Just out of curiousity...

[Mia14]

What are your eating preferences? Vegan, vegetarian, meat-eater, or somewhere in-between? Are they for personal, religious, practical, moral, or other reasons? Have you always eaten this way or for how many years?


Sorry, I didn't realize how many different types there are and how long this poll would read.

[Lydia]

I don't eat dairy products at all due to an allergy to it.

I do eat meat and eggs, but not daily for palate reasons (i.e. I think many meat products taste gross. ;) ). I'd guess that I eat meat or eggs about twice a week, although that's a pretty rough estimate.

I do eat plenty of all-natural peanut butter and beans, though, to help balance out my diet.

[zimnah]

I keep kosher, and I don't really like meat. I'll have chicken once in a blue moon, but I haven't had beef in more than 3 years. I'll admit that the PETA magazine on campus had something to do with my current leanings...but it was much easier to keep kosher in Hawii by simply eating vegetarian, with a little fish here and there. So I will eat some fish (as long as it has fins and scales, as per Jewish law), and kosher chicken maybe once or twice a month. Otherwise, vegetables, fruit, some dairy (I don't really like eggs) and TVP (textured vegetable protein). Oh, and tofu, of course. I am, after all, from California! LOL
What about you, Mia? I'm curious now :p
--Dawn :love:

[keltic63]

can I be an omnivore? meat-eater sounds so barbarian!

I occasionally reflect on the food I now eat, and the way I cook, as compared to the food my mother cooked when I was a child. Although I never lived on a farm, we were only a generation or 2 removed from that life, and the cooking reflected that. One might say that mom's dinners were very plain, influenced by Amish/German heritage, with a bit of the Irish foods too. I tend to cook and eat a more gourmet menu, with a preference for fresh vegetables prepared in a way to preserve their freshness and vitamins, as opposed to cook the H*ll out of them. I also use more white meats than reds. Yet, I can't bring myself to give up some of the foods entirely. I hope to think that it's balanced now, not relying on any particular group or type of food for a major portion of my nutrition.

[Jamie McDaniel]

I'm vegetarian. However Chris is not and since I prepare most of the meals, I cook him meat. I do think he has reduced his meat consumption since dating me, though. :)

People ask me if I am a vegetarian due to health reasons. I sometimes respond by saying, "Yeah, I kind'a think removing the muscles and flesh from the animal for human consumption is detrimental to the health of the animal." Of course saying that too often can make one a social leper.

Anyhow, I did taunt meat-eaters saying I don't have to worry about getting mad cow disease or something else from bad meat. Then came the spinach and E. coli scare.

I became a vegetarian seven years ago when I was still in the conservative world. I found that religious conservatives in general were not very encouraging of vegetarianism. They often make fun of Peta.

[Jennifer5]

Meat-eater... not real reason I guess... that's how I'm being raised, I like it, and have no intention of changing it... so in some way I guess the only 'reason' is, it's easy.

[Vanessa White]

I have considered myself to be, what I called, for the most part vegetarian for the last several years. Meaning, I would not eat much, if any, beef, chicken, or pork, but did eat seafood, fish, and eggs. Lately, I have been eating beef and chicken on a more regular basis, although not frequently. I also was influenced by some PETA info, but mostly it is about the respect for the animal, and not really liking the consumption of it palate wise most of the time. I really like beans, peanut butter, nuts, and fish and seafood and eggs as a way to get my protein source. Not big on tofu, although I will eat it. I love veggie burgers, prefer them to beef ones actually!

[Lydia]

not really liking the consumption of it palate wise most of the time.

I'm glad I'm not the only one is this regard. :)

[marutidas]

I do eat meat, but I can do without it, I live on a vegitarian diet for two weeks when I was staying at a hindu temple. Since it was apart of the culture, I didn't make it an issue, besides the food was soooooooo good, I usally had thirds and still lost ten pounds.

If you like meat, you should eat it. If you don't, you shouldn't

[Mia14]

Sorry, Keltic, I should have said omnivore! I apologize to the omnivorous population for not being more sensitive to your dietary status.

I'm a vegetarian - nothing with a nervous system is my motto mainly because (according to my very nonscientific observations) most things with nervous systems can feel pain.

