. The hot plate and house chicken are really yummy in this place in the San Gabriel Valley. It was an all-you-can-eat place for about $12. Just order whatever dish you want from a list of about 30 or so. The price includes soup, rice and tea of course. IIRC, another place had "beef" made with compressed tofu... and omg it tasted like the real thing.

 

[etiolate]

If you are considering this lifestyle, let me warn you about something for the benefit of those around you.

Vegetarians/Vegans/Organic eating lifestyle, etc et etc have the worst farts and dumps ever. Have you ever walked by a soy fart? Dear GOD. I lived in a vegetarian and organic househould and them people had atrocious farts. I'd go to hangouts with vegan menus and the soy farts where constant! And at the house, when one of them took a dump, dear lord, you don't go in there for an hour or so. All those greens and bean based milk and meat substitutes are death from your ass.

 

[missAran]

Isn't there a lot of egg in Chinese food? I thought egg was a big ingredinet in lo mein, for example...

 

[videogamer]

Isn't there a lot of egg in Chinese food? I thought egg was a big ingredinet in lo mein, for example...

Eh I forgot about that. Thinking back, I don't remember any dishes that I ate having eggs. Maybe inside the batter or the noodle dishes. But the restaurants are kind of like home-style places where you eat dishes mainly with rice, not noodles.

 

[Manabanana]

A lot of noodles are made with egg, but every dish I've had at this place is served with rice, as Hammy said. Most places usually ask if egg is ok, too.

 

[jiggle]

There should be chinese resturants that cater specifically to vegetarians. Everything are made from ingredients that does not require the killing of animals, supposedly including the oil they're cooked with. Dishes that contain eggs are noted(they should be anyway).

 

[luxsol]

My problem largely comes from factory farming and international farming. Both of them are very corrupt. They are unsanitory, there is a lot of torture involved, and in a way, contribute to poverty. So, in theory, if I raised my own cow and humanely killed it -- I could potentially eat it. However, this won't happen and if it does happen, there will access to food that isn't prepared that way everywhere.

For the same reasons that alcoholics should avoid occasional drinks, vegans should avoid beef even if it's prepared humanely.

So you don't eat meat because of the way animals are treated and how sanitary they are, but don't care about all the migrant workers and their children who pick the veggies and fruits being abused (extremely low wages, working long hours) by the growers? Neh.... And its not like the growers are anymore sanitary, considering there are outbreaks of e. coli and salmonela poisoning all the time with fruits and veggies too.

Almost everything we eat comes from the suffering of others.

 

[teh_pwn]

F*ck teh animals.

I eat mostly grains, vegetables, and fruits, but I'll be damned if I can't have chicken.

I don't like beef that much since I'm mildly allergic to it. But a burger at Roadhouse or something is pretty good.


Wait, who thinks it's hard to get protein without meat? You can get massive amounts of protein from whey, soy, beans, nuts and general dairy products. I would eat tofu, but I seem to be allergic to that too.

 

[heavenly]

I crave protein, all the time. Salads leave me empty. If I tried to survive on a vegetarian lifestyle I'd probably go from 6'1", 135 lbs. to 120 or less.

Wow! You must be really skinny!

 

[heavenly]

If you want a burger, try Boca burgers. As long as you put fixings on them they're actually pretty decent. But I don't even like them anymore. Boca reminds me of real hamburgers, which reminds me of the stench in grocery stores.

Boca burgers are nasty. I prefer MorningStar Farm products (the grillers/prime/chik n nuggets/chik patties), although they can be a little bit high in sodium.

 

[heavenly]

I think it's best to go at it in stages, and try to tailor your diet to your liking. Don't eliminate something you totally can't live without, or you will be miserable not eating. And don't make your diet a hassle. One of the reasons I stopped eating totally vegan is because I was constantly scrambling all over the place looking for something to eat. That's not how you should have to feel.

Amen! This is so true. I've been vegan/vegetarian for 8 years. In the initial stages, I was very uncomfortable (due to a lack of knowledge on the subject) with the diet because I went cold turkey on alot of things I should have just made a gradual decrease in my diet. As a result, rather than scramble to find healthy products I could eat, I would eat alot junk food instead.

Subway and Wendy's Salads w/ almonds have been my best friend through the years when I don't have time to prepare food. Almond milk/Soy ice-cream is the best non-dairy milky products available. It costs about $10/gallon to make almond milk. Or you can just buy it at a health food store for a cheaper price, which doesn't taste as good. Give it a try!

 

[videogamer]

So you don't eat meat because of the way animals are treated and how sanitary they are, but don't care about all the migrant workers and their children who pick the veggies and fruits being abused (extremely low wages, working long hours) by the growers? Neh.... And its not like the growers are anymore sanitary, considering there are outbreaks of e. coli and salmonela poisoning all the time with fruits and veggies too.

Almost everything we eat comes from the suffering of others.

