Why? And Hello!
I am new to the site and was wondering what others reason's are for becoming vegan, vegetarian, etc..
i personally stopped eating animal products for the health of myself, animals, and the planet. i am the only vegie i know and would like to talk to some like minded people. so, hi!
My sister is a vegan. I explained to her that it has taken mankind 4,000 years to work it's way to the top of the food chain and I'll be damn if I'm the guy responsible for blowing it.
SRQdude
Original Post by sarasota:My sister is a vegan. I explained to her that it has taken mankind 4,000 years to work it's way to the top of the food chain and I'll be damn if I'm the guy responsible for blowing it.
SRQdude
No offense, but then why are you in the vegetarian forum?
That might be the stupidest reason I have ever heard of why you shouldn't go vegetarian. Sorry if I sound rude, but wow.
As for the original post, I became a vegetarian because of the extreme cruelty that has been shown of animals in factory farms and things like that. Also, the thought of eating rotting flesh isn't very appetizing imo.
I became vegetarian because I wanted to eat healthier, and I read two books that preached about veganism, "Skinny Bitch" and "Eat to Live." I also call myself an environmentalist, so it seemed hypocritical to eat meat and do so. While I found veganism too difficult, I'm really happy as a vegetarian. I have more energy, have lost weight and inches, and feel better about my part in this world!
BTW I became a vegetarian because I believe that no one should have to suffer for me to be happy. Plus it's good for the enivronment, saves water, helps stops world hunger, good for your own health, just lots of reasons!
It breaks my heart to see what so many of our fellow animals have to go through.
I'm vegetarian because I'm not comfortable with the idea of eating animals. I did it for many years, but I often felt uneasy about it, especially when I thought about the love and care we give to our pets while treating other animals as food - it didn't make sense. When I met my boyfriend, who is a very committed vegetarian, I decided it was time to stop avoiding the issue and to stop eating meat and fish altogether.
I accept not everyone feels this way or wants to become vegetarian themselves, and I'm by no means ethically perfect (I'm not vegan, for a start). However, I really dislike being told we should all eat meat because it's 'natural.' It's also 'natural' to get pregnant at 13 - does that make it the best thing to do? There's nature and then there's choice, and luckily in our society we have the option to do without meat.
Besides, arguably there's a link between vegetarianism and evolutionary survival, when you consider the environmental consequences of meat production, not to mention all the unhealthy crap that's in animal products these days....
Original Post by cats-eyes:I'm vegetarian because I'm not comfortable with the idea of eating animals. I did it for many years, but I often felt uneasy about it, especially when I thought about the love and care we give to our pets while treating other animals as food - it didn't make sense. When I met my boyfriend, who is a very committed vegetarian, I decided it was time to stop avoiding the issue and to stop eating meat and fish altogether.
I accept not everyone feels this way or wants to become vegetarian themselves, and I'm by no means ethically perfect (I'm not vegan, for a start). However, I really dislike being told we should all eat meat because it's 'natural.' It's also 'natural' to get pregnant at 13 - does that make it the best thing to do? There's nature and then there's choice, and luckily in our society we have the option to do without meat.
Besides, arguably there's a link between vegetarianism and evolutionary survival, when you consider the environmental consequences of meat production, not to mention all the unhealthy crap that's in animal products these days....
*High Five*
Right on, cats-eyes!! I had a similar experience..... always felt a little grossed out by the meat I prepared.
It seems like there are a million reasons to commit to a vegetarian diet, even if only part-time, or if you still eat some dairy. I was motivated just as much by concern for the environment as I was by the disgusting amount of consumption and waste I see around me.
The effect that cattle and pig farming has on the environment is profoundly negative. Where I live, our watersheds are being polluted primarily by feces from farms. Out west, they're destroying natural habitats so that cattle can graze; but if that land was used to raise wheat or soy or corn, we could feed 10 times as many people with wheat as we could with cow meat.
