Politically Correcting My Vegetarian Guide

There are a few examples of mixing up your homophones (words like their and they're). Just get someone with fresh eyes to look through it. It's easy to skip over those sorts of things, especially if you've been working hard on getting the message right

Apart from that, and it's completely up to you as to whether you take any of these suggestions on board-

1. How Do You Become Vegetarian-

In this you recommend someone going to their doctor beforehand. If you're going to mention this, then I'd also mention that it might be wise to go to a doctor who is at least open to vegetarianism. Everyone has a bias (as you'd have learned studying journalism). Even doctors have a bias, they live in the same world we do and are subject to the same messages, like "But if you don't eat meat, where do you get your protein?!"

2. This is a general site thing, you don't really say where your business is based? I'm assuming it's America because you talk about Independence Day. I think being a bit clearer, on the site, about the locations you're catering to would be a great thing. It sounds like an awesome idea!

Please don't be disheartened by the points I've mentioned. As I said, this sounds like a great idea. It just requires a bit of tweaking. Good luck!

(And I LOVE the photos on there! Made me hungry!)

Adding my +1 to the group that says pescatarians are a type of omnivores. So are flexitarians, although I wish that label would just stop existing. If you keep it I'd move it to a type of omnivore diet... since they eat meat.

I'd suggest changing the definition of pescatarian as well. A filet of fish is meat the same way a steak is meat. It's part of an animal. You're not eliminating meat from your diet if you're still eating fish, bivalves, etc.

I've always seen veganism listed separately from vegetarianism- so it's omnivore (with pescatarian as one variation), vegetarian (variations of lacto-vegetarians, lacto-ovo vegetarians), and vegan.

I agree about listing sources and checking your grammar again. Also, I'd add photo credits (even if they're your own photos).

"Include whole foods" I think you're talking specifically about whole grains in this section, not whole foods.

Tiger Lilly said:

There are a few examples of mixing up your homophones (words like their and they're). Just get someone with fresh eyes to look through it. It's easy to skip over those sorts of things, especially if you've been working hard on getting the message right

Apart from that, and it's completely up to you as to whether you take any of these suggestions on board-

1. How Do You Become Vegetarian-

In this you recommend someone going to their doctor beforehand. If you're going to mention this, then I'd also mention that it might be wise to go to a doctor who is at least open to vegetarianism. Everyone has a bias (as you'd have learned studying journalism). Even doctors have a bias, they live in the same world we do and are subject to the same messages, like "But if you don't eat meat, where do you get your protein?!"

2. This is a general site thing, you don't really say where your business is based? I'm assuming it's America because you talk about Independence Day. I think being a bit clearer, on the site, about the locations you're catering to would be a great thing. It sounds like an awesome idea!

Please don't be disheartened by the points I've mentioned. As I said, this sounds like a great idea. It just requires a bit of tweaking. Good luck!

(And I LOVE the photos on there! Made me hungry!)

Click to expand...

Ahh tiger lily, what a fantastic response. I really really appreciate your honesty and suggestions! I made many changes based on your feedback:

I do indeed, like any other writer, suffer from proofreading glaze over haha. After reading it for days and being my own work, its easy to make those grammatical mistakes and I usually get an assistant, was just being micro managey this time

I replaced the doctor text with this if its okay "Before you embark on a vegetarian lifestyle, it is important to consider whether there are any reasons that you should not do so. If you have any medical conditions, then it may be wise to consult a doctor first. For example, people with diabetes must follow a strict diet and only a medical professional will be able to advise you if a vegetarian diet is sensible for you and if so, whether are any special measure you need to take. Do keep in mind though, it's best to visit a doctor that will guide you in an informed manner and is open minded or unbiased toward vegetarianism."

Our business is indeed based in the states...NY. Its listed on our Contact page which is accessible in our main navigation. Did you mean I should list our location in each article on the site as well? Didn't think of it!

Again, thanks for the kind words. It means SO much that veggieboard readers appreciate our idea. I can't change the world, but it feels amazing to help people change the way they eat

anole said:

Adding my +1 to the group that says pescatarians are a type of omnivores. So are flexitarians, although I wish that label would just stop existing. If you keep it I'd move it to a type of omnivore diet... since they eat meat.

I'd suggest changing the definition of pescatarian as well. A filet of fish is meat the same way a steak is meat. It's part of an animal. You're not eliminating meat from your diet if you're still eating fish, bivalves, etc.

I've always seen veganism listed separately from vegetarianism- so it's omnivore (with pescatarian as one variation), vegetarian (variations of lacto-vegetarians, lacto-ovo vegetarians), and vegan.

I agree about listing sources and checking your grammar again. Also, I'd add photo credits (even if they're your own photos).

"Include whole foods" I think you're talking specifically about whole grains in this section, not whole foods.

Click to expand...

Okay, you responded so logically that I am officially sold! Thanks for the tips, means a lot. Here is the new text for that section if its okay: "The below two categories are not vegetarian, but over time have been associated with transitioning to a plant-based diet. Be respectful by knowing that active vegetarians and vegans do not condone eating any flesh of an animal whatsoever, whether part of the week or otherwise.

Flexitarian - This is a relatively new term and refers to people who maintain a lacto-ovo vegetarian diet most of the time, but allow themselves to eat meat occasionally, making them omnivores overall.

Pescatarian - Many people consider pescatarianism to be the most relaxed form of vegetarianism as people who follow this diet only eliminate meat, not fish or animal products. This may have even less intent than flexitarian, as eating fish continually shows no sign of transitioning off animal flesh. Moreover, over fishing is slowly becoming just as damaging to the environment as factory farming, not to mention the health hazards of mercury poisoning, among other things."

I also changed it to say whole grains instead of whole foods, big oversight on my part, thanks so much!

Resource list is coming next. I definitely don't do articles this length without a reference list, but wanted feedback from veggieboard members on their faves as well.

There are ways you can include pescatarians and flexitarians in your essay, but I agree with others that it would be best not to include them under the vegetarian umbrella. You could talk about how in addition to vegetarians, who are meat avoiders, there are also these two groups that are meat reducers.

I like your photos and layout. On my laptop the light blue (or gray?) text was difficult to read, so if you could darken it some that might make it easier on the eye. There needs to be good contrast between text and background.

As for the overall organization of your piece, it seems like you're putting two broad ideas under one title, and that the title applies only to one of those ideas. You're writing not just "How to Become A Vegetarian" but also "Why You Should Consider Becoming Vegetarian." A title that embraces both of your themes would be better, I think.

The three reasons you gave for people becoming vegetarian were compassion for animals (not just the way they're slaughtered, which sometimes look worse than it is, but for the conditions they have to live in during their life cycles), not liking meat, and health. That second reason sounds pretty vague, though I've heard people say they didn't like meat much anyway. But your piece didn't really touch on the environmental harm animal raising does, or the overall environmental reason that is many people's prime motivation for stepping off meat. There's also the situation of becoming vegetarian to facilitate a romantic relationship with a vegetarian. That's how many people get started, and many of them continue the lifestyle even after the demise of the relationship that got it going.

You write about fish as if fish weren't meat. Maybe phrasing it as "eating no meat except fish" would be more accurate there.

Good for you, pulling this together. I think you have nearly all the elements in place for a good resource and guide to finding other resources.