I never really liked red meat much as a kid and never really used to eat it voluntarily except in cheese burgers. Now I tend to agree with Vanessa that veggie burgers are better.

My gf isn't vegetarian (silly us, Jaime, falling for non-veggies), but I do most of the cooking and I don't cook meat - so she's slowly leaning more toward vegetarian with the occasional burger when she's out of the house or someone else cooks. I'm trying to use meat substitutes, though, to make it easier on her - like Boca's soy crumbles instead of ground beef in Hamburger Helper mixes. Mmmmm, I love that stuff...

I don't really care if other people eat meat around me, though, and I really try not to convert people to vegetarians because I think it's a personal choice. If someone asks me why, I'll gladly tell them about my respect for animals and all the health benefits of a veggie lifestyle, but I won't take it badly if they decide to order that bacon-double-cheeseburger anyway.

I don't want to make people feel embarrassed, so I try to be flexible when eating at other people's houses. For example, once I went to dinner with my friend's parents and her grandmother made pasta with meat sauce. She was horrified to find that I was vegetarian because the pasta was the only item on the menu besides dessert. I ate the dinner (but declined the meatballs) without making a fuss and the next time I visited, she kept the meat separate from the sauce.

[Britt.]

I didn't vote on this poll, since I'm not really any of those now. I was pescatarian for 2 years in college. I'm not really now, although I still eat more fish & shell fish than any other animals. Every great once in a while, I want a nasty, rare steak when I eat out somewhere. I shop at the organic hippie store though.

[Jamie McDaniel]

When I discuss vegetarianism with fellow Christians, I often get the response, "Well, Jesus ate fish, so I know that at least is ok with God." I get the sense this is done not to promote pescatarianism, but to dismiss vegetarianism.

I look to Gandhi for insight on vegetarianism.

"Spiritual progress does demand at some stage that we should cease to kill our fellow creatures for the satisfaction of our bodily wants." --Mahatma Gandhi

This weekend at a party of about 20 progressive people, I was asked why I was a vegetarian (I was the only one there.) Not wanting to be the killjoy, I sort'a answered in a way that downplayed the "killing animals" part and focused on "healthy living."

Then today someone sent me this video, which I watched entirely.

Meet your Meat (http://www.meat.org/video1.asp?video=meet_your_meat&Player=wm&speed=_med)

I've grown lax with regard to this. I now jokingly refer to my vegetarianism when people ask rather than take an opportunity to explain my convictions and, if I'm feeling especially bold, ask them to consider reducing their own meat consumption. I've even enjoyed bringing home a big-bacon-super-deluxe burger to delight my boyfriend before he heads off to work. Gah! No more. It's revival time.

By the way, this is another career that I would never advocate LGBT people having. In theory I would say, yes, discrimination against gay slaughterhouse workers is wrong, but I'm certainly not going to help out. My activism is simply telling you to go get another job.

[NathanATX]

In the Gospel of Thomas, Jesus seems to be a vegetarian or at least to be advocating vegetarianism...

Saying 11:
"Jesus said, "This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away. The dead are not alive, and the living will not die. During the days when you ate what is dead, you made it come alive. When you are in the light, what will you do? On the day when you were one, you became two. But when you become two, what will you do?"

Saying 87:
"Jesus said, "How miserable is the body that depends on a body, and how miserable is the soul that depends on these two."

Saying 112:
"Jesus said, "Damn the flesh that depends on the soul. Damn the soul that depends on the flesh."

[Dash]

Been thinking about this myself lately as I study Gandhi.

Lactose intolerant omnivore/carnivore here.

I'm not opposed to being vegetarian, though it would be purely spiritual if I went that direction; however, I feel I would need to also address leather products like shoes and belts as well...and perhaps other products as well. Anything derived from animals would be targeted for renunciation.

From a purely dietary standpoint, I'm not convinced that any one diet is right for all people. The health of my body is practical concern, and one point where my path forks from Gandhi's. My body is my faithful friend, and trusting servant. Not merely a tool in my spiritual growth, it is an integral part of that path. It deserves my loving care and stewardship. Only careful and cautious steps would lead me to "tinker" with what is now a rather successful and regular diet.

