topic Re: Vegetarians? in Wellness

Vegetarians?

kcladyz — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 18:41:22 GMT

I do not know if this is the right forum but I want advise from any vegetarans ( or near vegetarians)

I want to move from a mostly meat diet to a more vegetable diet if not totally vegetarian. Reason is I have become more sensitive to animal cruelity and also to be more healthy. What is the best way to go into this? Should I transition slowly from meat diet to mostly vegetable diet? I want to do it in a haelthy way so I do not fall off the wagon and pig out on BBQ lol.

Also what are your opinions about seafood? I hear some eat a primary vegatarian diet yet allow seafood from time to time.

Re: Vegetarians?

NeNe1010 — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 19:38:43 GMT

I am not a vegetarian but I am a Prescatarian (veggies, and some fish and seafood). I also eat eggs from free range chickens. I do not eat dairy products. Check the vegetarian section at you grocery- I love Morning Star grillers (soy burgers) and their faux chicken fillets. I put soy crumbles (faux ground beef) in my chili and spaghetti and you would be surprisec how many people dont miss the real ground beef. If you need more incentive just watch some of the videos of how most meat is inhumanely raised and slaughtered. Also animal protein is not necessary in our diet. I quickly lost the taste for meat and have not eaten it for many years. l dont miss it at all. I am 63 and my blood pressure is low. My cholesteral is also very low. Good Luck. You are doing a good thing for the animals and for your health.

Re: Vegetarians?

sidsmom — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 20:27:55 GMT

YAY @kcladyz!!!

You've already taken a HUGE step...probably the hardest step of all.
You recognize the treatment of animals is important...ps: fish still feel the mistreatment.

That compassion will parlay to the perfect plant-based diet.

Note...I said "plant-based" diet versus vegetarian or vegan. These descriptions have SO many different meanings & social stigmas, it's more important to say plant-based to reduce the pushback from family/friends.

I believe the thought of 'vegetarian' is slowing disappearing. Vegetarians still allow dairy & eggs....and we are educated every day dairy is not good for us. Also the treatment of animals to obtain dairy, eggs, honey is still...not very good.

Health reasons? As a personal testimony, I was a fat vegetarian & fat vegan for many years...and suffered from disappointing biomarkers from my yearly physicals. Vegetarian...ate tons of cheese. Vegan...ate tons of olive oil & nuts. It wasn't until I started a low fat whole foods plant based (LFWFPB) diet where changes really happened. Processed oils & fake soy meats are still processed foods...not good for our health,

Many people will say it's easier to 'ease into' a LFWFPB diet, but others come from the 'rip the bandaid off' camp. When I was going through this transition many, many yrs ago, I was lucky to find brown rice at a dusty old hippy natural food store. Today? There are SO many resources...books, DVDs, podcasts, YouTube videos...and even the Walmart in middle America will have options to live a LFWFPB diet successfully....healthfully, cheaply & more important than anything, ethically.

With that, my go-to for everything is the McDougall Diet.

Dr. John McDougall's message hasn't changed in since the 70s. It's a diet based heavily on starches....potatoes, rice, oats, etc. His website has an amazing online program...everything FREE! Meal plans, shopping lists, tons of success stories & an interactive forum. There's also a FB page that's very, very interactive.

https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/free-mcdougall-program/

If Dr. McDougall isn't your 'style', then...
-) Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn
-) Dr. T. Colin Campbell
-) Dr. Neal Barnard
-) Dr. Dean Ornish
-) Dr. Pam Popper
-) Jeff Novick, MS RD
-) PCRM.org

All of the doctors will have narrative books, as well as cookbooks. PCRM.org (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) is another website to get started.

The key to success is....eat lots of starches to satiate you! Don't go hungry!

Check out the website above....I think it will make your journey so much easier! Just take the dive into a full on low fat whole foods plant based lifestyle....you won't be disappointed.

Good luck!!

Re: Vegetarians?

ValuSkr — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 20:39:14 GMT

Just think of the money you'll save by not buying meat and you be a vegetarian in no time at all.

Re: Vegetarians?

Shelbelle — Mon, 23 Nov 2015 20:40:28 GMT

My daughters inlaws follow the Dr Esselstyn plan, not easy but they have been doing for a long time now. They are close to 70, in excellent health, they take no RX drugs for things like cholesterol and BP.

Re: Vegetarians?

hckynutjohn — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 00:23:39 GMT

@kcladyz wrote:
I do not know if this is the right forum but I want advise from any vegetarans ( or near vegetarians)

I want to move from a mostly meat diet to a more vegetable diet if not totally vegetarian. Reason is I have become more sensitive to animal cruelity and also to be more healthy. What is the best way to go into this? Should I transition slowly from meat diet to mostly vegetable diet? I want to do it in a haelthy way so I do not fall off the wagon and pig out on BBQ lol.

Also what are your opinions about seafood? I hear some eat a primary vegatarian diet yet allow seafood from time to time.

I have been a lacto-ovo since the mid 1970's. For me everything I have quit has been "cold turkey". Smoking/Drinking/Eating/Gambling to name a few. That for me has worked for decades now.

