If you're a vegetarian

[DiaperDiva]

Just wondering what kinds of vegetarians we have here. Kailey and I are starting out(Mark and i have decided to wait until she decides to eat meat and dairy), this is our first week, and so far we are Lacto-vegetarian, but will wean out milk and milk products soon Just need a good substitute for milk products I already love my soy

[LavenderMae]

I started out being a ovo-lacto veggie, then cut out eggs and milk, then was vegan for a brief bit, now I'm back to ovo-lacto veggie. My husband, daughter and son are the same. We don't drink cow's milk, we drink soy, rice , or almond milk. We have recently started eating free-range organic eggs a couple times a week. We eat cheese w/o animal rennet almost all of the time.

[FreeRangeMama]

We are vegan, but I do use wool. Only wool that is bought from thrift stores, never would I buy a new wool product. I prefer natural to synthetic and wool makes good diaper covers, plus its recycling. We try not eat or use any other kind of animal products although it can be difficult to avoid all the dairy derivitives in food when your on a very, very tight budget in a small meat crazed city. (so many people have bumper stickers that say "honk if you love alberta beef" )

[mirlee]

I posted lacto-ovo, but I don't really eat eggs in the raw. I use them in cooking and baking, but to actually eat one makes me ill. I have to be careful

I only use organic dairy and free range eggs. I am very cautious about cheeses as well. I rarely eat cheese out unless it is at the Co-op cafe or a couple of restaraunts that offer a vegan option and they use soy cheese.


Eliminating dairy is a little difficult for us. Sam is very picky to begin with and any changes in what he likes, turns him off the original almost permanently. (I think he channels his grandfather who was so regimented in what he ate, that you knew what day of the week it was by looking at what he was eating. If it's spaghetti, it must be Thursday!)I could live with using egg substitutes, but dh couldn't. He doesn't do much dairy to begin with. I have subbed soy cheese on him and he hasn't known the difference. (Bad mommy.)

I don't think any two vegetarians eat the same way.

[AmandasMom]

My dd and I are raw vegan. We eat only raw, uncooked fresh veggies, fruits, seeds and some nuts. We sometimes have a cooked meal at dinnertime, steamed veggies on pasta or rice or something like that.

[mama2annabelle]

I started out laco-ovo veg 4 years ago and within 6 months had made the transition to vegan. I think the transition period was important for me b/c it was during that time that I did a lot of research on nutrition and animal welfare and was able to make an informed and educated decision. Going lacto-ovo was really no big deal for me as I really never loved meat. But going vegan was more of change in mindset and lifestyle.
DH still eats meat (and probably always will) and he still buys leather products (like the interior of our new minivan YUK!)
But he is fine with the fact that I won't go out and buy him a new leather wallet or wool sweater or chicken for dinner. He has to buy it himself and cook the meat himself.
We have agreed to raise DD vegan until she is old enough to make the choice for herself.

[Ahappymel]

Newbie Vegan...

Hi all,
I am a newbie vegan although my husband is not. But, he's trying, really trying but admits that he doesn't feel it on a spiritual level like I do so it makes it harder for him. I would describe him and the babe as "Lacto-Ovos" because I'm sure that he is still eating dairy and eggs when he doesn't have to cook for the family and that the baby gets some too.
I appreciate all of his efforts though considering I "sprung" this on him. I was a vegetarian for "health reasons" several years ago, starting consuming meat and dairy again and just went vegan overnight.
At first he thought it was a fad for me but after much discussion, he understands why the change in perception and why I am a vegan now. I am respectful of my husband's decision to eat according to his conscience although we are becoming a more informed household every day.

[Happypants]

I voted vegan although I've learned to be a bit more flexible in what I'll eat when I'm out and about, especially if I'm eating in someone else's house. Not that I would ever eat meat, but if someone has gone to the trouble to fix me something special because they know I'm a vegetarian, but they don't know I'm vegan and they put an egg in it or something, I don't turn my nose up at it. Also, I worked in a cafe for several years (and I still do but only one day a week now), and for a long time I wouldn't eat anything out of it, but then my money got tight and I'd eat a cookie if I got really hungry at work. And I still will every now and again but I try to avoid them because I know where they've been! I don't buy food with animal products, tho. I do also buy wool, though it's usually yarn because I knit, and wool is much stretchier than cotton for things like socks. I want to learn to spin and raise my own sheep so I know they're well-treated.

My fiance quit eating meat just before xmas and is still going strong!! (And finding out how often meat is hidden in inconspicuous food )

Yay for being veg!!!

Erin

[DiaperDiva]

My fiance quit eating meat just before xmas and is still going strong!! (And finding out how often meat is hidden in inconspicuous food

Oh please share this information! Perhaps start another thread? Or just list here. I am interested!

[Happypants]

Well, for instance, the other night he was going to make burritos for dinner. He eats a lot of pre-packaged instant foods, and he had some red beans and rice Rice-a-roni, and he's cooking it up, and it's almost ready, and I ask if he's looked at the ingredients. So I look at it and it has beef fat in it. Ugh. Why there is beef fat in an innocent package of red beans and rice I don't know. But the moral of the story is to always, always, always check the label if you're buying something that has one. Depending on what you're in the habit of eating, it can be very frusturating at first, because you'll find meat products in things that really shouldn't have them in it. But you'll get to where you know which things to avoid and what's ok. Or, if you don't eat much "convenience food" it might not be a problem. But as a general rule of thumb, if it has a label, check it. Remember that gelatin is an animal product (it's protein that's been boiled out of animal tissues) and it's often in things that otherwise seem ok. There's another thing, I can't remember the name of it right now, but it's the last ingredient in Minute Maid pink grapefruit juice, that you may want to avoid, it's crushed-up insect bodies. I'll try to get the word for it and post. I was drinking that stuff occasionally at work until a few months ago and I read somewhere what it was. Ew! But I guess vegetarians don't necessarily have to avoid insects????

