posted April 27, 2005 07:08 AM         

I was a strict vegan for a year or more, and involved with animal right's activism. At around the same time I was getting into all this, I met a man who I am still with, who, unfortunately eats meat. At first I thought that as he loves animals, I would one day be able to convert him. Unfortunately, this was not so. He's very stubborn and can't be bothered with it. Plus he thinks it's not natural not to eat some meat. Plus he doesn't really like anything else. I've tried, for so long, to subtley sway him over to my beliefs. Even though he's sensitive, I have been unsuccessful. The same goes for family. People won't change unless they want to.

Vegans use to ask me how I could be with a meat-eater. I wondered too. However, the bond between us is so powerful. I have not been able to shake it off.

I left the group I was involved with. I didn't see their approach ever truely acchieving anything. It saddens me, and I know exactly what they would think of me now. But I have to think for my-S-elf. And it certainly isn't always possible to telapathically get One's feelings accross so people may empathize!

I have read Star Signs and the section on immortality.

However, I have ended up being the One to compromise. It's an Arwen/Aargon situation! (LOL- Lord of the Rings- I know, i'm a nutcase). I fell in love with a mortal man and have now chosen a mortal life. I no longer totally avoid all animal products, though I would again if I met a man who did (I'm not altogether proud of it). I occasionally eat organic fish/chicken and small amounts of dairy, though I have just bought some more vegan cookery books- I intend to fight with delicious food once I have mastered them!

I guess I may forever be at odds with things.....

posted April 27, 2005 09:44 AM         

I've been some version of vegetarian for over 15 years. After trying it, I rejected being strictly vegan--it makes it nearly impossible to interact socially. Did you know that the process of making sugar white includes bleaching with animal bones? One's head starts to spin when realizing what it takes to be strictly vegan.

I eat a little dairy, a little seafood/fish. I sometimes feel guilty about the fish/seafood.

I don't judge others for what they eat. It's that simple.

I've dated meat eaters. If they want meat in my home, they are welcome to it. Like you, if I found a man with whom I shared all the right connections who was more strictly vegetarian (meaning eliminating fish), I would find it easy to fall into it.

A vegetarian friend of mine keeps separate pans for her husband when he feels the need to cook meat.

posted April 27, 2005 04:58 PM         

I'm not feeling good at all(physically) right now, but when I feel better I will come back to this thread.

For now, Lost, all I can say is:

It's tough!

I really sympathize. I have wrestled with this same issue a lot. I still am.

posted April 27, 2005 05:04 PM         

Trillian's words were nice to my ears, as I've never met anyone in the same situation as me before. I guess I make life hard for myS-elf by not fitting into any category and by having such a mind of my own!

As it happens, I'm actually feeling quite good today. I've had a nice day. I hope some of this gladness spreads over to you to evaporate your sadness!

posted April 27, 2005 08:24 PM         

But, I loooovvvveee meat. before I decided to become veggie, I likes my steak rare and bloody. It still sounds good to me, but I am consciously a veggie, so it makes a larger impact.

My roomate/former bf really only eats meat...at every meal. I don't say anything because that's how he is. We've had discussions about my views and stuff, but it's not for him and I would never push him into it. He should only decide to be veggie in his own mind, not mine.

I don't find it hard to fit into society at all. If I were vegan, it would be a lot more difficult.

My main irritant is that it is sooooo expensive to eat HEALTHY compared to the 16 burgers you can get on a dollar nowadays. Ridiculous!!!! Granted, if I lived in a warmer climate, I could grow near-year-round and the costs wouldn't be hardly anything, but I don't. It snows. I get hungry, but good, healthy food is costly and so I get irritated!! ARGG!

I wonder if anyone has ever experienced this: After I became veggie for a good while, I was at a friend of my mom's for dinner. All they had was meat in every dish and so I ate without complaining, but I got sick afterwards. It was like I could no longer digest the meat very well.

posted May 12, 2005 07:46 AM         

Yes, I do know what you are on about. It can be difficult to eat socially at someone elses' house. But they should respect you. We're all different in this world. Try telling them beforehand that meat doesn't agree with you. You can always just have the veg. They shouldn't get offended at that. They would have no choice if you had a life-threatening allergy!

