Could you become a vegetarian?

[bicker]

I wonder, though, how much of what we eat is actually vegetables (as opposed to grains [like barley, wheat, rice], starches [like potato, corn], legumes [beans], fruit, and whatevertheheck olives qualify as.

 

[Minnesota!]

I already am. I was for about 5 years through HS/college but one fateful night had me chowing on White Castle's and I never looked back.

However, within the last 6 months, I decided I wanted to go back to vegetarian and it wasn't a hard move back. I am not 100% yet - more like 99%. I never eat chicken, or steak, or burgers anymore. But I love white fish, and shellfish, so I if the opportunity arises, I will eat those.

But mainly its tofu, beans, veggies, etc.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Other....

I could if I had either a chef preparing my meals or a ton of extra income to shop at Whole Foods and get the fancy stuff.

Meat is cheap and plentiful.

 

[Laura]

Other....

I could if I had either a chef preparing my meals or a ton of extra income to shop at Whole Foods and get the fancy stuff.

Meat is cheap and plentiful.

I've found it's cheaper to go veggie. Meat is much more expensive than the vegetarian proteins I buy. I don't eat "fancy stuff" (not that I'm really sure what you mean by that).

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I've found it's cheaper to go veggie. Meat is much more expensive than the vegetarian proteins I buy. I don't eat "fancy stuff" (not that I'm really sure what you mean by that).

I spend way more money on produce than meat. I can't see how it is cheaper to be a vegetarian.

 

[Darsa]

I won't eat fish, not for any other reason but because I can't stand any of it, at all, ever. (I get teased by friends for being "the only Mainer who won't eat lobstah") Meat, on the other hand; I love LEEAAAN cuts of meat, love chicken, like pork. I'm pretty sure I couldn't become a vegetarian.

So if I've sworn off any and all fish, what's that make me? (no, not crazy ) I'll call me a "vegemeatnchickatarian"!

 

[bicker]

I spend way more money on produce than meat. I can't see how it is cheaper to be a vegetarian.

It is an interesting question. Luckily, I keep detailed records of our spending, and I have a decent idea of the impact of switching. The difference in the average amount spent on food each month, before versus after we became vegetarians, is pretty small, and mostly overwhelmed by the impact of inflation over the period of time my data pertains to.

So no, not saving money, but not costing that much more money either -- and of course we've drastically upgraded the quality of food we eat. Previously, we'd accept any ol' crap from the grocery, because it didn't make as much difference to us. Now, we shop quite often at Whole Foods and other places where high-end produce is available.

 

[FireDancer]

So no, not saving money, but not costing that much more money either -- and of course we've drastically upgraded the quality of food we eat. Previously, we'd accept any ol' crap from the grocery, because it didn't make as much difference to us. Now, we shop quite often at Whole Foods and other places where high-end produce is available.

I suspect some of the cost of produce also depends on where you live. Around me there are high end grocers like you described, and they do cost a little more. There are also farm stands which are at worst comparable to the big box supermarkets and often times cheaper. Of course they are seasonal.

While not a vegetarian I do eat pretty healthy and in some cases it is a bit more costly, in some it is not. If anyone really wants to look long term though a little investment in healthy eating will hopefully pay off down the road with less medical bills and a better quality of life. At least that is what I'm banking on.

 

[SydneyFalco]

I voted 'other'.

I think it's vital to stop eating as much eat as we do, but I, frankly, could never stop. I didn't want to vote "no" because it would've felt like a proudful "no" and I'm not proud of it at all. On this issue, I'm beat and not happy about it.

 

[bicker]

If anyone really wants to look long term though a little investment in healthy eating will hopefully pay off down the road with less medical bills and a better quality of life.

I'm not convinced that going vegetarian has substantially improved the healthfulness of our eating, overall. A lot of it has been trading off one nasty (beef) for another (cheese).

 

[robinb]

Nope. I love eating meat too much. However, my DD has been a vegetarian since she was born.