Hey at least he is making the effort. Buying vegetables does not necessarily mean that you are supporting low wages and long hours. Organic farms oftentimes promote their attempts at sustainable agriculture. Also, in California at least, there have been attempts to improve the working conditions of workers, such as the banning of certain tools. I don't know where missAran lives, but he may live somewhere that has different farming standards.

BTW, links please to the child labor part. What are they doing to stop it?

 

[swoon]

it's also about reducing your impact. should we not try because we can't reach 100% come on. then there wouldn't be a reason for doing anything really.

also most traditional pasta dishes are served with veggies only, the meat course is normally seperate and sans pasta.

 

[kablooey]

I've always been vegetarian at home (my family's Hindu...), but when I go out I've been significantly less strict, just because it's sometimes hard to find good veggie food, and I don't have much patience. It's been really easy so far for me at college though, with all the various vegetarian/vegan options, so I've been going purely vegetarian for the past 8 or 9 months. It's not hard at all.

I don't think all vegetarians are truly trying to "change the world" by not eating meat. It's a personal decision. I don't like the smell or taste of meat, generally, so I stay far away from it. And the only reason I did eat it before was because I thought it was necessary, but it's actually very easy to get the same nutrients from veg foods. Even better, because lots of meat/red meat has excessive amounts of protein/saturated fat, etc.

 

[Brannon]

I supposed you want a banana wrapped in bacon, too?

....
....

...

.

!

The banana alone will be fine.

NOW JUST HOLD ON THERE YOU. He might be on to something with this banana/bacon medley. Man, if a deep-fried banana wrapped in thick bacon, dipped in maple syrup isn't the ambrosia of the gods, then what is? Thin Mints?

All kidding aside, I switch off every now and then. A few months doing nothing vegetables then a few months going back to the meat side. No devotion to either, just what's easy to cook up at the moment. I have learned over the years however that vegetarian pizza IS some of the best type of pizza out there. Sweet and juicy, and not as filling so I can eat more, which is always a good thing.

 

[Tarazet]

Wow! You must be really skinny!

Funny thing is that I actually have a pretty wide beam... but then I turn sideways and I have the profile of a piece of paper. :lol

 

[luxsol]

Hey at least he is making the effort. Buying vegetables does not necessarily mean that you are supporting low wages and long hours. Organic farms oftentimes promote their attempts at sustainable agriculture. Also, in California at least, there have been attempts to improve the working conditions of workers, such as the banning of certain tools. I don't know where missAran lives, but he may live somewhere that has different farming standards.

BTW, links please to the child labor part. What are they doing to stop it?

If he really wanted to make an effort then he should at least try to get only food made from reputable places that don't rely on cheap easily abused labor. He already taking a huge step in avoiding foods that use animal by products so buying only food produced by reputable places is a tiny step. Also asking where restaurants get their foods from is great at avoiding bad farms.
I saw a special about child labor around the world on Dateline that talked about migrant worker's children working on the fields side by side with their parents so i wouldn't know where to link to... but Google brings up a shitload of links. I like this one in particular though I'm not sure how true it is or not. http://www.poppolitics.com/articles/2000-10-24-children.shtml

the violation of the basic rights of these children is supported by the Fair Labor Standards Act which states that children working on farms may be employed from the age of 12, and provides no limitation on the number of hours a child can work. In all other occupations, by contrast, children under the age of 16 are limited to three hours of work per day when school is in session

I'm sure the maker of this thread doesn't support the abuse and child labor involved with these farms, just like I'm sure almost everyone in this thread doesn't support the cruel slaughter of the animals we eat. I'm just wondering if missAran realises that almost all the food we produce is gotten through the sufferings of others no matter what lifestyle you choose.

Speaking of which... there are farms that treat their animals humanely and are very sanitary. Only one i can think of on the top of my head is a st bernard farm in China. They say it tastes great and I wouldn't mind trying it someday. I'm not a dog hater (I hate cat though), but if an animal is raised to be food I see no problems with it.

I think only people who hunt (and have good aim) and raise their own plants live a righteous life... but they're crazies, right?? =P

 

[missAran]

She...

I'M A GUY!!!

For clarification: I know a vegan lifestyle, even the eating of strictly organic foods (which are not always accessible, but something I eventually want to work toward), isn't perfect. But I'm doing something. I'm changing the way I eat in the name of justice, sure that doesn't mean that I'm perfect or my habits are -- but I don't need to be for my effort to be worth something. I'm not denying that there is terrible coniditions for those who pick veggies and fruits -- it's a crying shame, and eventually, I hope to only use organic food as I mentioned, but until then I'm doing as much as I can. I believe that's honorable.

 

[Brannon]

I'M A GUY!!!

BUT YOUR NAME MAKES YOU SOUND FEMININE OVER THE INNERNETS!

With that said, I shall edit accordingly

 

[Saturnman]

I'M A GUY!!!

So... that's not you after all? I kinda liked the funny hat.

