What are your eating habits? - Page 2

[merpk]

When I met DH he was an "obligatory vegetarian." Meaning he couldn't afford meat, so he was a vegetarian.

I was a sugararian. And a Benny's Burrito's deliveryarian.

Have since both become kosher and have learned how to eat like grown-ups. (Not to mention balance the checkbook.) Now eat anything. But often have guests who assume (by our appearances, we're told ... colorful dress, long-ponytailed hubby, etc.) that we must be vegetarian.

So DH always includes something vegan when he cooks.

We're everythingarians.

But couldn't vote in the poll ...



- Amy

[velveeta]

Amy, I love all your terms!

I still want to know from Darshani about garlic.

And I don't know what we call ourselves. Before last month, I hadn't eaten meat in 10 years. For some reason, I want to eat a lot of steak and other types of beef. No chicken or fish, really. Just beef. I know this sounds yucky, b/c it even sounds yucky to me. It just seems to be one of the few things that quells my nausea.

One of our clients sent us some steaks as a holiday present. It all went downhill from there! :P

Other than lotsa meat (to me it is a lot, but it is nowhere near average), we eat lots and lots of raw fruits and veg, and we eat a few cooked vegetables and lots of nice grains such a cous cous and barley -- that sort of thing.

I have also been craving gingerbread, so yesterday, I made my favorite recipe from Mollie Katzen's The Enchanted Broccoli Forest. You can't believe how delicious it is -- it has 3 Tb of freshly grated ginger that has been sauteed in 5 Tb of butter!!

I digress: Food is such a wonderul gift, and we are so lucky to have so many different foods to taste!


Jean

[jenP]

I've been eating vegan for four years, DH has been nearly vegan except for a daily slice of cheese on his sandwich and the occassional baked good made with eggs/dairy. Also we try to eat as whole-foods as possible and completely avoid artificial colors, flavors, sweeterners, and preservatives. I'm currently experimenting with stevia because I need to cut down on sugar. My baby is almost six months old so I havent' been cooking much since she was born (we've been eating a LOT of frozen vegetables, rice, and canned beans) and boy do I miss my cooking. When we start Delia on anything but BM we plan to feed her vegan too, until she's old enough to decide differently. I'm already dreading the hassles this will cause with family that want to feed her crap! Actually Ithey are quite used to our vegan ways but I expect the problems will be with the candy and soda that are filled with artificial colors flavors and sweeteners. Our cousins give their kids diet soda for crying out loud!

About the garlic: I'm not Hindu so excuse any errors, but my Indian cookbook says Hindu vegetarians avoid garlic and onion because they are strong flavors associated with cooking meat. They may also avoid watermelon or other foods that resemble red flesh.

Jen

[MorgnsGrl]

I voted for ovo-vegetarian - we eat eggs but no meat or dairy. We've been dairy free for about six years (no trace dairy, either) and vegetarians for more than a year. DH occasionally eats meat if we order out or visit his parent's house (he had turkey on Thanksgiving) and I have on a couple of occasions had fish in the past year. Rather than label ourselves as vegetarians, I prefer to say that we eat a "vegetarian or mostly-vegetarian diet."

We stopped the dairy due to allergies, and the meat due to a combination of factors including health and animal rights.

[tessamami]

Originally posted by adventuregirl
Both dh and I are athletes and really feel and perform best with meat in our diets. We believe in the whole foods philosophy, so have trouble with tofu and meat substitutes.

Yep, you could say the same about DH and me (except for the athlete part).

I don't have so much trouble with tofu if served in miso soup, with greens or meat but prefer not to buy/eat meat substitutes.

I've begun to give DD a little milk now that she's 2 yrs plus but not regularly. We limit our dairy but now we are just trying to eat well and regularly at home, without going out to eat all the time. If $$$ were not an issue I'd eat out ALL the time! So I guess I'm healthier this way - of course if money were not an issue I'd have sushi A LOT.

[adb252001]

Jen P we have the same problem with relatives and junk food. SIL gave 8 month old a little chocolate the other day. I wigged out. I was like no way not this young. they don't seem to get my obsession with organic veggies and no meat till she can decide for herself. I know it will cause issues. Oh, well my babe my choice.

We eat chicken and tons of veggies. DH loves spuds(maybe because he's Irish) so he has them with every meal.

[frodo]

i've been vegetarian for maybe about 7 or 8 years. that's a guess, i'm not really counting.

my reasons for being vegetarian, in general, include health, politics, ethics, spirituality, and the fact that i really, really love vegetarian cuisine.

my reasons for being lacto-ovo are, first of all, that i haven't found a satisfactory egg substitute for baking. (yes, i've tried egg replacer & don't like it.) secondly i really really LOVE cheese, and the soy cheeses are mediocre at best. thirdly, unitl i get a better blender and can more efficiently make soymilk in my kitchen, the cost is just a bit beyond my reach. (i do make sunflower milk, which is wonderful on cereal or in oatmeal pancakes, but it doesn't clabber properly and the flavor doesn't work for everything.)

even if i did drop the eggs and dairy, i would probably not be considered vegan because i do use honey. i mean no offense to anyone on this board, but i do not concern myself with the plight of oppressed bees.

blessings,

[spirited mama]

I stopped eating meat when I turned 12. I'm 35, and in good health. Have tried vegan but had a B12 defficiency after a few years. Iron was high, as were other vit. in bloodtest, so the iron protein problems never materialized for me. Don't believe in vitamins, and all three of my dss heavy:8lbs, 9lbs14ounces, & 9lbs10 ounces at birth. We eat organic foods. Allow organic sugar, honey and maple syrup in baked goods. Lots of vegan baking with kids! We try to use spelt and other flours too!