Yes, the sickness may indeed be somatic, but how long have you not been eating meat? Meat is actually very difficult for humans to digest, especially red meat. So maybe your body has become more adapted to a vegetarian diet now? Different foods require different enzymes to digest.

Healthy food can be more expensive, but there is no doubt that it pays well, so remember that! Over here there have been quite a few revealing TV programmes on about health recently.

Anyway, I've not got much time here so I'd better go!

posted May 14, 2005 01:18 AM         

Ive been trying to be a partial veg and just eat fish and nonfat dairy products because of the fact that I discovered my daily fat intake was way over what I should be eating and it was mostly because of the meat I was eating. Yeah yeah, I know...someones gonna yell at me and say thats the wrong reason to go veg. Anyways, my fiance doesnt want to stop eating meat, my kids dont want to stop eating meat, and his mom is kind of prejudice against vegetarians. So, trying to accomodate everyone didnt really fit well with our grocery budget. So I just usually compromise by still serving poultry but we still dont really eat red meat.

Meat and dairy substitutes can be very expensive as well. I was gonna go and try to buy some veggie burgers just to try them but decided not to when I saw the high price. Veggies arent very expensive but they dont keep well and can end up being costly.

posted May 24, 2005 10:50 AM         

Zoso, i know I'm going !way! off the subject here, but did you know that 'Rhesus Negative' blood groups are more common amongst Basque people, and seems to originate from? Just something I became fascinated by when I discovered my blood group whilst pregnant, that's all!

Morgan Moon, I was vegan for a year or more, the only reason I really stopped was I was suffering from terrible digestive problems (ie, chronic flatluence, etc).....This led me to do some research on soya, and, by the way, there is A LOT of negative stuff about soya on the internet- find out for yourself if you like. I would like to still be a vegan, but it's so hard now without soya (the problems I used to get with soya have thankfully gone!). It's so hard for social reasons, but especially hard when you're with a non-veggie man too. Aaaarrghh!

posted May 25, 2005 01:30 AM         

I started eating fish, too. A couple months ago. At first I felt guilty about it, but, well, I just feel better physically when I have a little now and then. I try to only do it once in a while. And like you, I don't eat soy. I'm highly suspicious of it and feel better now that I don't eat it.

I used to think vegetarianism/veganism was the end all and be all of good nutrition....but now I'm not so sure. I have serious doubts that it's healthiest for *everyone.* I think we're all different and for some it works well and for others, not quite so much.

Ahhhh it's confusing.....

posted July 06, 2005 04:37 PM         

1. People's comments: "WHAT do you eat? Do you eat chicken???????" (Hmmm last time I checked, a chicken was an animal).

2. When going to a restaurant, your family and friends seem to think that you lost your ability to read a menu by becoming vegetarian: "Oh, you could get this.....Or they have this....or that..." (Hmm thank you I can read myself alright.)

3. When going to a restaurant and you ask the hostess if they have any vegetarian items on the menu before you decide to dine there or not and she says "We have chicken, fish and turkey". (Hmmm,... last time I checked, those were animals.)

4. When eating at a group function and someone realizes that you are vegetarian and they assume you will just "pick out" the chicken pieces out of a chinese dish, etc. (Ewww!)

5. When people wonder what you eat and they say, "oh, you eat salad, and pasta."

I will not compromise my beliefs/eating habits to please/accomodate anyone, because then I am not being true to myself.

posted July 06, 2005 04:42 PM         

For example, if I am in a group setting, I've learned to bring a dish that I can eat. I've learned to say "oh, I'll just have this and this." Opposed to "I can't have this, this or this."
Sometimes the less issue WE make of it, the less issue others will make of it as well.

posted July 08, 2005 12:49 PM         

I've been asked/told;

You can eat chips?!

You can eat bread?!