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[V_Arnold]

My reasons are this:

1) I do not want to support an industry that promotes mass murdering, torture and vegetative growing of animals just because a certain amount of our civilization feels the need to eat 20-30dkg+ meat every day. Simple as that.

2) Vibrationally speaking, I am more calm and balanced since I get rid of meat. It is a two-way street, as obviously, since I am being more calm and balanced, I no longer feel the need to eat a food that represents struggle, violence and an increased physical activity when I wont be using my body for those purposes anyway.

3) I am being drawn to more and more simple foods. Nuts, seeds, wholegrains, fruits and vegetables - I love these way more than meat. If my body was craving meat all the time, I would definitely look inside and see why is that - but it does not.

(Also, please note: I have no agenda to push, I am fine with people eating whatever they want. Reason being, everyone will only learn what is best for them if they explore their options. For some people, I can understand why eating meat is a central thing in their lives.)

 

[Alucrid]

Technically it's not murder, it's slaughter.

 

[andycapps]

Technically it's not murder, it's slaughter.

It's also technically hunting like other animals do. Humans have evolved to the point though where we pay others to hunt and prepare the food for us. Unless you hunt for your own meat.

 

[Soybean]

Seitan is much more protein dense than tofu, so that's my go-to source for non-meat solid protein (pea/rice/hemp protein shakes being my other source, but normal non-weightlifting people don't need shakes).

 

[TimeKillr]

It's easy to avoid soy if you just stay away from processed foods (which is advisable whether you're vegan or not). Even if you want a fake meat product, seitan is made of wheat protein, not soy.

I do stay away from processed foods, and when I do get them I'm insanely careful in checking the ingredients, because a *lot* of companies now use hydrolyzed soy protein because hydrolyzing it releases MSG, so they can get away for using MSG without mentioning it. It's ridiculous because it's literally everywhere.

I had seitan a few years ago - it was good, but every freaking seitan meal I've had was littered with soy stuff (because, hey, it's a great cheap protein!). I'm screwed regardless

So I end up cooking at home a lot. I need protein to survive, and with my soy intolerance it leaves me 2 venues for sufficient amounts of protein: meat (of which I basically only eat chicken and ground beef for some reason) and beans in general.

I love beans, but I can't have them at every meal, because hot damn do they make me gassy, so.... I do what I can.

I also know a lot of people who were raised on farms and such and who produced chicken for bigger companies. Most of them are very ethical in how they treat their animals, because they know that the better you treat them, the higher the quality of the meat. Sure, it's a bit more expensive, but I'd rather eat chicken or beef that was treated with respect and dignity.

And while cows are being kept artificially pregnant so they keep producing milk, a lot of milk farms have made a very bio turn these past few years and they have found out that their milk output is of much higher quality and ends up costing them less to produce. There's milk farms where the cows go into a self-service type of machine and they always willingly go in - they get milked, get a massage from machines and are generally much happier.

 

[AnGer]

Going vegetarian would be an option to consider (though I eat very small amounts of meat already) but vegan? No can do, as someone who has a very strong allergy to grass pollen, I am not allowed to consume high amounts of soybeans or products based on soy.

I'm cool with anyone who does give up on meat though as long as he/she isn't being someone who practices it because he needs a new religion.

 

[Damon Bennet]

Tofu in comparison to meat has much less protein. I'm not speaking in terms of sustainability, but the amount of protein is pretty lacking in tofu compared to meat.

6 oz steak - 48 grams of protein
7 oz chicken breast - 60 grams protein
6 oz tofu - 13.8 grams of protein

I know, but there are still enough of other sources that in combination give you enough of protein.

Barley,Beans,Sesame Seeds,Leafy Greens
Corn Meal, Lentils,Sunflower Seeds,Broccoli
Oats, Peas, Walnuts
Rice, Peanuts, Cashews
Pasta, ,Other Nuts
Whole Grain Breads

 

[TouchMyBox]

I was raised vegetarian, and thus eating meat is a completely alien concept to me, with the few times I've accidentally eaten meat, I really didn't like how it tasted. As of a few months ago I realized that I'm lactose intolerant, so I'm pretty close to being vegan as the moment, though I don't believe I'll ever be able to give up cheese seeing as there are no convincing alternatives to it.

But yeah, I could never kill something purely for the reason of "I like how they taste", especially when I don't.

 

[RSTEIN]

I'm not vegan, but vegetarian.

People ask me all the time, "why are you vegetarian?" After years of giving long, drawn out explanations my standard reply is, "why do you eat meat?"

