New to Vegetarianism Forum - Read Before Posting!

[m4rk0]

This might be a dumb question but is there a thread somewhere on this site that has a comprehensive listing of foods that are not vegan that a new convert might not be aware of? Tried digging around but couldn't find anything. Thx

[angeltinks]

So many times I find myself explaining what veganism and vegatarianism is.... the point is, we are trying to make a difference, and baby steps is the way to go.:lovesign:

[pammy]

fuyoo, do what ive had to do one or two times the past week, got to the grocery or health food store and get some veggie burgers, or other meat replacement thingamajiggers. i found that cheddar boca burgers taste alot like the real thing. when my boyfriend and i (hes been veg for 8 years) made breakfast the other day i didnt htink breakfast could be breaksfast without bacon , so we got fake bacon. it curbed my craving for the real think and i felt better that a little piggy didnt have to die!

[jovander]

:hi: I am taking the first steps towards becoming a vegetarian. Would anyone be able to tell me a good juicer to purchase, and one that is reasonably priced? Also, is there any 1 book that would be good to purchase?

I appreciate your help.

Thank you.

jovander

[Vegan Joe]

:hi: I am taking the first steps towards becoming a vegetarian. Would anyone be able to tell me a good juicer to purchase, and one that is reasonably priced? Also, is there any 1 book that would be good to purchase?

I appreciate your help.

Thank you.

jovander
The Compete Idiot Guide To Vegan Living.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Idiots-Guide-Vegan-Living/dp/1592574173/sr=1-3/qid=1157508341/ref=sr_1_3/102-7749362-7896167?ie=UTF8&s=books

[earthmommie]

Hi! I am new here! I am on the road to becoming a vegeterain and can't wait to learn more about this.

[jonjan]

the support section is a Very helpful idea i think.... and also this thread too.

Maybe it'd be helpful to have a post by you welcoming new people who are curious about veg... I link to the veggieboards from my site, and I'd love if I could direct people to a welcoming message, to make them feel safe and at home right away..

[eyeopening]

Pammy, I agree with you. The vegetarian burgers are delicious! I actually think they're better than meat. Less grizzly and tough. They're a great alternative.

Kristie

[~*Nightmares*~]

hey jovander, and earthmommie, being vegetarian for dummies was a really helpful book for me, it's got some good recipes, nutritional information (thats actually easy to understand) and a bunch of other helpful things, it was really easy to read too! you can find it at any bookstore. hope it helps!

[loser-girl]

I've been a vegetarian for like a week now and I'm doing great .... bought a cook and everything i need so i don't have problems with it ..

but i do have a question though, can i eat egg ??

[Kiz]

Egg, meaning hen eggs or duck eggs etc is vegetarian but it is not vegan, if that is what you are asking. Roe and caviar (fish eggs) are generally neither vegetarian nor vegan.

[Michael]

If you consider yourself a vegetarian then you can have eggs. If you consider yourself a vegan then you would want to avoid all animal products including dairy and eggs. It's really up to you.

[jonjan]

I've been a vegetarian for like a week now and I'm doing great .... bought a cook and everything i need so i don't have problems with it ..

but i do have a question though, can i eat egg ??


Congrats on the change :D keep going at whatever pace works the best for you :)


an idea... u might want to focus more on the realities, as opposed to labels. just learn and follow your heart or whatever your guidance is, and ignore the boundaries of labels... imo. Like, after I went vegan, I found there was SO much more I could do to help. I eventually started just ignoring labels and focusing on consequences.

just a few quick things about eggs (and the hens)...
The industry standard of cage space for caged hens is less than 70 square inches. A piece of notebook paper has 93 square inches. So the majority of caged hens live their entire caged lives standing on wire mesh cages, with less space that a piece of paper. The cages are stacked and the feces of the hens on top often drop onto the hens stacked below them. And the feces build up and make the air quality unhealthy. This doesn't say anything compared to seeing photos of how they live, though.

http://www.eggindustry.com/ is a peaceful site that shows the reality.

if you're not ready to give up eggs, then free-range eggs offer the hens more freedom (but are still cramped quarters). eggs from small farms might offer the most freedom to the hens.

every single thing we do helps!


