Vegetarianism and Veganism

[Pussy Galore]

I went from being a meat eater to being a vegan overnight! It wasn't difficult as I watched something about the treatment of animals and it just absolutely put me off.
I've been vegan for 5 months now and it's the best thing I've ever done. I suffer with endometriosis & IBS and whilst of course, a diet won't cure that - I am hardly ever bloated anymore. I also take vitamins, so when people say "you'll be deficient in X, Y, Z" - I probably get more vitamins now than when I was a meat eater

My partner who isn't vegan actually prefers vegan burgers to beef burgers... there's SO much out there now and some things taste identical. Even tofu in replacement for scrambled eggs. You would be amazed!
I will say, I cant stand the vegans that push it on others. If you want to eat meat, that's your choice of course. Even if you have one vegan meal a week or a month, that's still doing your bit towards it!

 

[rebremm99]

I’ve been vegan for almost 2 years and was vegetarian before that. It’s not difficult at all but at the start you need to be conscious of what you’re eating and supplement for what you aren’t getting from food. I think people give up easily if they aren’t doing it for a cause. I’m not preachy, I don’t personally give a F if people choose to eat meat or dairy but I choose not to because I love animals and once I made the connection, I couldn’t go back to eating them. Dairy is much more cruel too I reckon.
You should deffo try give it a go, even for a couple of days a week I found that since going vegan, my acne disappeared and my health is a lot better

 

[Moira Rose]

I'm vegan and it's changed my life dramatically. I will never eat meat or an animal by product again. We're all so horribly disconnected from where our meat comes from, I thought I knew it all but I got a real shock when I properly looked into it. We shouldn't be so ignorant to that then say we don't condone cruelty to animals.

If you're worried about the health side of it, there's a documentary called The Game Changers which gives alot of info on a vegan diet and shows experiments on how our body reacts to the change after just one vegan meal vs a meat meal. Most top athletes are vegan, it's super interesting.

 

[sixdinnersid83]

I am vegetarian and would like to be vegan but I still eat cheese. The final push for me was rescuing some ex caged hens, such clever and funny characters and I realised how badly treated they are. Very different personalities and the first time most of them see daylight is on their way to the slaughterhouse.
They were in a terrible state when I got them but all their feathers have grown back now

 

[bunnyboo]

I've been a vegetarian for 14 years or so now. I don't think I could go vegan though, I love scrambled eggs on toast, cheese toasties, ice cream, butter etc etc far too much lol. My other half is a meat eater and that doesn't bother me at all, I'd never force him to give up eating meat, just as much as he wouldn't expect me to eat meat. It's a respect thing. The only 'weird' vegetarian thing I do, is I won't kiss him if he's after eating a load of meat he just needs to pop a chewing gum or wash his teeth first and then it's grand.

Controversial opinion, but if I had kids... I don't think I'd raise them vegetarian. It might sound hypocritical, but I just think it's a choice that everyone should make for themselves. As a child, I remember there was a vegetarian kid in our class (her parents were vegan) and I always felt bad at other kids parties and the likes where she'd have to 'find' something suitable for her to eat. Or on school trips, where we were brought to McDonalds and she'd just nibble on some chips. I always felt bad for her, and it seemed like it was an isolating thing that I wouldn't want that for my children. Eating meat is the norm (whether people like that or not) and it should be left up to a person whether they're going to opt out of the norm.

 

[SilverSpoonNotIncluded]

What I always find interesting is people often suddenly worry about being nutrient deficient if you cut out meat - a bit of chicken or minced beef isn’t going to give you all you need either, you still need to have a balanced diet! I just find it so funny you cut out meat and suddenly everyone is concerned you’re going to keel over and die because of nutrient deficiency. What micronutrients are in meat sausages or chicken breasts?! No judgement, my partner eats meat, but I just find it funny.

 

[NapQueenReturns]

Vegan since 2005. Yet to wither and die from any deficiencies.