There is only one response to this:

Because it tastes good and I don't like vegetarian cooking

Other than this one reason, which is the most important for many, eating meat is absolutely stupid when compared to a vegetarian diet.

1) The industrial food complex is sanctioned wholesale slaughter and torture.
2) Raising animals for meat is very bad for the environment.
3) Many meats, especially found on many North American dinner tables, are high in cholestrol, fat, etc.

If you can live a healthy lifestyle that creates less polution and doesn't involve torturing animals why would you choose anything else? A vegetarian diet dominates a meat diet in every way.

 

[Alucrid]

I was raised vegetarian, and thus eating meat is a completely alien concept to me, with the few times I've accidentally eaten meat, I really didn't like how it tasted. As of a few months ago I realized that I'm lactose intolerant, so I'm pretty close to being vegan as the moment, though I don't believe I'll ever be able to give up cheese seeing as there are no convincing alternatives to it.

But yeah, I could never kill something purely for the reason of "I like how they taste", especially when I don't.

They have vegan cheese. I don't know what it is exactly, but I'll assume it's made of soy.

 

[ChanHuk]

A vegetarian diet dominates a meat diet in every way.

Except taste

/troll

 

[TouchMyBox]

They have vegan cheese. I don't know what it is exactly, but I'll assume it's made of soy.

Oh I know.

When soy milk first became somewhat widespread, it was pretty awful. Like soy milk before it, soy cheese is in its infancy and last I tried of it, was pretty crap.

 

[Damon Bennet]

They have vegan cheese. I don't know what it is exactly, but I'll assume it's made of soy.

hardened plant-oils. actually the fake-cheese that is usually part of cheap supermarket-pizza is made of that too. usually a mixture of fake-cheese and real cheese, look up.

then there are soy based products, as you said

Except taste

/troll

I know its trolling, but anecdotal evidence: I once made pasta for my family with a bolognese-sauce with seitan. they did not notice the difference.

the stuff people like about meat are often just the spices associated with it. sure a high quality steak deserves only to be peppered and salted maybe, but low-class meat like salami or something is only tasty because of the smoke and spices.

 

[andycapps]

I know, but there are still enough of other sources that in combination give you enough of protein.

Barley,Beans,Sesame Seeds,Leafy Greens
Corn Meal, Lentils,Sunflower Seeds,Broccoli
Oats, Peas, Walnuts
Rice, Peanuts, Cashews
Pasta, ,Other Nuts
Whole Grain Breads

For me, a lot of those also contain too many carbs for my lifestyle, but there are definitely other sources for protein. I use some of those to supplement my diet as well. I don't really have a lot to share with this thread as I'm not a vegan, but have a lot of friends that are.

About the taste, good vegan/vegetarian food does exist, particularly in Indian food or Thai. Spices and cooking it well can make it taste good.

 

[Stumpokapow]

the stuff people like about meat are often just the spices associated with it. sure a high quality steak deserves only to be peppered and salted maybe, but low-class meat like salami or something is only tasty because of the smoke and spices.

Well, consider a dish like falafel; falafel is basically a tasteless mushy paste in a flour dough... but the seasoning (cumin, coriander, parsley, salt, pepper, garlic, minced onion) gives it 100% of its characteristic taste.

 

[ChanHuk]

I know its trolling, but anecdotal evidence: I once made pasta for my family with a bolognese-sauce with seitan. they did not notice the difference.

the stuff people like about meat are often just the spices associated with it. sure a high quality steak deserves only to be peppered and salted maybe, but low-class meat like salami or something is only tasty because of the smoke and spices.

Its easy to replace ground meats, they're cheap meats like you said, taste of whatever spices/flavors you add to them. So of course a heavy bolognese is gonna cover up the taste of seitan.

 

[Alucrid]

Its easy to replace ground meats, they're cheap meats like you said, taste of whatever spices/flavors you add to them. So of course a heavy bolognese is gonna cover up the taste of seitan.

especially considering that seitan can be made to taste like whatever you want

 

[Trurl]

For me, a lot of those also contain too many carbs for my lifestyle, but there are definitely other sources for protein. I use some of those to supplement my diet as well. I don't really have a lot to share with this thread as I'm not a vegan, but have a lot of friends that are.

About the taste, good vegan/vegetarian food does exist, particularly in Indian food or Thai. Spices and cooking it well can make it taste good.

What do you mean too many carbs for your lifestyle? If you're concerned about gaining weight your fears are misplaced. It's very difficult to become fat as a vegan unless you consume huge amounts of soda and Oreos or something.

As a guy the risk to your physical appearance is that you'll become fairly skinny which society tends to look down upon for men.

