Vegetarian Living

[Deleted]

You know, it's not a contradiction to be a vegetarian and still wear leather. It's not always a decision rooted in animal rights.

Agreed. I do not eat any meat, but I do eat dairy and eggs. It is purely a health choice, I simply feel better when I skip the meat. According to some, that means I am not a vegetarian at all. For some people, the term 'vegetarian' now ONLY means VEGAN and if you aren't vegan, you are not a REAL vegetarian, you are an animal abusing poser.

Some of the vegetarian 'manifestos' I have run into lately crack me up. Veganism is obviously a valid dietary choice, but so is lacto-ovo.

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And if someone is a vegetarian, or wants to become vegetarian, for environmental/animal rights reasons, the all or nothing approach can be very disheartening. I think when it comes to the environment and animal rights, any gesture - no matter how big or small - can help.

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So I've decided to transition back to veganism. Do any vegans have sage advice? I've been eating animal rennet-free cheese for the past several years. (For the most part. When I dined with people who didn't know about veg nutrition I just ate the stuff. I picked around it if I could.) Other than that and occasionally eating baked goods made with eggs and not looking as closely at food colorings and such I've been pretty good.

I still use some leather handbags and shoes I bought before I became veg. However, I no longer purchase any leather goods. What are your thoughts? Some vegans discard/donate all leather items, but I can't see getting rid of it all. I am going to list some things on eBay but will keep a few things. Will retaining these possessions make me a bad vegan?

The main obstacle with be cheese. I've discovered some alternatives to sample and will go from there. Other issues will be dining out and making myself cook with whole foods more often. I'm very good when it comes to personal care and household items. I don't use products that test on and/or use animal-derived ingredients.

Am I overlooking anything?

[chonies]

May 25, 2010 2:52:38 GMT -4 @dichterin said:

I still use some leather handbags and shoes I bought before I became veg. However, I no longer purchase any leather goods. What are your thoughts? Some vegans discard/donate all leather items, but I can't see getting rid of it all. I am going to list some things on eBay but will keep a few things. Will retaining these possessions make me a bad vegan?

Personally, I don't think using your already-owned leather goods makes you a bad person. Sure, they are animal derived, but they already exist in your life and with no need to replace them. If your philosophy behind your lifestyle change is about consuming less in general and leaving a smaller impact, then continue to use your leather shoes, purses and belts until they wear out, then replace them with plant-based or sustainably-produced merchandise. Same thing with wool or silk. You are conserving materials (and money) and you're not any more or less of a vegan, and anyone who says differently needs to butt out and keep their own philosophical agendas confined within his or her own life. I would even argue that you are honoring the animals who provided the product by not discarding it before the lifespan of the product expired, if that makes sense.

Here's a book that I like; the two authors have slightly different philosophical positions about the leather decision, and it's in the introduction.

Here's to your renewed veganism!

[kateln]

Good job with the veganism.

I'm a flexitarian or an omnivore, I will rarely eat meat, but for the most part I've been going with a vegetarian diet. I do however, still eat eggs, milk and (vegetarian) cheese. On the (increasingly) rare occasions I do eat meat (I just can't give up the sushi!) I try to make sure that it's humanely raised, and that I know the source (like buying my eggs from the farm where they're laid).

For me, I do this as a health choice, and also as a way to get out of my food comfort zone. I feel healthier then I did when I started, and heaven help me, but avocado on toast with vegetarian bacon is the best breakfast ever.

[Deleted]

The veganism is going pretty well. I bought Daiya Vegan Cheese, which will hopefully be a decent replacement. It has gotten rave reviews. My taste buds will adjust to the lifestyle change. I'm really looking forward to trying new recipes, too.

[WitchyPoo]

May 25, 2010 9:39:32 GMT -4 kateln said:

For me, I do this as a health choice, and also as a way to get out of my food comfort zone. I feel healthier then I did when I started, and heaven help me, but avocado on toast with vegetarian bacon is the best breakfast ever.