 

[ICF]

No way....i need my chicken, steaks and other wonderful meats!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

I am what my DH calls a "chickaterrian" I have not eaten red meat or pork since I was 16. I am allergice to shellsifh. I do eat chicke nor turkey (white meat, no skin) about 3-4 times per week and fish once in a while (more before I moved; I have not figured out where to buy the best fish yet and I am picky about that).
I would miss the poultry a little bit but I could do it pretty easily. The hardest part would be eating out while traveling. It can be difficult to find things I can and will (yep, I'm picky; I am not proud of it but I am) eat as is.
I could NOT be a vegan

 

[java]

nope - one word BACON.

We do eat meatless probably 3 times a week though.

 

[AntePrincess]

We might as well be vegetarian now. Our diet is primarily legumes, pulses, and whole grains with tons of the cheaper vegetables: cabbage, kale, yellow onions, sweet potato, potato, carrot, turnip, radish, and so on. We stick mostly to apples when it comes to fruit, because large amounts of other fruit will often just go bad. I think our primary supplement is canned tomatoes. We have no problem with eggs and dairy, although I note we've been using fewer eggs lately. It's an exceptionally frugal way to eat, and despite the bland menus I imagine come up when picturing that sort of food, we're adventurous, use a lot of herbs and veggies, and enjoy cooking ethnic foods.

Most of the flesh food we buy are actually bones and scraps. I make a lot of homemade broths from them, in fact I have some meaty pork bones making broth in the crockpot right now ($0.69/lb, bought less than a pound, will have at least a quart of broth in the end for classic Asian noodle soups and a corn/potato chowder tonight).

It's funny where everyone's health priorities lie. Despite being mostly vegetarian, I'm still on our case to eat more vegetables, especially the greens! But I hate green salad and every time I buy spinach it goes bad without being used up. I would love more sweet peas and green beans, but I'm lazy about cooking them, so they sit in the fridge. (Yes, I'm too lazy to braise some green beans or steam some peas when everything else came out of rice cooker or crockpot.)

We eat this way for health, personal taste, and a little bit because we want to "tread lightly on the earth." It also makes our special occasions, where we'll splash out on a roast suckling pig, lobster, or a big old holiday roast, both more festive and more affordable. It's just another thing we do, like cooking from scratch.

 

[joyjoy]

I have not eaten beef, pork, poultry or seafood for over 15 years and I don't miss it at all. In fact, I kind of gag when I walk by that oven thing in Kroger that has roasting chickens in it. Bleechch. I always say I want to try out for The Amazing Race with my vegetarian boyfriend, but neither of us would be able to do the scorpion-on-a-stick challenge.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It is an interesting question. Luckily, I keep detailed records of our spending, and I have a decent idea of the impact of switching. The difference in the average amount spent on food each month, before versus after we became vegetarians, is pretty small, and mostly overwhelmed by the impact of inflation over the period of time my data pertains to.

So no, not saving money, but not costing that much more money either -- and of course we've drastically upgraded the quality of food we eat. Previously, we'd accept any ol' crap from the grocery, because it didn't make as much difference to us. Now, we shop quite often at Whole Foods and other places where high-end produce is available.

Good point.

Not having jumped quite into the healthy eating streak yet, I don't have anything to compare.

 

[bicker]

..., pulses, ...

Pulses?

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I was a vegetarian for about 2 years but gained about 15 lbs. as I wasn't eating the healthiest. Now I eat meat maybe once a week or every other week (and only fish) and I feel like I'm the healthiest I've ever been. The hardest part for me about being vegetarian was not wanting to eat a baked potato and salad every time I went out to eat or some unhealthy appetizer. A lot of restaurants, IMHO, still have a long way to go to have better vegetarian options but they're coming around slowly but surely. I didn't miss meat at all. My whole family eats meat and I did all growing up as I wasn't allowed not to. To me it's an ethical and health reason (mainly health). If I did eat meat I would eat only organic (it doesn't matter if fish are organic but I only buy wild) but that still doesn't change the ethical part.

 

[jenm2878]

Yes, I could easily become a vegetarian as I am almost one now. I can go weeks without eating meat and not miss it, but will on occasion have chicken. I do admit to LOVING cornbeef and filet mignon, so I do have each of those maybe twice a year.

For me, I just don't like the taste of meat, so going without is certainly not a hardship. We are also a household of many pets, and the older I get the more it bothers me to eat animals. I don't seem to have a problem eating dairy though.