“What Made You Stop?”: 35 Former Vegans And Vegetarians Share Their Stories Of Going Back To Meat
There are tons of topics that are bound to get people all fired up because they care so much about the issues. However, there are very few things as controversial as judging someone else’s eating habits. Whether you’re an omnivore, a vegetarian, or a vegan, imagine for a moment if someone came up to you and told you that you’ve got it all backward.
However, people do change their diets all the time. You often hear about people ‘quitting’ meat, but you rarely read about the reverse happening. Redditor u/Seyli04 sparked a very interesting discussion after asking former vegans and vegetarians about what finally made them stop and embrace meat again. They spilled the beans in the comments. Scroll down for their stories.
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I was a vegetarian for 1,5 years. I came home to care for my grandfather, last stages cancer. Upon my arrival he made a lot of meat food that i used to love. (Gołąbki, he made the best i ever ate). He forgot I don't eat meat. I told him that and I watched his face became so sad... f**k it, I'm going to eat it. He was so happy to cook for me while he still could.
Polish-American here: never saw the name of a Galunkie in print before. Mind blown. What is that new letter!? LOVE those. I give every one of you Pandas full authority to laugh at my stupid pronunciation.
I was a vegetarian because I thought I hated meat. Turns out my mom couldn't cook, she never used seasoning. So once I got out on my own, and started cooking for myself, I learned I actually do like meat.
This was me! My mum beef can only be compared to old boot leather. I'm still fussy over meats but i now eat more than i ever did.
Had absolutely no energy. Couldn't work out, which is something I do to help with my disability, so I was essentially bed bound during my vegan year. I will never ever do that to myself again.
I love animals, but I'm not crippling myself more than I already am over them. I simply need meat to gather the energy to do the daily tasks able-bodied folks take for granted. I tried, but it actively worsened my life, so I stopped.
Sometimes, vitamin supplements just do not make up for the nutrients we get from eating meat. We're omnivores. We are NOT meant to be herbivores.
Commercial vitamin supplements are not what they seem, there is no regulation to ensure that there is quality and that they are digestible at the levels your body requires, I don't trust them as a replacement for anything but will take some magnesium, iron and vitamin c if I am run down despite eating properly. I still think the best comes from natural sources and we are omnivores, need our protein and iron.
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Here's what aggravates me about these comments: none of us know what OP actually ate. It takes planning and knowledge to have a balanced diet, and that is multiplied when cutting out meat. OP could have eaten french fries and oreos every day. Don't trash vegan and vegetarian diets when you don't know what OP's diet actually was.
Do we know that they didn't eat the correct foods in the correct amounts? So by your logic it goes both ways.
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You have to eat different when vegan, and have to make sure you substitute enough. Plenty of athletes are vegetarian without a problem
So what you are saying is if it works for some it must work for all correct? We are all just the same and they must have been doing it wrong? Sounds stupid when it's written out like that correct?
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I realise that different diets suit different people and everyone must do the best for them. I have been vegan for over 6 years and it has never caused me any issues. I could not eat a non vegan diet ever again though because the thought of it makes me feel ill :(
Couldn't go back either. After two weeks of being a vegetarian, in 1997, I had planned to eat some meat and then decide. I missed the two weeks by another two weeks because I didn't miss meat. I took a bit and once that typical meat taste hit my tastebuds, I almost threw up, handed my plate over to a friend who was with me, and let him enjoy it, and whenever, by accident or sneaky ässhölery, I got to bite into any meat again, it made me react the same. But it took longer to not like the smell of it anymore, that took about a year.
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Obviously there are plenty of very active vegans out there, so it seems the author missed the chance to actually make a blood test to figure out what's wrong. At the end french fries and cola is also vegan... Anyway, done correctly you only need to take B12, but that might be necessary even with a regular meat consumption if you become older.
Ngl op sounds like cola and French fries was all they were eating and they use their disability aa a crutch. Studies have shown plant based diets give you 5× the endurance of meat eaters.
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I think that depends on how committed you are on keeping that lifestyle. It's harder to properly balance a vegetarian/vegan diet than an omnivore one, but you definitely can. I've been vegetarian for over 15 years and I work out intently 2+ hours a day everyday, plus my regular job and activities and whenever I feel tired is just from a bad night of sleep and I can fix it with a quick nap or coffee. But there where times in my life when I was indeed anemic and feeling exhausted all the time, because I neglected my proper diet. So, yes. You can feel pretty bad so easily but you can also definitely keep a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle and being all good. But hear me out, if you're not prepare to properly commit to it, I applaud the fact that you reconsidered it switch to a omnivore diet , prioritizing your health.
Interesting. I’ve never had as much energy as the 18 months I spent eating low fat vegan. I ate the John McDougall very low fat version of vegan and went back to eating everything because I craved fats (and the things I craved was the lemon butter sauce on calamari and the fatty skin of a rotisserie chicken - should just have added avo and peanutbutter back lol). It worked that way for me because the vegan diet seriously reduced inflammation and fatigue caused by rheumatoid arthritis. I’ve tried to get back on the wagon numerous times but no matter how stiff my joints and how tired I am, the willpower is just not there to go without cheese and calamari again).
I am not trying to fault anybody or anything though I am sure there will be those who hate me for saying this. The notion that we can anthropomorphize animals, whether it's dressing pets in clothes or not eating meat because of the "poor" animals, is a very modern luxury. We can spend a lot of time navel gazing and contemplating all these notion because we have the food, time and lack of really important worries. There isn't a right answer for me but it does seem like if we had to worry about where our next meal was coming from we would spend less time on this kind of thing. I am glad we can have the luxury to think about these things.
Excellent point. "First world problems"
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I want to make one important point about nutrition. In India the religion Jainism has existed for hundreds of years. Actually it originated 2500 years ago. They are committed to non-violence which is the same motivation as going vegan: don't hurt and don't cause suffering, not in humans not in animals. Can't everybody agree suffering is wrong? Everyone who has had a pet know that animals have feelings too. In Jainism they eat no eggs but they do use milk products. This is known as lacto-vegetarism. Obviously they have existed for centuries. Their women give birth to children and to me that has to settle once and for all the discussion if humans *need* meat or not. A woman creating a new human being from scratch so to say, from a microscopic fertilized human egg to a baby in 9 months. Still I hear people claiming you can't live without meat, but yes you absolutely can. Do you see the point? - we don't need to endlessly discuss nutritional science, it's an observed fact.
So your argument is that bc one sect of people are vegetarian that it shows we all can? People are different and the fact some want to impose their views on others is sad, just let people do and be who they want.
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I had hypoglycemia when I was 26 and adopted a began diet. My health rapidly got worse. The alternative doctor I went to told me there are genetic meat eaters and genetic vegetarians. Depends on your personal genetic predisposition as to how well you do on a vegan diet. He put me on a diet of 1 part animal protein to 5 parts vegetables. Within a month I felt like a million bucks again! The key to eliminating hypoglycemia was no sugar, no fruit, no grains.
This wouldn't surprise me at all. It annoys me to no end when meat-eaters belittle vegans for being dumb when they may be doing much better on a vegan diet and when vegans demonize anyone who eats meat when it may be necessary for that person to feel ok. I get the part about loving animals so much it hurts, but if someone needs animal protein to not feel like sh*t during their one life on this earth, it seems pretty cruel to pile on.
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We are biologically designed to eat meat. There's a reason vegans get/look sickly.
They don't. Vegan men look so much more radiant and secure with them selves than the incels.
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Well considering we were bred to eat both plants and animals it’s not surprise that lacking yourself in one or the other is going to cause malnutrition
1st: eating plants doesn't make you vegan. 2nd: don't blame your incapability of making up sufficient meals on them. There's barely any medical condition which really needs you to consume other than plant derived foods.
Honestly I wouldn't even trust a doctor who confidently made such a claim. The interplay of diet with the wide range of human physiologies is clearly not even remotely close to being fully understood.
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This is what happened when I tried to go vegan. I don't eat a lot of meat, and eat plenty of vegan or vegetarian food too, but i guess a part of me does sometimes need meat. My sister however, is vegan and she even gained weight with a vegan diet. Amazing how differently our bodies may react.
Don't EVER feel guilty about eating meat. Humans eat meat, and it is readily available. Besides, it's none of "their" business. If lettuce could scream, vegans would starve to death.🤣🤣
Definitely shouldn't feel guilty about the eugenics in factories or the PTSD slaughter house employees suffer. Definitely not.
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I have low iron and have been instructed by my doctor to eat more red meat to get my iron levels up.
I'm a pescetarian..... Sometimes I have fish .... But mostly vegetarian. I find I have to supplement B12 or I will run out of energy.