 

[Damon Bennet]

Well, consider a dish like falafel; falafel is basically a tasteless mushy paste in a flour dough... but the seasoning (cumin, coriander, parsley, salt, pepper, garlic, minced onion) gives it 100% of its characteristic taste.

thats why falafel > rissole. both have their great taste because of spices but for a falafel its not necessary to put an animal-corpse through a grinder

 

[Alucrid]

thats why falafel > rissole. both have their great taste because of spices but for a falafel its not necessary to put an animal-corpse through a grinder

Thank god my vegan housemate doesn't say shit like this whenever I cook up dead animals.

 

[Fugu]

I don't think it's fair to lump those two together.

Eating vegetarian is a healthy alternative but there are plenty of sources that indicate that eating vegan really is not.

Do as you like, though.

Actually, studies on the subject have indicated that Veganism is no less healthy than a healthy diet incorporating meat. Vegetarianism and diets incorporating small amounts of meat have been shown to be optimum but that doesn't exactly make a Vegan diet unhealthy.

 

[Damon Bennet]

Thank god my vegan housemate doesn't say shit like this whenever I cook up dead animals.

huh, but its true?

btw: I am usually not the type that annoys people about their eating habits. But on a message board, I make my position clear to actually discuss stuff.

 

[demon]

I can't imagine going vegan. I'm no meat nut....you won't see me at Outback Steakhouse every week (if ever), but there are certain things I just can't do without. No eggs ever? No cheese? No sushi? Fuck that. Moderation, sure. Give it up, never.

 

[andycapps]

What do you mean too many carbs for your lifestyle? If you're concerned about gaining weight your fears are misplaced. It's very difficult to become fat as a vegan unless you consume huge amounts of soda and Oreos or something.

As a guy the risk to your physical appearance is that you'll become fairly skinny which society tends to look down upon for men.

My lifestyle meaning how I want my body to look and perform. I'm not trying to be rude, but I'm not looking to become vegan. I'm trying to be pretty lean and built well, while it's possible to do and be vegan or vegetarian, I don't have any motivation to do that. I respect others that do though.

 

[ThingontheFloor]

Thread is making me increasingly hungry. I'd love a falafel right now.

Acceptance and awareness of vegan meals and alternatives is definitely at an all time high though, which is great. At least in my area (outside of Philadelphia). I've noticed a lot of restaurants that offer vegetarian/vegan options, and in bigger cities, entire restaurants dedicated to them. For those looking to more vegan options, it's never been easier to go to most grocery stores and find a variety of healthy and delicious options, it isn't regulated to niche stores you had to drive 30 miles for.

 

[V_Arnold]

I can't imagine going vegan. I'm no meat nut....you won't see me at Outback Steakhouse every week (if ever), but there are certain things I just can't do without. No eggs ever? No cheese? No sushi? Fuck that. Moderation, sure. Give it up, never.

Oh, THAT is Vegan! For some reason, I thought that vegetarian!=vegan, as in there are other terms (raw vegan, etc) out there as well.

Yeah, I do not want to give up on eggs and cheese, even if cheese is not really that big of a deal. Egg, however, is too good to not be a foundation of my preferred diet. (But I am fine with paying twice as much for eggs if it means that they come from a source that actually respects the chickens and treat them well.)

 

[ChanHuk]

especially considering that seitan can be made to taste like whatever you want

So what exactly does seitan taste like?

Simplistic eating in that I usually buy high quality meats and all that's needed is salt and pepper.

I made a vegetarian salad that could easily be vegan if I took out the cheese for my lunch today. Heirloom tomato salad with watermelon, mint, goat cheese, and red onions. Dressed with extra virgin olive oil and white balsamic vinegar. Actually, I might throw in some chopped chicken breast for extra protein.

 

[AnGer]

Thread is making me increasingly hungry. I'd love a falafel right now.

Agreed. Love it with some doener sauce and salad in a dueruem wrapping.

 

[Alucrid]

So what exactly does seitan taste like?

Simplistic eating in that I usually buy high quality meats and all that's needed is salt and pepper.

I made a vegetarian salad that could easily be vegan if I took out the cheese for my lunch today. Heirloom tomato salad with watermelon, mint, goat cheese, and red onions. Dressed with extra virgin olive oil and white balsamic vinegar. Actually, I might throw in some chopped chicken breast for extra protein.

Whatever you want it to taste like. As in it depends on how you prepare it, so you can have it taste like beef or chicken etc.

 

[Famassu]

I can't be a vegetarian.

Why? It's simple - I have a huge soy protein intolerance. Whenever I ingest soy protein (in any form whatsoever!) I get hit with massive migraines.