 

[Jonnyboy117]

For the person who scoffed at the idea of pasta without meat: use a robust tomato sauce and/or basil pesto, with small pieces of sun dried tomatoes. You can have very hearty pasta that doesn't need meat at all to taste right.

 

[aoi tsuki]

i've been a pesco vegetarian (fish/eggs/dairy) for about nine years now. It started when i'd get sick after eating meat. Not violently ill, but my stomach would be upset for a while and churn like it was having trouble digesting it. So i decided to cut back, to add more turkey to my hamburger (i eventually went all turkey to no avail), and everything except fish and eggs made me sick. So i gradually became a vegetarian from the simple lack of eating meat. i kinda hate the title of "vegetarian" since i don't feel i'm a true vegetarian, but it's much easier than listing off the meats i don't eat to people. In any case, i'm happy not eating meat and i find a lot of foods benefit from not having to fight with the flavors of meat. On the other hand, if i wanted to eat meat tommorrow i'd slowly transition back into doing that. It's a diet, or a system of eating, same as other people. It's not my personal prison.

What really sucks is moving from an area of Michigan with a heavy mid-eastern influence to a small southern city. i was within walking distance of a dozen or so mideastern eateries. Now i'm in a place where everything has pork in it and tons of salt. i'm glad i can cook, or i'd probably starve to death, vegetarian or not.

For the person who scoffed at the idea of pasta without meat: use a robust tomato sauce and/or basil pesto, with small pieces of sun dried tomatoes. You can have very hearty pasta that doesn't need meat at all to taste right.

Bingo. A lot of people make spaghetti with way too much meat anyways and a bland spaghetti sauce. When made with a fresh pesto and a good spaghetti sauce (i use Barilla), the difference between this and your average ground beef and Ragu is night and day. The absence of meat allows the flavors of the vegetables to come to life.

Edit: Is it true that women who don't eat meat smell bad... downstairs? i went down on a girl who was veg, and i couldn't tell one way or the other since it was my first time, though it wasn't really pleasant. A friend was telling me it was the lack of iron that causes it, but there's several good sources of iron outside of animals.

 

[Vinzer Deling]

I think only people who hunt (and have good aim) and raise their own plants live a righteous life... but they're crazies, right?? =P

I wonder how the poor spotted owls felt when loggers destroyed it's habitat to make your home.

 

[Manabanana]

Edit: Is it true that women who don't eat meat smell bad... downstairs? i went down on a girl who was veg, and i couldn't tell one way or the other since it was my first time, though it wasn't really pleasant. A friend was telling me it was the lack of iron that causes it, but there's several good sources of iron outside of animals.

In my very limited experience, there's no difference. Maybe girls who don't eat meat are more likely to be hippies, so they don't bathe as often? :lol

 

[Jonnyboy117]

When made with a fresh pesto and a good spaghetti sauce (i use Barilla), the difference between this and your average ground beef and Ragu is night and day. The absence of meat allows the flavors of the vegetables to come to life.

Barilla sauce is great. I just got some Newman's Own, but it's too sweet for my taste. I use Bertolli pesto (if you can find it...omg it's amazing stuff) and Bertolli pasta.

 

[goodcow]

Where's goodcow in all this? He's a pretty big vegetarian guy.

I moved last week, and still don't have Internet access at home, so I can only browse (like now), at my college library.

But anyway, yes I'm vegetarian. Why did I do it? Well, I read the book Fast Food Nation, and then decided why not just give it a shot, and then I actually felt healthier without meat. I don't have any problems keeping to a non-meat diet, though admittedly, the day Bush was re-elected, I was depressed and had a turkey sandwich at Subway. But that's the only time within the past two years or longer. I do eat egg though.

So, breakfast is usually a bagel, or egg and cheese sandwich, cereal, oatmeal. I eat at Subway or Blimpe almost every day. Pizza is almost a once-a-day thing as well. Lots of fruits, and then sometimes I supplement myself with an Ensure. ($7.25 for six at Amazon.com)

The end.

(I hate these college library computers)

 

[missAran]

I really need to read Fast Food Nation.

 

[goodcow]

I really need to read Fast Food Nation.

I loaned the book out after finishing it and never got it back.

Moral of the story: NEVER BE KIND.

 

[missAran]

I loaned the book out after finishing it and never got it back.

Moral of the story: NEVER BE KIND.

Except to animals.

 

[KingGondo]

How do you feel better? Were you just eating pork and beef everyday before the change?

And how can you be sure it's not a placebo effect?

Well, it's come along with more exercise and more water, so I'm pretty sure it's helping. If nothing else, it really cuts down my calorie intake.

I didn't have it every day, either--but I certainly didn't make a conscious effort to avoid it.

 

[Blackie]

I've never eaten meat in my life. It's far easier if you were raised vegetarian, tho. Don't know what I'm missing.

This question is probably insensitive and about a page and a half too late, but if you're a vegetarian, then why are you still so big in the width? My prejudice with vegetarians/vegans is that I believe them all to be as skinny and pastry as Moby (you do have the pasty part down).