I am particularly drawn to a more Native American approach--giving thanks and respect to the animals and being humbly aware of the role we all play in...[cue music]...the circle of life. It makes a difference in how one lives.

[andrewlittle]

Oops, I meant omnivore.

I tried vegetarianism a few years ago. My body, being as odd as my mind, revolted horribly. Blood sugar elevated drastically, blood pressure was higher than usual, liver enzymes went ballistic, and (perhaps the oddest) my cholesteral after a year raised 80 points and triglycerides raised 400 points. They repeated the tests three times to try to figure out the problems.

Considering I have enough health issues from abusing my body severely when younger, I opted to stick with meat. At my next physical, blood pressure was acceptable, blood sugar normal, liver function normal, triglycerides back to 130 and total cholesterol 125. These have stayed well within nrmal since.

I do enjoy a lot of steamed and raw veges though - fruit I can live without, but not vegetables.

[Daniel]

There was a period of about three years when I was vegetarian until my doctor noticed that I looked sallow- yellow in fact. Eat meat! He told me. So I am a vegetarian no more.

Like Dash, I bless what I eat- and keep in mind that the Tibetians have a diet heavy in meat- and they are Buddhists. There is little that grows in the way of vegetables in great abundance on the high plains there.

And I find it interesting that vegetarianism originated (please correct me if I get this wrong) in India where the climate is very hot- the sort of place where heavy food just doesn't sit well, and just the sort of place to foster a plant based diet.

[Jennifer5]

I think it works for some people, and just doesn't for others... some people's bodies need meat... I my had that same problem, they said certain blood types need red meat... and she happens to be really extreme, and she'll start feeling really sick after 5 days or so if she doesn't eat any red meat...

...but I definately have respect for you doing that if it works for you. I don't think I could every do vegetarian even if I could and still be healthy. But I definately feel that we need those people who will to help balance things out. I know a lot of vegetarians (after being a Adventist Schools for the past 5 or 6 years)... and to those who will do that I say thank you... there has to be some sort of offset for the rest of us:love:

[RainbowL'elly]

i've been raised at least a partial veggie- when i was a kid, i ate chicken, turkey, fish, and some other seafood, as well as eggs and dairy. i eliminated poultry in high school and fish a few years later in college. i still eat eggs and dairy. my husband is vegan- eggs cause anaphalactic shock and chicken causes more minor breathing problems. dairy gives him migranes and we are wondering if his allergy isnt to the hormones in most milk, rather than to the milk itself, since milk's most common reaction is gastrointestinal. most colourings and chemicals also give him migranes, which might help to support this theory- i've got to do more research. this all leads me to only drink milk if it's organic (and on sale), since we can't afford to get both soy / rice and organic milk and i only eat eggs or things with eggs in them out of the house and away from him, due to the severity of his reaction- mum takes me out to eat, i get my bi/tri monthly omlette or i pick up a pastry at the coffee shop.... yeah, i rarely eat eggs these days, thanks to joshua.

i will not eat gelatin- not only does the source of it make me feel ill to eat it, i just can't stand the taste of it- it's nasty! the smell of pork makes me feel like i am going to wretch...and so does some hamburger...though the smell of a barbecue or a ballstadium doesnt bother me...reminds me of summer, actually.

so there's my eating habits for you!

[Lydia]

i

i will not eat gelatin- not only does the source of it make me feel ill to eat it, i just can't stand the taste of it- it's nasty!

I have to agree with you there.

[nmwolfboy]

Another omnivore here, though i tend to eat more chicken & turkey than any other meats. i crave pork (carne adovada - yumm!) and also sushi occasionally (but not at the same time - yech!) beef much less so, and i won't eat goat or mutton because they make me really sick. About once a year i have to have a buffalo burger. Every so often i go through phases wherein i have no appetite for meat, although even then i'll still have dairy products. Mostly i just try to listen to what my body wants.

My other half is a dedicated meat-eater, so even when i'm not in the mood for meat, it's still cooked daily in our home. Again, mostly chicken or turkey, but he will drive an hour to get a really good green chile cheeseburger from a ranch cafe. He's not allowed to eat shellfish or sushi, and doesn't like most other freshwater or ocean fish so they're never on the menu at home.

