Are there any vegetarians around?

[TheKey]

I searched the forum but I didn't find a thread like this so I hope it's okay that I started this one.

Until June, 20th I always ate meat but since puberty I've been thinking about becoming a vegetarian.
But I was a little weak and I really loved the things my mom cooked so I didn't stop eating meat until this year in June.

The boyfriend I had before I met my girlfriend/now wife didn't even eat vegetables with his steak, he always said he didn't like any of it and that only meat and fries (and stuff like that) really tasted good.
That was a little annoying... I didn't want to turn him into a vegetarian but I was really concerned about his health. :/
But anyways...

When I met my wife she had been a vegetarian for 5 years and at first I still ate meat, but only like once a month now.
In June I finally decided to stop eating meat completely and I'm very happy with it. =)

My reason for stopping was that I love animals and since I worked 6 months at an office that organizes cattle breeding I was very disenchanted with how all that works.

Are there more vegetarians on this board? What were your reasons for becoming one? =)

[pap64]

I eat meat, but also love salads. I personally LOVE broccoli ever since I learned its good for your digestion.

As for your the issue of being a vegetarian all I have to say is this: there's nothing wrong with being one.

However, it becomes an issue when its seen as a statement. In other words, you do it for the sake of being different.

Also, try to be tolerant of those that eat meat.

[TheKey]

All the vegetarians I know don't have a problem with people who eat meat... but I often meet people who immediatly try to defend their eating habits if I mention that I'm a vegetarian.
I really don't care if they're eating meat.

The only one in my family who has a problem with me is my grandmother.
She always tells me to eat meat because she saw some shows on tv that told her how bad vegetarianism is for the body.
That's not true, of course, but she never believes me if I tell her that it's totally okay for your body if you still eat eggs, tofu and stuff like that.
But well, I don't see her very often so I guess that's okay.

[pap64]

All the vegetarians I know don't have a problem with people who eat meat... but I often meet people who immediatly try to defend their eating habits if I mention that I'm a vegetarian.
I really don't care if they're eating meat.

The only one in my family who has a problem with me is my grandmother.
She always tells me to eat meat because she saw some shows on tv that told her how bad vegetarianism is for the body.
That's not true, of course, but she never believes me if I tell her that it's totally okay for your body if you still eat eggs, tofu and stuff like that.
But well, I don't see her very often so I guess that's okay.

Your grandmother is right on one thing; vegetarianism can be dangerous if not handled right.

The human body needs the right balance of nutrients and vitamins for it to stay healthy, gain energy and grow. All of this can be obtained if you follow the food pyramid, which includes meat. If you blind leave out these elements and focus only in vegetables your body will have a hard time adjusting to it.

I know some people that have given up on vegetarianism simply because they rushed into it without consulting it with a doctor. Which is why I say that if you want to be a vegetarian you have to be careful and don't rush in simply because someone told you to. Vegetarianism is a lifestyle that needs to be planned and see if its right for you.

As for tolerance, yeah I hate it when people get all personal over eating habits. I love meat, but I've grown to accept vegetarianism as a lifestyle and highly respect those that follow it. But if people get on my case about it then I'll start to get annoyed.

So again, there's nothing wrong with vegetarianism as long as you handle it properly and don't do it out of spite or because you want attention because you'll end up hurting yourself in the process.

[TheKey]

None of my vegetarian friends ever went to see a doctor about their eating habits and they all live a pretty healthy life.

All the stuff your body needs you can find in vegetables and in products like milk, cheese and eggs or even in tofu, if you decide eat only vegan food.
It's not necessary to eat meat to get all the proteins your body needs.