Also, some of the comments in here are so hilariously absurd, like this Jackie girl saying that we need to continue systematically killing chickens and milking cows generation after generation after generation is horribly inhumane settings because, hey, if we didn’t, they’d roam our streets! Like, my mouth dropped. This is not a smart person.

Last point: the vast, vast majority of human cultures throughout history have been -mostly- vegetarian. Not completely, but mostly. Modern culture has gotten wayyy out of hand, and the idea that we have to have a slab of meat on every plate otherwise it’s not a meal? Ludicrous. A small portion of meat in your diet is good, even if some people (myself included) choose not to partake in that. But eating mostly meat during every meal is much, MUCH worse for your diet. Find a balance, people.

For everyone going “humanely raised”, reducing meat intake, etc; hurrah. That’s a great step in the right direction. But I feel the only thing that will stop the madness that is factory farming is genetically grown meat. The typical modern person just craves meat and refuses to face any evidence to suggest that it’s bad for them, the environment, or that it’s unethical. It’s sad but people are going to put up their blinders to keep doing what they like to do.

from what i know… the only vitamins that vegan or vegetarian food lack of is b12… try taking b complex… b12 is only from animal but b12 can also be taken from deactivated yeast…. some body builders are vegan… but they know their diet….

I do not have objections on dairy products… but only if it is from organic farm…

Vegetarians don’t eat flesh
What a simple phrase
Vegetarians also don’t eat fish
It doesn’t work that way

If you eat fish or eggs
You are not a ‘tarian
If you eat shell animals
You are just like I am

I love vegetarianism
It’s a sound way to eat
But you are NOT a vegetarian
If you eat ANY TYPE of meat

Thank you. I’ll be here all week and try the veal (just kidding).

Thanks again for the clarification.

LaTara Ham-Ying’s last blog post..Vegan Family Living Podcast Show 8 – Vegan Snacks

As I stated I can only go by my own experience with vegetarian eating and it worked out quite badly for me…I would never go that route again unless sit was all raw as well but even then it is not likely. What I did not mention was that I got mono while I was eating vegetarian because my immune system was so suppressed and I inadvertently passed it to a friend of mine who nearly died of spinal meningitis. It took a long time for my body to recover from the trauma I put it through. Maybe I was doing some things wrong but I think two years was a pretty good “try”.

That doesn’t mean I think there are no healthy vegans…I know that there are…I know several raw vegans that are VERY healthy. But even with them I get annoyed with the attitude toward meat eaters…even raw meat eaters. I don’t like being called uncompassionate, or a killer, or a fake environmentalist because I choose to eat animal products …that is what I was trying to get across with this post.

Sorry you were offended LaTara.

Judging a person because they are or are not is not right. This is why I am so hesitant at times to share my journey, even though I have a vegan business. It is still very painful.

Being a vegan is just like being a meat eater. It is all about balance. The same vitamins that are in meat can be found in many fruits, vegetables, grains, and other items. Here is a good place to learn more http://library.thinkquest.org/20922/where_nutrients.htm

I am sorry that some of you have had a bad experience being vegetarian or vegan. But I do not think it is fair to knock it if you do not know all there is to know about it.

I never judge someone because of what they choose to eat. I do share, however, the fact that if you do choose to eat meat, make sure it is as organic as possible and is free range. I tell them same about dairy.

I do not follow PETA or any vegetarian or vegan societies that promote treating people wrong. I just don’t roll like that. I don’t advocate a lot of unnecessary mess.

I really do not know what more to say because I just did not think I would come across this here on this blog.

Pro-activity is key in all we do. Every man has a choice.

LaTara Ham-Ying’s last blog post..Vegan Family Living Podcast Show 8 – Vegan Snacks

This is doubtless because meat contains many nutrients that are missing or in short supply in fruit and vegetables. Here’s a partial list: B-vitamins, vitamins A, D, K2, iron, zinc, taurine, carnitine, carnosine, long-chain omega fatty acids. I also wanted to respond to a comment made in post #17 about other cultures that don’t eat much meat; I assume she’s talking about Asian cultures. I want to point out that practically every sauce and soup in these cultures is made with fish sauce and/or broth, so some kind of meat product is consumed with every single meal.

Also, just wanted to echo the comment about how “happy meat” still results in killing an animal for your own purposes. Not compassionate!

Not to mention, w/things like “cage free” eggs, there is often not much of a difference in how the chickens are treated @ all, from the factory farming that “cage free” is supposed to be an improvement of.

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Oct07/diets.ag.footprint.sl.html

I went vegetarian almost two decades ago because I just don’t like eating meat. However, I do know that many animals eat other animals.

Meat can be beneficial when consumed in moderation (though I do get concerned sometimes about how the animals are raised–both for their quality of life and for our health). I think most people in the West would be better off if they ate LESS meat…but I don’t think they have to stop consuming meat altogether just because I did.