 

[aaliyahplz]

I've been vegetarian since birth and vegan 5 years this summer- obviously never eating meat before the transition into veganism may have been easier but trust me I did find it hard to give up soooo many dairy products or crisps/chocolate bars (and 5 years ago veganism wasn't as mainstream as it is now, you'd be lucky to find a vegan option in any restaurant/coffee shop) however since the day I decided to go vegan I haven't cheated or stopped, I do it for the animals but I am definitely also an unhealthy vegan that eats a lot of junk food I hate the stereotype that veganism is a trendy diet and everyone wants to eat vegetables or healthy foods for every meal (I'm a healthy weight with quite a small frame so it annoys me when people think i'm vegan to be healthy/skinny like nooooo I love junk food)

Being vegan now is so much easier than it was 5 years ago with places like greggs, subway, costa, starbucks, domino's, papa john's etc all doing vegan options and all the supermarkets having their own vegan ranges, and I think you can find an alternative for anything you're missing (I do still get cravings for things I know I can't eat) and you can now go out to dinner pretty much anywhere and not have to miss out or just order chips, so i think for anyone considering it it's definitely easy to try eating a few vegan meals a week to help with the transition, I did do it overnight but as I already didn't eat meat maybe that made it easier but I did have so much fun just replacing everything with vegan alternatives and trying out new vegan products and cheeses and seeing which one's I liked, in fact that was a really fun part of the transition

 

[smellsofbiscuits]

Hi, fat unhealthy vegan calling

Been vegan for a decade, went veggie about 8 years before that during my "leftie" student stage. Gone through two pregnancies whilst vegan and all health checks came back fine. A little issue with absorbing iron but I've always had problems with that.

Right now my biggest issue is being overweight but that's because of my love of junk food Vegan for the animals.

 

[blueblueindigo]

Been vegan for nearly two decades now! All I can say is now there is so much more choice, better labeling and greater societal awareness. I'm not big on "fake" meat, cheese etc but there is so much variety available. Veganism though isn't just about what you do or don't eat, it's primarily an ethical stance.
"Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals." (Vegan Society)

 

[sixdinnersid83]

I am definitely going to try harder, we don’t drink milk and are really strict on hidden gelatine in foods but I rely on cheese too much which obviously is still supporting the dairy industry.

It makes me cross that meat is the default option for weaning babies, it should be the other way round. Let them choose once they are old enough to understand what they are consuming.

 

[Gym&Tonic]

I haven’t eaten meat since Christmas Day, and even before then I didn’t eat it a lot. I can honestly say I’ve not missed it at all, I do miss fish a lot though. Red meat and processed meat isn’t good for us, it’s a carcinogenic, and is thought to be why Western Europe and the USA have such high rates of bowel cancer compared with say Japan where they don’t eat much of it at all.

I honestly don’t think I will ever eat meat again. I may eat fish again, but honestly the more I think of it the more I think why do we eat animals? What gives us the right to kill another living creature to eat it? I claim to be animal lover but how can I be if I eat them? Lockdown and having nothing to do has given me a lot of time to think about things like this lol.

 

[rebremm99]

I still miss cheese tbh, I used to love nothing more than a really extravagant cheese board and white wine vegan cheese still has a loooong way to go before it’s not totally rank

 

[Jellybeansoup]

Yes the preaching doesn’t help, I never tell anyone I am vegetarian and wouldn’t judge meat eaters.

I am the same but I am vegan (it even feels weird typing that out like I’m expecting stick for it) but I’m by no means preachy, each to their absolute own. I like it when friends get excited telling me they’ve tried something vegan or doing veganuary etc but I’d never ever press it on them.

my parents do not understand it at all and still ‘never know what to feed me’ despite the fact I was veggie for 14 years before becoming vegan

me and my partner are both vegans which makes mealtimes easier, we don’t eat meat alternatives anymore and replaced it with chickpeas and lentils etc which has improved both our skin and digestive issues massively. We also take supplements for iron & B12 because becoming deficient in either is serious business

I find that I’m a lot less picky as a vegan and more open to trying new things, I make more of an effort to pick things from a menu I’ve not tried before rather than always gravitating to the same meals like I would’ve as a veggie

 

[no-no]

I think a lot, if not most, vegetarians thought they could never be plant based. I put it off for years but it’s a lot easier these days because of the convenience food. Even just simple stuff like vegan pesto. I know a lot of people don’t like meat subs so will stick to pulses etc. but I did enjoy the taste of some meats so I’m forever trying all the new launches.

