Why?Why?Why? are people vegetarians or not?

Why are people against vegetarianism and why are poeple vegetarains?

Also i was wondering if there where any good recipies for vegetarians?I feel as if i dont get all my nutriensts as i am forced to eat quick meals as i am always in a rush.

Because i am only just in my teens and have been a vegetarian for 7 years people think that i just made a rash decision which makes me determind to stick to it , but i heared a rumour that if you are a vegetarian for a long period of time you become ill and are forced to eat meat by the doctor is this true?

emie.  Im not a vegetarian but I dont eat a lot of meat. no reason why, just dont.  Why did you become a vegetarian

People are against vegetarians for the same reason that people are against any other group of people.. because people are hateful and stupid.

Some vegetarians make a big deal out of being vegetarian (Well, I don't eat meat or fish or eggs or anything related to animals because killing animals is cruel and thus I am morally superior to you who eat meat.) these people suck eggs.

On the other side are some meat-eaters who hate vegetarians not because they know specific vegetarians who are real jerkwads, but because they're.. an easy target. These people suck eggs too.

In conclusion, anyone who tells me they are morally superior to some GROUP of people sucks eggs and should be summarily ignored.

I don't think vegetarians get sick, BUT you're going to need to use some common sense.. you NEED protein and you NEED fat as well as some vitamins and nutrients you can only find in animal products. If you don't get these, you could get very sick. If, on the other hand, you're willing to make sure you get enough of both the macro and micronutrients, than being vegetarian is a sustainable lifestyle.

Though I'd argue that being vegetarian is not, in actuality, HEALTHIER than not. Just different.

well basically i just didnt like the thought of eating animals flesh and muscels and stuff and as i was seven when i decided to be one it was because i found out i was eating the animals which i loved.

you need to be thoughtfull about what you are eating.  You say you are still a teen, so I am guessing you still live at home.  You can eat quick meals, but you need to make sure you have complete proteins.  I have not eaten meat in over 20 years, and was a teen when I started.  I have given birth to 2 8lb babies on a veggie diet, so it can be healthy and support giving life to others.  if you are truly concerned, go talk to a dr or a nutitionist.  Also, keep in mind that there are entire cultures that are predominately veggie, so you CAN do it, you just need to think through what you are putting in your mouth, and how does that relate to the total nutrition that your still growing body needs.  My 12 year old flirts with vegetarianism... so I know you can do it in a healthy way.

thank you,yes i do live at home as i am 13 and also i have seen a diatition but it was along time ago.But i still find it hard going round friends hpouses because it ishard telling them i am a vegetarian because it makes me feel like a right pain does your daughter ever feel this?

When I was full vegan, I used to call ahead and ask if they were making a veggie-friendly dinner or if I should bring a contribution.  I didn't want to be rude, but I also didn't want to make anyone have to take a ton of trouble over my specific wants.  You might try that.  So if someone says "come on by" you'd say "I'd love to, are we having dinner? I'm a vegetarian, so I don't want you to have to make something special for me, can I bring something along to contribute?" It makes their parents think you're thoughtful...

I never had anybody tell me they were against vegetarians.  I've heard them make fun of it, but then they make fun of beer drinkers too. 

I like saroful's solution!  I've done that myself, and I also do that for my S.O. who has to be careful of his sodium even more than I do. 

I've had people be pretty hostile.  I think it makes them feel defensive, as though I'm trying to be better than them.

i am not a vegetarian.. but i could care less if anyone else is.. it's their own personal choice.. just like me not being one is my personal choice.. i think that people who are hostile to vegetarians, sometimes, they have known the people HK was talking about up there.. who try and act morally superior to others because they don't eat meat.  but i figure.. i don't care one way or the other.. and if i know that someone is a vegetarian and i invite them to dinner.. i make darn sure there is plenty of food for them as well as for the other guests i have over.. it's just common curtesy.. but then again.. i make veggie meals now and again, no meat at all, and don't think twice about it.. :)

but i also agree with these great people above.. you HAVE to make sure you get the proper balance of nutrients, including vitamins and minerals.. most of which you can get from a vegetarian diet.. but there are some supliments you need to take to replace the micronutrients you lose from not eating meat.. just be healthy and enjoy the lifestyle that works for you!  :)

Emie,

Mostly people are pretty understanding.  There are a LOT of foods you can eat, that fit very nicely into mainstream USA foods.  Do you do any dairy?  My daughter does, so cheese pizza, macaroni and cheese or macaroni salad, baked potatoes and garden salads are all a "go."  If she is only going to be there for a short time and doesn't know the family well, I feed her first, and send her off with veggie friendly snacks (granola bars, a can of vegetarian soup etc) I haven't seen a lot of resistance, as long as you approach it as this is my eating preference, you can do what you need to....   There are also a lot of boca or Amy's meals that are vegetarian (some vegan) and sending one of those along to be microwaved is not too difficult either.  Have you talked to your parents about this?     Also like Saroful, I have specifically sent veggie friendly options (main dishes etc, I make a mean veggie taco, and I will put up my cabbage rolls against anyones) so that I know that either she or I can eat.  I think it is often more of a mis understanding than people actually trying to be rude.

i've never had anyone making fun of me for not eating (non-cute) meat, but i think that may be cuz no one ever takes me seriously (which maybe they shouldn't). :P

but i think hkellick is right: most people who are against veg-heads for dopey reasons probably do suck eggs. so you can properly ignore them. [funny how dietary habits, like one's religion, can really bring out the ugly in people.] but as saroful suggested, its easy to prepare your own things and bring them along, and i think people will find that considerate and non-offensive.

there's tons of veggie websites that list recipes with full nutritional info and what-not. i find those helpful in making sure i get all the goodies i need. just google "vegetarian [insert desired recipe here]" and you'll get tons of info. i've never heard of a long-term veggie being forced to eat meat by his dr. that sounds really unlikely. most drs i know endorse a veg only diet, provided enough care is taken to incorporate proper amounts of protein, etc.

