Billione’s Comments (group member since Jul 08, 2007)

Billione’s comments from the Good Reads Vegetarians group.

TheModernBunny wrote: "I just became a vegetarian in December, so I can't think of any changes to make right now. "

Congrats! It appears that it ALL is a change for you. Thanks for your comment. ;)

Some believe being a vegetarian is an automatic health kick! Actually, there are unhealthy choices made by vegetarians and meat eaters alike. For example, some vegetarians rely on starches, imitation meat products, and junk food. But, consuming these things can be detrimental to our health if they are not consumed in moderation.

This year, I plan to eat more fresh, uncooked vegetables, commit to a supplement if needed, fewer soy based meat substitutes, and less sugar and salt all around. I also plan to eat vegan as much as I can. Wish me luck!

What do you plan to change? (FYI: I don't do resolutions. I make changes, which means to me that I am EVOLVING not RESOLVING!) Peace.

Happy New Year group! I love reading all of your posts. I read as often as I can. My goal for this year is to become a more healthy vegetarian. More REAL food and less cookies! (Unless they are vegan, lol.)

@Carrotmuffin : Thank you for you post! I love find low cost ideas and recipes. However, I just put whatever I have on hand in a pot or skillet and serve it up. What ever veggies, seasonings, proteins, etc. I love combining garlic, onion, spinach, tofu and curry and serving it on a bed of rice. Some stores have steamed lentils in a pack for a few bucks. It lasts me about 3 meals. Good luck with getting more low cost recipes!

Thank you for this wonderful post. Vegetarianism? When we use words and ad -ism to them, it makes me wonder how serious it is. For example, to me, eating a vegetarian diet and Vegetarianism are different, the way eating a plant based diet/no animal products is different from being Vegan. I see it as identifying more with behavior (Being a vegetarian: what I will allow myself to eat) versus a personal philosophy (Vegetarianism).

It is important to me because it allows me to know and control what I put into my body and keeps me aware of the impact my food/lifestyle choices have on the planet.

silverstream/The RP freak wrote: "I've never heard of the book. IT sounds nice and I think i'll try it."

It is an amazing book to me. It is about a telepathic gorilla who takes a man on an intellectual journey that will hopefully, one-day lead to making the world better. That is just a fraction of it. What I learned was that the world did not just appear as flawed/broken as it is; there are stories enacted by humans that created what the world had become and it is up to us to change it, before it is too late.

I think if people killed their own animals for food, the consumption would decrease of the strength that people would then see the process of bringing meat to the table, versus it magically appearing on a shelf in the supermarket. However, i don't think it would lead to more animals roaming the earth. The only reason so many animals that people eat exist on the planet is because they breed so many for consumption.

We all should read "Ishmael" by Daniel Quinn. His novel talks about how it is anti-diversity to stock pile food in large numbers for consumption.

Suchin wrote: "If the right wing religious nuts can jump on the vegetarianism band wagon so much the better. Then at least they got ONE thing right."

LMAO!

Just to add. We should stop trying to define the world for everyone else, an not deal in absolutes. Share your experiences and allow others to be inspired is in my opinion the best way to operate.

Letitia wrote: "Billione, in reference to your exploration of ethics, have you read anything by Peter Singer, or the "Omnivore's Dilemma" by Pollan? Highly recommended for a defensible case against consuming meat."

Letitia:

I cannot believe I did not see this post. It has been a very long time. I apologize. To answer your question. I have been looking for a Singer book at the library. Since books cost so much, that is where I spend my time, but the book by Singer that I want is not owned by the library.

I have seen Omnivore's Dilemma, but have yet to pick it up. Thank you!

Suchin wrote: "Fine if for you it is your religion, so much the better.
But religion and being a vegetarian have absolute nothing to do with each other. Only a nut will think so. Your enlightenment for your own h..."

I wouldn't say they have absolutely nothing to do with each other. The simple fact that some get their moral identity from religion and that moral identity can cause them to question whether or not eating meat is right or wrong is reasonable.

To say that you choose to no rely on your religion to come to that same decision would be more accurate.

Thanks for commenting, though.

I just added a new poll question. Please check it out via the polls link on the Good Reads Vegetarians homepage.

While deleting my post because I failed to edit it before I posted it, I mistakenly deleted two posts. One by Emily and one by Rai.

Please forgive the mistake. I have reposted their posts below.


message by Emily ♥ monkeys
1836394 wow i practically admire u now...ur so strong to make a choice like that when ur the only one !!! its a great choice and be strong in continuing being a vegetarian! If u ever need advice on things u can ask me since ive been a veggie my entire life so yah...:p heres are sites dor easy piecy recipes http://www.theveggietable.com/recipes... http://www.exploreveg.org/resources/r... and heres a site i think u would know of but if u dont then u should go check it out ! http://www.peta2.com/ or http://www.peta.org/ 02/07/2009 02:58PM



reply to this post
message by Rai
1604185 Thanks so much Emily!! I always enjoy finding new recipes :) Peta is great - they are wonderful warriors for animal rights, and they have a great cookbook, too - the Compassionate Cook, I think that's what it's called. I envy you & admire you for being a veggie your whole life, I sure wish I was, but at least I am now and have been for several years :) Rai "Be the change that you wish to see in the world." — Mahatma Gandhi

I first want to thank all of you for your comments and Alvaro for posing the question. It is very important to discuss these things as to create a personal philosophy. We all have our opinions about vegetarianism and what it means to be a vegetarian. I, too, have asked similar questions and hoped that people changed the way they see food, animals, and cruelty. However, I will not answer the question of whether meat eaters are evil. What we can learn from meat eaters by deciding if they are evil is not as important as what we can learn about ourselves by not eating meat.