I am NOT offering this as advice, only saying what has worked for me. You might consider seeing a Nutritionist.

hckynut(john)

Re: Vegetarians?

fourpaws56 — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 02:59:27 GMT

I am vegan, no animal products..most animals are killed in inhumane ways, kept in inhumane conditions. My love for animals over-rides the love of eating them....JMHO,I think meat is gross, the way it looks and smells...sometimes I have to handle it when cooking for my family....totally grosses me out!

Re: Vegetarians?

phoenixbrd — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 07:16:36 GMT

Kclad....congratulations, you are opening a door to a new way of life. All the authors recommended by Sidsmom are excellent for how to incorporate a whole food plant based diet into your life. There is no right way, it is what is best for you. Christina Raw and Matt Monarch transitioned immediately and never looked back, but that is not most people. Usually people take time transitioning in stages and it becomes a very natural process. If you read Will Tuttle's book and view some of the films on the processing of animals as food, I doubt you will ever regret your decision and you will feel and look better than ever before! Wishing you much joy in your new adventure!

Re: Vegetarians?

MoJoV — Tue, 24 Nov 2015 14:07:50 GMT

I've been a vegetarian for over 20 years,not for health reasons but for moral reasons. I jumped right in and now would never consider eating meat again. As for eating seafood or fish,no. You aren't a vegetarian if you're eating seafood. There are so many options now,it's not that difficult.

I've tried and tried to stop eggs and milk and have failed over and over. I see so many young people that are vegetarians,people in their 20's.

Come on in,it's nice here in vegetarian land!😁

Re: Vegetarians?

kcladyz — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 21:15:32 GMT

Its been difficult. A few times i fell off the wagon and ate chicken but i have managed to replace a lot of meals with non meat alternatives and I lost 5 pounds. Today I was proud of myself and instead of having my normal sunday meat packed breakfast I had a vege omlette light on cheese and yesterday I had baked zuccini for dinner.

Owning 5 parrots has helped. When ever I eat chicken I think I am eating their relatives which has helped me a great deal to say no. its been hard for I always HATED fruits and vegetables so i am trying to train myself to enjoy it

Re: Vegetarians?

kcladyz — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 21:12:58 GMT

@NeNe1010 wrote:
I am not a vegetarian but I am a Prescatarian (veggies, and some fish and seafood). I also eat eggs from free range chickens. I do not eat dairy products. Check the vegetarian section at you grocery- I love Morning Star grillers (soy burgers) and their faux chicken fillets. I put soy crumbles (faux ground beef) in my chili and spaghetti and you would be surprisec how many people dont miss the real ground beef. If you need more incentive just watch some of the videos of how most meat is inhumanely raised and slaughtered. Also animal protein is not necessary in our diet. I quickly lost the taste for meat and have not eaten it for many years. l dont miss it at all. I am 63 and my blood pressure is low. My cholesteral is also very low. Good Luck. You are doing a good thing for the animals and for your health.

I thought about doing the Prescatarian. it may be an easier way to eat less red meat and poultry. I tried that fake chickenfrom morning star and it was god aweful lol.

Re: Vegetarians?

MarieIG — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 21:42:45 GMT

@NeNe1010 wrote:
I am not a vegetarian but I am a Prescatarian (veggies, and some fish and seafood). I also eat eggs from free range chickens. I do not eat dairy products. Check the vegetarian section at you grocery- I love Morning Star grillers (soy burgers) and their faux chicken fillets. I put soy crumbles (faux ground beef) in my chili and spaghetti and you would be surprisec how many people dont miss the real ground beef. If you need more incentive just watch some of the videos of how most meat is inhumanely raised and slaughtered. Also animal protein is not necessary in our diet. I quickly lost the taste for meat and have not eaten it for many years. l dont miss it at all. I am 63 and my blood pressure is low. My cholesteral is also very low. Good Luck. You are doing a good thing for the animals and for your health.

This looks like something that I should look into. I think I could do this.

Re: Vegetarians?

sidsmom — Sun, 06 Dec 2015 23:07:47 GMT

There are many different reasons why people choose this lifestyle/WOE.

Health, financial, environmental...and those reasons could be 'fluid' if goals become unfocused. But ethically? I would think that's locked down solid.

I can't understand how someone has such a strong reaction with the ethical treatment of animals one minute, but the next minute eating a salmon filet. An animal is an animal is an animal. Swims. Walks. Flies. They're all equal when it comes to ethical animal treatment.

Re: Vegetarians?

Andreatoo — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 05:58:52 GMT

I second the grillers recommendation they are fabulous!

Re: Vegetarians?

hckynutjohn — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 08:28:40 GMT

@kcladyz wrote:
I do not know if this is the right forum but I want advise from any vegetarans ( or near vegetarians)

I want to move from a mostly meat diet to a more vegetable diet if not totally vegetarian. Reason is I have become more sensitive to animal cruelity and also to be more healthy. What is the best way to go into this? Should I transition slowly from meat diet to mostly vegetable diet? I want to do it in a haelthy way so I do not fall off the wagon and pig out on BBQ lol.