Which brand of veggie bacon do you like? I like the tempeh Fakin' Bacon. I really love the taste and texture of tempeh.

[Deleted]

May 25, 2010 9:39:32 GMT -4 kateln said:

Good job with the veganism.

I'm a flexitarian or an omnivore, I will rarely eat meat, but for the most part I've been going with a vegetarian diet. I do however, still eat eggs, milk and (vegetarian) cheese. On the (increasingly) rare occasions I do eat meat (I just can't give up the sushi!) I try to make sure that it's humanely raised, and that I know the source (like buying my eggs from the farm where they're laid).

For me, I do this as a health choice, and also as a way to get out of my food comfort zone. I feel healthier then I did when I started, and heaven help me, but avocado on toast with vegetarian bacon is the best breakfast ever.

Good job with what you do, kateln. I meant to "tell" you that. I wish more people were aware of where their food comes from and made efforts to consume humanely raised meat. Most people eat Frankenfood and some of them have the gall to lecture us "unhealthy" vegans.

I can call myself a vegan again. Yay! This isn't a badge of superiority thing; I've wanted to go back to veganism for a very long time. I didn't feel right when I ate non-vegan, e.g. cheese (even if it was made without animal rennet). The guilt ate at me. (No pun intended.)

But I'm too much of a post-structuralist to dictate what's right for everyone. I recognize that many people have no problem eating animals and using animal-derived products. The circle of life and all that. And I do wonder if the world could sustain a 100% vegan population. It doesn't seem feasible to me. I've read Carol J. Adams and others who share those views, but that was years ago.

Experts have since trended toward encouraging people to be more mindful of what they consume, e.g. doing what kateln does. Meatless Monday pushes people to eat vegetarian one day a week by outlining the health and environmental benefits. A healthful diet is all about balance and moderation.

[kateln]

May 28, 2010 22:23:43 GMT -4 WitchyPoo said:

May 25, 2010 9:39:32 GMT -4 kateln said:

For me, I do this as a health choice, and also as a way to get out of my food comfort zone. I feel healthier then I did when I started, and heaven help me, but avocado on toast with vegetarian bacon is the best breakfast ever.

Which brand of veggie bacon do you like? I like the tempeh Fakin' Bacon. I really love the taste and texture of tempeh.

I use the Morningstar Farms Bacon, which the Trader Joe's across the street from me carries. Though I keep hearing about Fakin' Bacon, and I believe that's what "Gravy", a great restaurant in Portland OR, served.

Thanks for the confidence vote dichtern. I'm impressed with veganism, and have a few vegan meals in my repetoire, but I also have meat in the freezer and cheese in the fridge (Cowgirl Creamery's "Red Hawk", where have you been all my life?).

Last night I went to a Korean BBQ with some friends, and ate a lot of stuff I haven't had in ages. I didn't realize how much my body has adapted to the mostly no meat/legumes/seitan and tempeh (I just can't handle the tofu!). I was so sick all night last night, cramps, etc. It's turned me off meat for a while, I just think of it and feel "blech".

I do admit, that like EvilMinion I get frustrated with the "All or Nothing" approach that organizations like PETA (which I'm not a fan of) seem to advocate. While yes, you all have made a healthy and valid lifestyle choice, you have to respect that not everyone agrees with you!

In addition, I realize how lucky I am to even have the option to make this choice. I live in a place where I have access to tons of healthy food options, produce, and meat substitutes. Also, because I'm only feeding myself, I can afford to make those purchases. A lot of people don't have those opportunities.

[Deleted]

May 25, 2010 9:39:32 GMT -4 kateln said:

I do admit, that like EvilMinion I get frustrated with the "All or Nothing" approach that organizations like PETA (which I'm not a fan of) seem to advocate. While yes, you all have made a healthy and valid lifestyle choice, you have to respect that not everyone agrees with you.

I don't like it either. My little rambling post made that pretty clear. ;D