[Tweety]

Just wonder if there are any vegetarians out there, so I thought I would start a roll call. Vegetarians don't eat red meat, chicken or fish....vegans don't eat all that but also don't eat dairy products or eggs. Flexitarians primarily eat vegetarian, but may stray to meat every now and then.

Besides a roll call, I thought if anyone wants to just chat, ask questions, etc. I'm pretty well studied on vegetarian nutrition and vegan alternatives.

http://www.slate.com/id/2190872/pagenum/all/#page_start

Me first. I became vegetarian for health reasons about 16 years ago, but would eat meat around the holidays only, so really I was "flexitarian", but I don't label myself anything really. I've been back and forth and the last year have been leaning towards full time vegetarianism and am hoping to commit again. I lean towards vegan living buying cruelty free products, soaps, cleaners candles, etc. I'm pretty much exclusively vegan in my homecooked meals.

I have since learned the impact on the environment that meat eating has, well as as the cruelty involved in factory farming and these issues motivators to me as well.

My favorite cookbook of the moment is Veganomicon. http://www.theppk.com/

[RNCCHP]

I too am vegetarian but working towards 100% vegan have been for 4 years now. It's good to meet you Tweetie.

[Thanet]

Flexitarian? I have never heard that term before!

It describes me quite well as I am a veggie but if I went to a meat eaters house I would eat solid flesh eg steak, bacon, chicken etc but I would decline ground or minced meat eg hamburger, sausages, salami etc.

I never thought of calling it flexitarian.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by RNCCHP

I too am vegetarian but working towards 100% vegan have been for 4 years now. It's good to meet you Tweetie.

Nice to meet you too! Good luck with becoming vegan. I love vegan cooking and cook that way almost exclusively. It's irritating though sometimes to read the labels around my house. I just noticed a curry sauce I bought has heavy cream in it and an Asian sauce has anchovies. Oh well.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by Thanet

Flexitarian? I have never heard that term before!

It describes me quite well as I am a veggie but if I went to a meat eaters house I would eat solid flesh eg steak, bacon, chicken etc but I would decline ground or minced meat eg hamburger, sausages, salami etc.

I never thought of calling it flexitarian.

Hi. It's a term I read somewhere, maybe Vegetarian Times, but I can't remember where. Sometimes I let people know ahead of time that I'm a vegetarian just to see what I get. I used to have some card playing buddies that always made sure they made a veggie version of whatever they cooked. But like you, I try not to make a big deal of it and rather than starve or make a scene, I'm likely to eat whatever they are eating.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexitarianism

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/ma...ticlekey=52501

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4541605/

[Silverdragon102]

My husband is more vegetarian than myself but I do eat it a lot as I am not going to cook 2 different meals. Since coming to Canada have struggled a bit in finding veggie options although have found some stuff, there just isn't the option and choice like we had in the UK. Quorn was a fav for us in the UK but it is not sold here in Canada

[student456]

I think Quorn was banned in Canada bc of potential health risks? I think thats what it was. I am surprised you can't find good vegetarian options here in Canada...if you go to loblaws, sobeys, etc or any of the big grocery stores in the produce section usually next to the lettuce and all that they always have a huge selection of fake meat products...yves makes alot and there are a ton of brands (most of them are quite tasty!). Harvey's fast food restaurant makes a GREAT veggie burger - Swiss chalet ( a canadian restaurant) also makes a really good veggie burger for the times you want to go there and not eat chicken (what they primarily sell)

Originally Posted by Silverdragon102

My husband is more vegetarian than myself but I do eat it a lot as I am not going to cook 2 different meals. Since coming to Canada have struggled a bit in finding veggie options although have found some stuff, there just isn't the option and choice like we had in the UK. Quorn was a fav for us in the UK but it is not sold here in Canada

[Silverdragon102]

Originally Posted by muhaha

I think Quorn was banned in Canada bc of potential health risks? I think thats what it was. I am surprised you can't find good vegetarian options here in Canada...if you go to loblaws, sobeys, etc or any of the big grocery stores in the produce section usually next to the lettuce and all that they always have a huge selection of fake meat products...yves makes alot and there are a ton of brands (most of them are quite tasty!). Harvey's fast food restaurant makes a GREAT veggie burger - Swiss chalet ( a canadian restaurant) also makes a really good veggie burger for the times you want to go there and not eat chicken (what they primarily sell)

Thanks, Been to Sorbey's and my local doesn't really have much of a choice, found more at another supermarket but the choice and quantity just isn't there. I buy the meat free mince but prefer it just dried not already in a sauce as I like to cook my own chilli's and curries. Quorn from my understanding was banned more from issues on how it was advertised rather than health risk as I have been using it for several years in the UK and I know you an buy it in the US. We have managed to find a pizza place with vegetarian pizza's but reluctant to go to resturants as we feel they just won't have the option.

[siggie13]

I have been semi-vegetarian all my life...never cared for the taste of meat...and now, I mainly eat vegs, fruit, but do eat eggs, cheese, milk. Strange, but every now and then, my body just has to have some type of meat and I will eat fish, chicken and an occasional steak but very rarely. I am very lucky in that I am not crazy about food and can eat just about anything to stop the hunger pangs. I do know that if I live on a farm and raised my own food animals that I probably would eat more meat. I have a big problem with how animals are raised, killed and butchered just so we can eat. Guess I'm saying I tend to go for whatever my body wants and usually it only wants meatless items.

[Tweety]

Originally Posted by Silverdragon102

My husband is more vegetarian than myself but I do eat it a lot as I am not going to cook 2 different meals. Since coming to Canada have struggled a bit in finding veggie options although have found some stuff, there just isn't the option and choice like we had in the UK. Quorn was a fav for us in the UK but it is not sold here in Canada

Quorn was banned here in the US up until the 90's, which was insane because it has been eaten successfully in the UK for a long time. I've eaten it and love it. They are a good alternative from soy products, but unfortunately have eggs I believe and vegans don't eat them. I think the UK has a lot more versions than here in the US.

I'm fortunate to live in an urban area with a couple of good health food stores, and the Publix groceries carry a lot of health food options too around here. Restaurants are another story, although it's not too hard to eat vegetarian when eating out, but vegan is more difficult. I don't really try to eat vegan when I eat out.