"Wiser is the person who moves in the direction of doing something, rather than nothing"
"Perfection sometimes isn't an option, but Improvement almost always is"!
"When you are learning how to walk, do you focus on the falls you take... or do you focus on the steps you make? :) "

Jon

my sites:
www.HelpUsAll.com/ap (why the animals matter)
www.HelpUsAll.com/foodsummary (how food affects our health, environment, and the animals)

[Wayne_D]

I eat eggs, but only free-range ones. I know the situation isn't ideal, but at least it's somewhat more ethical than battery hens. They also taste better than battery hen eggs too.

[semi-veg]

The important thing is to be helpful. If someone says the only meat they eat is fish or chicken don't jump down their throats. If they say they're going vegetarian don't insinuate it's not enough. The important thing is to provide support and help them ease into it. Always be positive! We want to help them make the changes that they feel comfortable with. Every little bit they do is better than nothing.

Thank you Mike for that introduction, as a newbie, this is a very big step for me, and the last thing I need is an extremist breathing down my neck. I have totally emptied my freezer of meat and milk is out, I am keeping my eggs though. What has helped me immensly is the book "The China Study", and of course I can't leave this man out, the LORD Jesus Christ.

I look forward to reading all the goodies that others have posted and encouraging letters.

Karl

[Jehote]

ok, in the mornings i drink a protein drink, whey protein with an orange added. thats my breakfast. its something i have done for along time now, and didnt change it when i started going vegetarian. its a product from milk i believe....?
im doing lacto ovo to start this journey and figure i will evolve into ??? over time.
also, i have heard that if you cook pinto beans for a few hrs,, then ditch the water and rinse and finish cooking in new water they are alot less gassy....
any truth to that one?
thanks!
J

[jonjan]

ok, in the mornings i drink a protein drink, whey protein with an orange added. thats my breakfast. its something i have done for along time now, and didnt change it when i started going vegetarian. its a product from milk i believe....?
im doing lacto ovo to start this journey and figure i will evolve into ??? over time.
also, i have heard that if you cook pinto beans for a few hrs,, then ditch the water and rinse and finish cooking in new water they are alot less gassy....
any truth to that one?
thanks!
J

Whey is from dairy, yes. There are other protein drinks that are all plant and don't inconvenience animals... pea protein, soy protein of course, and others. And if you are eating the protein for muscle reasons, you might want to search online for Richard Blackman... big body fed on fruits alone for 11+ years. just to throw in some new food for thought! (I've built a lot on muscle on fruitarian also, so I know it's really true) :yes:

soaking beans (and seeds) will remove substances... and will make them less gassy and also easier to digest. When I was eating beans I had started to do this and the differenc was huge. I'd soak them for overnight, and then some, and keep changing the water every ~5 hours until it was clear.
...and to release extra nutrients and make them even more digestible, let them sit for a day or so after soaking them and they'll sprout.

Jon
www.HelpUsAll.com/foodsummary

[bluesand]

ok, in the mornings i drink a protein drink, whey protein with an orange added. thats my breakfast. its something i have done for along time now, and didnt change it when i started going vegetarian. its a product from milk i believe....?
im doing lacto ovo to start this journey and figure i will evolve into ??? over time.
also, i have heard that if you cook pinto beans for a few hrs,, then ditch the water and rinse and finish cooking in new water they are alot less gassy....
any truth to that one?
thanks!
J

Well you are of to a good start ...just take your time

Re the beans, yes there is truth in that , its important that they are prepared how you described ...there is a enzyme that creates the gas problem , it can , even with some beans , led to diarrhea if they are not properly soaked rinsed and finish of as you described .