Also what are your opinions about seafood? I hear some eat a primary vegatarian diet yet allow seafood from time to time.

I have been a lacto-ovo vegetarian since 1975. The best way for me was to quit completely the foods I wanted to eliminate. I quit smoking drinking/alcohol and gambling, all cold turkey, and that what works for me.

Meat/Fish and Fowl, I do not eat. I have never and will never quit dairy products and/or go the Vegan route. I do not believe that method is necessary for me.

hckynut(john)

Re: Vegetarians?

sidsmom — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 18:02:01 GMT

For optimum health, one needs to remove not only the animal but also the animal by-products.

Eggs, milk, cheese all carry cholesterol & fat which injures the endothelium.....and they also have added ingredients to make the finished product palatable (i.e. sodium, sugar, etc).

Re: Vegetarians?

HappyDaze — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 18:26:48 GMT

@kcladyz wrote:
I do not know if this is the right forum but I want advise from any vegetarans ( or near vegetarians)

I want to move from a mostly meat diet to a more vegetable diet if not totally vegetarian. Reason is I have become more sensitive to animal cruelity and also to be more healthy. What is the best way to go into this? Should I transition slowly from meat diet to mostly vegetable diet? I want to do it in a haelthy way so I do not fall off the wagon and pig out on BBQ lol.

Also what are your opinions about seafood? I hear some eat a primary vegatarian diet yet allow seafood from time to time.

If this is true, I hope you consider stop buying all your hair care products you buy from all the companies that still torture animals to test their products on. Animal testing in the cosmetics and beauty industry is one of the worst and most inhumane form of animal cruelty there is.

Re: Vegetarians?

aprilskies — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 14:01:50 GMT

@MarieIG wrote:
@NeNe1010 wrote:
I am not a vegetarian but I am a Prescatarian (veggies, and some fish and seafood). I also eat eggs from free range chickens. I do not eat dairy products. Check the vegetarian section at you grocery- I love Morning Star grillers (soy burgers) and their faux chicken fillets. I put soy crumbles (faux ground beef) in my chili and spaghetti and you would be surprisec how many people dont miss the real ground beef. If you need more incentive just watch some of the videos of how most meat is inhumanely raised and slaughtered. Also animal protein is not necessary in our diet. I quickly lost the taste for meat and have not eaten it for many years. l dont miss it at all. I am 63 and my blood pressure is low. My cholesteral is also very low. Good Luck. You are doing a good thing for the animals and for your health.
This looks like something that I should look into. I think I could do this.

This is what I do too. Mostly plant based but have seafood occasionally. I do still eat dairy, although, not as much as before, now it is mainly in cheese and baked goods. I do miss some meat dishes, however, I dont see myself ever eating it again. I should never say never but.....I dont see it. It's been 2 years for me come this February since I gave up meat. I didnt do it for health reasons, I did it for the animals. After watching some of the documentaries, I just couldn't bring myself to eat it again. I dont make myself crazy about it though. I dont dig into every ingredient in a dish, for example. Some things that are served are made with chicken stock, I dont make a fuss. I just dont use the stuff when I am cooking.

I will say though, I eat seafood occasionally/rarely, but it doesnt feel right, so I may eliminate that all together in the near future. Just not there yet.

Re: Vegetarians?

sidsmom — Wed, 09 Dec 2015 14:41:33 GMT

@aprilskies

I understand it is process, but the mistreatment of animals continue even with the byproducts. Milk, cheese, eggs....it's so disgusting how these products are obtained.

Unfortunately fish/seafood is still eating meat, so declaring abstinence while still consuming fish/seafood is not abstinence.

I feel you're almost there!

Do you have a particular reason why fish/seafood and dairy/eggs still need to be consumed? Is it just taste or do you feel these products need to be consumed for health?

Re: Vegetarians?

HappyDaze — Thu, 10 Dec 2015 06:29:18 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
@aprilskies
I understand it is process, but the mistreatment of animals continue even with the byproducts. Milk, cheese, eggs....it's so disgusting how these products are obtained.

Unfortunately fish/seafood is still eating meat, so declaring abstinence while still consuming fish/seafood is not abstinence.

I feel you're almost there!
Do you have a particular reason why fish/seafood and dairy/eggs still need to be consumed? Is it just taste or do you feel these products need to be consumed for health?

This is a pretty broad statement and not really true about all milk, cheese, eggs, etc. For example, I don't eat eggs but do use them in cooking and I belong to a small co-op where I can exchange goods for eggs or pay them (they are pricey), whichever I choose (evenutally I will have a few of my own chickens). All the people that particpate in this co-op know each other and we can go their places any time and observe their animals and living conditions. Not a single person abuses or mistreats their animals and if there were even a sneaking suspicion that they were, we'd do further investigation and they would be kicked out of the co-op if the findings showed the animals were mistreated. Not all products are available all the time either as no one wants to overstress an animal. All animals are free range too- no cages, no forced containment of any kind.

I think we do the cause a misjustice when we paint with such broad strokes like that. But that is just my opinion. We all have to do what we think is right.