Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with vegetarianism

New Vegetarian Feeling Sick

gb77 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:37:40 -0800

Hive Mind Vegetarians, I need your help. I changed to vegetarianism (lacto-octo) two weeks ago (cold turkey) and ever since have been feeling sick. Symptoms are vague...just feeling "blah", if that makes sense. It's that feeling you get when you're on the edge of getting a cold or flu.

I take multiple vitamins, eat a lot of vegetables and fruit, beans, legumes, grains, etc.

Is the timing a coincidence or is something else going on? Thanks in advance for any help.

Use of word "rennet" on labels

Morrigan — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 11:00:53 -0800

If a food lists rennet among its ingredients, am I right in assuming that it is most likely animal rennet? To put it another way, if the labels simply says "rennet," can I assume it is not vegetable, microbial or genetically engineered rennet and therefore is not appropriate for a vegetarian to eat? Or might some manufacturers use "rennet" as an umbrella term?

Leather in vegetarian restaurants

Hoopo — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:04:19 -0800

Is it rude to wear leather to a vegetarian restaurant? So about a month ago, I decided to go to an Indian vegetarian restaurant in the neighborhood. When I was about to sit down, I took off my jacket to put it on the back of the chair and realized: it's made of dead animal. No one said anything or gave me any funny looks, but I wonder in a more general sense if this is considered a "faux-pas."

Exciting recipes for the newly vegetarian?

activitystory — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:06:58 -0800

We are dipping our toes into vegetarianism. What recipes make you excited to be vegetarian? Bonus points for grill & crockpot options. We have access to a great farmers' market and some nice grocery stores so a variety of food is not a problem, but we've been carnivores for so long we have trouble thinking up radically new meals.

We'd like to develop some new habits and expose ourselves to some ingredients we haven't used before. What we ideally want is a diverse list of go-to meals that we can rely on so as not to be tempted to fall back into any old meaty habits.

We're very much interested in savory and spicy foods and want to have some fun in the preparation process. Quick recipes appreciated too. What are your personal favorites?

Are the ethics of eating meat fundamentally changed by the way it comes to the table?

Raichle — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:17:15 -0800

Querying the hive mind: In your opinion, is it more ethical to eat humanely raised and killed animals? Does the way an animal is treated and killed change the ethical question of whether it's ethical to eat meat in the first place? I'm doing some research on this and wanted some opinions or relevant links that might help. Thanks in advance!

Critical thinking about food

parudox — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 11:39:20 -0800

What made you first think about how your food is produced? I want to know what books, websites, films, podcasts, experiences, and so on are best at getting people to start to pay some attention to where their food comes from. (In my case it was probably The Omnivore's Dilemma, followed by local farmers' markets, Deconstructing Dinner, etc. But I started off with an interest in food, so I might not be typical.)

It seems to me there is a big mental gap between conventional food and any alternative systems, and that it does take something substantial to bring about critical evaluation of food choices.

Is it possible to become vegetarian and gain weight at the same time?

Matrod — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:18:12 -0800

I´ve recently discovered that my body "dislikes" red meat, this is, I become heavy and slow when eat this kind of food. Additionally, my doctor suggested that I should eat less meat since my kidneys are not working properly. One of my life goals is to become vegetarian (ovo-lacto kind to start), and I purchased some books on the subject, but none of them explains how to do so without putting your health in risk. Is there a comprehensive and safe guide to start being vegetarian? My case: 36 year-old male, 70 kg. 1.82 mts tall. I´ve been struggling all my life about being too skinny. I consider myself a healthy person, and I don´t like to eat processed sugar or soft drinks. Mostly of the time I´m home, and have the chance to fix my own meals. I exercise regularly (bike, push-ups, Yoga).

As explained above, I´ve been trying to stop eating meat (poultry and fish as well), but I´m afraid of becoming thinner if my protein intake is lowered. My goal is to gain some weight (about 5 kg) and keep it being vegetarian. Is it possible?

Any resource will do: websites, books, etc.

Help me compromise my ethics!

Anonymous — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:20:07 -0800

For nearly a decade now, I've avoided all leather goods for ethical and aesthetic reasons. But I'm at a point where I'm sick of wearing canvas athletic shoes and imitation leather dress shoes (which are often ill fitting and, frankly, silly looking), and am looking to have my guilt assuaged so I can return to wearing leather. Basically, I'm looking for arguments in favor of wearing leather shoes, and for any arguments downplaying the ethical compromise that the purchase(s) would entail.

I feel like if I could justify the decision to purchase a few pairs on whatever grounds, my decision wouldn't feel like such a compromise and I wouldn't feel too guilty about it.

All we are saying is give meat a chance.