When I say massive, I mean "I'm unable to function at all".

Sooooooooooooooooo yeah. About 80% of all vegetarian/vegan meals are inaccessible to me.

Plenty of vegetarian food which doesn't need soy in any form. Plenty of other protein sources.

 

[Meier]

My brother has been a vegetarian for about 20 years or so and a vegan for at least 13-14 now. As far as I know, he simply doesn't approve with how animals are treated. I know he has no allergies, it was entirely an ethical decision.

 

[dark10x]

Actually, studies on the subject have indicated that Veganism is no less healthy than a healthy diet incorporating meat. Vegetarianism and diets incorporating small amounts of meat have been shown to be optimum but that doesn't exactly make a Vegan diet unhealthy.

I was under the impression that a vegan diet can leave you nutrient starved with a reliance on supplements becoming necessary. I would be genuinely afraid to move to a vegan diet.

That said, I don't enjoy eating tons of meat either, just a bit mixed in with everything else.

 

[Damon Bennet]

Whatever you want it to taste like. As in it depends on how you prepare it, so you can have it taste like beef or chicken etc.

seitan is awesome. I feel its hard to get the consistency and texture right, but once you nail it, you can make endlessly tasty stuff with it.

for the guys who never heard of it: it is basically wheat protein.

here are some pics, of what you could do with seitan:

 

[patrickthehedgehog]

I'm not exactly vegetarian, but I've dropped pork, beef and chicken from my diet. It's been surprisingly easy to manage, but it's probably because I live in a city where it's easy to eat this way.

 

[Leucrota]

It is hard to have a healthy vegan diet when all meat substitutes are so fucking high in sodium. Tofu gets real boring and does not actually do a good job of 'soaking up the flavors' of the other food it is cooked with, as many vegans proclaim.

My deal is eating leaner cuts of meat and a ton of fruits and vegetables. Be healthy, don't eat like an idiot fat slob unless you don't care about being fat, I guess.

Non-vegan vegetarians are just so hypocritical though. So the milk and egg industry's practices, which are so intricately tied to the meat industry's, can just be ignored because you don't want to take the moral jump or inconvenience yourself too much?

Go vegan or GTFO, always was and still is my mantra to veggies.

I was a vegan for three and a half years. I am still recovering from that time by eating some fine cuisine.

 

[MutFox]

Do vegans here take supplements or are they all natural?

 

[Damon Bennet]

It is hard to have a healthy vegan diet when all meat substitutes are so fucking high in sodium. Tofu gets real boring and does not actually do a good job of 'soaking up the flavors' of the other food it is cooked with, as many vegans proclaim.

My deal is eating leaner cuts of meat and a ton of fruits and vegetables. Be healthy, don't eat like an idiot fat slob unless you don't care about being fat, I guess.

Non-vegan vegetarians are just so hypocritical though. So the milk and egg industry's practices, which are so intricately tied to the meat industry's, can just be ignored because you don't want to take the moral jump or inconvenience yourself too much?

Go vegan or GTFO, always was and still is my mantra to veggies.

I was a vegan for three and a half years. I am still recovering from that time by eating some fine cuisine.

everybody should do what they can. you dont have to be vegan or even vegetarian. if people stopped eating meat everyday that would be something already

 

[shira]

Animals are not tasty

 

[MutFox]

Animals are not tasty

If there is a vegan version of yakiniku that tastes exactly the same, I will jump over.

 

[Derrick01]

I know right, vegetables, fruit and crops for example are disgusting. how could anyone eat that stuff

Well first off it wasn't plain vegetables. I don't know what it was, but it wasn't just a pile of corn or whatever on my plate. I could eat that as unpleasant as it would be.

But yeah I don't normally eat fruit or vegetables as they taste nasty. I eat unhealthy and I'm ok with it.

 

[Cheech]

yes ridiculous, isnt it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqx6FVTdOUw

(i know its not always the case, but closing your eyes is not really helping here)

Err, that was my point. I didn't say it NEVER happens, but it's not some widespread thing. I worked at a couple local chicken farms (we'd go "on loan" from our home base), and believe me, nothing awful like that ever happened to the animals. I did have a chicken jump into a large exhaust fan once and instantly explode, but hey, nobody said they were the most intelligent creatures.

Well first off it wasn't plain vegetables. I don't know what it was, but it wasn't just a pile of corn or whatever on my plate. I could eat that as unpleasant as it would be.

But yeah I don't normally eat fruit or vegetables as they taste nasty. I eat unhealthy and I'm ok with it.