Then there's the quality of the meat/ethical treatment of the animals issue. With cattle and chicken and pigs and fish, the animals don't get fat enough fast enough to be profitable for the companies that raise, slaughter and sell them, so most companies (a) feed them things teh animals were never supposed to eat (like feeding cows meal that contains ground-up pieces of other cows, a cause of mad cow disease) and (b) inject them with growth hormones. When we eat meat, we ingest everything the animal did during its life. Yuck.
Then there's the waste. On a macro level, American fast food restaurants and grocery stores thrive on selling "more for less," including meat. (E.g., the double-burger with bacon for 99 cents or the fact that the SMALLEST serving of steak at most restaurants is TRIPLE the size of a recommended single serving.) The "more for less" philosophy adds to the amount of food that is consumed, that rots or is thrown away. It shows a complete lack of respect for the energy and life that went into creating that food.
I'm not saying we should never eat meat, ever. But we do have a choice about how much we consume and how we treat the animals during the course of their lives.
Some of my friends have tried to become vegetarian and so far have all given up. It's a hard transition to make, especially if you do enjoy eating it. Basically the same with any diet change.
Personally, I stopped eating meat on principle. As a guy.. I am embarrassed about it, but never regret my decision. I'll take a salad over a steak anyday!
Original Post by cats-eyes:However, I really dislike being told we should all eat meat because it's 'natural.' It's also 'natural' to get pregnant at 13 - does that make it the best thing to do? There's nature and then there's choice, and luckily in our society we have the option to do without meat.
FANTASTIC argument. Thank you for that!
I've been ovo-lacto vegetarian since I was in fifth grade, and it was kind of a whimsical decision (copying my brother, honestly) so over the years I've had to figure out "why does this continue to be my choice?" The main reason I have, other than being grossed out (and sad) at the idea of eating animals, is that it's simply unnecessary to eat meat. Why should I, when there's so many options for me not to?
Original Post by cats-eyes:However, I really dislike being told we should all eat meat because it's 'natural.' It's also 'natural' to get pregnant at 13 - does that make it the best thing to do?
thank you. i plan on reusing that quote many many many times now!!!!! i'm sick of hearing how "natural it is too. factory farms don't seem all too natural too me. and by the way, that's why i'm a vegetarian... once i found out that it's not about cows and chickens running around on farms until mr. farmer turns them into meat, i felt entirely too quilty everytime i put a piece of meat in my mouth. i don't believe anybody should have to go through such suffering and pain just so i can have a tasty bite to eat. it's not necessary when we have so many other options in this world. And healthwise, it's much better for you as long as you watch what you eat. i've lost weight, been healthier, and eat tons more different types of food then i ever did before!
Corruption in factories,
.....
I just don't like that stuff and gots to e healthy if I want to live forever, yah know ?
My primary reason would be unhealthy agribusiness practices. I'm pretty sure I'm in the minority here since a lot of you would cite ethical reasons for going veg, but we're all entitled to our own opinions on the same matter.
However, I do think we can all agree that it's the healthier choice, granted that you've done your research and not just jumping blindly onto the growing bandwagon. Sadly, the latter seems to be happening a lot and so we end up with quite a handful of people living unhealthy vegetarian lives. But that's best left for another topic.
I think I am the only vegetarian I've ever met that just does not like meat. I cannot stand the smell, the texture, the taste...
I don't go out of my way to avoid meat by-products though because I'm not doing it for ethical reasons just for, "yuck I don't like it" reasons. So, I still eat marshmallows and jello:) I grew up on a farm and had to help butcher, skin, pluck the animals (chickens, goats, rabbits). I always hated the smell and couldn't seem to get it off me. Even as a kid, I refused to eat meat no matter how much my parents pushed.
YES, being vegetarian is good for our evolution as a species. Consider these quotes from Albert Einstein:
"Our task must be to free ourselves . . . by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty."
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances of survival for life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."
- Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel Prize 1921
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