My biggest issue was cheese, but there are some good alternatives now that are close to a mild cheddar for on top of your spag bol or burger, which is about the best you can ask for unless you’re willing to pay for the artisan ones or make your own.

What made it stick for me, along with researching the dairy industry of course, was experimenting with other cuisines. It really opened my eyes to the flavours out there I never tried when I ate meat. I have a kitchen full of spices/rubs/oils I never knew existed in the past. So yes, definitely realistic and the hardest thing is “milk powder” being in stupid stuff it doesn’t need to be

 

[Shutterbug99]

I've been a vegetarian for about 13 or 14 years now. I can't see myself ever going back to eating meat, but even when I wasn't a vegetarian I didn't eat a whole lot of meat. I don't even eat meat substitutes as when I have tried them once or twice the texture has been too 'meaty' for me. I tried a 'fake burger' one time and even though I knew it was made of soy the texture was so much like the real thing that I felt sick and couldn't eat it. I found going vegetarian pretty easy and no great sacrifice, though I think veganism might be much more difficult for me if I ever was to try it. I can't see myself ever quitting cheese. I should try harder, maybe.

I first tried to go vegetarian as a teenager (in a house full of meat eaters). I was pretty much left to my own devices as there would be 'no separate meals' etc. (To this day my dad tells me I am too pale and it's all because I don't eat meat! He seems to forget that I have always been pale!) I ended up living on pasta, and became pretty run down, so if you are considering going veggie, I would recommended doing a bit of research on the foods you need to eat in order to have a healthy, balanced diet. Pasta 7 days a week won't cut it!

 

[TARDIS Blue]

I have been vegetarian for two years. Veganism is too much for me but I get the rationale behind it. Giving up meat is pretty easy though, especially with all the meat alternatives you get these days. I very rarely miss it all.

 

[Lizzie Mintdrop]

I'm what you might call a flexitarian. I don't eat meat at home, I use cow's milk in my tea but other than that the food I eat at home is plant based. You need to eat a variety of foods, I cook with most veggies, I use lentils and beans and eat a lot of dark green leaves, pasta, rice and bread. Get lots of herbs and spices to give your food flavour. It's easy to eat this way in a budget too, I cook a lot of curries and soups. However, because I eat meat if I eat out I get vitamin B12. If you are completely vegan, you need to make sure you take a supplement. There are lots of options with snack foods to nowadays so you can still eat chocolates and biscuits.

 

[sixdinnersid83]

Totally agree with everything you said! I watched a documentary on a slaughterhouse and since then I cannot stomach meat at all then I feel like your tastebuds change over time, I tried eating cheese about 6 months after going vegan and felt so sick after it.
The preachy vegans ruin it for everyone don’t they! I feel like it just prevents more people giving it a go because they’re like fuck it I’ll eat more meat to spite you pricks

Yes the preaching doesn’t help, I never tell anyone I am vegetarian and wouldn’t judge meat eaters.
I think if more people saw what happened inside slaughter houses then they would not eat meat and they know that but don’t want to.

 

[Eureka]

I’m vegan two years and was vegetarian for 28 years before that. Like anything it takes time and practice - learning how to cook is a huge part of it.

Best thing about being a vegan I lost my sweet tooth. I would easily have eaten two or three chocolate bars in a day or half a pack of biscuits. Now I don’t crave sugar at all.

I’ve no problem with people eating meat. My other half is a meat eater but I see a lot more people being a bit more flexible and open to what they eat now and not always thinking you have to have meat and two veg and that can only be a good thing.