Monday, October 1, 2012

Why I am a vegetarian

Today is World Vegetarian Day, the first day of Vegetarian Awareness Month, according to the North American Vegetarian Society.
I have been a vegetarian since February 2011. I thought I would celebrate World Vegetarian Day by telling you why I became one.
I am not trying to talk anyone else into becoming a vegetarian. And I’m not giving dietary advice.
I don’t think people who eat meat are wrong. My husband eats meat, and we regularly eat together in harmony.
For me, though, being vegetarian works.

I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian. According to The Vegetarian Resource Group, that means I do not eat meat, fish or fowl, but I do eat dairy products and eggs. Also according to the group, an ovo vegetarian does not eat meat, fish, fowl or dairy products, but eats eggs. A lacto vegetarian does not eat meat, fish, fowl or eggs but eats dairy products. A vegan does not eat any animal products, and most don’t use animal products, according to the group.

Very simply, I am a vegetarian because I do not want to eat animals.

I grew up on a beef farm, and we always had plenty of meat to eat.
But in recent years, it has been harder for me to eat meat.
I have learned about some of the farm factory practices in getting the meat from the animal to the table.
My doctor suggested that I watch the film “Food, Inc.,” which I did.
As I became more aware of animal welfare issues, the more I became concerned about my eating habits and how they, even in a small way, might be contributing to the factory farming.
I don’t agree with some of the practices of raising animals to kill and use for food. I don’t think animals should suffer on the way to being butchered to become our food.
I feel a kinship with animals that makes me not want to eat them.

There are health benefits to being a vegetarian. My cholesterol levels are good, as are my triglycerides. My digestive system usually works more smoothly because I get more fiber in my diet than I used to. I don’t feel as sluggish after eating as I used to.
Where I get in trouble is when I don’t follow a diet of mostly whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruit. I pay the price in how I feel and with my weight.

Most important to me, however, is the fact that I’m not eating animals unnecessarily.
In some cultures and some areas of the world, meat is a mainstay in the daily diet. Anywhere in the world, it’s necessary for some people’s health to eat meat.
But I can go without meat. I have access to a variety of other foods that give me the nutrients I need to stay healthy.

As hard as it is for me to make changes in my lifestyle, it was not hard for me to become and remain a vegetarian.
I started eating less and less meat, and one day I decided not to have any meat that week. That grew into no more meat. And I haven’t looked back.
Sometimes I’ll crave a hamburger or steak, or some good fried chicken, but it’s a passing craving and I move on.
I have managed not to let my eating habits become an obsessive-compulsive disorder ritual. One time in a restaurant, I ordered bean tacos. The server thought I said beef tacos. I ate some of it before I realized I was eating meat. I wasn’t thrilled, but I didn’t have an anxiety attack over it. I just reordered my food.

If you’re interested in learning more about vegetarianism, resources include The Vegetarian Resource Group and Vegetarian Times. Please remember to talk with your doctor before making changes in your diet.

  Have you ever made a major change in your lifestyle? What was it and how did you accomplish it?

20 comments:

  1. I think the biggest change in my lifestyle has been adding exercise, which I did when I came out of a horrible depression about 16 years ago. I never did any strenuous exercise before that and when it was recommended I scoffed but I was pretty much at the end of my rope and willing to try anything. I started by just taking daily walks, strolls really, and then I joined a gym and ended up just loving the cycling and swimming. I started working harder to where I was really breaking a sweat and I started feeling good physically and mentally. I could not believe what it did for me mentally. I kept it up, sometimes slowing down to 3 days a week of exercise when I was working full time, but this last year I do something every day even if all I can squeeze in is a 30 minute walk. But I try to do 60-80 minutes per day.
    My husband and I buy our meat at a place over in Wisconsin, we know the farmer and his animals are grass fed and able to roam, he has free range chickens as well. It is a 45 minute drive but a beautiful one and we go about 3 times a year and stock up the freezer. I am feeling rather awful about even that at this moment.

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    1. Krystal Lynn, I don't think you should feel awful. That was not my intent, to make anyone feel bad about their food choices. I think it's great that you and your husband have thought about the process and get your meat from someone who seems to be really responsible in providing meat.

      Your exercise routine is one that I would like to develop. That is a hard one for me, to build up consistency. I seem to find so many excuses not to exercise, even when I know it makes me feel better.

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  2. I think you already know this but I've never eaten meat. My Dad is from India and my Mom converted to vegetarianism when she married him and so me and my siblings were raised vegetarians. It wasn't an easy thing to grow up that way and sometimes it still isn't easy. I don't like being singled out and being a vegetarian in KY in the 1980's equals a lot of being singled out lol.

