Why Vegetarian? Vegan?

October 7, 2009

As a short-term (14 years) vegetarian, I am always curious about the

precipitating events in peoples lives that caused them to become vegetarian or

vegan. Would you post with your reasons, please?

My own story: When I remarried in 1995, my new husband indicated to me that he

wouldn't really mind if we stopped eating meat. So we did. It was that easy!

I was already preparing mostly vegetarian meals because I didn't much care for

the taste of meat anyway. The only thing I can remember really missing was

Kentucky Fried Chicken Tenders LOL when that commercial came on TV, it was

really hard *smile* But I've never regretted my decision, and am happily

" vegetarian " to this day.

Hugs,

Ellen

October 7, 2009

I was vegan in college because everybody in the art studies was vegan or

vegetarian! Our art club actually won the chili cookoff (this was in Houston,

TX) with our vegan chili out of all the many contestants!! I remained

vegetarian, then read Diet for a New America and I knew I'd never eat anything

with a face or a mother again!! I remarried my first husband who is a big

ole biker who was eating meat and smoking and I fell right back in for the

ride. Bad move. He was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and had extensive

surgery but is cancer free 7 years now! I told him he might want to think

about going vegan for his health and he threw himself into it with a vengeance!

I work and he stays home and he makes the most incredible vegan meals

every!! We both feel great and young and know we've eaten sentient beings for

the last time!

Namaste!

Jilly

" Come to the edge " he said,

" We can't, we are afraid " they said... " Come to the edge "

" We can't, we will fall "

" Come to the edge "

and they came

and he pushed them

and they flew.

Guillaume Appollinaire

In a message dated 10/6/2009 10:07:55 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

sweetcatkins writes:

As a short-term (14 years) vegetarian, I am always curious about the

precipitating events in peoples lives that caused them to become vegetarian or

vegan. Would you post with your reasons, please?

My own story: When I remarried in 1995, my new husband indicated to me

that he wouldn't really mind if we stopped eating meat. So we did. It was that

easy! I was already preparing mostly vegetarian meals because I didn't

much care for the taste of meat anyway. The only thing I can remember really

missing was Kentucky Fried Chicken Tenders LOL when that commercial came on

TV, it was really hard *smile* But I've never regretted my decision, and am

happily " vegetarian " to this day.

Hugs,

Ellen

October 7, 2009

When I was twelve years old my dad brought home about a dozen chickens from his

work at a poultry " processing " plant. Broiler hens at this point, but we did get

a few eggs out of them still during the three weeks we kept them in our

backyard. It was just long enough to get attached to to them. And then my dad

chopped off their heads and hung them upside down from our maple tree to bleed

out. My cat had kittens at the time and he fed them the heads. It then fell upon

us kids to pluck the chickens. Needless to say, within a month I announced I was

going to become a vegetarian.

There were a couple of small lapses, but after two years that was out of my

system. I did start eating fish when I was in Japan as an exchange student

because I was staying with host families and it made it easier on them.

My rule now is nothing I wouldn't kill with my own two hands... an I do enjoy

fishing. I eat it once a week at most, generally closer to twice a month, and

not much.

When I was a kid pork kind of grossed me out, as pigs are omnivorous and I

didn't feel comfortable that high up the chain, and my grandmother cooked beef

and it was always tough and stringy and disgusting. So really, I didn't give

much up that I liked.

We were camping while I was detoxing from the meat - I didn't think to do it

gradually - and I was really gassy and I remember my family being extremely

upset over having to be in a confined vehicle with me; I think this goes to

prove how bad meat is for you, if that's what happens when you stop eating it.

Peace,

Lily

, " Cat " <sweetcatkins wrote:

>

> As a short-term (14 years) vegetarian, I am always curious about the

precipitating events in peoples lives that caused them to become vegetarian or

vegan. Would you post with your reasons, please?

>

> My own story: When I remarried in 1995, my new husband indicated to me that he

wouldn't really mind if we stopped eating meat. So we did. It was that easy!

I was already preparing mostly vegetarian meals because I didn't much care for

the taste of meat anyway. The only thing I can remember really missing was

Kentucky Fried Chicken Tenders LOL when that commercial came on TV, it was

really hard *smile* But I've never regretted my decision, and am happily

" vegetarian " to this day.

>

> Hugs,

>

> Ellen

>

October 7, 2009

I became vegetarian about 19 years ago shortly after I turned 50. I had never

really liked meat and resented the space it took up on my plate - especially at

holiday time. I didn't know you could go without. Who knew there were

vegetarians out there. This was in the days before the Internet. A daughter

became vegetarian and it was like someone turned on the lights. I have never

eaten any meat/poultry/fish since that day and have never missed it either.

My daughter was raising a vegetarian child but both of them drifted back to

meat. Another vegetarian granddaughter has gone back to some meat but I think

she is turning around again. I have another granddaughter who has never eaten

meat in her life much to the consternation of her parents. I think she was a

vegetarian in a previous life because she even refused baby food that contained

meat. Good for her!!!

Audrey

October 7, 2009

My journey started back in college (I'm 41 now). My boyfriend at the time

seemed to want to eat meat for every meal. In fact I remember saying do we have

to eat meat every meal.... I ate meat growing up but not in such large

quantities. I decided to come up with meatless meal options when I

could. Also in college during a visit to the doctor's office the doctor

actually told me I could stand to lose 20 lbs. I was shocked. I had definitely

put on the freshman 15 and then some but no one had every said anything like

that to me. I immediately started eating healthier and exercising. Over the

years I slowly cut meat out of my diet until around 10 years ago I was pretty

much a vegetarian. Being a vegetarian has helped me maintain a healthy weight

too. I can't just head for a fast food drive thru when I am hungry. You have

to give a little more thought to what you are putting in your body. Not to

mention, I am rarely

sick these days now that I no longer eat a less healthy diet.

But the health reasons really take a back seat to the main reason I am a

vegetarian. I do it for humane reasons - I believe something doesn't have to

die for me to enjoy a meal. I'm a huge animal lover and just can't bring myself

to eat something that once a thinking/feeling creature. My goal is to retire

on my family's land and have an animal refuge.

And in recent years I have added the environmental impact eating meat has on our

planet to my list of reasons for being a vegetarian. Rain forests are cleared,

land is polluted, animals are treated cruelly all so people (mainly Americans)

can continue to eat way too much meat! I feel really good about what little