Vegetarians....I NEED your help!!!?!
Vegetarians....I NEED your help!!!?
Here's my question. I think I want to become a vegitarian, for health reasons, and I don't know if a vegitarian diet includes cheese and milk. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you in advance!!
Additional Details5 months ago
Thank you to the first response, I was wondering if anyone could go into detail about the lifestyle...is it healthy to just stop eating meat? What can I look forward to as far as "meat withdrawls" (if any), and what does a list of vegitarian foods consist of? THANK YOU!!
Answers:
5 months ago
Thank you to the first response, I was wondering if anyone could go into detail about the lifestyle...is it healthy to just stop eating meat? What can I look forward to as far as "meat withdrawls" (if any), and what does a list of vegitarian foods consist of? THANK YOU!!
Hi Nuthutter,
I just wanted to chime in here. There are a lot of really good answers and I think the most important thing to remember is that if you doing this for health reasons and not because of the cruelty to animals aspect, milk, cheese and eggs should be fine to eat. You want to keep your eyes out for a few secret products though. One was mentioned earlier, which is gelatin. Some others include rennet which is enzymes from the stomach of an animal (most of the time from a calf). This is used a lot in cheese as a stabilizer and it helps the cheese become solid. Another one is pepsin (relatively the same as rennet). Then there is Cetyl Palmitate which is harvested from whale and dolphins heads (sorry to be graphic), lard which is fat from a pig, stearic acid (I won't even go into that one) and urea (You can yahoo that one as well, too gory to be specific about where that comes from).
These are just a few things that can be found in cheese, chocolate, vitamins (especially the gel cap kind like vitamin E and A) and some types of refried beans just to name a few.
So, if you want to really kick all animal products out of your diet it is best to check labels! We try and stay with organic milk and I am the only one in my family who still eats range free, organic eggs (although there are some good substitutes out there that are much lower in fat and cholesterol; since you are going healthy, that might be the way to go).
Good luck with your decision and remember sometimes it's good to start with baby steps and work your way into a healthy lifestyle!
A vegetarian diet includes dairy. A vegan diet does not.
Before you become a vegetarian, you must understand that there are many types, not just one.
The most common types are:
Vegans don't eat anything that comes from an animal no dairy (this is what you were thinking of)
Pescarians don't eat any meat except for fish (probably best if you are doing it for health reasons)
And Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarians who don't eat any meat, though they still have dairy and eggs.
Good luck:)
see i am inclined to say that you can eat what you want... i believe that a true vegetarian will not eat meat because of the cruelty to animals. i am a semi veggie... anyways i think you should be able to have vheese and milk because the animals arent being killed for these products...
my mom considers herself a strict vegetarian. she eats everything but meat. that's basically how it works, vegetarians just can't eat meat, but everything else is fair game.
the biggest debate about vegetarians is whether or not they can eat eggs, because they fall into that blurry catergory.
milk and cheese is actually one of the most effective ways of getting calcium for vegetarians. i know my mom takes one-a-day for women, but you can't get all of your supplements from vitamins. milk is important, and especially if you like it, don't stop having it. if you want to cut back on the fat intake (i dont know much about your health reasons) but im just putting it out there, then it's easiest just to have skim milk. and eat the cheese in moderation, because the cheese is going to do way more bad than good for you haha.
hope this helps!
There's veganism, which avoids all animal products (including honey from Bees), and then there's lacto-ovo vegetarianism, which does not exclude dairy and eggs. My vegetarian friend described eggs in a funny but insightful way, as "chicken periods". The eggs we eat are not fertilized, so to a lacto-ovo vegetarian, they're okay. What you'd need to avoid, besides meat, is gelatin (which is derived from animals).
Like a vegetarain myself yeah it does include dairy products.Vegans are the ones who don't include dairy products.
It will be to become a vegetarian.But then milk should be excluded from your diet seen milk is rich in fatand protein.But for cheese i think the brand matters a lot.
I would like to begin by saying there is no such thing as a semi-vegetarian or a pesco-vegetarian. Those people are just delusional meat-eaters. A person either eats dead animals or s/he does not. This person may pick and choose which animals s/he eats, but still eats the animal.
That being said, whether you eat meat or are a veggie, you are healthy or unhealthy depending on *how* you eat. You can be perfectly healthy by eating chicken and fish and adding more fruits and vegetables into your diet.
Overall, vegetarianism is an entire lifestyle change; it is not a diet you can *cheat* on. You can't occasionally treat yourself to a dead animal because you have been doing so well. At that point, you are just on a diet.
If you want to be a vegetarian, then that is wonderful. You would be doing a great thing. Vegetarians can eat cheese and milk. Some also eat eggs.
Don't believe all the angry meat eaters who list off all the reasons why you *need* to eat meat. You can lead a very healthy and bountiful life. At first you will crave meat, but what you are really craving is the fat meat contains. Believe it or not, fat is an addictive substance. Fake meats are a lot more healthy than regular meats, so substituting those will be helpful for you.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck and have fun.