Marmite’s a good source, although admittedly it is, well, a bit Marmite…..
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Yes there is. It’s an evolutionary trait that when time are hard we can survive as we have a greater range of food that we can survive on. As we have a plentiful supply of food in modern times, it’s perfectly possible to thrive without supplementing our diet with animals
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THIS is why we cannot stop animal agriculture. There are SO many people like this.
I agree we are omnivores, but even bear largest omnivores on land eat 80% of their diet as vegetables. If you change to vegetarian and face an issue of lack of energy, it might be what you eating. Like negative calorie celery.e.i. there lots of vegetarian option, like rice, corn, wheat, etc. thousands of variety of vegetables and fruits that can make up the protein, vitamins and minerals you require. Like the dispute about vegetable protein vs animal protein, most animals get their protein from vegetables. Carnivores get their protein from herbivores.
Weird because scientifically plant based diets have 5× the endurance of a meat diet.....
I was vegetarian for a number of years, ( cannot digest legumes, soy, nuts), was frequently ill despite eating a ton of fresh fruits and vegetables. When I began eating meat again it was because I was extremely anemic. The difference in energy was incredible! I now eat a Mediterranean diet and have never felt better. I do believe quite strongly that for some, a diet based on genetics is logical…. Humans are omnivores.
This is an excellent example of why meat is needed. For me, I medically need it as well.
Your blood type is a big part of whether your body can be totally vegan or vegetarian. I tried it once, and for three months I was miserable. I had no energy and I felt horribly sick all the time. Turns out I was denying my body critical nutrients provided by beef, specifically. I'm type O+. Once I included meat again there was an immediate change in how I felt.
It just shows you did it wrong. If you make sure you give your body all it needs, you should be all right. Blood test checks, and ask for professional help for a meal plan.
There is a genetic variation of people who are really bad at absorbing iron from plant-based heme. Both my wife and daughter have it. My daughter became a vegetarian and no matter how she set up her diet, she would go and stay anemic. She still avoids all meat from mammals. Only fish, seafood and other invertebrates, poultry and reptiles. We started to eat that way too. I sometimes do eat some red meat, but I've cut more than 95% of my red meat consumption.
Continue my comment. And every tree bearing food. There was no provision for meat to be eaten at that Time. Of course they were perfect humans being a at that time.
Due to being imperfect human beings we crave meat. Some people their bodies can not tolerate with out meat. Adam and Eve were told that they only food they were require to beat were seed bearing plantvand
Vitamins do not contain protein, which is what's missing here. There are ways to combine vegetables to get a complete protein, for example beans and rice, but not all vegans know how to do that . I'd like to be vegan, too, but it just doesn't work for me.
I have a lot of food intolerances, and I also have IBS which means I can't eat anything that's overly processed. I will say I have cut down on red meat surely because I don't really like the taste of it anymore. Although every now and then I will treat myself to a lovely ribeye steak. I mus
Aren't there other protein substitutes that you can substitute? Or is the main course usually food like beans and tofu?
Yes but they need to be combined more mindfully to ensure a complete protein. It's do-able, but honestly I think vegetarian is a better option over vegan. Even if people don't want dairy because of animal welfare reasons... eggs provided by free range chooks is not cruel IMO
Load More Replies...Most people you speak to are likely to have wildly different understandings of what we should eat and what we should avoid like the plague.
Speak to a bodybuilder or someone living in the countryside and they’ll probably tell you all about the benefits of meat, fish, and eggs. Meanwhile, talk to someone who has embraced veganism or vegetarianism and they’ll regale you with tales about the health benefits and moral reasons behind switching to a plant-based diet. Like most things in life, finding a balance between extremes is what’s important.
We all have different experiences with food and our bodies have varying needs. What works for some of us might not work for others. Someone might see huge benefits from switching to a fully-vegan lifestyle. Others might find such a diet completely impractical for their local area, far too expensive, and might not find the dishes as tasty as those using animal products.
Becoming a mother. If I don’t eat leftover chicken nuggets I don’t eat.
This is almost sad and in some points of my parenting life I can relate to this.
I was à vegetarian for 23 years. I was 39 and pregnant. I wanted to make sure my baby had everything she needed. It was already a high risk pregnancy. When I craved meat for the first time in 23 years I started eating it.
Vegan dishes can be delicious, we know that for a fact. But it would be naive to think that everyone would enjoy them. Or that everyone has the time and resources to cook delicious vegan meals from scratch. Especially if your other family members are fans of dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets and spaghetti bolognese and think that potatoes are the equivalent of green and leafy veggies. Eating healthy is absolutely essential! Sometimes, however, you have to make compromises.
However, if you want to live a long and happy life, one of the main things you can do is change your eating habits. You can copy what the Japanese and Sardinians do!
I was vegetarian for over a decade but was constantly having to take iron supplements. To make matters worse my body was not absorbing the vegetarian sources of iron including loads of leafy greens or even vegetarian iron supplements at all (no change after 6months) and I had to use the ones from animal sources anyway. I felt i gave it a good hot go! Once I started exercising i was always tired and hungry too. I don't eat all meats, I eat kangaroo (it's over populated here and culled) and fish but I'm actually making progress in fitness and no longer exhausted.
I got pregnant and all I could think about was eating meet. I had no issues being vegan, had energy and everything but during my pregnancy I felt like if I really crave it that much there must be a reason, so included it in my diet again. After that I still have plenty of plant based meals but I also eat meat and eggs when I feel like..
Before I even knew I was pregnant I had a very sudden, persistent need to eat red meat. I remember offering to take my husband out to Outback (steakhouse) and proceeded to decline drinks and ordered a bigass steak rare as rare could be. On a side note, my dad grew up on a farm and had let me know the bunnies would need to be given some raw bacon after giving birth. I get it now- sometimes mama rodents n critters desire meat- blood-iron-whatever and if they don’t get it will resort to eating their babies. I witnessed this with my “2 female” mice: she went absolutely La Lorona on her offspring and may have eaten a head or two. Long story short: mammals be cray cray.
My ex forced me to be a vegan, and when she cheated on me the first thing i did was ordering 3 triple cheese burgers at mccdonalds, damn did that meat taste good.
The authors of ‘Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life’ took a look at the diets of some of the most long-lived people around the globe. They found that centenarians in Japan usually eat rice, miso soup, pickles, boiled or seasoned vegetables, fish, and soybean-based foods (e.g. tofu or natto).
The food that they eat is grown locally. Moreover, they avoid junk food and processed food, as well as sugary snacks and drinks. Their portions are also smaller.
Meanwhile, Sardinia, in Italy, is also full of very long-lived people. Their diets are mostly low-fat and plant-based. They eat wholemeal bread, beans, garden vegetables, fruit, cheese, but they also eat meat sparingly.
I was training for an Ironman triathlon. I know there are loads of vegan distance athletes out there killin it, but on my budget/lack of creativity I found myself eating spoonfuls of coconut oil to get calories. Then I read coconut oil production is also super destructive and just got so frustrated and angry. Shortly after I got dizzy and fell off my bike, nearly skidding down a steep hill into the Yarra river, and that night I ate a whole rotisserie chicken.
I never understood the hype about coconut oil. It's objectively worse than olive oil and meat both health-wise and environmentally
I was vegetarian for over 20 years. While having chemotherapy I was craving protein so went back to meat.
Later lived off grid and ate our own chickens, pigs and goats.
Realized I was using being vegan as an excuse to enable my eating disorder. Less options for me to eat, almost never had to eat out with friends/family or on the holidays. I do love animals/Earth and told myself that’s why I was vegan but….. I don’t fully know.
I couldn’t fully recover until I had a less restrictive diet.
Living a quality life means finding balance in what you eat, having an active social life, and getting plenty of movement. Stay away from sugary and processed foods as much as possible, remember to stay hydrated, and you should be fine!
According to BBC Future, research has shown that people generally find vegans incredibly annoying. “Though it’s natural for people to disagree, the passionate rage—and even mild irritation—that veganism stirs up seems to defy rational sense,” Zaria Gorvett writes.
Many people (aka ‘veganophobes’) think that vegans are overly smug, judgmental, over-zealous, and hypocritical. Another part of the equation is that people tend to ignore unpleasant realities, incompatibilities, and paradoxes (e.g. eating fish and chips even though you keep a pet fish at home). So when someone forces us to face our cognitive dissonance, we’re likely to get all defensive and lash out.
Traveled and lived in places where there truly was not adequate nutrition available as a vegan - true malnutrition is awful. Plus, cultural expectations in those areas around entertaining guests, hospitality, celebrations, and rituals don’t always leave the option open to refuse a specific food without offending or hurting the host or community, which meant that I needed to consider balancing my preferences with the needs and practices of the communities I was living in.
