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  Diet

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  Hi,
  I'm not asking this to start a debate! I'm just curious, how many people in this group are veggie or vegan? The group's theme sounds like it would attract a substantial number of meat avoiders. Just curious!

  Karl Drinkwater started this discussion 3 months ago. ( reply | permalink )

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  tanya s 

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  Hi Karl!
  I'm vegan, myself; I think the other group admin is whole-foods plant-based mostly-veg sometimes-pescatarian... in the past we've had commenters/ members from pretty much all camps. Lately it's gotten quiet over here, but historically I would say maybe 70% or so of regular followers of this thread have been on/ interested in some part of a veg-themed path. :-)

  posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Karl Drinkwater 

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    (PS I'm vegan too)

    posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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  Karl Drinkwater 

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  I would have guessed at 70%. :-)

  posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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  philosophefop 

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  I'm a pescatarian (though I usually vegetarian because good fish is not cheap!),
  I eat the way I do primarily for health/environmental reasons, but I'm not 100% strict with my diet if it means annoying the future in-laws. Have you experienced people freaking out and not knowing what to cook for you? I found it very easy to switch to a plant-based diet now that I'm in a grad student apartment with my own kitchen and whenever I go home to visit my own parents they are always up for eating meatless -as long as I'm doing the cooking! Other people I know can be totally full, but still feel like something is missing if meat's not on their plate, which I've always thought was strange.

  posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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    tanya s (edited)

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    Hi Philosophefop! Nicetameetcha. :)

    I am 100% unwilling to beat my child to please my inlaws, and food choices feel the same way to me... I never expect anyone to go out of their way to accomodate my food habits; but I consider some things non-negotiable for the sole purpose of pleasing others -- genocide, child abuse, rape, homicide, animal torture, optional violence towards others: I won't participate in these things solely to avert someone else's disapproval. Eff 'em, if they insist on violence: that's how it looks to me, at this point in my life!

    That said, I didn't always see it this way; and def'ly each family is different. But yeah: screw the peer pressure, or inlaw-pressure, or whatev: i'm'a do what i think is the best idea; the end!... those who love me will appreciate; otherwise: meh!

    Yay for conscious eating, whatever that means for you... If people 'freak out' about that: SO?! :)

    posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Karl Drinkwater 

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    Pretty much my view too Tanya. You get to a certain age and realise you can be yourself, and anyone who doesn't like it is only a drag on your life anyway, so best to drop the ballast and end up just surrounded by people who are supportive or have similar views.

    posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Karl Drinkwater 

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    Hi Philosefop,

    "I'm not 100% strict with my diet if it means annoying the future in-laws"

    I always think that if they are annoyed about it, it's their problem. You should always be yourself. Let other people's prejudices fly on flags, you can sail in any direction you want.

    "Have you experienced people freaking out and not knowing what to cook for you?"

    I never have, though partly because all my closest friends are vegetarian and vegan, it makes life really easy, we're always sharing food. In fact, I prefer to eat just with fellow veggies, it's always much more fun and relaxed.

    "Other people I know can be totally full, but still feel like something is missing if meat's not on their plate, which I've always thought was strange."

    I always find fake meats can be good for that kind of person. There's so much choice now compared to when I went vegan over 20 years ago! I enjoy those kinds of things myself, apart from the ones that are too realistic! I have to admit, I can't eat the fake fish things that I've started to see, my mind knows the truth but my body says "No, it is fish!" I tend to stick to veggie burgers and sausages.

    Thanks for joining in!

    posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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    philosophefop 

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    There's a huge difference between eating around the meat on your plate for the three times a year you see someone and beating a child or defending rape. (Though ignorance of the food system's injustices is "criminal" in today's world!) Sustainability is something I do feel really strongly about, but not everyone is willing to make a 100% commitment right now and I'm not going to believe they are 100% bad because of that. I have to pick my battles and that means trying to get people to recycle their yogurt containers and stop using disposable plastic cups and paper towels at home first. Most people I know don't respond well to having other people's food habits being thrust upon them, so I try to contain my criticism in situations where I know that, for the time being, it will do more harm than good. (The dad is a high-up on a grocery chain, so me criticizing the food system is like bringing up religion or politics) I've only been a vegetarian for a year and I don't find it wrong for people to eat meat in general, just for people to eat feed-lot, corn-fed (etc, etc) meat. I just have to take baby steps to get the people I care about to start making more conscious choices. (I finally convinced my own parents to spend a little more money to buy cage-free eggs, though. A major victory in my penny-pinching household.)

    And Karl -I love the fake meatballs, chicken, and grounds for exactly that reason! About half of my the students at my MA program are vegetarian, but would you believe I never knew a single vegetarian until my third year of undergrad!

    posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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    tanya s 

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    I'm just saying how it feels to me -- not that you should do like me. :) I think the goal is to find what seems like The Truth, and then live it: that's unlikely to result in 100% homogenity among all humans on ANY ethics issue... but to me, I would feel as icky participating in optional violence in one venue as another, if I can avoid it. I feel like killing in the absence of need -- no matter HOW nice we are to the creatures in question *before* unnecessarily inflicting violence, horror, and death -- is ethically problematic in the same way that other kinds of avoidable violence are; so I will avoid participation every chance I get, in food choices no less than with child abuse etc. I don't expect everyone (sometimes, depending on the gathering, anyone! pththpt) to agree; but I'm only in charge of my own actions, and they will match my vision of what i consider 'a good idea'. To do otherwise would feel like lying, and like a betrayal of my own best self. In short: not happenin'!

    That said, I've been somewhere on the veg path for about 15 years, vegan the last 3, and I haven't always seen things this way... Like other ethics questions, my opinions/ actions have evolved over time with continued reflection, and undoubtedly will continue to do so... we're a diverse species, with broadly divergent social and psychological needs. I'm just saying what feels right to me, at this point in my life. I do support baby steps, and wouldn't give anyone a hard time for doing what makes sense to them in the context of navigating their own family needs and evolving food ethics groove. :)

    posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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    Karl Drinkwater 

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    It's funny how the longer you're vegetarian, the more veggie people you discover! For anyone new to it I usually recommend joining a charity/society. In the UK I joined the Vegetarian Society, and later the Vegan Society (as well as various animal charities). The magazines that came were really useful - recipes, new products, general support and so on. They made life much easier.

    posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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  anarresa 

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  I was (and am) more concerned with the source of my food than anything. I was vegetarian for years (mostly... in small cities and suburbs in the 90s eating out was a challenge so I was flexible when I needed to be.) Now I eat meat only from a local farm which I can visit to monitor their practices and check on the animals. Ditto my eggs, though from a different farm that's closer but only does eggs. Fish are tricky, there's so much variation and conflicting "facts" but I make the attempt. I'm still flexible.

  posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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