I think I may be heading vegetarian

[Tigger&Belle]

Everyone draws their own line in the sand and I do not judge others for the decisions they make. I'd love it if, at the very least, other people were to become at least somewhat educated, as you have done, and to base their decisions on facts, not just what they (or humankind) has always done. But we can only decide for ourselves what animal products we do or do not eat or or use.

I have not eaten meat for almost 30 years. I do eat eggs and drink milk. I also wear leather shoes, etc. I have a "never say never" attitude, but can't imagine ever eating meat again. I've tasted seafood a few times, but don't have a desire to make a meal out of it. The only thing I see myself changing my mind on is crab, which was the hardest thing for me to give up when I became vegie (really the only thing that was hard to give up). And I was quite a carnivore. I remember telling the man I ended up marrying, who was vegetarian, that I could never be vegetarian because I could never give up steak. I clearly didn't have the "never say never" attitude then!

But this is simply where I draw my line in the sand. YMMV, which I respect. Some might say I'm not doing enough since I still consume eggs and dairy, but I'm doing what works for me.

 

[bettymae1121]

As others have posted, if you are okay with eating meat but just have a problem with how the animals are raised and killed, there are some ways to find meat products that are more humanely treated. I'm looking to go down that road myself. I like meat, I think that nature made man omnivores and it's okay to follow our own natures, but there is no reason to be cruel to the critters that we eat. Yes it will cost us more (which is why I haven't done it yet, all our extra income is going into renovating our house) but once things are more settled in our lives, I plan on doing (and spending) what is needed to find cruelty free meats/eggs/dairy.

 

[disney_mommy]

While that may help you sleep at night, it's not really the truth. The animals are killed and processed if you eat them or not. It's not like the slaughterhouse is saying, "oh, Mary doesn't eat meat so this cow can go home".

That is incorrect. If one person stops eating meat, the demand will go down (fractionally, it would seem) and so less animals will have to be killed. The more people who do it, the less and less flesh will be demanded, which means less and less supply needed.

If you don't care about the animal's welfare, consider the ecological ramifications of eating meat: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/18/vegetarianism-save-planet-environment.

 

[bicker]

While that may help you sleep at night, it's not really the truth. The animals are killed and processed if you eat them or not.

Untrue. The more people who are vegetarians the fewer animals subjected to cruelty. As bad as animal farming has become, they're not so vicious that they're going to raise and kill cattle regardless of whether or not it'll get sold and eaten.

 

[dizzy99]

I gave up meat myself not too long ago.

I feel amazing - I don't eat a lot of soy products, but I do eat fish, eggs, and tons of beans, grains and vegetables.

I started questioning my meat intake after reading about all of the chemicals (and fecal matter) that is found on commercialy produced meat. I just couldn't eat it after thinking about what I was putting into my body.

I think there are so many benefits to a mostly plant-based diet. I feel 100% better than I did when I was eating meat.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

This is an interesting thread. I grew up eating meat with just about every meal (my family still does) then I was an unhealthy vegetarian for a couple of years and now eat much more healthy and eat meat (chicken or fish only) once or twice a month (I don't eat soy in anything I can help~soy is in so much it's ridiculous~after listening and reading Jillian Michael's books and podcasts about all of the links to health issues and soy). I've been interested in going back to being a vegetarian in a healthy way for many reasons but the cruelty that the animals have to suffer is one of my tops ones. I have watched the videos and seen the pictures and it is absolutely heartbreaking.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

While that may help you sleep at night, it's not really the truth. The animals are killed and processed if you eat them or not. It's not like the slaughterhouse is saying, "oh, Mary doesn't eat meat so this cow can go home".

Actually that's not completely true. The more people give up meat, the less animals will be killed, even if it is only a small percentage.

 

[CowboyCO]

I love burgers, steaks, any kind of meat, but I recently saw a show about how cruel the slaughterers were to the animals. Ok maybe I'm naive, but I always thought this process was done more gently, not just throwing the poor animals around with no respect. It broke my heart and I feel guilty eating meat now.

I know it's the law of the jungle to eat meat, but maybe I'm too sensitive? Am I being irrational? I just don't like the idea of getting my steak from an animal that was slapped around and beaten and worse. Part of me wishes I could get over it, but I don't know if I can.

Has anyone here ever had that experience? My husband thinks I'm overreacting, that people are made to eat meat. Any opinions?

The incendiary videos or photos that you may have seen are not the norm. Yes, animals get killed for our consumption, but the vast majority of houses kill them quickly and humanely and every part of the animal is used for something, from steaks to fertilizer.

Respect? Not sure there is much respect in an assemble line process. They don't thank the animal for it's life like in the moovie Avatar...

Humans are Omnivores and our bodies need protein and other nutrient provided by meat. If there is a specific animal that you feel is processed in an inhumane way, then avoid it. Otherwise, you'll have to go totally vegan, because animal products are everywhere in your life, from the seats on your car to the gelatin in your jello.

 

[CowboyCO]

That is incorrect. If one person stops eating meat, the demand will go down (fractionally, it would seem) and so less animals will have to be killed. The more people who do it, the less and less flesh will be demanded, which means less and less supply needed.

If you don't care about the animal's welfare, consider the ecological ramifications of eating meat: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/18/vegetarianism-save-planet-environment.

If God didn't want man to eat meat, then he would not have made animals so tasty... - Ted Nugent

 

[JessicaR]

I stopped eating most meats a while ago. I eat eggs and fish and poultry but mostly I eat fruits legumes and veggies. It just stopped agreeing with my digestive system. The message was loud and clear! That in turn made me no longer desire to eat it. I eat lots of fish and probably should cut down on the raw fish a bit. I crave it. I feel better overall w/o meat in my diet. My sister eats like I do and our other family members think we have issues.