We usually buy our meats from local sources that we trust, like the nearby farm store or natural foods grocery. The meat is way fresher, our purchases support area ranches, and it tastes better than what can be found in the big chain grocery stores.

I was raised in a family that ate meat at nearly every meal. For health reasons my parents now eat far less red meat than they did when i was growing up.

RainbowL'elly & Lydia - i wholeheartedly agree with you - gelatin is just plain nasty!!!! :sick:

[RainbowL'elly]

food that can move on it's own just seems wrong on so many levels...i think gelatin is some strange form of matter that isn't meant to be seen on earth...maybe it's an alien life form or something.... ;)

nmwolfboy- it's awesome that you get your meat from local sources- if people actually were aware of where their food came from, i think more people would go this route because they can make sure that their food wasn't exposed to harmful chemicals or, if they are concerned with animal ethics, that the critters were treated humanely before they were slaughtered. i have no problem with other people eating meat- it's just not my thing and i really wish people were more knowing about where they got their meat. really, everything that's fresh and local just does taste better than food that comes through the grocer's- it's one of the main reason i absolutely adore our big garden- veggies fresh in the summer and canned for all winter long!

:D

cheers!

btw- this is an awesome conversation- i love how we can all discuss this without getting into a big argument- if we were to talk like this on the veggie boards, there would be a full out war between hardcore vegans and raw foodists and omnivores and it would be very uncomfortable and angry.

gold star to soulforce folks for knowing what the word 'respect' means!

~l'elly.

[belladonnacordial]

I have lapses. I'll eat anything set before me at a dinner party. I give in when I have weird craving too. I try to avoid beef and pork especially. I know I've eated beef within the last year. I'd probably have to go back three years for piece of pork barbecue. When do I have meat cravings it is for lobster and salmon. I'd probably eat a lot more of that if not for mercury and pollution in general.

I do miss the days of food without fear, pre- red M&Ms scare. Is anyone else here old enough to remember? Anyone remember what a real tomato tastes like? Or a perfectly ripe real peach the kind you only ever found once at a stand on a dirt road in Georgia? Let me know if you do. We can rock on my imaginary porch, with the ghost of Tennessee Williams, get liquored up or drink genuine hand-squeezed lemonade if you prefer, and wax poetical about it all.

I read somewhere that the top meat consuming country per capita in the world prior to WW2 was you guessed it- Germany. Likewise, The Buccaneers (the really blood thirsty, sadistic, cannibalistic pirates) ate almost nothing except for wild pig (and the occasional prisoner.) Then there was Jack the Ripper. If he was a butcher of animals as many criminologists speculate, he was likely to eat a high meat diet. Inmates on death row nearly always request a lot of meat for their last meal. Ironically fried chicken is really popular. You can see where I'm going with all this. I've never found a study ( though one might very well be out there ) on meat eating and violence. It may interest you to know that the US is now ( or was last time I checked) number one in meat consumption per capita. Personally, I think we should be doing lots of studies on this subject.

[RainbowL'elly]

I do miss the days of food without fear, pre- red M&Ms scare. Is anyone else here old enough to remember? Anyone remember what a real tomato tastes like? Or a perfectly ripe real peach the kind you only ever found once at a stand on a dirt road in Georgia? Let me know if you do. We can rock on my imaginary porch, with the ghost of Tennessee Williams, get liquored up or drink genuine hand-squeezed lemonade if you prefer, and wax poetical about it all.

i don't remember the red m&m scare, i was only born in '84....

i do, however, know what a real tomato tastes like- my family grows them every summer and ends up with far more of them than we ever know what to do with- tell you what, if you're ever near lansing, mi in the summer, message me and you can have a few ;) .

farmers markets are grand for the things i can't grow...like that perfect peach :D .

You can see where I'm going with all this. I've never found a study ( though one might very well be out there ) on meat eating and violence. It may interest you to know that the US is now ( or was last time I checked) number one in meat consumption per capita. Personally, I think we should be doing lots of studies on this subject.

i've wondered if it doesn't have to do somewhat with apathy- the people who eat a lot of meat may also be the one's who don't care where it comes from and there may be correlation in a selection of that population who extend an apathy for critter pain to an apathy for human suffering as well- not that i am saying all you omnis out there are going to go kill people- just saying that in a select group there is a possible parallel- catch my drift?