Hi there - I am Tina and I am a brand new vegetarian <insert applause track here> <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/carrot.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":vebo:"> I live right outside Philadelphia with my roommate, boyfriend, 12 year old cat Anne and crazy 2 year old pit bull Kira Nerys (both animals are shelter rescues, and both are female - my boyfriend said I am trying to outnumber him with girls <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/rockon.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":rockon:"> )<br><br><br><br>
After several months of reading about the health benefits and not being able to wean myself off of meat, I started to do more research on the treatment of animals in the American food industry and went from my chicken dinner the night before to veggie the next day and cutting out all dairy. Eggs I am still eating at home because we buy them from my roommates coworker who has a few chickens at his rural house and sells the extras his family doesn't use so I know the chickens are very well treated and the eggs natural and organic.<br><br><br><br>
This should be an interesting because my boyfriend is a diehard meat and potatoes kind of guy who still eats like a picky 4 year old - no, I take that back, that is an insult to 4 year olds everywhere, he eats LESS variety than most picky children. Of course every meal is meat, potato, broccoli - that's it end of story. So in other words, no trying out my new and exciting veggie entrees on him, just for me.<br><br><br><br>
I am tracking my foods for awhile to make sure I am getting enough nutrients in (calcium, B12, iron, protein, etc.) and I will finally stop being forgetful and start taking my daily vitamin to supplement this. I also found a great natural foods store that I never knew existed about 2 blocks from me with a really nice cashier who has been vegetarian for 14 years and vegan for 6 and gave me her e-mail in case she could answer any questions for me.<br><br><br><br>
I guess that is all in the way of introduction - I am exploring these boards and any vegetarian websites I can find to get more info. Of course any great links or suggestions are more than welcome!! I have a fairly boring desk job so I have plenty of time to surf the web <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/laugh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":lol:"> Don't know if that is a good thing or bad thing! Hope to get some great ideas and meet some great people here.<br><br><br><br>
~Tina
After several months of reading about the health benefits and not being able to wean myself off of meat, I started to do more research on the treatment of animals in the American food industry and went from my chicken dinner the night before to veggie the next day and cutting out all dairy. Eggs I am still eating at home because we buy them from my roommates coworker who has a few chickens at his rural house and sells the extras his family doesn't use so I know the chickens are very well treated and the eggs natural and organic.<br><br><br><br>
This should be an interesting because my boyfriend is a diehard meat and potatoes kind of guy who still eats like a picky 4 year old - no, I take that back, that is an insult to 4 year olds everywhere, he eats LESS variety than most picky children. Of course every meal is meat, potato, broccoli - that's it end of story. So in other words, no trying out my new and exciting veggie entrees on him, just for me.<br><br><br><br>
I am tracking my foods for awhile to make sure I am getting enough nutrients in (calcium, B12, iron, protein, etc.) and I will finally stop being forgetful and start taking my daily vitamin to supplement this. I also found a great natural foods store that I never knew existed about 2 blocks from me with a really nice cashier who has been vegetarian for 14 years and vegan for 6 and gave me her e-mail in case she could answer any questions for me.<br><br><br><br>
I guess that is all in the way of introduction - I am exploring these boards and any vegetarian websites I can find to get more info. Of course any great links or suggestions are more than welcome!! I have a fairly boring desk job so I have plenty of time to surf the web <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/laugh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":lol:"> Don't know if that is a good thing or bad thing! Hope to get some great ideas and meet some great people here.<br><br><br><br>
~Tina
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