Random Poll #27: Could you go vegetarian?

[Kann]

Chicken and fish are all the meat I eat. I don't even like pork or beef. XD

Tbh I like chicken too much to cut it out. Also this would be too pricey and impossible in my family. Though there's always a lot of different meat in the fridge. They could at least don't eat that much of it if cutting it out from diet is out of question... >_>

While not a vegetarian myself I really hate this culture of shaming vegetarians like "hurr durrr you must really miss eating beacon" or "wegetables? Am I a rabbit or what?". Eat your damn steak and shut up, Greg.

[baasinsimple]

I mean I could, but I don't have the budget. I don't want to buy carrots for 5 bucks a bag when I could buy sausage links for for 1.50. I just want to live. I already don't eat a lot, only enough to get me through the day, if that has to be meat I won't complain. Hell my only choices realistically are 1- start getting heart attacks at 45 or 2- Starve now.

[Shanny8]

No...been trying to get away from eating a lot of beef/pork products over the years, but there are few guilty pleasures that I still indulge in(pepperoni, bacon, pot roast, the occasional grilled burger, steak/cubed streak). I try to mainly stick to eating chicken, some turkey products, and some shrimp and salmon(not a fish/seafood person either, but those are 2 exceptions).

Add this in with the fact that I've been a VERY finicky eater since childhood, and that pretty much says I need to get in my vitamins/nutrients/proteins wherever I can get them.

[Strontium]

Seeing as I already have to eat gluten-free and lactose-free... cutting meat out of my diet would just eliminate too many food choices XP Also, I like eating meat! But I do limit my consumption of red meat and fish with high mercury (like swordfish).

[sarrowsmith10]

For me it's complicated. I have a dairy protein allergy (not lactose) and a soy protein allergy. I'm also horribly allergic to avocados (will swell up like a balloon and without an epi pen I would DIE) and food sensitivity to corn (just upsets my stomach).

So when I eat out I always go Vegan, since vegan foods are guaranteed to not have dairy products. However I could technically eat chicken or fish or eggs depending on how they are cooked. But to be purely vegetarian? That would be hard since most meat replacements are soy based.

[bsienk90]

I grew up vegan/Vegetarian because of health issues but now I am not and I'm totally okay with it.

[JackOfArtAndProse]

If there's any shift towards vegetarianism or veganism, it'd have to be gradual anyway. Otherwise, your body will protest.

I think we all agree that food should be delicious, and that badly cooked vegetarian/vegan food is never appetizing(same goes for meat dishes, obviously). Also, nutrient deficient vegan diets(there are wholesome vegan diets there as well, but people usually only think of veganism as only eating fruits and veggies, when vegans pretty much HAVE TO eat nuts and/or seeds, legumes and a variety of grains, of which not all are glutinous) are not a good idea, either. Google is your friend here, do your research no matter what kind of lifestyle you want to lead.

Now that we have our facts somewhat more in balance, I'd say go with your gut(literally). If you keep thinking that you need to add healthy foods into your diet, add them slowly and methodically. I would also wholeheartedly recommend that those who want to go vegetarian learn how to cook proper vegetarian dishes, as no one wants to eat unpalatable meals. Especially not our significant others.

But these facts are common sense and probably known to every one of us. I just wrote them down in the case they weren't all that clear. Maybe someone can benefit from this kind of analysis, who knows.

[Azifri]

I mean, if there was no meat available I would have to, but having options the answer is NO. I'm a meatetarian and pretty much have to be forced to consume greens. Gimme all the meat, cheese, potatoes, and bread, but keep that leafy stuff and fruits away. It would also make no sense from a cultural point of view: my relatives are farmers and I'm a veterinarian (although I don't practice anymore), so I know what goes into meat production, and when done properly I don't see any issues with it.

[Shanny8]

vegans pretty much HAVE TO eat nuts and/or seeds

Another thing on my list- I'm allergic to nuts. I can eat sunflower seeds & pumpkin seeds, but gotta watch the sodium...

