Vegetarian??

[linxss]

Who here is vegetarian? & what are your reasons for it?

I would really love to go vegetarian one day... I just don't think it's right to eat animals, especially how they are treated before they are killed. :( ;( There is no way i will eat pork or lamb. The only meat i really eat is beef and chicken. ( i have an addiction to macca's :blush: )

[MissieK]

We're not. DH is the son of a butcher & I think he'd kill us if we went vegetarian! :Hehe:

Melissa

[Pam]

Definately not. I actually crave meat if I don't have it for a few days!

[Patricia]

No, we are a family of carnivores in this house. Nothing like a big rump steak with onions and a jacket potato...mmmm heaven!

Patricia :)

[linxss]

LOL :Hehe: so no one's vegetarian......??
Do you girls feel bad eating meat the way animals are treated??? or do you try not to think about it??
I do feel bad..... I still can't help it tho...

[Leigh]

I did go veggy in my teen years. Mum wasn't so great a cook, and I lived on the usual peas, beans, corn carrot etc and cabbage. I only lasted a few weeks :blush:

It is terrible the way some animals for consumption are treated ;( And it does bother me sometimes. But you have to try not to think about it. Me going vegiterian tomorrow would not make one bit of difference. Humans eat animals, and there is always going to be a market for it.

I guess you could always change your habits in other ways. Buying from and supporting those that are trying to make a difference. Free range eggs and chicken for example. I find it appaling that chickens are still treated this way, in this day and age, but that's another story.


(Love your new avatar btw :) )

[Butterfly]

Not me, I don't think I could ever go vegetarian. I have gone off beef and pork though. The only beef I will cook now is veal but only because it's just a better cut and there is hardly any fat in it and I'm pretty fussy when it comes to meat. I prefer lamb, chicken or fish now.

[MissieK]

I don't think about it. I know a lot of farmers who treat their animals well :)

Melissa

[Monty]

I'm not vegetarian either, but we tend to go for the organic and/or free range chicken and eggs when we can afford it. I have always wanted to go to that green grocer up the road which sells only organic and free range beef, chicken, etc.. I also love fish and I think they will be bringing in more information to the customers (for Coles) about fish farming etc (at the moment I only know of a couple of species they sell at the deli that are farmed and not wild which has its pros and cons too). It will be interesting to see whether they pump fish with hormones.....

As for the slaughtering side of things I think most people don't think about it and I believe we were meant to eat meat otherwise we wouldn't have the kind of teeth that we have. However that definitely does NOT justify the way animals are treated either.

[linxss]

Thanks guys for your thoughts. I know that just a few people going vegetarian wouldn't make a difference, there will always be meat on the market, but i read the other day that the average meat eating person (in america i think it was) is responsible for the deaths of 90 animals a year.... that really made me think.
I also cannot believe in this day and age animals are treated the way they are, and it is hidden so well from the public. I have absolutely no problem with eating animals, AS LONG as they are treated well and put down in a quick and humane way. It's just that you don't know whether they have been treated well or not that gets me.

(thanks leigh, can you see my baby Zekie better now? isnt he adorable)

[PinkDot]

I grew up on a farm and so not a vegetarian. (the cows had a lot of free space and treated nicely if that helps, although I never could connect in my mind that the meat on my plate is what was roaming outside)
I am REALLY fussy about meat though now. I have really gone off it. If I eat BBQ I feel like I'm going to vommit :eww: Not because of any thoughts I have, just the taste and smell I guess. Same with pork or bacon. The only meat I eat is occassionally chicken, and beef. I can only eat beef if its mince or roast or something with a lot of different flavours. I cant eat a steak. Dont know whats wrong with me :P
So I am pretty much a vegetarian, because my stomach has become sensitive to it. Any mince I buy has to be premium or as good quality as possible with the least fat as possible. And I would definately only ever buy free range eggs.
OK its late I'm going to go play tetris and stop rambling!

[Colby]

Since moving to Hong Kong we've found ourselves eating less meat and generally no chicken.

All the food is imported and most of the meat in the supermarkets state "this product has previously been frozen" and after a few bad incidents - throwing up and severe tummy upsets we are very cautious.

We have also been down to the "wet markets" and seen things that would blow your mind away... I won't buy anything but vegies from the markets!

I get very upset with the conditions animals are treated over here and particularly in China... I won't go into it because it will upset people :)

[Naomi]

The meat has previously been frozen?? So it's also been defrosted again? Oh dear, that does not sound good.

We are not vegetarians. We don't eat a lot of red meat, but that is personal taste rather than an ethical commitment (I went totally off it while I was pregnant and never really got back into it, the smell of it cooking still turns my stomach).

I'll be honest - I don't really think about the treatment of the animals. That's probably a failing on my part, but I have so many other things to think about there isn't room in my head to add something else.

[Jewly]

I could never be a vegetarian now, but when I was about 18-19, I went through a stage where I just went off eating meat altogether.

I think a lot of the mistreatment of animals happens mostly with the live exports. Some of the footage I've seen makes me sick and I don't understand how anyone can be cruel to an animal. I once lived in a rural area, and most farmers I knew really looked after their animals, and I would hope that they would be treated well before they are killed but how well regulated it is I don't know.

As for fishing, well I don't think it's so bad if you're going to actually catch and eat the fish, but I really hate seeing people fish for sport. To me, hurting an animal isn't a sport!!!

[linxss]

Yeah, I agree Jewly, hurting an animal is not a sport! I also think that the live exports is where most of the cruelty goes on. The footage and photos I have seen also makes me feel sick.... I went to a live sheep export protest and it is disturbing what goes on. they go through hell for a couple of weeks on the boat, and then they are beaten and tortured once they get to the other country. it's sick ;(

[mel35]

I'm not a vegetarian but I don't eat much red meat- mostly eat chicken and seafood

But i am concerned about the hormones they put in the chickens- despite the powers that be saying they don't.

[michelle_72]

Well I am a vegetarian (am I the only one - lol) and have been vege for nearly 13 years. I find I am much healthier because of it and it really does help keep my weight down. I was about 11 stone when I ate meat and now am about 9 stone being vege and am just much healthier. I do not mind the animal issue - that is not really my concern - I am not an animal lover but I also figure I do my part by not eating them. I do eat eggs, cheese, etc so am not a vegan but I think with all the problems that can occur with meat and food poisoning, it might be an option that more people will take in the future.

[mejane]

I am not a vegetarian.. although I have several vegetarian cookbooks because I prefer veges to meat. DH doesn't consider it a real meal unless there is meat in the dish!

[~Emma~]

I am a vegetarian, well almost. I do eat seafood and some chicken. I haven't eatten any red meat for over half my life, about 15 years.

The smell of meat is repulsive to me and touching it makes my stomach turn queasy.