I'm not against being a vegetarian...i just like the option of eatting meat sometimes. but i'm like slappy. no particular reason, i just don't eat a lot. I think its because of the fat on the meat. I am just really picky about that. I also grew up eatting a lot of vegies and fruit

most people I know welcome vegetarians and vegans to the table.

more meat for them. *giggle*

okay, that was just a bad joke. but seriously, if someone is that narrow-minded about it, they'd find a reason not to like you. those are the kind of people you should avoid anyway.

if you feel good, and are getting the nutrients your body needs, it's the right choice for you. :)

Emie. It is really tough being a veggie around groups of people that dont see why you do it, or understand that its a personal choice and nothing against them.

People will be afraid and attack what is different and lets face it there are a lot more meat eaters out there than vegetarians but a lot of people are very understanding and it will get easier as you get older.

I know when my Dad makes jokes about ... "So wanna go to the Steak house?" he's just kidding but a part of me is hurt by it. Although I think if you learn to smile and laugh it off you'll be ok :)

Being a vegetarian is awesome and I find the more people challenge me on the subject the more desire I have to learn about the lifestyle and the more amo I have to fire back at those silly people.

Just be you and you'll be fine :)

I think non-vegetarians frequently hassle vegetarians about all sorts of things.  One example is say at a family dinner your Aunt starts teasing you that you're eating "rabbit food" and your uncle picks up a piece of meat and says "Mmm doesn't this look tasty?" or sometimes it even goes further and moves from teasing to criticizing or ridiculing .. but in any case, I think that people do this because somewhere inside they feel guilty about the choice they're making to eat meat when someone in their presence is willfully abstaining.  They don't need to think about it when there aren't vegetarians around, but when there are, they use exaggerations and teasing to make it look like the vegetarian is wrong and they are not.

There may not be any case for right or wrong; that's not what I'm saying .. just from all my experiences of family members and other folks pulling that crap with me, that's why -I- think they do it, to mask their own guilt.

As far as vitamins and nutrients go; from my extensive research on the topic I recommend, no INSIST, that any vegetarians I know take Vitamin B12 supplements daily.  As far as the other nutrients, they CAN be obtained through plant foods but if you think that you don't eat a wide spectrum of foods with a wide variety of nutrients then it can't hurt to take a multi-vitamin.  There are even some especially for vegetarians. The best website, in my opinion, for current information on this topic is www.veghealth.org ... they have the outlook that they'd rather there be a lot of HEALTHY vegetarians, not a lot of unhealthy attempted vegetarians who just go back to eating meat, so the info they provide is sound and not just trying to make it sound "easy" to be a vegetarian.

I get really frustrated when people proliferate myths and other outdated info about vegetarian health.... yeah that's all I have to say about that.

Hi Ernie,

I was raised vegetarian when it wasn't as accepted. I think the reason that some make it difficult is partially the moral superiority that unfortunately some vegetarians have propagated. But, also I think it signals to people that you are thinking about what you are eating.

What we eat has become in some ways a taboo and a non-denominational religion. We are sold food 24/7 from every angle possible.

I often found that if I made choices about my food those around me may feel uncomforable for a number of reasons. They may feel that they now have to think about what they eat.

When I first met my partners family who are heavy meat eaters, I went through two years of them always explaining to me why they ate meat. Really, I never asked, and don't try to force them to accomodate me (I always offer to bring a dish that I can eat, and to share with everyone). It's seven years later, they still eat meat, but they don't feel they have to appologize for it anymore, and they've come to look forward to some of my veggie dishes (candied yams were a big hit with them - as was veggie lasagna).

Generally I find a passive approach works best, and most people will be receptive to it. Those who don't to steal hkellick's phrase "suck eggs".

As for your health, read make sure you are getting a proper balance, this site is great for that. But I come from two generations of vegetarian eaters and I'm healthy (well besides trying to loose a little weight now).

just my two cents... I am facinated by vegitarians... I don't have that kind of disapline!  You guys rock... I do not agree with anyone who hates for no particular reason... That is like saying I hate blondes just because...  Please grow UP!!!  I don't eat much dairy... does that count?  :)  I just have alot or respect for vegetarians and Vegans....

emie, the best thing you can do for yourself is learn to cook.  Unless we take control of our food, we will be at the mercy of what others choose to prepare for us.  You can find easy vegetarian and vegan recipes on the internet, or get books from the library.  I think one of the easiest things to do is steamed vegetables with tofu and a dipping sauce.

Emie... I agree with claire. Learn to prepare some meals on your own. When I started being veg my parents wouldn't prepare anything special for me (granted I started in college and was just home for a couple summers). When I was in Boston, I went to a vegan restaurant and had the best meal... very simple too. Just cook some brown rice and top it with pureéd black beans, bell peppers, red onions, diced tomatoes (or some salsa) and shredded vegan cheese (or reg. cheese if you aren't vegan).

The only problem I ever had with being vegetarian was that my family couldn't understand it. They thought it was stupid and couldn't understand why I didn't want to eat meat. My friends were cool with it. I was a PETA person though so I caught some flack from that (even from some vegetarian friends who think PETA people are crazy). haha Don't back down from it if it's something you love. :)

I was never a PETA person but I am vegetarian. There's an carnivore
club at my campus. I don't really understand why people are so against
it.