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    1. Elizabeth, I can imagine! It's hard now sometimes to be the only one in a group who eats no meat.

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  3. Thank you for sharing your viewpoint, Tina. Though I eat meat myself, I understand where you are coming from. I don't like the way many animals are treated either. I can't go to the circus anymore because it upsets me to see the animals like that. I even have a little bit of a hard time at zoos, but at least there it is for educational purposes and they do try to replicate the animals' habitats.

    Well, the biggest change in my lifestyle, believe it or not, was CBT/ERP!! It was a HUGE lifestyle change, but definitely worth it. : )

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    1. Sunny, that is a huge lifestyle change! I'm working on that one, but I'm not moving along too fast.

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  4. Been a veggies since 1991, never looked back!

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    1. That's a long time, Jodi. I'm just starting out! :-)

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  5. I was vegan from 2001-2004. The reason I stopped is because I got bad B-12 deficiency and it took over a year for my neurologist to get my levels normal again. Even now, I am always on the low side and take supplements. He said I should not try to go vegan again. But I still enjoy many vegan dishes, I just also try to make sure I'm eating some chicken during the week, or some of the grass fed beef we went into with a friend. I know our chickens are raised humanely since we raise them ourselves, but I won't get involved in the butchering - my husband has to do that.

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    1. Lisa, I'm sorry your B-12 got so low. That is good reason to change your diet! I agree that even non-vegetarians and non-vegans can enjoy vegetarian and vegan dishes. I am not vegan, but I do enjoy some vegan dishes.

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  6. I've changed my lifestyle several times as far as food. Was mostly vegetarian (ate some fish) for around 7 years with some vegan and raw vegan stints in there. As you know, went off of vegetarian for my health. That was hard though I enjoy it now. I do seek out meats from sources that I think are good, because I agree factory farming is terrible for the animals AND terrible for us. I would like to be able to eat more vegetarian meals again--I love beans and veggies and fruit. I don't think I'll ever be full veg again, though.
    I'm not great at keeping up an exercise routine but I ran track in college and was known as athletic then...not so much now! The motivation of others is really a big help in the exercise department.

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    1. Kristina, Your health is most important, and I'm glad you've found a way of eating that works for you. I'm not great at keeping up an exercise routine either. That needs to be my next big change.

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  7. Don't think I knew you were a vegetarian, Tina. Dan has been a vegetarian for about ten years, and my husband has been one off and on, so we do tend to eat that way. The only time I'll have some chicken or fish is if we go out, and I rarely eat beef. Maybe once a year, when I get a craving. But still my cholesterol is borderline, so my latest dietary change is.......gluten-free. Been doing that for two months, and I don't notice any difference in how I feel, but am interested in seeing my cholesterol numbers! We have so many choices in our country as to what to eat!

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    1. Janet, I hope the gluten-free helps you get your cholesterol numbers down. I am noticing more and more food available "gluten-free." You're right--we have so many choices.

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  8. I stopped drinking anything carbonated for several years. Not so much anymore. In fact, when I get stressed I crave Pepsi. Most of the time I do NOT indulge...but sometimes I do.

    I also stopped eating sugar for a while once to. But alas, I LOVE sugar and missed it too much.

    My family and I strive more and more to eat less and less meat (much to my husbands chagrin). We eat mostly chicken and try to refrain from "red meat" most of the time. It's just not healthy to fill your belly up with that kind of stuff. If you have any fantastic recipes I would LOVE to have them. :)

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    1. Melanie, I am so impressed that you gave up sugar, even for a while. I would be so much better off if I could do that.

      I tend to crave Diet Pepsis. But I mostly crave simple carbs and sugar. And, regretfully, I indulge too often.

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  9. We are not vegetarians but we don't eat a lot of meat and twice a week none at all.
    Major life changes were when I moved to Africa when I was 21 AND when I came back in 1998. I had not expected the returning to my home country to be such a change, but it was. A lot of things were different and I realized I had gotten used to the African way of living very much. It was like immigrating all over again!

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    1. Klaaske, I can imagine that the moves would involve a lot of changes. I guess we get so used to a certain lifestyle, and then when we have to change, it's huge.

      That's a good idea--to go meatless twice a week. I've talked with my husband about going meatless one day a week, but he doesn't seem to be too interested! :-)

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  10. Very interesting ... and so simple, it seems (although I'm sure it's a bit more complicated than that).

    I am personally in the midst of heading into vegetarian-ism. I am at a point where hearing most anything about an animal makes me a bit queesy. I don't eat red meat as it is, and barely have chicken.

    This is such a good post for me, right now.

    Hope you're having a good week!

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    1. Amanda, glad this post was a good one for you. I hope you're enjoying your week, too! :-)

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