Going Vegetarian / Vegan ..
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I've been vegetarian since I was 14, mostly because I don't like meat. Seems pretty clear that enforced vegetarianism isn't required because there is some land that is no use for crops, but is fine for grass and sheep e.g. hills. At the same time, it's also clear that there is land that would be better for crops than animals, and that by and large more veges and less meat would be better than the status quo. Whether that is best met by everyone eating less meat, or more people becoming vegetarian and reducing total societal meat intake that way, is hard to say, although the latter is probably easier to sell because it's voluntary.
Not a big fan of fake meat generally (I prefer just using cheese or eggs), but my wife sometimes uses it so she can make a vegetarian version of a meat-based meal e.g. lasagna. I find it pretty meh since it has been 25 years since I dropped meat from my diet, but it serves its purpose. At some point, it will be significantly cheaper than meat, and meat will very quickly stop being produced in current quantities. That's probably 5-10 years away, but it's coming.
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@Godder said in Going Vegetarian / Vegan ..:
I've been vegetarian since I was 14, mostly because I don't like meat. Seems pretty clear that enforced vegetarianism isn't required because there is some land that is no use for crops, but is fine for grass and sheep e.g. hills. At the same time, it's also clear that there is land that would be better for crops than animals, and that by and large more veges and less meat would be better than the status quo. Whether that is best met by everyone eating less meat, or more people becoming vegetarian and reducing total societal meat intake that way, is hard to say, although the latter is probably easier to sell because it's voluntary.
Not a big fan of fake meat generally (I prefer just using cheese or eggs), but my wife sometimes uses it so she can make a vegetarian version of a meat-based meal e.g. lasagna. I find it pretty meh since it has been 25 years since I dropped meat from my diet, but it serves its purpose. At some point, it will be significantly cheaper than meat, and meat will very quickly stop being produced in current quantities. That's probably 5-10 years away, but it's coming.
That leaves us with a lot of cows and sheep to get rid of.
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@Godder said in Going Vegetarian / Vegan ..:
but my wife sometimes uses it so she can make a vegetarian version of a meat-based meal e.g. lasagna.
Why would you do that when you can make awesome vegetarian lasagnas with kumara, spinach, pumpkin etc?
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@Nepia said in Going Vegetarian / Vegan ..:
@Godder said in Going Vegetarian / Vegan ..:
but my wife sometimes uses it so she can make a vegetarian version of a meat-based meal e.g. lasagna.
Why would you do that when you can make awesome vegetarian lasagnas with kumara, spinach, pumpkin etc?
My wife still likes meat, so that's her compromise. I'm too busy being thankful that I don't have to cook to complain about it.
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@Catogrande said in Going Vegetarian / Vegan ..:
@Godder said in Going Vegetarian / Vegan ..:
I've been vegetarian since I was 14, mostly because I don't like meat. Seems pretty clear that enforced vegetarianism isn't required because there is some land that is no use for crops, but is fine for grass and sheep e.g. hills. At the same time, it's also clear that there is land that would be better for crops than animals, and that by and large more veges and less meat would be better than the status quo. Whether that is best met by everyone eating less meat, or more people becoming vegetarian and reducing total societal meat intake that way, is hard to say, although the latter is probably easier to sell because it's voluntary.
Not a big fan of fake meat generally (I prefer just using cheese or eggs), but my wife sometimes uses it so she can make a vegetarian version of a meat-based meal e.g. lasagna. I find it pretty meh since it has been 25 years since I dropped meat from my diet, but it serves its purpose. At some point, it will be significantly cheaper than meat, and meat will very quickly stop being produced in current quantities. That's probably 5-10 years away, but it's coming.
That leaves us with a lot of cows and sheep to get rid of.
Gourmets and exports for the "export-quality" stuff, petfood for the rest. The early hit to the market will probably be the cheapest stuff as being awful anyway e.g chicken nuggets, cheap mince and sausages.
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@Godder that was a long article that I must confess I didn't finish.
But doesn't it simply boil down to this? Nobody hates a vegan who doesn't try try to espouse his lifestyle onto anyone else.
Keep your shit to yourself, and we can all get along.
Isn't it that simple?
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@voodoo ideally it would be, but some people can't handle nonconformity and get angry at it for no obvious reason. As a young vegetarian (I was 14 when I switched), I was never militant about it or even interested in suggesting others try it, but was surprised at the amount of hostility toward the mention of the word. It seems that vegan has replaced vegetarian in that respect, but the hostility toward it is no more justified in most instances than it was 25 years ago.
That's really the point of the article - proselytising veganism is rare as a percentage of vegans, but vegans are despised anyway, even though most don't try to push it on anyone.
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My missus of 9 years has been a non-meat eater since she was 13.
Was vegan for about 10 years.
Then back to veg and now Pescatarian.
I do the majority of the cooking for both of us.
Breakfast is porridge then toast with jam, peanut butter, avocado or eggs.
She's out at work so I can eat what the fuck I like at lunch. Invariably it's a cycle of veggie, pescie, meat, and 'junk' - sausage rolls, pies, chicken kiev.
Dinner is 50/50 veggie / pescie.
My go to when I go out is pork. Belly and crackling preferably.
If I was single it wouldn't be much different.
There is no scientific evidence that a purely plant based diet is better for you.
It's a volume and quality issue. Always has been, always will be.
Been to PhD level in Human Nutrition, so not the ramblings of a drunk denyer (sp) - the other spelling looked like the quality of women's tights.
Even though I'm typing this on my second bottle of red.
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@Godder hmm. I'm hardly an expert, but I'd say the rare times I've seen any heated conflict between vegans and non-vegans have been at the scene of some sort of protest. I honestly don't think "non-vegans" would care if vegans went quietly about their business.
Maybe I have it wrong.
Personally I'm close to vege these days, not by any moral choice, more by lack of quality options and the gradual change in taste that ensued.
Maybe I'll be leading the march one day!
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@canefan said in Going Vegetarian / Vegan ..:
I think hate levelled at vegans is hugely exaggerated, unless you are talking about those militantly trying to stop the rest of us from enjoying our meat
There's a group of foodies which are like born again Christians.
They're passionate. Mean well.
But you wouldn't want to spend the night with them.
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@Catogrande said in Going Vegetarian / Vegan ..:
In this regime you do not eat meat unless it is going to waste.
That's me. No dead animal I eat is wasted.
Forty years ago I started working for one of London's top family butchers. The guy was massively ahead of his time in terms of quality, cuts and what he did with meat. Ended up running his catering operation and learned that money spent on quality produce is never wasted.
Ms DM laughs at me for popping in to butchers shops when we are on holiday just for a look see.
I'm the anti-Christ of veganism. I can't abide fruit (no sweet tooth) and while I like vegetables I don't eat enough of them. I'm too time poor. The plan for retirement though includes lots of baking, preserving, fermenting and charcuterie.
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@canefan said in Going Vegetarian / Vegan ..:
I think hate levelled at vegans is hugely exaggerated, unless you are talking about those militantly trying to stop the rest of us from enjoying our meat
I agree. It seems most of us on here know vegans or vegetarians and have no issue with them. It's the militant vegans that people hate. Just like the radical lefties, the right wing nutjobs, the born again Christians etc etc. Anyone that gets in other people's faces and preaches how to live their lives, while arrogantly assuming they know everything and that they are the most morally virtuous person to ever grace the earth, is going to get a fair amount of criticism and mocking directed their way.
If vegans are worried about people hating them they should direct their ire at the militant branch of veganism that causes this resentment.
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@No-Quarter if everyone would live and let live the world would be just fine