Today, I’m primarily plant-based in practice but don’t call myself vegetarian or vegan. I learned a lot about how I think about food, food culture, and the privilege of choice from those experiences.
I almost died from malnutrition two weeks ago. I’m literally 120 pounds at my best and couldn’t think or get out of bed anymore. I realized that I cannot live a restrictive lifestyle while simultaneously dealing with a “abnormal” ED
A change in health circumstances led to a (doctor-recommended) restrictive diet which meant cutting out a number of fruits and vegetables. Couple that with gluten intolerance and veganism and I could barely eat anything. I had to prioritise my health.
Thats me... No fruits, no nuts, no grains, no beans, no lactose, a very very very very sorted amount of vegetables, no soy.... etc.
I was a pescatarian for 20 years so I ate fish, but no meat. Developed Graves’ disease and have to avoid all iodine (in anything from the sea). I went into remission after reintroducing meat.
Way too many of the vegetarian/vegan substitutes rely on tree nuts/peanuts/soy, which I'm severely allergic to. As it is, I follow a mostly pescatarian diet, unless someone else wants to do the cooking for me!
Realized I would rather eat meat than eat like 15 different supplements and vitamins every morning
Found out my body just trends towards anaemia. I was vegetarian for 5 years as a teenager and just dealt with it but then I got really ill and my doctor basically told me I would need monthly iron infusions or I could eat meat again. I chose meat. Tried to go back to vegetarianism recently but felt such an enormous drop in energy levels I just couldn’t maintain it.
Because I actually like meat, but learned about the horrors of the meat industry. It also ended up playing into my disordered eating pretty bad, which got even worse when I tried to go vegan. Now I let myself enjoy meat, and just try to be better about where it comes from, and in general try advocate for local food.
This is a good one. If you are a responsible omnivore (or flexitarian), it is the best way to protect animals and nature. Reduce your animal product consume and try to just buy from good sources. Eat mostly vegetables and else. This way you get all you need and support animal rights. Don't forget: if we don't 'use' animals, there will be no place for them because we humans want so much! So we need to give them space and value in more than one way.
My mom went through all kinds of trendy diets while I was growing up. She started pescatarian, then vegetarian, then vegan, then raw vegan. She bounced around all of those for a while until the last 5 or so years when she got into crossfit and went Paleo and now Keto.
I am moderate to severely anemic and have been my whole life. I only got meat when my stepdad wanted to grill or if we went out to eat. So I was involuntarily vegetarian/vegan. I'm much happier now and not constipated from having to take cheap iron supplements all the time.
A car crash. I was badly injured and lost a lot of blood. Afterwards I could barely eat but I kept craving a cheeseburger. My friend took me to Maccies and l got me one saying if my body needs it then it needs it. I was diagnosed with anaemia shortly after and told I can either take iron tablets, have shots once a month or just have meat occasionally. I took the fish, burger and occasional chicken breast route.
Sometimes I try new meats (I was a veggie for 10+ years) and I still can’t cook meat apart from fish. But I tend to be curious and if there’s lamb to try I will. But I still hate processed meat, I won’t touch sausages or sandwich meat etc
Anemia and vitamin deficiencies. My spouse continued with his vegetarian diet and is now vegan. Both times I have attempted to re-join him I’ve either fainted, been admitted to the ER for falling down and finding out I’m hyper anemic, or one time started having vision problems due to a severe, vitamin K deficiency… Just doesn’t work for my body.
Vegan for almost a decade. Conveniently was also a great way to hide my eating disorder.
Additionally, IBS.
Ah yes, IBS! Especially if you've got IBS D - I love eating fruit and veg, and try to eat more vegetarian meals per week, but it does involve a lot more trips to the loo! :(
I've tried to be a vegetarian two different times in my life. Both times I had to stop after a few months because I got tired of having no energy, feeling tired all the time and having problems concentrating.
And yes, I *was* taking all the recommended supplements and vitamins at the times. As soon as I switched over to a more omnivorous diet, all the bad symptoms went away in a few days.
Today I do eat meat, but I try to keep my consumption down and only do it about 2 times per week. This seems to be the best balance for me.
What's the point of being vegan if you have to constantly take processed supplements?
Allergic to soy, but also very susceptible to low B12 and anemia. Not a great combo lol
Wrong, Best Behave. Animal meat is the most common bioavailable source of B12, because yes, it is produced by animals. Found in all meats and shellfish, eggs, and milk... Naturally. In really recent times, many cereals have been fortified with bioavailable B12. Make sure it is the bioavailable form though.
I was a decently strict vegan. I wasnt throwing fits over it or caused any problems when i attended social functions with food, but 100% of the food I cooked or bought myself was vegan.
Basicly, I started working out. And i took the whole thing kinda seriously, since I was unhappy with my body. Turns out its real f*****g hard to hit protein goals with vegan food without either going over the calorie limit or having it taste like s**t.
I wanted to travel more, and it always sucked not being able to properly experience a kitchen of whatever country. Apart from that I just didn’t feel like it any more. No idea why, was very rigid with it for 7 years. Life is weird.
You just got fed up with it and were ready for a reason to stop. Don't worry, I am not judging you.
I've been vegetarian for 9 years nearly 10. Recently started eating fish after a trip to Texas. Got tired of always being so limited on food options. Since eating fish again, I have much more energy and feel quite healthy. Cooking and meal planning is also significantly easier.
I went to Texas once and tried eating fresh Texas Rattlesnake. Stone Cold kicked my a*s.
my hair started falling out, I got my first cavity in years and I just over all felt like s**t. Its a lot harder to get all the nutrients your body needs when you are not eating meat, for me it was anyways.
Some people have a harder time absorbing and converting nutrients from plants, sometimes due to an enzyme deficiency. There are different causes of malabsorption. The animals body has already done the work so that vitamins are already in a bioavailable form. Some people need to eat meat for that reason.
I was both vegetarian and vegan(at different times), but each time I started to become extremely anemic, my skin was almost white, I had no energy, etc. I'm allergic to most fruits, tree nuts, etc. So I wasn't getting enough iron or protein in my diet because I couldn't eat most things needed.
I moved to a new country and didn't want to have to deal with refusing food and missing out on culture and new experiences. I just told people I liked vegetables.
I was diagnosed celiac and all my safe foods became dangerous. But I’m healthy and alive. 1 year in and thinking of going back vegetarian now that I know what having celiac means.
I was a vegetarian for 10 years and honestly I just felt like it was too much of a pain. I still limit my meat, I won't prepare it for myself and if given a vegetarian option I will choose that. But if someone prepares meat for me or there aren't other options easily available I'll eat it.
I am still 99% veggie but after 8 years, I realized I really enjoy meat as one of the pleasures of life, and found it hard to deny myself completely. Especially living in France where the veggie options suck sometimes.
So now, I try to only eat meat on special occasions and appreciate it and enjoy it to the max. I generally try to only eat it at good restaurants so it should be perfectly cooked and normally locally sourced.
No one is perfect, and a strict diet is hard (for me) to keep to 100% being a bit of a rebel at heart so this is a great compromise.
France is one country where you don't turn away the food. Except the escargot. Sorry France.
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Life long vegetarian here, and my country has a very very large vegetarian cuisine so it's never an issue :) plus being vegetarians for generations together might have just made our bodies used to it idk
I’m not vegetarian, but very easy for me to do so as I am also from a country which was built on vegetarianism. Only fairly recently (afaik don’t take my word) we started eating meat. I’m from India, how about you?
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I'm vegetarian since birth, 36 years old. I have 4 children, 4 healthy pregnancies without one piece of meat.My 72 years Dad ist hardcore vegan, perfectly healthy. People who are trying to be vegetarian or vegan, please, don't be insecure with posts like that!
Say what you want, you must have your reasons to be vegan but humans are omnivores. Everybody's metabolism is different. Depending on the work to do it's totally possible, people survived in concentration camps starving in inhumane conditions. The junkies in my hood have an Incredible resilience. As a species we have to reduce are meat and fish intake to be sustainable but a healthy mixed diet is always better.
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Being vegan/vegetarian can be difficult, but it is possible to do it and still get all your vitamins/nutrients and be healthy. Although, I do understand it isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay.
I do wish more people would eat vegan most of the time!! Not just to avoid animal suffering, but also because of the environmental effects that come from eating animal products. It's vegans that are going to end up saving this world ❤️
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I wish i could invite these people over for a meal. There should be NO reason a vegetarian/vegan meal is lacking in energy(carbs) or protein. Yes there are some nutrients you should probably take supplements for if you go down the vegan route. But many people who claim they NEED meat don't eat a balanced diet anyway, and are eating too much or too little of many nutrients, so it's a little bit hypocritical. If you can't make a vegetarian meal as satisfying as a meat based meal, you need to learn how to cook.