You can find great vegetarian recipes at
http://allrecipes.com
The vegan food pyramid recommends
5-6 servings of grain a day
3+ servings of vegetables
3 servings of fruits
2-3 servings of legumes (beans, soy etc.)
I know it can be hard to eat that often and that much, so I use a juicer for my veggies, and use a blender to create smoothies for my fruits using ice and light-vanilla soy milk.
Types of Vegetarian:
* Lacto-ovo-vegetarian. Eats both dairy products and eggs. This is the most common type of vegetarian diet.
* Lacto-vegetarian. Eats dairy products but not eggs.
* Vegan. Does not eat dairy products, eggs, or any other animal product.
* Fruitarian. A type of vegan diet where very few processed or cooked foods are eaten. Consists mainly of raw fruit, grains and nuts. Fruitarians believe only plant foods that can be harvested without killing the plant should be eaten.
* Macrobiotic. A diet followed for spiritual and philosophical reasons. Aims to maintain a balance between foods seen as ying (positive) or yang (negative). The diet progresses through ten levels, becoming increasingly restrictive. Not all levels are vegetarian, though each level gradually eliminates animal products. The highest levels eliminate fruit and vegetables, eventually reaching the level of a brown rice diet.
Other terms can be used in describing various vegetarian diets, though their exact meaning can differ. The term strict vegetarian may refer to a vegan diet, though in other cases it may simply mean a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet. The terms common or broad vegetarian may be used to refer to lacto-ovo-vegetarians. Demi-vegetarian is a term sometimes used to describe persons who eat no or little meat but may eat fish. Persons consuming fish but no meat are sometimes called pescetarians.
I hope this helps you ^_^
Hi, part of our household is vegan meaning that we don't eat any animal products, except for a little honey. We eat a big variety of fresh, organic, raw (and cooked, in the winter months), ripe, juicy fruits and vegetables. We especially don't like dairy because of many problems we have had with everything from allergies to digestive problems. We try to keep our bodies in an alkaline state and that is the opposite from 'acid' (the acid stomach, acidosis, etc.) that is pretty common with the SAD (Standard American Diet)with its meat, dairy, coffee, wheat products, processed sugars, and other acid-producers.
There are lots of sites online that will give you piles of exciting information about being vegetarian, as well as recipes, etc.
We wish you all the best!
since I am a vegetarian, I am healthy. Yes, a vegan diet includes dairy.It has much nutrients like proteins,minerals, less fat, etc. It depends upon your diet, for eg, lot of green leafy vegetables will make you slimmer and removes the darkness of your skin.
There are more than just few types of vegetarians (though Vegans may flame me on this). According to people in the culinary world Vegetarians can be anyone who cuts out red meat to Vegans. They are classified by the Greek or Latin word for their main animal protien sorce.
Precari-polo-peshi-ovo-lacto Vegetarians are those who don't eat red meat (and for some reason are still classified as Veggies?!?!?!?)
Polo-peshi-ovo-lacto's eat fowl, fish and shell fish, eggs, and dairy
Peshi-ovo-lacto : fish and shell fish, eggs and dariy
Ovo-lacto Veggies have lifestyle, ethical and sometimes political reasons for not eating killed food, but will eat things "given freely" by animals ie eggs and milk.
If you are wanting to become a Veggie but don't want to suffer DTs (who can blame you, my mother dreams of stalking cattle in feeder lots with a knife and a fork if she doesn't eat red meat at least 3 times a week) I would suggest cutting out your meat one level at a time. It takes 21 days for something to become a habbit and it takes that amout of time for your body to adjust to not having something. Start out by not eating red meat for 21 days, then cutting out pork, then poultry, etc. Make sure that you up your intake of the nutrients that your are missing, like eating more spinach for iron, take a multivitamin and up your non-meat protein intake to make sure you aren't actually eatting your own lean muscle.
YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK.... IT'S CALLED SKINNY *****...IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU EAT....PERIOD
GOOD LUCK!
just do it, its easy you won't even miss meat
Vegetarians do eat dairy, if they want. Vegans do not.
There is no such thing as a "meat withdrawl."
Its very easy to do, good luck.
Check out peta.com. They have all sorts of information on vegetarianism. You can request a free vegetarian starter kit or you can download it.
Becoming a vegetarian or not is not what you should ask. If you think that cutting down on animal fats is better for you, than go for it.
It is good that you decrease the amount of meet slowly. the body needs to adjust from eating meats to just veggies...
What is a Vegetarian?
Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish, and poultry. Vegans are vegetarians who abstain from eating or using all animal products, including milk, cheese, other dairy items, eggs, wool, silk, and leather. Among the many reasons for being a vegetarian are health, ecological, and religious concerns, dislike of meat, compassion for animals, belief in non-violence, and economics. The American Dietetic Association has affirmed that a vegetarian diet can meet all known nutrient needs. The key to a healthy vegetarian diet, as with any other diet, is to eat a wide variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, plenty of leafy greens, whole grain products, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Limit your intake of sweets and fatty foods.