Item — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:48:59 -0800

After 13 years of vegetarianism - my entire adult life - I've decided to start eating meat. Looking for advice in the form of books, websites, and personal anecdotes. I stopped eating meat for a number of reasons. Rebellion was certainly one of them, as were health and the fact that I was never crazy about meat to begin with. Though I told myself that politics came into play in my decision, I'm not sure that they ever really did. I flirted with veganism for a few periods as well, but could never really buy into it.

As time wore on, my vegetarianism became mostly an issue of discipline and self control, and I was damn good at it. I never cheated. I actually let myself go hungry a few times rather than eat what was available to me at the time when it contained meat, which, looking back, was not only rude but also a bit dangerous (I'm hypoglycemic).

I've done a lot of thinking about it lately and have had some interesting conversations regarding veganism/vegetarianism being a privileged choice, something that is keeping me from experiencing the whole of cultures I'm interested in. I've also been ridiculously low on energy and my hypoglycemia's not getting any better. For these reasons and a few other personal ones I've decided that I want to try giving meat a place in my diet. I broke the barrier last night in a way that I don't plan on making a habit of - with a cheeseburger from a local chain. Damn. I still feel full today, though not sick or nauseated. I don't plan on eating meat again for one full week, at which time I already know what I'm going to have - BBQ. After that, a few times a week at most. I have no desire to eat it every day and seriously doubt I'll develop one. I really dislike fish, for what it's worth, though some other forms of seafood might end up appealing to me.

What I'm looking for is personal stories of going back to meat to gain some insight. I'm also interested in books or other resources that'll help me maintain a healthy diet integrating flesh and non-flesh.

One last thing: currently, I am a manager of a very strict vegan restaurant, a successful place that is employed by carnivores and herbivores alike. They know I'm not vegan - should I mention my new, carnivorous ways if it won't hurt my job security? I know, you can't answer that unless you knew every last detail about the place and the people involved, but throw me an opinion if you'd like. Though it hasn't really played into my decision, I've always been for personal choice and have never approved of militant vegans, something I come into contact with now on a daily basis. Any suggestions as to what to say should I 'come out' other than 'it's a personal matter' are also welcome here.

How do I quit vegetarianism?

stvspl — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 09:32:51 -0800

How do I go about reintroducing meat into my diet? I've been a vegetarian for about 8 years now (eating seafood the last 2 years) and for a variety of different reasons, I want to go back to eating meat. I've read (previously, previosuly) a number of arguments about the merits of giving up vegetarianism, but I've decided it's best that I give up the lifestyle. Now I just don't really know how to go about it. Does anyone have experience with this? How slowly do I need to reintroduce meat into my diet?

Things I feel I should mention:

-I don't plan on eating a lot of meat (I don't even like it all that much); I just want to have the option open. I want to get to the point where I can go for a few weeks without having meat, still, but then have some when I feel like it.

-I've already decided, so please refrain from giving me reasons why I should stick to it.

Any advice/commentary is greatly appreciated, except where noted. Thanks!

Why does meat make vegetarians vomit?

giggleknickers — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:43:50 -0800

Why do vegetarians vomit if they eat meat? Every time I've seen a vegetarian eat meat, by accident or because they were giving up vegetarianism, they always vomited. I was just curious as to why this is. Does anyone know?

If you're going to answer, please have some knowledge about the subject and preferably have a source. I can come up with guesses myself.

How credible is The China Study?

mjao — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:00:14 -0800

How credible is The China Study by Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Thomas M. Campbell II? We would like opinions from individuals who have read the book, although opinions based on other factors are welcome so long as you mention it. My boyfriend and I, I think, want to believe what the book says, and that is interfering with our ability to read it critically. Are any of those experiments/studies bogus? Was their design flawed? Was Campbell jumping to conclusions?

We just want to hear from the clever cookies on mefi how much weight we ought to give to the message of The China Study.

How to get vegetarians and carnivores to work together?

melissam — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:34:33 -0800

How to ease tension between vegetarians and non-vegetarians? I work with local food and sustainable agriculture and consistently the most awkward issue that comes up is what to do about the whole meat thing.

The local food movement in the area is about equally divided between veggies and non-veggies and I would like to bring both groups together to work on some very basic projects I think everyone can agree on. The problem is that the two groups are often hostile to each other.

One group held a goat roast recently and no... no vegetarians came. The other holds events at a vegan restaurant and it's hard to get the other group to come, because frankly the food is often a bit bland (I say this with all due respect to vegans and I have had much much better vegan food in the past, so I know it's possible) and some meat eaters don't believe that a meal is complete without meat.

I work with both groups and go to both types of events, but I want to be able to create an event where everyone feels welcome. Is there a way to do this? Foodies and veggies, what is the best way to bring you all together?

Vegetarian diet and exercise plan?

JamesToast — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 15:41:43 -0800

Can anyone recommend a vegetarian diet and exercise plan? I'm a vegetarian. I have been going through a bout of depression and have put on about 30 extra pounds.