Dude. You probably should start acquiring a taste for them before you expire in your 40s. Most people eat plenty of stuff they didn't like at first, but there are very few things I haven't been able to acquire a taste for over the years. Ironically, I love salads, but have never had a salad dressing I like. They are just universally vile. What I do is put some fruit in a regular veggie salad as my "dressing". Also, something like Greek Yogurt doesn't automatically click for most people, but it is so damn good for you (especially as a post-workout food), it is worth eating for a week to get a taste for it.

 

[IceCold]

I eat nothing. I take all my nutrients from looking at the sun. Sometimes I'll take a multivitamin if I'm sick, but that's it. I don't eat meat since I disagree with how farmers treat their livestock and don't eat vegetables since the pesticides used kill a lot of rodents and insects.

 

[ThingontheFloor]

Well first off it wasn't plain vegetables. I don't know what it was, but it wasn't just a pile of corn or whatever on my plate. I could eat that as unpleasant as it would be.

But yeah I don't normally eat fruit or vegetables as they taste nasty. I eat unhealthy and I'm ok with it.

That sucks man, I dunno what you had that you would react that strongly but it sounds like maybe you just had a bad experience with them. I couldn't imagine cutting fruits or vegetables out from my diet even if I wasn't vegan, "nasty" is not a term I hear often regarding them unless it's from an 8 year old, no offense. Try and branch out some more though, I guarantee your mind and body will thank you in the long run.

 

[Derrick01]

Dude. You probably should start acquiring a taste for them before you expire in your 40s. Most people eat plenty of stuff they didn't like at first, but there are very few things I haven't been able to acquire a taste for over the years. Ironically, I love salads, but have never had a salad dressing I like. They are just universally vile. What I do is put some fruit in a regular veggie salad as my "dressing". Also, something like Greek Yogurt doesn't automatically click for most people, but it is so damn good for you (especially as a post-workout food), it is worth eating for a week to get a taste for it.

Maybe some day I'll be able to force salads down but I can't now and don't really feel the need to do it. I just don't bother eating stuff I don't like the taste of.

I couldn't imagine cutting fruits or vegetables out from my diet even if I wasn't vegan, "nasty" is not a term I hear often regarding them unless it's from an 8 year old, no offense.

It's alright. The cool thing about being an adult is no one tries to force that stuff on me anymore so I don't have to throw a tantrum or throw it all up later like I did when I was 10

 

[Ra\/en]

I am lactose intolerant (can't really choose that!), so I drink almond milk and avoid super creamy cheeses.

I'm not really a vegetarian, but my wife is. I eat vegetarian food like 5x a week. I'll eat meat the other 2. Most of the time fish, but sometimes chicken or pork sausage.

I honestly feel healthier now compared to when I was eating meat 7 days a week.

You can eat meat and be healthy of course (let's be honest, red meat every day is bad, fatty pork/lamb etc is not the best, deep fried is not helping etc), but fish, chicken and many other lean meats are just fine.

I personally believe that I'm healthier now moslty due to the extra vegetables and fruits in my diet and complex carbohydrates.

Fill the plate with 1/4 protein, 1/4 carbs and 1/2 veggies.

 

[cousins]

So many self-righteous meat eaters in this thread. That said, I love meat, and I eat it all the time. I have nothing against someone who chooses not to, however.

Edit: Seitan is disgusting

 

[ThingontheFloor]

Seitan is disgusting

I think it really comes down to how it's prepared and texturized. I've had some amazing vegan cheesesteaks made out if, but also had some imitation duck that made me almost throw up. How did you have it?

 

[danwarb]

I went vegetarian ~15 years ago, to reduce my negative effect on the well-being of other, resources and so on. It's not hard. After so long meat looks and smells disgusting and I'm healthier for it. Still take milk in tea though. I'll go vegan at some point.

 

[storafötter]

Do vegans here take supplements or are they all natural?

I take a few as I would rather do it than rely on uncertain sources. Then again nobody is living or eating quite natural today so I don't feel ashamed of taking some supplements if it does me good.

Back to the topic: The reason why I do it is to lower my amount of negative impact on animals and the world. When we live in such a modern and technological advanced society I don't see why we cant harm less when given the option. Every life form has the right to live as much as we do. It would be a different situation if I was living during the ice age or stone age.

 

[Cheech]

I am lactose intolerant (can't really choose that!), so I drink almond milk and avoid super creamy cheeses.

I hate to bring it up yet again, but... I'm lactose intolerant as hell but I can eat most Yogurt. Greek is a favorite because texturally it's closer to ice cream (something like Yoplait is like eating sour snot, IMO), but frozen yogurt treats are great too.

I like nuts too, but they can be crazy high in fat, and not always satisfying for long.