[shanetedissac]

non-veg and eat pretty much all food groups but....

We avoid processed foods, hydroginized foods and the such. So not every thing.

Shane
mom to THeodore (3) and Issac (1)

[Kate]

We eat it all. But we eat lots of whole foods, very few processed/convenience/pre-packaged foods . . . I've recently begun baking ALL our own bread! We do eat lots of vegetarian meals . . . as someone else said on here, I LOVE vegetarian cuisine . . . I just happen to enjoy meat, too.

[momsgotmilk4two]

I have been eating everything under the sun for 26 years. My eating habits are pretty bad . Old habits die hard, but I am trying to change for the sake of my kids.

[mocha]

95% vegan here, the kids and partner are lacto-ovos.

My family and my in-laws are all very sluggish people, always tired and complaining about being tired. They are huge animal food consumers and actually all my grandparents were meat farmers.

When I was 19 I decided to take the vegetarian path, for environmental, political, health, spiritual and economic reasons. Plus the fact that I realized I just didn't much care for the taste or texture fo meat. Way over-rated.

Its been nearly 20 years since I switched to vegetarianism. I am in great health and have lots of energy which I owe to my diet, while my siblings and in-laws are turning into old people. I have to think it is because of my diet.

Today someone asked me if I am in high school. I graduated in 1981!

[Dana]

I voted other. We eat whole organic foods. We do occasionally eat meat, but we can get high quality, organic meat from our coop.

[spinach]

My husband and I have been lacto-ovo vegetarian for 13 years. For us, it was an ethical decision. Over the years, we've learned more about the health and environmental benefits, and feel all the better about our choice. We limit our egg consumption and I only buy eggs from free-range sources. I drink soy milk, instead of cow's milk. I'm actually pretty close to a vegan diet but I don't think I'll ever go "all the way." I admire vegans immensely and have always kept an open mind to a vegan diet but it doesn't feel right for me. I have a problem keeping on weight to begin with so it's nice to be able to eat a much broader variety of foods.

Now the challenge is how to make sure my 17 month-old DD (I'm new but trying to get down the lingo) gets enough fat. She's still nursing but I'm pregnant and trying to limit the nursings a bit.

[Ravin]

I'm mostly lacto-vegetarian, but a few eggs slip into bread products I buy here and there, and there was probably lard in the refried beans I had at the local Mexican restaurant, etc. My husband eats everything (and junk food in copious quantities.) I've cut back on dairy, don't drink milk, use soymilk instead, but still eat cheese and occasionally sour cream or yogurt. My dh gleefully points out that there is no dairy industry without veal, but I switched more for health reasons than ethical ones.

[WickidaWitch]

non-veg (eat everthing under the sun)

[tarablesue]

We eat everything under the sun....we love deer, eat tons of fish and chicken and we like ground beef Actually we are opposite of everyone....I think...DH won;'t eat veggies...except corn,lettuce,tomatoes,mushrooms adn olives...I LOVE all veggies and for the most part so doesn't my toddler. The baby wants nothing to do with solids yet and iI'm not forcing the issue...thats our story.. litle but good ;love

[michelle1k]

vegan

..me, dh, ds (5 in April) and dd (indirectly now - still exclusively breastfed).

We went vegan virtually overnight from being lacto-ovo vegetarians after ds was diagnosed with severe dairy and egg allergies and then just summarily got rid of all animal products (though not honey - so I guess we're not "strict" vegan).

And I guess, through exposure to vegan websites (mostly through surfing for good recipes), we were exposed to factory farming and slaughterhouse atrocities and from there on it became as much of an ethical reason as a health reason. Environmental reasons came last.

We are totally committed to this lifestyle, using only organic, vegan products in our home (with the exception of honey - no animal testing, no animal ingredients and are mostly leather-free) and avoid preservatives, colorings, etc.

I have to say that I *love* cooking and <blush> have a reputation as somewhat of an excellent cook at my ds's school!

[sadie_sabot]

I picked vegan, but actually I'm lacto-ovo- but I just eat eggs and dairy when they're disguised as chocolate chip cookies or scones.

I've been vegetarian for about 12 years, vegan off and on for maybe hl that time. My reasons totally vary! Sometimes it's because of cruelty to animals but always it's about health--both physicl health and spiritual health.

We intend to raise dd to be vegetarian. not sure about vegan. Right now she is lacto-only!!!