How/Why I Became A Vegan/Vegetarian

[corvuspirit]

A little over 15 years ago I was half way through a fast food cheeseburger when all of a sudden my body rejected it. I don't know how else to describe it, besides every cell in my body wanted to vomit it out. Regardless of why that was, I have not been able to eat, and barely can stand to touch or smell meat since. Obviously, this has led to a much healthier diet over the past 15 years, so I considered it a blessing and perhaps the wisdom of my body knowing what was best for it.

Over the past 15 years I have read and heard and seen much to make me very happy that my body rejected meat. But for me it was never a moral issue - just a physical rejection.

I am curious as to how any JUBbers who are vegan or vegetarian came to that choice - or was it like myself, where you did not have a choice in the matter...

 

[wetboy69]

I'm vegetarian by principle, but then I remember as a kid hating meat and excusing myself to go to the bathroom so I could cough it up. I used to hate it.

However, when I was living alone I realised I could eat what I wanted and just didn't bother with meat. I met another vegetarian and went out with him for years so it kinda stuck.

During that time, I met other vegetarians and vegans and also became aware of groups like PETA and the humane society and saw a few videos of cruelty inflicted upon livestock and other animals which only reinforced why I was and would always be vegetarian and attempt to eradicate animal products from my life.

It's been over ten years, probably longer and I'm happy that I don't eat meat. I'd like to go vegan to be true to my beliefs, but that takes some organisation and also preparation, same with clothing...footwear etc.

It can be an expensive lifestyle change, so I at least try to do as much as I am capable of right now and buy organic, free range eggs and be aware of my purchases.

I recently saw "Earthlings" a documentary film, narrated by Joaquin Phoenix, a vegan himself and animal rights campaigner. the film details the way we use animals in our everyday life. I can't say how much this film moved me and changed me forever.

I try not to force my lifestyle on others as it's a personal thing but wish people would be more aware of the meat industry and also the practices that continue with cruelty and abhorrent behaviour that always induces me to tears. I just can't believe how cruel these people are that manage to get work in these factories.

Linda McCartney said once "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, we would all be vegetarian"

I think as a meat eater, everyone should accept where it derives from and attempt to meet your meat for which there is a site out there somewhere.

 

[Luka]

I would love to be a vegitarian, but im poor and cant afford to buy food, so i have a school meal plan, and everything has meat. I dont eat beef or pork, guess its a start. I am doing it for the principle, but also i almost vomit when i smell/ see beef(unless its alive, lol) Hopefully in the near future i can cut chicken and turkey out....

 

[corvuspirit]

that's a great start luka. the health reasons alone are well worth it - no telling how many years you might add to your life.

 

[Jory]

Are you a Vegan or a Vegetarian there is a big difference

 

[wetboy69]

That is a great start. It does take a bit more organisation and a little more $ I agree.

 

[corvuspirit]

i'm a vegetarian...the message title reflected anyone answering the question

 

[Luka]

ok, i was thinking and ive decided im addicted to chicken, haha, but that wont stop me from stopping eating it, ill get there, lols just had to add that.

 

[drhladnjak]

I'm not convinced that being vegetarian or vegan is inherently healthier than being omnivorous. A major component of it is that vegetarians and especially vegans just tend to care a lot more about what they eat. I've had vegan friends that still ate mostly crap all the time. Just because it's meatless crap doesn't make it better for you. By that same token, I know others who eat a good variety of different kinds of vegetables and fruit because they're not as focused on meat.

Perhaps my biggest problem with eating meat is that in the developed world we've gotten too far from the origins of our food. We're squeamish about the slaughtering of cattle for beef because it's something we never see. When I was in rural Nicaragua, the concept of a vegetarian was totally unknown. At the same time, when the lady of the house was preparing lunch, she'd cut the head off a chicken in the yard with an axe. That was an ordinary every day task to every one in the village I visited. If we all had to slaughter our own food, it seems quite likely that there would be fewer vegetarians not more because I honestly feel it would change how we feel as a culture about animals and their relationship to our food.

 

[CanadianGuy]

I am a vegetarian and I have been once since I was in grade 2. The whole idea of eating dead animals was always kind of gross to me and I rejected it.
I do agree that someone can be vegetarian and not be healthy. People often have the idea that vegetarians are healthy but this is not the case always. I now consider my self a healthy eater but when I first started I was really too young to understand the concept of a balanced diet. Things like French fries can be considered a vegetarian "meal".