What I mean is, if we decide that meat eaters are evil, are we systematically defining ourselves (vegetarians) as not evil? As someone already mentioned, are those among us who eat eggs and drink milk more evil than vegans and less evil than meat eaters?

We have to realized that though we feel we have had an enlightening moment that led us to give up meat, we are not in fact superior or more righteous than meat eaters. There are some meat eaters that have brought so much to the world, MLK, JFK, and so many others. On the flipside, there are some vegetarians who I am sure are destined to spread havoc on the world, theoretically.

We should focus on making ourselves examples of what we believe the world should be. I believe the most revolutionary thing a person can do is be a decent person. We should lead by example and not busy ourselves with what we perceive as short-comings or "evilness" of meat eaters.

Sharron,
I am a vegetarian and most people think I am a deprived weirdo, or think I am stronger, more disciplined than they are. They handle me as if i am fragile because I don't eat meat. I sometimes feel like a space alien when I go out to eat and have to ask servers what is in the food they serve.

I am critical of what others consume, but I only share my concerns when they ask me. I try not to judge them because they are allowed to make a choice just as I did. Plus, I remember when I was a meat eater and didn't think twice about the implications, lol.

Many people around me claim that they are more aware of what the eat, and how much they accommodate vegetarians. Many of them were not concerned prior to meeting me. Some have given up meat and others have lowered their consumption.

my friend Kate has probably been the most influential per on me in terms of being a vegetarian. she showed me the 'Meet Your Meat' video three years ago which opened my eyes and brought me into this lifestyle. I sometimes call her my vegetarian mother. She is vegan, she is an amazing person.

I am happy being a vegetarian. I am so happy you asked these questions. Peace.

I am not familiar with Moosewood. Thanks!

Several months ago, I emailed a guy from the American Vegetarian Association to ask why the AVA suggests eggs as part of a healthy vegetarian diet. I eat eggs, but as far as I am concerned they are in fact chickens. They are purposefully unfertilized, which in a way cheats them. But, because egg-eating vegetarians are socially accepted, I continue. What do you think about this issue. Is it even an issue? Here is the conversation the AVA rep and I had. (It's long but worth it) Peace.

Email Response #1
The AVA does not consider eggs to be vegetarian, as they are from chickens.
Rather we look at eggs as being acceptable in a vegetarian diet, as the
chicken is not killed or harmed in the process of gathering eggs. The AVA
uses the classic definition of being a vegetarian as Lacto-ovo. The term
lacto-ovo of course stands for consuming milk and eggs as part of the
vegetarian diet. This classification also accepts honey as an acceptable
food source. We do not accept any other by-product from animals.

We have certified Eggland's Best Eggs as compliant with our lifestyle due to
the way that they treat their animals and the fact that they feed the hens a
vegetarian diet.

Vegans do not accept any animal or insect based or derived products. We also
certify manufactures products to be Vegan. Perhaps you are evolving to
accept this philosophy for your lifestyle.

As far as a platform for debate, may I suggest searching the web locally for
vegetarian or vegan groups. Typically there are several such groups that are
looking for members and volunteers to work with them in the continuing
process of educating the general public on the inhuman and negative aspects
of the harvesting of innocent animals for consumption, clothing, filler
materials, etc.

As you continue to develop your position and philosophy regarding
vegetarianism or veganism remember that it is critical to identify substrate
ingredients in everyday items like rennet in cheese, red dyes derived from
crushed insects and of course leather and other skin products used in
clothing.

Respectfully,

Alan J. Reboul
Director of Marketing
American Vegetarian association

Email Response #2
In your quote lies the answer to your question. People become
Vegetarians/Vegans for two basic reasons:

1) For a healthier diet.
2) From a moral ethical point of view.

The first group are typically transient vegetarians. They will follow some
form of vegetarianism for a few years and then go back to McDonalds.

The second group is more apt to become vegetarians for life. I suspect that
you are in the later group as you are struggling with the ethics of life and
death of a chicken. I like to think that true vegetarians have evolved to a
higher plain of conscious awareness of life.

You should understand that most eggs that are harvested for consumption are
done in an environment that makes it highly improbable that the eggs would
ever be fertilized and thus never become a chicken. Hens lay eggs as part of
a normal process. Just as human females produce eggs on a monthly basis;
these are shed and never fertilized.

We must all decide our own path in life. From low to high each journey must
be thought out and found within our selves. I hope that you continue on the
path that you are taking now. As a member of the world we must allow all
life to live as a sanctioned being. Humans may be the most evolved beings on
our little green ball, only by respecting other life to be as valuable as
our own can we grow as a species.


Respectfully,


Alan J. Reboul
Director of Marketing

Thanks so much for all of your feedback and encouragement. You have no idea how much it pleases me to know that so many people share my passion.

Roberta, My favorite has to be "The Vegetarian Bible" by Sarah Brown. It is not a traditional cookbook. It has recipes but it gives you so much information about the essentials of vegetarian foods. I love it so much. I learned more about food from this book than I learn in all of my 31 years of eating! LOL

Thank you Lilia! I feel that making the change for health reason is part of the reason why I am still alive and healthier. I am working on a program at my school (Eastern Michigan University) that explores the ethics of vegetarianism. I want to share with others that vegetarian diets are the way to go, especially when the most common causes of death are preventable and are directly related to what we eat!