Amen. And over 1 billion Hindus manage meatless diets every day. And have for centuries. So.... they're not dying, are they? Also, you don't even need supplements if your diet is varied enough. The problem is, most people don't want to try anything. They'll decide "ew, lentils!" and not try them, yet if you eat just lentils and brown rice you can go three weeks before nutrition issues begin per fairly recent studies. And I'm a medical doctor, and I'm gonna say it again: Eat balanced. Lifelong veg-head and I'm in better health than many. Of course, if I'm really hungry, I *will* eat bugs, so...
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This is coming fromsomeone who’s been vegetarian her entire life so take this wiith a grain of salt. Do some research before changing your diet and try to cultivate some good bacterium that can digest your greens more efficiently than before. I don’t know about vegan but in vegetarian diets, try including curd and other such dairy products that can improve gut health. Also, when cooking vegetarian meals, try making foods which have your essential nutrients. Protein, carbs, minerals etc are easy to get in a vegetarian diet (unless you need extra protein, in that case switch to a different diet or have dairy). Vitamin B12 will be a bit hard to acquire but with the right food combination, you’ll be able to get your daily recommended dose (unless you need more, in that case get supplements or switch diets). I hope that some of this may have helped in some way
Thank you, Stardust! Let me add: As a vegan, you can for example brew your own Kombucha - it is healthy, cheap, easy, brings a lot of good bacteria to your gut and with a bit of experience you can really vary and doctor the taste to your liking!
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I never get why some people feel the need to say that being vegetarian/vegan is bad because it destroys the rainforest etc. Growing plants for vegetarians is taking too much land or uses water. What do you think animals in agriculture eat and drink? So they are taking up land to keep them and for their food. The sheer amount of animals we keep produce enormous amounts of pollutants. Eat what you want but don't use these strawmen arguments.
The biggest argument there would be with strictly organic. It takes more resources to produce "organic" fruits and vegetables as the crop yield is less. The Guardian had a good article on it a couple of weeks ago. And given that "organic:, at least in the US, is meaningless because organic producers can get around the restrictions very easily, it isn't worth the time, money and resources anyway. (Unless you know and really trust the farmer.)
Load More Replies... I cannot fathom why this whole thing is on bp. And with so many false claims. I swear this intentionally here to be inflammatory.
That is exactly what I thought, too. I had to stop reading because it made me angry. People who clearly suffered from an eating disorder, started for all the wrong reasons (being forced - WTAF?), had no idea about cooking, did not want to take supplements but were also too lazy to learn about nutrition, some most probably had unrelated health problems they did not get checked... Guys, you can be vegan and healthy if you put the effort in as well as you can be omnivore and suffer from malnutrition because you eat the same shït everyday! If you think you need meat, nobody can convince you otherwise. You cannot "make" somebody change, this will only breed resentment. True, lasting change always comes from the inside. Therefore, please let people eat whatever the F they like! I will never go back to eating meat but that was a spiritual decision (not for health, for weight loss etc.) and I cannot force that on others...
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No matter if you are a vegetarian, vegan or meat eater. You need to have a healthy and balanced diet, that fits your personal needs. While often meat lovers will not eat enough vegetables, vegetarians often won‘t eat enough protein instead. Also not everyone is made to be a vegetarian ☺️.
One of my aims for the coming year is to eat less meat - because i think it's healthier for my own personal circumstances, but there are just no end of people that would be willing to jump on that statement and add 'but why not just go full on veggie o r vegan?' and see me saying it in the same way as a religious fundamentalist see wanting to convert everyone they meet to their own exact criteria and beliefs. Let me do me, you just worry about yourself.
Any reduction of animal produce is better than none. Perfect’s the enemy of good 👍
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Most posts here are from people with eating disorders, those who feel for a trend or could not really follow a proper balanced diet. Vegetarians can live long, healthy and happy lives which was proven by many cultures around the world who’s been vegetarians for ages. It’s not a new ‘trend’. Veganism is harder but still likely doable if you can follow the rules.
While what you said may be somewhat true, vegetarianism and veganism have become a "trendy" thing in the west. People are jumping on the bandwagon because it makes them "cool". True, not all of them, but there are enough. And those tend to be the worst. They are the ones that turn it into a religion.
Load More Replies... I ate a vegan diet for over 20 years. Was super healthy, very athletic. At about 3 months pregnant, I woke up one morning and said 'I need a burger'. Ate burgers joyfully throughout my pregnancy. Haven't craved one since that time. I think it's good practice to say you eat a particular type of diet versus I am a _____ Healthier psychologically and emotionally.
Vegetarianism is incompatible with my health issues and disabilities. Tried it, got the riot act read to me; protein and iron are hard to get when your body hates dark leafy greens and legumes.
Hi! I've been a vegetarian since I was around 4 years old! If you can't hack life without meat ..... then don't. But please be aware that "junk food" etc. etc. etc. will kill you no matter what your dietary preferences. BTW, I'm over 50, in good overall health, and gee, whiz, I'm even tall! (Had to say it. My grandma used to think I'd be short. I'm 5-10. Or, in metric, 177.something cm.) I have never had any diet-related health issues. TLDR: It's nto the diet that did it, it was the human stupidity.
What a load of... these people probably had no idea about nutrition. Vegetarian since 1993 and vegan since 2014 here. Best thing I ever did. Anyone who's interested in veganism, please spend time to educate yourself about what your body needs and how to get it from a vegan diet.
One of my goals this year is to eat less meat. In all honesty, I was never really cared for red meat. I think that there are a plethora of extremely tasty and healthy vegetarian and vegan dishes and recipes out there. Yes, they may take some more time and energy to prepare, but I believe it can be doable for some people. Every person’s body is different and is going to have different needs. A healthy and balanced diet may look very different for som people. I don’t think people should point fingers at one another for whether they choice to incorporate meat into their diet or go full vegan.
Speed in preparation comes with practice, and there are several interesting cooking books available especially dealing with easy and quick to prepare vegan food. I hope you have a lot of fun trying out new meals this year!
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I was expecting at least one comment to be cost. The financial expense of constantly buying fresh, because frozen and canned has lost its nutrients, the increased travel and prep time traded for family time, and for the low income, chef boy-r-dee and nuggets is cheaper, and more filling so they eat less.
That is a very valid point that I think is often overlooked. A lot of people from lower income neighbourhoods may also live in food deserts with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables and vegetables. If they are available they may be at limited quantities or are sold at extremely high prices. Thus, like you said, these people are going to gravitate toward cheaper prepared foods that are more filling and less expensive. Healthy food shouldn’t have to come down to class, however, it sadly does in some countries.
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It surprises me how many people don’t know there’s B12 in things like eggs, yoghurt and seaweed…
I guess if you're vegan you're either eating a bunch of seaweed or supplements. Which is fine if you love seaweed and supplements.
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I became a vegetarian (not vegan) when I was 18. After about 14 years, I developed allergies to peanuts and soy. So I added fish and chicken to my diet. Also some beef, but I only eat that about 3 or 4 times a year. I eat chicken about once a month. Fish 1 to 3 times a week. So most of my diet is still pretty much vegetarian most of the time. I just needed more protein.
If you are concerned about animal welfare, only eat free run eggs, milk from grass fed cows, grass fed animals, wild fish, nothing kept in cages. If you are concerned about the planet, you should never eat/use anything with palm oil, coconut oil, argan oil, olive oil, almond oil let's be clear, any oil but grain oil since other oils all involve water rights, criminals and deforestation. If every person ate a serving of omega 3 fish every second day, ate milk or eggs or vegan for 2 out of meals a day, we would all be much healthier and it would be better for the planet. The only meats for health we should avoid for sure are processed meats, especially with added nitrates, phosphates, high salts. Many of these writers found problems with health eating vegan. If you are starting a vegan diet always make an few appointments with a registered dietitian.
Olive oil and almond oil? You haven't been to the Mediterranean, have you? There are olive and almond trees everywhere, and have been for centuries, they're not causing deforestation and are an extremely healthy type of oil, as proved by thousands of years of use. It's rainforests being cut down for palm oil that you need to look out for.
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If you weren't meant to chew grains and nuts, why do you have molars?
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Before becoming a vegetarian or vegan, you need to have blood tests so you can correct any deficiencies and talk to a doctor or even a nutritionist. You have to familiarize yourself with the new diet properly in advance so that it can be composed in a sufficiently versatile way. The transition phase should be carried out gradually, listening to your own body. Every now and then you should go for blood tests to check that everything is in order. Of course, this is easier for me, because of the medication I have to go for blood tests anyway. I understand that due to illness or malabsorption not everyone can be (or it is unnecessarily difficult) vegan. I myself have managed 20+ years as a vegan and I exercise more than ever and I am very energetic. Some of it is definitely genetic. I inherited strong hair, nails and excellent cholesterol levels and it has nothing to do with my diet. So certain things cannot be defended or opposed when talking about health and veganism.