 

[Luka]

lol, yea but not fries from McDonalds, the oil they fry them in is laced with beef stock. yea its true, i worked there, read the ingredients on the box.

But just in general, i feel like im sick of eating meat. I eat chicken and or turkey everyday, and it gets a little old.

 

[1st love ron]

Not too long ago there was a piece on the news about "draggers" -- animals too old or sick to walk from their pens to the slaughter house. They showed undercover footage of live cows unable to stand being rammed by fork lifts and pushed into the killing area. They also showed cows being dragged with a chain tied around a limb and towed by a tractor to the slaughterhouse. Examples of abuse by employess with the disabled cows such as blasting them with high-pressure blasts of water or whacking them with a prod was also rampant. It was heartbreaking, not to mention shocking, and brought me nearly to tears. It affected me so deeply that I haven't had any meat since then. My mother is also a vegetarian. She is slim and in perfect health at her age (mid 80s).

 

[Mitsukuni]

Perhaps my biggest problem with eating meat is that in the developed world we've gotten too far from the origins of our food. We're squeamish about the slaughtering of cattle for beef because it's something we never see. When I was in rural Nicaragua, the concept of a vegetarian was totally unknown. At the same time, when the lady of the house was preparing lunch, she'd cut the head off a chicken in the yard with an axe. That was an ordinary every day task to every one in the village I visited. If we all had to slaughter our own food, it seems quite likely that there would be fewer vegetarians not more because I honestly feel it would change how we feel as a culture about animals and their relationship to our food.

Growing up I was a picky eater, and didn't eat much food. My mom would fight with me to eat my food, and the doctors would tell my mom to feed me red meat at least once a week.

Once I hit puberty, and till this day I eat like a pig, and I'll eat just about anything. I 'll try anything once. I love my steak. People assume that I don't eat much because I am thin. My friends always tell me, especially the girls, "I hate you" because I can eat whatever I want and not gain weight.


During these past few years I have cut down on eating red meat. I'll eat it once in a while. I mostly eat chicken, and fish. I'm not a big fan of fast food restaurant. I'd rather order Chinese food.

 

[drhladnjak]

If you haven't eaten meat in a long time (or ever), you could quite possibly vomit if you ate too much. Your digestive system just isn't used to it, although starting with small amounts you could adapt over time.

 

[najfus]

Perhaps my biggest problem with eating meat is that in the developed world we've gotten too far from the origins of our food. We're squeamish about the slaughtering of cattle for beef because it's something we never see. When I was in rural Nicaragua, the concept of a vegetarian was totally unknown. At the same time, when the lady of the house was preparing lunch, she'd cut the head off a chicken in the yard with an axe. That was an ordinary every day task to every one in the village I visited. If we all had to slaughter our own food, it seems quite likely that there would be fewer vegetarians not more because I honestly feel it would change how we feel as a culture about animals and their relationship to our food.

I suppose I agree with you but I do think eating a more plant based diet is not only healthier but more importantly, environmentally sustainable. Because we are in a developed country we have the resources to make more informed choices about the food we ingest on a daily basis, and we have the options to be vegetarian/vegan/etc. The problem is many people ignore information regarding where their food comes from.

I try to avoid eating meat unless I know how it was raised and how/where it was slaughtered. Unfortunately most people do not have the access to information about the food they're ingesting.

The reason I try to avoid meat is because of the environmental impacts the meat industry has on the earth. I sympathize with the animal rights arguments; however, I feel comfortable knowing that the animals I'm eating lived comfortably and were slaughtered humanely(if that's possible). Support local food!

 

[helzeena]

I've been vegetarian for approximately 6 years. I'm 19 now so I was 13 when I started and it was for a variety of reasons. When I initially started it was moreso because I wanted to be rebelious and different and I liked having the label vegetarian. But as the years have gone on I have began to include animal welfare and health purposes as reaons for my diet. And also, the thought of eating meat grosses me out somewhat. But it's all a personal thing.

I'm not the healthiest vegetarian though. I eat alot of junk and am overweight, so as stated above, being vegetarian does not automatically equate to a healthier lifestyle!