The only other advice I can think of is to ask when you go out to eat whether there is meat in what you're eating. Some restaurants put it in the craziest foods, but mainly things like beans, greens, and soups. But if it's possible that there's meat in it, it doesn't hurt to ask. And usually waiters are pretty accustomed to people with specialized diets asking about menu items, so it shouldn't be a problem.

I know this sounds like a lot of work, but after a while it becomes second nature. At least you'll know what you're putting in your body! Good luck

Erin

[Quirky]

And when you go out to eat, definitely don't forget to ask what kind of stock the soup is made with. Many if not most places will use chicken or beef stock for things like vegetable or onion soup.

Also, I know opinions vary, but I really don't think that eating chicken or fish qualifies one as a vegetarian. If it has a face.....

[DiaperDiva]

Jane I agree with you. Those were just the titles and definitions in the book I'm reading.

but it's the last ingredient in Minute Maid pink grapefruit juice, that you may want to avoid, it's crushed-up insect bodies.

YYYYYYYYYYYYUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!! !!!

I am so not ever going to buy that stuff!

HP~ That was great information and not to much to handle! Makes things a little easier actually. I haven't eaten any packaged food in the last 3 days, but plan to make some cous cous this evening. It's in a box but plain flavored, but hey I'm going to look anyway!

I also have a super veggie soup recipe that calls for one can of celery soup- now that you have me paranoid, I think I'll look on that too! :LOL Ya never know! Just one more way for me to be mindful!

[homesteader]

lacto-ovo here...i wanted to share some other places to find animal products. i used to work at a mexican rest. and it's tough at these places! especially if it's traditional. they used lard, which is VERY common. the tortilla chips, the rice and the beans all had lard in them. and if you are vegan don't think you can get away w/ the guacamole. sometimes it has sour cream in it. this might not be news to some but i had no idea!

i don't know where happypants lives, but in my neck of the woods wait staff is NOT used to being asked about meat products in the food. in fact, sometimes they will tell you no and then when you have them list the ingredients for you they say blah, blah, blah and chicken stock.

marshmallows-gelitan
some croutons and bread crumbs have(had-it's been a while) chicken stock

when eating out you can't just say does it have meat or meat products in it. you need to ask about chicken & fish as well. i don't know what school some of these people went to but i learned that poultry is meat.

in chinese restaurants (i don't know about other asian rest's) ask about seafood. i ordered a spring roll once and had asked about meat, chicken & fish...no, no & no. but the next time i was there i ordered the same thing & mentioned something about the meat issue & was told the spring roll had shrimp in it. WHAT??!!

oh, well...at least i don't get slack from my folks any more. i just know to bring my own veg boullion cubes w/ me for mom to use in the meals. she's fine w/ it luckily.

peace

[Ahappymel]

CARMINE?

Hi all,
Happypants, do you mean "CARMINE"? That is a reddish coloring added to a lot of things like cosmetics (I'm thinking of "Benetint" by Benefit Cosmetics...I have a leftover bottle from years ago and discovered that the main ingredient is carmine. UGH...I was rubbing ground-up bugs into my cheeks for a good year ). I think they add carmine to some rootbeer and other numerous things. I think it's mean to call crushed insects "carmine"...it is such a pretty word that sounds like "caramel" to me. Pretty sneaky, huh?

[LavenderMae]

I learned a long time ago you have to read all ingredients on eveything. Animal by products are put in the strangest things. Gelatin shows up in very odd places.
Really checking labels becomes second nature after awhile.
At the restaruants around here you have to be very specific , for some reason chicken and fish aren't considered meat.

[Ahappymel]

Fish and chicken aren't considered meat?

Hi Sheacoby,
That's so funny...I had a similar experience where my husband told a server that I'm a vegetarian and she said, "Well you can order a grilled chicken sandwich..."

[DiaperDiva]

Re: Fish and chicken aren't considered meat?

Originally posted by Ahappymel
Hi Sheacoby,
That's so funny...I had a similar experience where my husband told a server that I'm a vegetarian and she said, "Well you can order a grilled chicken sandwich..."

:LOL incredible!

Yesterday I went through our cupboards and checked labels- WHEW! Nothing so far. Nothing I would eat anyway

[mirlee]

Re: Fish and chicken aren't considered meat?

Originally posted by Ahappymel
Hi Sheacoby,
That's so funny...I had a similar experience where my husband told a server that I'm a vegetarian and she said, "Well you can order a grilled chicken sandwich..."

I have had this happen more times that I can count. I usually have to use a version of my favorite Friends line, "I don't eat anything with a face."

Oh, and I really love it when someone says that it just has a little chicken stock. It won't hurt you though. How do they know?

I once went to dine at a highly recommended Italian restaraunt. I don't know why, but for some reason I inquired if their sauce was vegetarian. It turns out the chef uses a veal bone when he cooks the sauce. I said I couldn't eat it then. I was given an "it won't hurt you" response. My partner at the time and I closed our menus and walked out. I make a point now to tell people when I hear them mention the place that the staff is rude and vegetarians can't eat there.

[DiaperDiva]

That "it can't hurt you" response just rubs me the wrong way. They need to consider that not all vegetarians are so because meat is nasty. Some are because they do not condone the killing and eating of innocent animals, and will not eat in restaurants or buy products which use or support these acts.

[cathe]

We don't do much dairy - occasionally organic yogurt or cheese but we eat a lot of eggs because we have our own chickens running around our yard.