That's probably the sensible route :D I went vegetarian during the worst of lockdown with no preparation and I'm fine but it was _probably_ stupid.
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A good friend spent three years unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant. She had been a vegetarian for years, and finally someone told her to start eating meat. She got pregnant soon after, and had a second baby a couple of years later. Eating meat totally made the difference for her.
After learning about vegetarian/vegan diet in dept I realised that it is possible to be a healthy vegetarian/vegan, HOWEVER! a lot of people hurt themselves because if you grew up omnivore, you won't know what to eat to replace nutrients that you need. If you made a firm decision to turn into vegetarian/vegan, for the love of God, go to a DOCTOR (not a witch from under the rock or even worse - some Influencer). A doctor will need to teach you how to eat.
Better yet. Go to a nutritionist! They're great. Worth the money for a good one. One who sees you weekly and makes meals specifically for you until you have a good repertoire that you actually enjoy eating. Not these HMO nutritionists who hand you a handout and see you once a month.
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my body does not hold onto iron or get the necessary vitamins/minerals from a regular diet. got really weak and dr discovered i was extremely anemic. so, i have to get regular infusions and also change my diet. wasn't a vegan but i just didn't eat much meat or eggs because i was concerned with cholesterol. changed up the diet to include meat and not only felt better but cholesterol dropped as well.
Before throwing oneself into a certain type of meals it might be a good idea to use the internet for detailed information, buy a cookbook (at least for inspiration) and best learn to cook ... some of the posts made me think these people lived off white bread and pop-drinks
And understand that some diet changes just aren't for you. A vegetarian meal that tastes good because it is different may be not so great once it becomes an every day thing. Same with meat, if you are a veggie person. A burger as a treat might be good but don't change just because of that one piece of meat.
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Tried to vegetarian but had to eat meat again after 3 months due to a lack of B12 and a genetic tendency to anemia. So I had the option to eat buttloads of nuts paired with B12 pills per day or just eat some meat from time to time.
@totally a bunch of pills every day? Fack me, how much were you talking??
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I am close to 40 years, been a vegetarian all my life. I understand that food choices are a result of personal choices, cultural implications and dietary limitations. Having said that, the whole "we are omnivores" presents vegetarians as outliers which needn't be the case. Eat what you think is required as you are what you eat.
I was a vegetarian for six years as a teen, at which time I didn't have a healthy diet and I was extremely picky. I ate a lot of Poptarts and mac'n'cheese. I was underweight. As a young adult, my partner encouraged me to try new foods and new cuisines, and it turned out I liked pretty much everything I tried! I started eating meat again so that we'd be eating the same thing. A couple years later, I got pregnant, but unfortunately, I don't think the couple of years of a more balanced diet was enough to heal from my previous unhealthy life, and I have always suspected that my bad eating was a factor in my baby being born premature at 27 weeks. We don't know. Now I am a healthier weight--and thankfully baby is fine too!
I was vegetarian for a couple of years. I think it would have been easier if I had lived in a more populated area. Around here there's a lot of ranching and rural communities, so eating out was always a little disappointing because there weren't many options. Health wise I was fine. It was all the small stuff that I found out had animal parts in them, like gelatin in marshmallows (the vegan ones didnt taste or cook the same) and sugar getting processed through charred cow bones. That was my breaking point. I figured if I'm still eating candy bars processed through bones, might as well have the whole animal. Now I try to get local meats, and free range chicken eggs (the chickens are harder to come by here if you don't raise your own) and Ill make veggie dishes periodically that even my meat loving hubby enjoys.
My daughter is a gluten free vegan. She says she feels great but those of us who love her worry that it's a disguise for her eating disorder (bulimia). Plus she is super thin, to the point of worrisome.
So basically your daughter has an eating disorder and thr veganism is irrelevant.
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Been vegetarian for nearly a decade (from 16 till 25). Because I considered this being a part of being punk rock 🤣 anarchy and anti establishment. I stopped because of Anthony Bourdain... I was watching No Reservations and was soooooo hungry all the time. I ate a can of tuna in secret, hiding it from my family, who gave me a ton of c**p over years about me not eating meat. The tuna almost killed me 🤣 but I slowly got back to eating meat.
It's nice to hear these stories; helps people know that not everyone can be on the same diet. Some people are more healthy eating meat products while others are perfectly healthy being vegan. I can't process red meat (anything mammal) so I eat poultry and seafood for my meats. I make vegan, vegetarian, and meat dishes at home. I recently made this vegan peanut stew and it's pretty good. Also, at the time of my comment, I'm super happy to see people just talking about their stories and not people attacking others for their diet choices.
I was diagnose with PCOS. My hairs were falling like crazy. And my blood results came black and i was very low on Iron. PCOS makes Iron harder to process and well.. not eating meat means that i wasnt even feeding my body enough Iron and not animal Iron is way harder to process.
Whenever I'm in Africa I am having a hard time being vegetarian as in most places, vegetarianism means "too poor to buy meat"and the places I usually visit do not have a lot of vegetables and little veg protein sources are used. I used to eat fish while I was there, sometimes buying it on the beach off fisherman, so at least that's not creepy meat LOL. But have gone off fish now. The big exception being Ethiopie where the majority of ppl eats vegan twice a week because of religion.
My matron of honor was a vegetarian for years. She started eating meat again when she quit smoking, saying she could be good about one or the other, but not both.
A lot of these seem to be talking about flipping from meat eating to full on veganism and later back? Which is kinda strange, as most reasons for going vegan are at least partially done with vegetarianism or pescetarianism (or even 'flexitarianism' (eating meat maybe once a week)) so it would make sense for them to try that first, either before going vegan or before going back to (full time) meat-eating. Idk
Dear irritating vegans who keep being a pain in the a**e due to my meat-eating: F**K OFF. NO ONE ASKED. Thanks! :)
I have two thoughts on this: 1. A lion's not evil for eating an antelope, a cat's not evil for eating a mouse or bird, and I don't think I'm evil for wanting a hamburger. Honestly: If I weren't intended to eat it, it wouldn't taste so good. 2. [WARNING: If you really want to be "animal free", please stop now and skip the rest of this post.] Animal products are inescapable. Unless I live in the forest and wrap myself in grass and leaves, I'm not animal-free. Synthetic rubber uses blood to keep it from being flaky. Plastic uses blood to keep it from being brittle. Shirt buttons use bone meal. Every kind of paint or varnish or wood stain contains animal blood to make it stick better to surfaces. Lots of things, from food wrap to styrofoam, to car tires, to medicine, to candy all have animal products.
I agree animal products and otehr things are now "unavoidable" in our developed world. That said, we survived as as species for quite some time eating anything we could get, so we're omnivores by nature. I just happen to dislike the smell, taste, and texture of meat. But I can eat insects fine if needed. And I wear leather shoes. The cow died already. No sense letting its hide go to waste. (And here comes the hate, I'm sure...) Frankly, I think insects and legumes are a great way to go, for many reasons in terms of our planet and our species, so no, you're not evil for eating meat. However, bear in mind, that you think it tastess good. I will literally vomit if forced to eat meat, been that way since I was 3-4 years old. I'm now in my fifties. So obviously, being a veg-head hasn't done lasting harm to me. Or to about 1.5 billion others on this crowded planet.
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Vegetarian for 15+ years then got sick with cfs. Bed bound for a couple of years, other people cooked for me, there is little you can do in that situation. Still prefer a Vegetarian diet but I still have to rely on others too much to be fussy
My bf and I are not vegan nor vegetarian, but we eat meat (except for salami on bread or bacon bits for flavouring dishes) at most 1-2 times per month. I cook vegan/vegetarian dishes up to 5 times per week, although I wouldn't want to give up meat/ cheese completely. Living this way is cheaper, more sustainable and if we do want steak once in a while, we can actually afford to get good quality ones.
If anyone is on the fence, google videos of pigs being put to death. It’s so horrifying I won’t let my kids see it.
So the long and short of it is that eating a veggie based diet is fine if you are happy with it and your body is good with it. That isn't the case for everybody. As long as you let everybody be happy with what they want to eat we are doing okay. Nobody on either side is morally superiour. If you think you are, please understand that you are driving more people away than you are ever going to convert to your way of thinking.
Perhaps some people should go and do some work in an abattoir and see the reality. If they are ok with it as many seem to be then carry on.