I'm looking for a good diet and exercise plan. In can be in the form of a book or a website (I would be willing to pay to join something). What I'm looking for is a specific list of meals to eat and exercises to do. I could probably come up with something on my own, but I won't. When left to my own devices, I do things like buy (literally) 20 boxes of Special K cereal and convince myself that if I eat it for every meal I can lose the extra weight. Did you know that they have Special K with little chocolate pieces in it? They do. Yes, I am an idiot and I hate myself.

I am imagining something very brainless where I wake up, check the list, see that today I am supposed to run three miles and do 30 sit-ups, then eat toast and half a grapefruit. Or whatever. For some reason I am willing to let a list on a piece of paper be the boss of me, and I am trying to use that to my advantage. I'm not looking for a fad diet or anything crazy.

Anyway, any recommendations are appreciated. Thanks.

Baldness or malnutrition?

4ster — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 21:11:50 -0800

Is my hair thin because I am a vegetarian or because I am a 36 year old male? I have been a vegetarian since the summer of 1999. Over the course of the last three or four years, I have noticed my hair seems thinner, especially in the front and sides. It does not seem like male pattern baldness (I don't look like I am balding, but when my hair is longer, it looks kind of thin compared to years past).

Hair isn't that important to me, but I am curious. I am really a little worried, because I am not the best vegetarian in the world. I am probably a little high on the carbs and a little low on the protein (I don't eat that much tofu or beans).

So hive mind, tell me: am I suffering from thinning hair or malnutrition?

Can ideological differences make or break a relationship?

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 12:09:04 -0800

Increasingly, my fiancee and I have become distant in our ideological views. I realize that this is likely to happen in any relationship as people age but I still feel rather strongly about some of these issues (as she did early on in our relationship) and I don't appreciate the increasing pressure from her and her family to "grow-up". How common is this situation? And, if so, is there any advice you can offer to work through the problems? I apologize for the length, but here's more background on the situation:

We've been together for over 4 years. We live together and plan on getting married next year. We were both initially against the idea of marriage but she relented and basically told me that if we weren't getting married then the relationship was over. I love her dearly and not wanting to lose her I agreed to the marriage thinking that it would be far worse to lose her then stick to a silly ideal.

That's one down, but not nearly as important to me as the next. We never wanted children and recently she confided that she has changed her mind and now would like children once we're married. She initially mentioned this to her family (who absolutely love the idea of us having kids) who, once I was informed and upset by the decision, decided to step in and deride my opinions on the subject as childish.

I did not appreciate that at all. We have discussed the subject at some length since then, but I'm fairly sure that it is something I am not willing to change my mind about.

Fast forward to recently: We are both vegetarians (me being an extremely strict vegetarian) and she has decided to start eating meat again. While this is definitely a personal decision on her part, I see it as just one more example of another area in which we are growing apart. I made the mistake of once telling her (at the beginning of our relationship) that I would never date a non-vegetarian and her family have now latched on to this latest debacle to weigh in against me.

I'm seeing warning signs all over the place and we have attempted to discuss these issues but with her family weighing in and her resilience it has become increasingly apparent that my opinions or ideals no longer matter and I'm not sure what to do.

book about vegetarianism?

NorthCoastCafe — Tue, 15 Aug 2006 08:56:40 -0800

What's the best, or top 3-4, books about vegetarianism for a 14-year old girl who has asked for a book about vegetarianism. I guess recipes are not as important as the issues surrounding a decision to go meatless.

Can a carnivore become a vegetarian?

logovisual — Thu, 02 Jun 2005 12:39:51 -0800

I'm thinking about trying to go vegetarian, if only for a month's experimentation. But for a variety of reasons, I know it will be very difficult indeed. So: suggestions? For one thing, right now, I'm basically a carnivore. I pound down fast-food burgers, fried chicken, etc. like nobody's business -- and I almost never eat fruits and vegetables. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I normally dislike them; but I've learned that if you force yourself to do something unpleasant quite regularly (get up early, for instance), you'll eventually come to appreciate it. For another thing, I'm going through some life turmoil at the moment. And for another another thing, I don't have unlimited cooking / shopping resources (i.e. I live in an apartment with a non-professional kitchen, and the grocery stores out here in Brooklyn don't rock one's socks clean off, though they're adequate).

What I need to hear are tips and suggestions from similar folks who've made the switch -- things to watch out for, tips to stop meat cravings, etc. -- plus ideas about things to eat / cook / etc. I wouldn't be surprised at all if this has been asked before, but I didn't see it when searching. Thanks!

(I'd be doing it primarily for reasons of health and general well-being; I'm not overweight at all, but I do silently fear that the effects of my sat-fat-filled diet are building up catastrophically inside my young body. Plus, it's just an interesting lifehacking challenge, and I haven't done nearly enough of those...)

What are you doing for your vegetarian Thanksgiving?

Espoo2 — Fri, 12 Nov 2004 08:47:02 -0800

What are you doing for your vegetarian Thanksgiving?