[JackOfArtAndProse]

Aye, that's one of the reasons why some people have trouble going vegetarian/vegan. There's other stuff that can compensate for that, but it is nonetheless a very understandable dilemma.

[Maps]

I was pretty much a vegetarian since I was 12 (I gagged any time I bit into a piece of fat when I ate meat).
When I moved to Ireland for a year when I was 25 I started eating meat again. It began as me trying to be respectful of the food and culture/my Irish family (who would make me traditional dishes sometimes).
I still usually just eat fish, chicken, turkey. But even then I still eat mainly fish. (The occasional bacon and ground beef will slip it’s way into my diet ).
But yeah! Being vegetarian was pretty easy. There’s a ton of good veggie dishes out there.

[racarter]

Nope! I’d probably pass out from low iron and lack of protein. That and I’m not big on veggies in general. Fruits are good but a lot of them are seasonal and my favorites are not around (I mean I’m good quality) for half the year. Like strawberries, watermelon, and apples. Tho apples are pretty available year round. For veggies I pretty much only enjoy carrots and corn. I can eat bell peppers (red, yellow, and orange) but only with meat. I’ll sometimes begrudgingly eat peas and green beans - but only in small amounts. Tomatoes I can only stand in certain sandwiches, very specific kinds - the ham, turkey, cheese, mayo, on toasted sub bread kind that you’d get at a pricier sandwich restaurant.

Generally speaking, meat is the one constant thing I can always enjoy. For most everything else, I’m too specific about how I like it prepared.

Tho I don’t care much for fish. Except tilapia, which for fish it isn’t really fishy. Plus it’s easier on my stomach. A lot of seafood upsets the tummy. Which sucks cuz I sorta enjoy the taste of shrimp and crab.

If I gave up meat, I’d be surviving mostly on grains... and I already have to use that as filler since we’re broke.

Plus meat is so tasty! I love mixing in leftover steak with some beef flavored ramen - it’s delicious! Or if I get Texas Roadhouse, I make steak sandwiches with their delicious bread.

Ah man... I really miss meat.

Oh I forgot to mention nuts. I actually really love almonds and peanuts, but problem is I enjoy almonds too much and I will eat them until I get sick. I hate almonds in other foods tho, I just like eating them from a bag. Can’t stand other nuts tho.

[frgmnt]

I've been a vegetarian since I was... 11? To be honest, I just never really liked meat. I still don't. I hate how it looks, how it smells, the texture it has. I also have ethical reasons to not eat meat, but the taste thing is my main reason - that's why I wouldn't eat lab-grown meat.

I also don't eat fish and cannot fathom why do some people seem to not consider fish as meat? Maybe religion has something to do with it; I grew up in a Christian country where fish are allowed to be eaten on the days you're supposed to go meatless.

I agree with @jurinova about being judged - seriously, why do people go out of their way to shame someone for their food choices? I have been mocked, shamed and judged for not eating meat many times. Being a vegetarian makes any food-related social situations complicated. People in general eat too much meat and there's a social pressure to eat meat (though it seems to affect men a lot more, I guess?)

I'm pretty anemic and eating meat would probably solve that, but honestly, I prefer anemia (which I'm used to) over torturing myself To be honest I'm a picky eater in general, also not good at cooking, so feeding myself is challening. Behold, a vegetarian who doesn't even like vegetables that much (raw ones, anyway. Baked, fried and occasionally cooked ones are good.) How am I still alive? It is a mystery.

[FlutterbyBubbles]

I've been a vegetarian for about five and a half years, and I've been getting on pretty well! I don't miss meat too much, since my local supermarkets have a large "fake meat" range, and the whole "don't you ever miss bacon (or rashers as we call them)" bugs me because I always hated rashers. They're chewy and stick in your throat.... I'd say the thing I miss most is marshmallows and jellies... I can get some vegetarian jellies in certain shops, but I have to go to specific vegetarian shops or online for marshmallows, which is annoying, but I deal with it.