Load More Replies... Sooooo 35 people who jumped into veganism with no clue how to cook/feed themselves and then were shocked that they couldn't function on eating spinach all day. Cool article. Can we do one on the effects of the meat industry on climate change next?
Most people who jump into veganism/vegetarianism don't know anything more than a simplistic "veggies good / meat bad" thing. And the folks pushing those diets gloss over the fact that you need to be smart about it. It's all "vegetables will taste good if you just find the right recipe to disguise the taste" and "you can get tofu that tastes like meat so you wont miss it". I have found very few veggie lovers that want to discuss the problems with it.
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Realising that almost none of the ingredients for vegan substitutes are grown locally and most soy products have a huge CO2 footprint when I buy them where I live will prevent me from ever becoming a vegan. I am very conscious of where meat comes from and mostly eat chicken from a chicken farm in the neighborhood. I can see the chickens and I know they had a good life. Also I know now that there's a huge difference in taste between free range chickens and their eggs vs meat industry products. Yes you can taste if the animals had a good life.
I have 3 friends that are vegetarian, all a bit younger then me. Early forties. All 3 have none physical jobs. Vet, lawyer, interior designer. All 3 have broken a bone last year. The vet fractured her tibial Plato when a 15kg dog ran into her. She was off work 6 months. Lawyer was lifting weights and broke his cubit. Interior designer was on site talking with a builder, slip going up a stairs, trip and leaned to hard on the safety barrier and broke his wrist.
@donna well that proves it. If they had eaten animals none of this would have happened. Only got themselves to blame
Load More Replies... Me and my daughter tried to go the vegetarian and then vegan route while researching the meat industry and watching horrible documentaries. Her grandparents were really pushy about her eating meat and that made us more adamant. (She was in her teens at the time). On a routine pediatric check up it was found her iron levels were visibly low and at risk of liver failure. So we had to ditch the restrictive diet and moderately enjoy meat dishes, now, and we now know more about high iron plant foods. We still hate the meat industry, but 2 more people not eating meat isn't going to change anything. Since I believe in the spirit and spiritual wellness affects the body, including in animals, and that the quality of life of the animal, up to it's death can impact the health of it's body and ours, as consumers of this animal, it puts some peace of mind giving a thanks and well-wishes to this animal's spirit and life in nourishing our bodies. (Pardon the long sentence.)
The meat industry isn't great but those documentaries were most likely made by people trying to push an agenda. You have to take that kind of thing in the spirit it was created in.
Load More Replies... I’m actually confused as to why BP would put this post up. The anti-cruelty movement needs support, this doesn’t help. For people who don’t care about animals but are worried about climate change, do they not realize that animal agriculture is a huge problem?
I hope people start to release how bad a vegan diet truly is. Vegetarian isn't grate but much healthier than vegan. When you look at the list of ingredients in meat substitutes there so heavily processed. Soya farming is distoying our rain forests. And plastic leather like we need more plastics to destroy our already damaged plant.
I won’t say that being vegan is the perfect diet, but you could also say that eating meat is destroying the planet (methane from all the cows that we can’t support, etc.). And while being vegan isn’t for everyone, it can be good for others. My dad has become much healthier since becoming vegan, for example. Of course, you should always research before making such a drastic change to your diet, but if you make sure you’re getting all that you need, being vegan can be quite good for you. It just depends I guess, people can eat what they want. I do agree with you that most substitutes are bad, though. But you don’t really need meat substitutes to be vegan.
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Life long vegetarian here, and my country has a very very large vegetarian cuisine so it's never an issue :) plus being vegetarians for generations together might have just made our bodies used to it idk
I’m not vegetarian, but very easy for me to do so as I am also from a country which was built on vegetarianism. Only fairly recently (afaik don’t take my word) we started eating meat. I’m from India, how about you?
Load More Replies... I'm vegetarian since birth, 36 years old. I have 4 children, 4 healthy pregnancies without one piece of meat.My 72 years Dad ist hardcore vegan, perfectly healthy. People who are trying to be vegetarian or vegan, please, don't be insecure with posts like that!
Say what you want, you must have your reasons to be vegan but humans are omnivores. Everybody's metabolism is different. Depending on the work to do it's totally possible, people survived in concentration camps starving in inhumane conditions. The junkies in my hood have an Incredible resilience. As a species we have to reduce are meat and fish intake to be sustainable but a healthy mixed diet is always better.
Load More Replies... Being vegan/vegetarian can be difficult, but it is possible to do it and still get all your vitamins/nutrients and be healthy. Although, I do understand it isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay.
I do wish more people would eat vegan most of the time!! Not just to avoid animal suffering, but also because of the environmental effects that come from eating animal products. It's vegans that are going to end up saving this world ❤️
Load More Replies... I wish i could invite these people over for a meal. There should be NO reason a vegetarian/vegan meal is lacking in energy(carbs) or protein. Yes there are some nutrients you should probably take supplements for if you go down the vegan route. But many people who claim they NEED meat don't eat a balanced diet anyway, and are eating too much or too little of many nutrients, so it's a little bit hypocritical. If you can't make a vegetarian meal as satisfying as a meat based meal, you need to learn how to cook.
Amen. And over 1 billion Hindus manage meatless diets every day. And have for centuries. So.... they're not dying, are they? Also, you don't even need supplements if your diet is varied enough. The problem is, most people don't want to try anything. They'll decide "ew, lentils!" and not try them, yet if you eat just lentils and brown rice you can go three weeks before nutrition issues begin per fairly recent studies. And I'm a medical doctor, and I'm gonna say it again: Eat balanced. Lifelong veg-head and I'm in better health than many. Of course, if I'm really hungry, I *will* eat bugs, so...
Load More Replies... This is coming fromsomeone who’s been vegetarian her entire life so take this wiith a grain of salt. Do some research before changing your diet and try to cultivate some good bacterium that can digest your greens more efficiently than before. I don’t know about vegan but in vegetarian diets, try including curd and other such dairy products that can improve gut health. Also, when cooking vegetarian meals, try making foods which have your essential nutrients. Protein, carbs, minerals etc are easy to get in a vegetarian diet (unless you need extra protein, in that case switch to a different diet or have dairy). Vitamin B12 will be a bit hard to acquire but with the right food combination, you’ll be able to get your daily recommended dose (unless you need more, in that case get supplements or switch diets). I hope that some of this may have helped in some way
Thank you, Stardust! Let me add: As a vegan, you can for example brew your own Kombucha - it is healthy, cheap, easy, brings a lot of good bacteria to your gut and with a bit of experience you can really vary and doctor the taste to your liking!
Load More Replies... I never get why some people feel the need to say that being vegetarian/vegan is bad because it destroys the rainforest etc. Growing plants for vegetarians is taking too much land or uses water. What do you think animals in agriculture eat and drink? So they are taking up land to keep them and for their food. The sheer amount of animals we keep produce enormous amounts of pollutants. Eat what you want but don't use these strawmen arguments.
The biggest argument there would be with strictly organic. It takes more resources to produce "organic" fruits and vegetables as the crop yield is less. The Guardian had a good article on it a couple of weeks ago. And given that "organic:, at least in the US, is meaningless because organic producers can get around the restrictions very easily, it isn't worth the time, money and resources anyway. (Unless you know and really trust the farmer.)
Load More Replies... I cannot fathom why this whole thing is on bp. And with so many false claims. I swear this intentionally here to be inflammatory.
That is exactly what I thought, too. I had to stop reading because it made me angry. People who clearly suffered from an eating disorder, started for all the wrong reasons (being forced - WTAF?), had no idea about cooking, did not want to take supplements but were also too lazy to learn about nutrition, some most probably had unrelated health problems they did not get checked... Guys, you can be vegan and healthy if you put the effort in as well as you can be omnivore and suffer from malnutrition because you eat the same shït everyday! If you think you need meat, nobody can convince you otherwise. You cannot "make" somebody change, this will only breed resentment. True, lasting change always comes from the inside. Therefore, please let people eat whatever the F they like! I will never go back to eating meat but that was a spiritual decision (not for health, for weight loss etc.) and I cannot force that on others...
Load More Replies... No matter if you are a vegetarian, vegan or meat eater. You need to have a healthy and balanced diet, that fits your personal needs. While often meat lovers will not eat enough vegetables, vegetarians often won‘t eat enough protein instead. Also not everyone is made to be a vegetarian ☺️.
One of my aims for the coming year is to eat less meat - because i think it's healthier for my own personal circumstances, but there are just no end of people that would be willing to jump on that statement and add 'but why not just go full on veggie o r vegan?' and see me saying it in the same way as a religious fundamentalist see wanting to convert everyone they meet to their own exact criteria and beliefs. Let me do me, you just worry about yourself.