 

[bicker]

The incendiary videos or photos that you may have seen are not the norm.

Indications are that most of the cruelty is the norm. That's really the major motivator for many of us: We went through decades thinking that things weren't as bad as the videos or photos made it seem, and rationalized our meat intake on that basis, but what's pretty clear now is that cruelty is a fundamental building-block of the vast majority of the meat, fish and poultry industries. While some of the grossest abuses are perhaps rare, the general case, itself, is cruel enough to be unconscionable for many. For many, it is really just a matter of deciding how much responsibility we are willing to take on for the cruelty our consumption causes.

 

[si-am]

I don't eat a lot of meat for the same reason you don't want to, OP. I cook vegetarian meals at home-- we buy meat maybe once a week but only if it is grassfed/organic/local, etc.

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

As others have posted, if you are okay with eating meat but just have a problem with how the animals are raised and killed, ... I'm looking to go down that road myself. I like meat, I think that nature made man omnivores and it's okay to follow our own natures, but there is no reason to be cruel to the critters that we eat.

This is exactly how I feel.

I try to avoid those kinds of shows, preferring not to know, but this one scene snuck up on me in a documentary that wasn't even about the meat industry, and it just about knocked me over.

Respect? Not sure there is much respect in an assemble line process. They don't thank the animal for it's life like in the moovie Avatar...

As loony as it sounds, I'd feel MUCH better about eating meat if it were done this way!!


Anyway, my stomach is still queasy a day later, so today looks like a meatless day for me. We'll see how it goes for tomorrow.

I loved reading all of your opinions.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

This is such a timely thread for me...DH and I have been mulling this over for months.

I rarely agree with bicker, but he is 100% correct on this. OF COURSE the meat industry is a business, and it is all about supply in demand. Yes, that cow still gets killed TODAY...but if month after month demand is down, less cows will die.

I personally think vegetarians are more highly evolved. I really do.

I would love to be a pesce-ovo-lacto vegetarian. I do have an issue with the dairy industry. I mean...many people don't eat veal for ethical reasons (my DH, carnivore extrordinaire, is one of them) but if you support the dairy industry, you support the veal industry. What do you think they do with all the male calves born at the dairy farm?

If you eat eggs...what do you think happens when the hen stops laying? She gets put out to pasture? Nope. And they don't have a very good life in their egg producing years, either.

See...I overthink it, so I just give up (which is 100% a cop out on my part, I admit.) Even if you just go vegan one day a week, you will be helping...and then maybe you can make it two days a week...then three...

I admit to LOVING a juicy steak or burger...and it MUST be almost rare. I hate myself for liking it so much. DH and I have discussed eating pork or beef only once a week, only small portions, and only from humane places. I would like to get to that point, then maybe reassess after a years time.

So....while I still eat meat, I applaud anyone giving it up, and if you come to eat at my house, I will totally accomodate you.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

I'm an on again/off again vegetarian. In fact, I have a handful of great vegan recipes that I try to plan around.

Problem for me is if I don't cook a meat centric dish, now and then, my husband and daugther will head out to Good Times, or McDonalds. I'm so anti fast food, that I'd rather grill some chicken or make a roast and keep them at home. I always try to buy organic meats, but I would really like to give it up altogether. I've just decided that cooking a little bit of quality meat with healthy side dishes is so much better then letting my family run off for fast food.

Good luck on your journey. Someday I may make the leap too.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

This is such a timely thread for me...DH and I have been mulling this over for months.

I rarely agree with bicker, but he is 100% correct on this. OF COURSE the meat industry is a business, and it is all about supply in demand. Yes, that cow still gets killed TODAY...but if month after month demand is down, less cows will die.

I personally think vegetarians are more highly evolved. I really do.

I would love to be a pesce-ovo-lacto vegetarian. I do have an issue with the dairy industry. I mean...many people don't eat veal for ethical reasons (my DH, carnivore extrordinaire, is one of them) but if you support the dairy industry, you support the veal industry. What do you think they do with all the male calves born at the dairy farm?

If you eat eggs...what do you think happens when the hen stops laying? She gets put out to pasture? Nope. And they don't have a very good life in their egg producing years, either.

See...I overthink it, so I just give up (which is 100% a cop out on my part, I admit.) Even if you just go vegan one day a week, you will be helping...and then maybe you can make it two days a week...then three...

I admit to LOVING a juicy steak or burger...and it MUST be almost rare. I hate myself for liking it so much. DH and I have discussed eating pork or beef only once a week, only small portions, and only from humane places. I would like to get to that point, then maybe reassess after a years time.

So....while I still eat meat, I applaud anyone giving it up, and if you come to eat at my house, I will totally accomodate you.

This was so well said and reflects my views too.

 

[dakcp2001]

Vote with your wallet, every little bit does make a difference. If people who mistreat animals end up with a financial penalty and people stop purchasing the products, they will change. It is wrong to say one person changing doesnt help, but you have to think, one person at a time over time can add up to a lot of people. So one person can make a difference. You can find a humane place to buy from if you want to continue to eat meat. Support those farmers who make the right choices.

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

This was so well said and reflects my views too.

Thank you...glad to know I am not alone.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I am a proud vegetarian....I can always find lots of food choices.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Humans are Omnivores and our bodies need protein and other nutrient provided by meat.

Yes we need protein, but there are many other ways to include protein in our diet without eating meat.