[Ashe Of Heaven]

Ok. I guess I'm the new kid here. (no music jokes PLEASE!)
After doing some serious thinking I decided at the beginning of this year to become vegetarian. It's wasn't easy at first, but now I can't even stand the smell of meat. Being in the southern part of the United States, I'm finding it hard when my family goes out to eat.. I usually eat salds. My wife, is trying to be supportive of my choice, even though she's not made that decission herself. Anyway, I just thought I'd pop in and say hi and see what resources are out there for and see if anyone has any advice.

[bluesand]

Ok. I guess I'm the new kid here. (no music jokes PLEASE!)
After doing some serious thinking I decided at the beginning of this year to become vegetarian. It's wasn't easy at first, but now I can't even stand the smell of meat. Being in the southern part of the United States, I'm finding it hard when my family goes out to eat.. I usually eat salds. My wife, is trying to be supportive of my choice, even though she's not made that decission herself. Anyway, I just thought I'd pop in and say hi and see what resources are out there for and see if anyone has any advice.

Sounds like you have thought it through and taking one step at atime . There is a USA thread you might link up with others in your area if you are interested

Its cool your wife is supportive , my only advice is just let her work it out herself (if she wants to become a Vegetarian)

Well there are a stack of people that have been through a lot of issues , not just vegetarian so just open a thread or post a question

wish you well :bobo:

[linaface]

I've recently become a vegetarian (3 months) and I was wondering if there was any foods I should look out for that might not be veggie friendly? Also, should I be worried about lack of protien?

[Sheniqua]

This sounds like a good idea. so far,I've been a vegetarian for a month now and enjoying every minute of it. yesterday at work I was so hungry that I was ready to eat some form of meat. But it took every ounce out of me to stop that urge and I did it. It was a close call. Any suggestions on how to stop these urges?

yea, watch the videos over and over again until you cant look at a steak without vomiting

[Nasika]

What to do if everyone around you eat meat and you want to be a vegetarian?

[jkir74]

When confronted with the Meat Eating culture be aware it is a culture, therefore it is socially appropriate for them to not understand why you do what you do. Meaning, do not try to change them, just change yourself.

When in this situation let the people that may provide you with food know what your eating preference is, vegan, lacto, ovo, etc... Make sure they understand but do not explain why unless they ask. By not forcing the idea upon them, they will eventually be genuinely curious and then give them the short version of why.(animal rights, environment, etc...)

As you continue this path I would also suggest that you try to remember where you started. Most people in the U.S. were not raised vegetarian and therefore do not understand literally how and why you do it, just as at one point you also did not know. I admit I was one of those vegetarians that fogot.

From 1991-1998 I was a vegetarian and was transitioning to Vegan. I had not had meat cooked in my home for over 4 years at the time and literally felt sick when around grease. To this day I do not like the smell of grease. Since 1998 I have had 3 children and have raised them as open minded meat eaters, and this is why. I live in a southern meat eating community. I had no supports at the time for vegetarianism and I believed it to be cruel to raise a child so different from the norm. I was concerned for the children's mental health. While I stand by my choice I feel that I should have control their diet more.

Since 1998 I have gone back to vegetarian life style at least once a year. Two of my three children have tried the vegetarian lifestyle. One chose to go back to meat eating but the other has continued now for 5 months. I also have returned to vegetarian for the same 5 months. Because I did not force the lifestyle my son now has a high sense of pride and self worth in his eating habits. (he has also lost a significant amount of body weight.)

Sorry for such a long post, but I thought it was necessary to see that even the most strict vegetarian can slip out of place. As newbie's enter our culture lets support the fact that they (and you and I) have been in a culture that was ingrained in our psyche's since before we were born.

Thank you for your support,

[Ann22]

Hi, I'm a recent vegetarian (one month), I do have to say, I feel much better, my temper is really going down, my energy is going up, I'm doing better in school (I hope hehe). But really its a great life choice, I recommend it a lot. And its great I finally found a forum about such topic
My parents are not supportive of my choice, but I think they'll come around sooner or later

Just wanted to share that with you guys....
Thank you
All the vegetarians out there keep it up :)