Any reduction of animal produce is better than none. Perfect’s the enemy of good 👍
Load More Replies... Most posts here are from people with eating disorders, those who feel for a trend or could not really follow a proper balanced diet. Vegetarians can live long, healthy and happy lives which was proven by many cultures around the world who’s been vegetarians for ages. It’s not a new ‘trend’. Veganism is harder but still likely doable if you can follow the rules.
While what you said may be somewhat true, vegetarianism and veganism have become a "trendy" thing in the west. People are jumping on the bandwagon because it makes them "cool". True, not all of them, but there are enough. And those tend to be the worst. They are the ones that turn it into a religion.
Load More Replies... I ate a vegan diet for over 20 years. Was super healthy, very athletic. At about 3 months pregnant, I woke up one morning and said 'I need a burger'. Ate burgers joyfully throughout my pregnancy. Haven't craved one since that time. I think it's good practice to say you eat a particular type of diet versus I am a _____ Healthier psychologically and emotionally.
Vegetarianism is incompatible with my health issues and disabilities. Tried it, got the riot act read to me; protein and iron are hard to get when your body hates dark leafy greens and legumes.
Hi! I've been a vegetarian since I was around 4 years old! If you can't hack life without meat ..... then don't. But please be aware that "junk food" etc. etc. etc. will kill you no matter what your dietary preferences. BTW, I'm over 50, in good overall health, and gee, whiz, I'm even tall! (Had to say it. My grandma used to think I'd be short. I'm 5-10. Or, in metric, 177.something cm.) I have never had any diet-related health issues. TLDR: It's nto the diet that did it, it was the human stupidity.
What a load of... these people probably had no idea about nutrition. Vegetarian since 1993 and vegan since 2014 here. Best thing I ever did. Anyone who's interested in veganism, please spend time to educate yourself about what your body needs and how to get it from a vegan diet.
One of my goals this year is to eat less meat. In all honesty, I was never really cared for red meat. I think that there are a plethora of extremely tasty and healthy vegetarian and vegan dishes and recipes out there. Yes, they may take some more time and energy to prepare, but I believe it can be doable for some people. Every person’s body is different and is going to have different needs. A healthy and balanced diet may look very different for som people. I don’t think people should point fingers at one another for whether they choice to incorporate meat into their diet or go full vegan.
Speed in preparation comes with practice, and there are several interesting cooking books available especially dealing with easy and quick to prepare vegan food. I hope you have a lot of fun trying out new meals this year!
Load More Replies... I was expecting at least one comment to be cost. The financial expense of constantly buying fresh, because frozen and canned has lost its nutrients, the increased travel and prep time traded for family time, and for the low income, chef boy-r-dee and nuggets is cheaper, and more filling so they eat less.
That is a very valid point that I think is often overlooked. A lot of people from lower income neighbourhoods may also live in food deserts with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables and vegetables. If they are available they may be at limited quantities or are sold at extremely high prices. Thus, like you said, these people are going to gravitate toward cheaper prepared foods that are more filling and less expensive. Healthy food shouldn’t have to come down to class, however, it sadly does in some countries.
Load More Replies... It surprises me how many people don’t know there’s B12 in things like eggs, yoghurt and seaweed…
I guess if you're vegan you're either eating a bunch of seaweed or supplements. Which is fine if you love seaweed and supplements.
Load More Replies... I became a vegetarian (not vegan) when I was 18. After about 14 years, I developed allergies to peanuts and soy. So I added fish and chicken to my diet. Also some beef, but I only eat that about 3 or 4 times a year. I eat chicken about once a month. Fish 1 to 3 times a week. So most of my diet is still pretty much vegetarian most of the time. I just needed more protein.
If you are concerned about animal welfare, only eat free run eggs, milk from grass fed cows, grass fed animals, wild fish, nothing kept in cages. If you are concerned about the planet, you should never eat/use anything with palm oil, coconut oil, argan oil, olive oil, almond oil let's be clear, any oil but grain oil since other oils all involve water rights, criminals and deforestation. If every person ate a serving of omega 3 fish every second day, ate milk or eggs or vegan for 2 out of meals a day, we would all be much healthier and it would be better for the planet. The only meats for health we should avoid for sure are processed meats, especially with added nitrates, phosphates, high salts. Many of these writers found problems with health eating vegan. If you are starting a vegan diet always make an few appointments with a registered dietitian.
Olive oil and almond oil? You haven't been to the Mediterranean, have you? There are olive and almond trees everywhere, and have been for centuries, they're not causing deforestation and are an extremely healthy type of oil, as proved by thousands of years of use. It's rainforests being cut down for palm oil that you need to look out for.
Load More Replies... If you weren't meant to chew grains and nuts, why do you have molars?
Load More Replies... Before becoming a vegetarian or vegan, you need to have blood tests so you can correct any deficiencies and talk to a doctor or even a nutritionist. You have to familiarize yourself with the new diet properly in advance so that it can be composed in a sufficiently versatile way. The transition phase should be carried out gradually, listening to your own body. Every now and then you should go for blood tests to check that everything is in order. Of course, this is easier for me, because of the medication I have to go for blood tests anyway. I understand that due to illness or malabsorption not everyone can be (or it is unnecessarily difficult) vegan. I myself have managed 20+ years as a vegan and I exercise more than ever and I am very energetic. Some of it is definitely genetic. I inherited strong hair, nails and excellent cholesterol levels and it has nothing to do with my diet. So certain things cannot be defended or opposed when talking about health and veganism.
That's probably the sensible route :D I went vegetarian during the worst of lockdown with no preparation and I'm fine but it was _probably_ stupid.
Load More Replies... A good friend spent three years unsuccessfully trying to get pregnant. She had been a vegetarian for years, and finally someone told her to start eating meat. She got pregnant soon after, and had a second baby a couple of years later. Eating meat totally made the difference for her.
After learning about vegetarian/vegan diet in dept I realised that it is possible to be a healthy vegetarian/vegan, HOWEVER! a lot of people hurt themselves because if you grew up omnivore, you won't know what to eat to replace nutrients that you need. If you made a firm decision to turn into vegetarian/vegan, for the love of God, go to a DOCTOR (not a witch from under the rock or even worse - some Influencer). A doctor will need to teach you how to eat.
Better yet. Go to a nutritionist! They're great. Worth the money for a good one. One who sees you weekly and makes meals specifically for you until you have a good repertoire that you actually enjoy eating. Not these HMO nutritionists who hand you a handout and see you once a month.
Load More Replies... my body does not hold onto iron or get the necessary vitamins/minerals from a regular diet. got really weak and dr discovered i was extremely anemic. so, i have to get regular infusions and also change my diet. wasn't a vegan but i just didn't eat much meat or eggs because i was concerned with cholesterol. changed up the diet to include meat and not only felt better but cholesterol dropped as well.
Before throwing oneself into a certain type of meals it might be a good idea to use the internet for detailed information, buy a cookbook (at least for inspiration) and best learn to cook ... some of the posts made me think these people lived off white bread and pop-drinks
And understand that some diet changes just aren't for you. A vegetarian meal that tastes good because it is different may be not so great once it becomes an every day thing. Same with meat, if you are a veggie person. A burger as a treat might be good but don't change just because of that one piece of meat.
Load More Replies... Tried to vegetarian but had to eat meat again after 3 months due to a lack of B12 and a genetic tendency to anemia. So I had the option to eat buttloads of nuts paired with B12 pills per day or just eat some meat from time to time.
@totally a bunch of pills every day? Fack me, how much were you talking??
Load More Replies... I am close to 40 years, been a vegetarian all my life. I understand that food choices are a result of personal choices, cultural implications and dietary limitations. Having said that, the whole "we are omnivores" presents vegetarians as outliers which needn't be the case. Eat what you think is required as you are what you eat.
I was a vegetarian for six years as a teen, at which time I didn't have a healthy diet and I was extremely picky. I ate a lot of Poptarts and mac'n'cheese. I was underweight. As a young adult, my partner encouraged me to try new foods and new cuisines, and it turned out I liked pretty much everything I tried! I started eating meat again so that we'd be eating the same thing. A couple years later, I got pregnant, but unfortunately, I don't think the couple of years of a more balanced diet was enough to heal from my previous unhealthy life, and I have always suspected that my bad eating was a factor in my baby being born premature at 27 weeks. We don't know. Now I am a healthier weight--and thankfully baby is fine too!