I'm not too fussy when eating out or at other people's houses, I don't demand special food or anything, I'll just ask for a portion of whatever they're eating to be put aside before they put in the meat, and eating out is actually pretty vegetarian friendly where I am!

Just don't try to force me to eat meat. It's annoying, I don't need it to survive. I'm fine without it. Please let me eat my mac n cheese in peace.

(also I hate tofu that's been boiled and not fried or grilled, like I got ramen the other day and the tofu was really squishy and gross, but that's just personal taste)

[Shanny8]

I agree with @jurinova about being judged - seriously, why do people go out of their way to shame someone for their food choices? I have been mocked, shamed and judged for not eating meat many times. Being a vegetarian makes any food-related social situations complicated.

I have a friend/comic buddy who is a vegan- I dont have any issues with it.

I'd say the thing I miss most is marshmallows

I dont miss marshmallows- at all. In fact the only time I eat them now days is when I make Rice Krispy Treats- which I havent made in a long LONG time.

Please let me eat my mac n cheese in peace.

At one point during my senior yr at high school, mac n cheese was mostly what I ate when I came home late at night from my after school job.

[TJSchongar]

I mean, I have some pretty awesome vegan recipes, so probably? I'd just miss meat. But some of the ethical points for going vegetarian/vegan aren't bad.

[LordVincent]

I was vegetarian for over a year. Slowly messed my health up. Vegetarians who hear this keep accusing me of not having done it accurately and not having made sure i got my B12 or my proteins, which I can say right off the bat is bullshit. I calculate my calories, I have no problem calculating proteins on top of that. Also I ate a shitload of eggs and drank a ton of milk so B12 was no issue...
Sure, a lot of people who attempt the vegetarian diet fuck it up and then blame the diet itself. But if I tell you straightforward I got my shit done properly, then PLEASE STOP TRYING TO FORCE ME TO CONFORM TO A DIET THAT BLOODY KILLS ME JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE CONVINCED THAT EVERYONE SHOULD GO VEGGIE holy shit, some people...

[JackOfArtAndProse]

I mean, I'm a vegan and I still think that you shouldn't conform to a diet that kills you. There.

As with all things, sense is paramount. Others can't always tell what's the best thing for us(although older people tend to have a lot of wisdom to offer - this wasn't related to the topic, however).

[Kura]

I'm genuinely surprised at the amount of level headed vegans and vegetarians on these forums. Most of the time I'm met with outright rage and debate whenever I'm asked this question and I respond with no. (had one even tell me to 'change my culture to a vegan culture' like my culture is something easy to change and not something I was born into <.<) or ironically and bitterly tell me to 'stop eating tofu / beans / rice anything considered a staple by them because I'm taking food that VEGANS NEED TO SURVIVE' (despite all these foods also being a part of my culture long before veganism became trendy) Even some that feel that if you 'can't go on a completely vegan diet' then you should just die off, because you are killing the planet with your meat consumption. Then of course the long lectures of animal murder and how they are above the average human for not consuming flesh. I don't know if it's just my location but I have just rarely seem met a normal vegan / vegetarian outside of the internet ^^;;; (though I've run into a lot of extremists on the internet too...)

That aside I'm not against vegetarian or vegan food, I've had some pretty great tasting meals that are vegan or vegetarian, but I do have issues when for some reason it's trying to mimic meat??? I just... I don't understand why that is a thing AT ALL??? Because fruits, veggies, beans, tofu exc. all taste great on their own?? Why some people have to try and make it taste like meat I will just never understand.

TLDR: The vegans and vegetarians on these forums are all nice and I wish more of them were like you, and I'm also very sad to hear that you get picked on just for the way you eat =(

[JackOfArtAndProse]

"That aside I'm not against vegetarian or vegan food, I've had some pretty great tasting meals that are vegan or vegetarian, but I do have issues when for some reason it's trying to mimic meat???"

You know, a lot of culinarists and regular people keep asking that same thing. Kinda makes you wonder. I've heard a lot of people say that they'd appreciate vegetarian and/or vegan foods more if they didn't try to imitate meat dishes. shrugs