Making the Change to a Vegetarian Diet
Many people become vegetarian instantly. They totally give up meat, fish and poultry overnight. Others make the change gradually. Do what works best for you.
Being a vegetarian is as hard or as easy as you choose to make it. Some people enjoy planning and preparing elaborate meals, while others opt for quick and easy vegetarian dishes.
Vegetarian Nutrition
Protein
Vegetarians easily meet their protein needs by eating a varied diet, as long as they consume enough calories to maintain their weight.
It is not necessary to plan combinations of foods. A mixture of proteins throughout the day will provide enough "essential amino acids." (See "Position of the American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets," JADA, June 2003; Simply Vegan, 2006; and nutrition information on VRG's website, www.vrg.org.)
Good protein sources are: beans, lentils, tofu, nuts, seeds, tempeh, chickpeas, peas... Many common foods, such as whole grain bread, greens, potatoes, and corn, quickly add to protein intake.
Iron
Good iron sources are: dried fruits, baked potatoes, mushrooms, cashews, dried beans, spinach, chard, tofu, tempeh, bulgur, and iron-fortified foods (such as cereals, instant oatmeal, and veggie "meats") are all good sources of iron. To increase the amount of iron absorbed at a meal, eat a food containing vitamin C, such as citrus fruit or juices, tomatoes, or broccoli. Using iron cookware also adds to iron intake.
Calcium
Good calcium sources are: collard greens, broccoli, kale, turnip greens, tofu prepared with calcium, low-fat dairy products, fortified soymilk, and fortified orange juice all contain high quantities of calcium.
Vitamin B12
The adult recommended intake for vitamin B12 is very low. Vitamin B12 comes primarily from animal-derived foods. A diet containing dairy products or eggs provides adequate vitamin B12. Fortified foods, such as some brands of cereal, nutritional yeast, soymilk, or soy analogs, are good non-animal sources. Check labels to discover other products that are fortified with vitamin B12. Tempeh and sea vegetables are not a reliable source of vitamin B12. To be on the safe side, if you do not consume dairy products, eggs, or fortified foods regularly, you should take a non-animal derived supplement.
Children and Vegetarianism
According to The American Dietetic Association, vegetarian and vegan diets can meet all nitrogen needs and amino acid requirements for growth. Diets for children should contain enough calories to support growth and have reliable sources of key nutrients, such as iron, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin B12.
I dont really know if that is healthy or not. I just recently went vegetarian and I have been having stomach pains lately.
Yes it is very healthy to avod meat as long as you make sure your getting enough vitamins.
I'm geussing you want to either be a lacto-ovo or lacto veggie due to how you worded your question.
loacto-ovo vegetarians eat eggs and dairy products, no fish or meat.
lacto vegetarians eat dairy products and no eggs fish or meat.
To get iron:
Leafy green vegetables are very iron rich. Drink or eat something with citrus like orange juice before to absorb iron better.
Protien:
-protein bars
-tofu
-soy
-fake meats
-beans
-nuts
-peanut butter
One more thing to watch out for--soups. You can't just grab that can of soup at the grocery store, you need to check the ingredients. A lot of soups you would think vegetarian from the name (black bean, corn chowder, etc) are made with chicken or beef stock. Never assume.
Be very careful of ramen, too--most of the flavor packets contain chicken, beef and/or shrimp "extract", even the non-meat flavors such as Oriental or Mushroom.
I am one and personaly, I think it is totally fine to drink milk and dairy. I mean, the cow is not even hurt in the process of milking! Being a vegetarian is a lifestyle. It is not unhealthy IF you have plenty of protien in your diet to replace the lost protein in the meat. Honestly, you can't be a healthy vegetarian if you don't like beans. Beans are your primary source of the lost protein in the meat. You should try to have beans like once every to days at least. Or, if you don't like beans, it's very important to find another source of the portein. It is really important that you don't stop drinking milk and eating cheese becasue those have calcium and vitamans and plenty of other good parts. Without that AND the lesser amount of protein, you would not be healthy.
Everything that wasnt once walking/slithering/swimming around.... Loads of meat eaters only occasionally eat it, it's not an essential part of your diet and you get protein from vegtables. Plus most of you favourite meals you can probably still make just substitute the meat for something else (i made spag bol for a friend he ate it, loved it then sed, 'i thort u were veggie?' :s Didnt notice the differance, except meat is more chewy!xx
Read LOTS of books and websites about being vegetarian. Go to the library and check some books out and figure out exactly what type of a vegetarian you'd like to become. I'd recommend The Complete Idiot's Guide to Being Vegetarian.
All I can say is read a lot about it and start testing out vegetarian recipes.