I was vegetarian for a couple of years. I think it would have been easier if I had lived in a more populated area. Around here there's a lot of ranching and rural communities, so eating out was always a little disappointing because there weren't many options. Health wise I was fine. It was all the small stuff that I found out had animal parts in them, like gelatin in marshmallows (the vegan ones didnt taste or cook the same) and sugar getting processed through charred cow bones. That was my breaking point. I figured if I'm still eating candy bars processed through bones, might as well have the whole animal. Now I try to get local meats, and free range chicken eggs (the chickens are harder to come by here if you don't raise your own) and Ill make veggie dishes periodically that even my meat loving hubby enjoys.
My daughter is a gluten free vegan. She says she feels great but those of us who love her worry that it's a disguise for her eating disorder (bulimia). Plus she is super thin, to the point of worrisome.
So basically your daughter has an eating disorder and thr veganism is irrelevant.
Load More Replies... Been vegetarian for nearly a decade (from 16 till 25). Because I considered this being a part of being punk rock 🤣 anarchy and anti establishment. I stopped because of Anthony Bourdain... I was watching No Reservations and was soooooo hungry all the time. I ate a can of tuna in secret, hiding it from my family, who gave me a ton of c**p over years about me not eating meat. The tuna almost killed me 🤣 but I slowly got back to eating meat.
It's nice to hear these stories; helps people know that not everyone can be on the same diet. Some people are more healthy eating meat products while others are perfectly healthy being vegan. I can't process red meat (anything mammal) so I eat poultry and seafood for my meats. I make vegan, vegetarian, and meat dishes at home. I recently made this vegan peanut stew and it's pretty good. Also, at the time of my comment, I'm super happy to see people just talking about their stories and not people attacking others for their diet choices.
I was diagnose with PCOS. My hairs were falling like crazy. And my blood results came black and i was very low on Iron. PCOS makes Iron harder to process and well.. not eating meat means that i wasnt even feeding my body enough Iron and not animal Iron is way harder to process.
Whenever I'm in Africa I am having a hard time being vegetarian as in most places, vegetarianism means "too poor to buy meat"and the places I usually visit do not have a lot of vegetables and little veg protein sources are used. I used to eat fish while I was there, sometimes buying it on the beach off fisherman, so at least that's not creepy meat LOL. But have gone off fish now. The big exception being Ethiopie where the majority of ppl eats vegan twice a week because of religion.
My matron of honor was a vegetarian for years. She started eating meat again when she quit smoking, saying she could be good about one or the other, but not both.
A lot of these seem to be talking about flipping from meat eating to full on veganism and later back? Which is kinda strange, as most reasons for going vegan are at least partially done with vegetarianism or pescetarianism (or even 'flexitarianism' (eating meat maybe once a week)) so it would make sense for them to try that first, either before going vegan or before going back to (full time) meat-eating. Idk
Dear irritating vegans who keep being a pain in the a**e due to my meat-eating: F**K OFF. NO ONE ASKED. Thanks! :)
I have two thoughts on this: 1. A lion's not evil for eating an antelope, a cat's not evil for eating a mouse or bird, and I don't think I'm evil for wanting a hamburger. Honestly: If I weren't intended to eat it, it wouldn't taste so good. 2. [WARNING: If you really want to be "animal free", please stop now and skip the rest of this post.] Animal products are inescapable. Unless I live in the forest and wrap myself in grass and leaves, I'm not animal-free. Synthetic rubber uses blood to keep it from being flaky. Plastic uses blood to keep it from being brittle. Shirt buttons use bone meal. Every kind of paint or varnish or wood stain contains animal blood to make it stick better to surfaces. Lots of things, from food wrap to styrofoam, to car tires, to medicine, to candy all have animal products.
I agree animal products and otehr things are now "unavoidable" in our developed world. That said, we survived as as species for quite some time eating anything we could get, so we're omnivores by nature. I just happen to dislike the smell, taste, and texture of meat. But I can eat insects fine if needed. And I wear leather shoes. The cow died already. No sense letting its hide go to waste. (And here comes the hate, I'm sure...) Frankly, I think insects and legumes are a great way to go, for many reasons in terms of our planet and our species, so no, you're not evil for eating meat. However, bear in mind, that you think it tastess good. I will literally vomit if forced to eat meat, been that way since I was 3-4 years old. I'm now in my fifties. So obviously, being a veg-head hasn't done lasting harm to me. Or to about 1.5 billion others on this crowded planet.
Load More Replies... Vegetarian for 15+ years then got sick with cfs. Bed bound for a couple of years, other people cooked for me, there is little you can do in that situation. Still prefer a Vegetarian diet but I still have to rely on others too much to be fussy
My bf and I are not vegan nor vegetarian, but we eat meat (except for salami on bread or bacon bits for flavouring dishes) at most 1-2 times per month. I cook vegan/vegetarian dishes up to 5 times per week, although I wouldn't want to give up meat/ cheese completely. Living this way is cheaper, more sustainable and if we do want steak once in a while, we can actually afford to get good quality ones.
If anyone is on the fence, google videos of pigs being put to death. It’s so horrifying I won’t let my kids see it.
So the long and short of it is that eating a veggie based diet is fine if you are happy with it and your body is good with it. That isn't the case for everybody. As long as you let everybody be happy with what they want to eat we are doing okay. Nobody on either side is morally superiour. If you think you are, please understand that you are driving more people away than you are ever going to convert to your way of thinking.
Perhaps some people should go and do some work in an abattoir and see the reality. If they are ok with it as many seem to be then carry on.
Load More Replies... Sooooo 35 people who jumped into veganism with no clue how to cook/feed themselves and then were shocked that they couldn't function on eating spinach all day. Cool article. Can we do one on the effects of the meat industry on climate change next?
Most people who jump into veganism/vegetarianism don't know anything more than a simplistic "veggies good / meat bad" thing. And the folks pushing those diets gloss over the fact that you need to be smart about it. It's all "vegetables will taste good if you just find the right recipe to disguise the taste" and "you can get tofu that tastes like meat so you wont miss it". I have found very few veggie lovers that want to discuss the problems with it.
Load More Replies... Realising that almost none of the ingredients for vegan substitutes are grown locally and most soy products have a huge CO2 footprint when I buy them where I live will prevent me from ever becoming a vegan. I am very conscious of where meat comes from and mostly eat chicken from a chicken farm in the neighborhood. I can see the chickens and I know they had a good life. Also I know now that there's a huge difference in taste between free range chickens and their eggs vs meat industry products. Yes you can taste if the animals had a good life.
I have 3 friends that are vegetarian, all a bit younger then me. Early forties. All 3 have none physical jobs. Vet, lawyer, interior designer. All 3 have broken a bone last year. The vet fractured her tibial Plato when a 15kg dog ran into her. She was off work 6 months. Lawyer was lifting weights and broke his cubit. Interior designer was on site talking with a builder, slip going up a stairs, trip and leaned to hard on the safety barrier and broke his wrist.
@donna well that proves it. If they had eaten animals none of this would have happened. Only got themselves to blame
Load More Replies... Me and my daughter tried to go the vegetarian and then vegan route while researching the meat industry and watching horrible documentaries. Her grandparents were really pushy about her eating meat and that made us more adamant. (She was in her teens at the time). On a routine pediatric check up it was found her iron levels were visibly low and at risk of liver failure. So we had to ditch the restrictive diet and moderately enjoy meat dishes, now, and we now know more about high iron plant foods. We still hate the meat industry, but 2 more people not eating meat isn't going to change anything. Since I believe in the spirit and spiritual wellness affects the body, including in animals, and that the quality of life of the animal, up to it's death can impact the health of it's body and ours, as consumers of this animal, it puts some peace of mind giving a thanks and well-wishes to this animal's spirit and life in nourishing our bodies. (Pardon the long sentence.)
The meat industry isn't great but those documentaries were most likely made by people trying to push an agenda. You have to take that kind of thing in the spirit it was created in.
Load More Replies... I’m actually confused as to why BP would put this post up. The anti-cruelty movement needs support, this doesn’t help. For people who don’t care about animals but are worried about climate change, do they not realize that animal agriculture is a huge problem?
I hope people start to release how bad a vegan diet truly is. Vegetarian isn't grate but much healthier than vegan. When you look at the list of ingredients in meat substitutes there so heavily processed. Soya farming is distoying our rain forests. And plastic leather like we need more plastics to destroy our already damaged plant.
I won’t say that being vegan is the perfect diet, but you could also say that eating meat is destroying the planet (methane from all the cows that we can’t support, etc.). And while being vegan isn’t for everyone, it can be good for others. My dad has become much healthier since becoming vegan, for example. Of course, you should always research before making such a drastic change to your diet, but if you make sure you’re getting all that you need, being vegan can be quite good for you. It just depends I guess, people can eat what they want. I do agree with you that most substitutes are bad, though. But you don’t really need meat substitutes to be vegan.
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