A Recipe For a Family Fight

Read the book EAT TO LIVE. That is why I am vegetarian. Not because of the animals, but because I avoid things such as cancer, heart disease, strokes, fatigue, and psychological problems, longer than most. You just feel better without the saturated fats, sugars, and salts in your body. Not that turkey is a very unhealthy meat if prepared right, but red meats are definitely hard on the body.

what i was trying to say at the end was "PLEASE AMERICA WAKE UP AND EVOLVE!"

YES YOU DO! Your body only makes 75%of the total cholesterol needed to keep homeostasis. Again I don't care what you eat, I have seen very healthy vegans and unhealthy omnivores and vise versa. Just know that your do need to put cholesterol in your diet, and by the way studying medicine right now so I do know some of what I'm talking about.

Oh brother..........are you kidding. I have been a vegetarian for 20 years and this has never been a big deal. "hey want some turkey............no thanks" the end. They respect my choice and I respect theres. If this is the main topic of conversation when your family gets together for this holiday I would spend it with someone else.

So true. It's not about the food we're eating. It's about giving THANKS. Still though, this dilemma is an indication that there's a moral problem at hand, very slowly trying to work itself out, and I have a few questions and points:

1) Why don???t un-vegetarians see that some of us have evolved emotionally-mentally enough to CARE about animals? What is so neat here is that we do not NEED meat to survive. Why can't we evolve past thinking we need to eat meat? Health agencies have clearly stated in their position statements that a vegetarian diet is actually lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, higher in fiber, vitamins/minerals (the list goes on) and thereby very beneficial.

2) Meat eaters in this post have gotten mighty rude and defensive. After years of pondering, I???m certain though that this is merely because they didn't think of being vegetarian first. It can be very challenging and hurtful when some snooty vegetarian implies they are not as evolved as the vegetarian is, that they are stuck in a "herd state" going with the crowds and tradition out of comfort and can???t see how unnecessary killing multitudes of turkeys and other animals is. Well what can I say? It???s never too late to improve oneself.

3) Why can't people see that just because we did something in the past (like vigilantes and stringing people up to die, marrying many spouses at the same time, using rum or whiskey for "medicine") does not mean that' is the best way to do things. Times change. Things improve when we have a better heart and/or find better ways to do things. Tradition is a dangerous reason to continue doing some things.

4) Someone wrote that we all die anyway and there's nothing wrong with eating the animals. Is that person God? I bet He looks down on this person and laughs. What is right here? Whatever religion you are, I think there's a thing called Karma and we will reap what we sow. Pretty scary huh? We're not in Africa or the South Pole where there aint no food brotha, and we gotta kill to survive. We are in a plentiful land called America with plenty of healthy grains and non-meat protein sources and produce and we do not need to eat these animals just for greed, selfishness and "tradition."

It will be a wonderful day in our history when people realize that it's quite a silly and un-evolved requirement to have turkey for Thanksgiving. I will continue to dream of a new America where there may still be a few people left who insist on eating free-range turkey for Thanksgiving, but most of us will be broadcasting their wonderful, creative meatless recipes! Un-vegetarians are living in little selfish microcosms. They think they'll go buy a big dead bird on sale to put on their table, and try hard not to think of the 45 million or so turkeys that were literally slaughtered just to carry on this stupid, unhealthy tradition. I became a vegetarian long ago because I got tired of trying to quiet the voice inside.

Way to go. It's not about the food we're eating. It's about GIVING THANKS. Still though, this dilemma is an indication that there's a moral problem at hand, very slowly trying to work itself out, and I have a few questions and points:

1) Why don???t un-vegetarians see that some of us have evolved emotionally-mentally enough to CARE about animals? What is so neat here is that we do not NEED meat to survive. Why can't we evolve past thinking we need to eat meat? Health agencies have clearly stated in their position statements that a vegetarian diet is actually lower in saturated fat and cholesterol, higher in fiber, vitamins/minerals (the list goes on) and thereby very beneficial.

2) Meat eaters in this post have gotten mighty rude and defensive. After years of pondering, I???m certain though that this is merely because they didn't think of being vegetarian first. It can be very challenging and hurtful when some snooty vegetarian implies they are not as evolved as the vegetarian is, that they are stuck in a "herd state" going with the crowds and tradition out of comfort and can???t see how unnecessary killing multitudes of turkeys and other animals is. Well what can I say? It???s never too late to improve oneself.

3) Why can't people see that just because we did something in the past (like vigilantes and stringing people up to die, marrying many spouses at the same time, using rum or whiskey for "medicine") does not mean that' is the best way to do things. Times change. Things improve when we have a better heart and/or find better ways to do things. Tradition is a dangerous reason to continue doing some things.

4) Someone wrote that we all die anyway and there's nothing wrong with eating the animals. Is that person God? I bet He looks down on this person and laughs. What is right here? Whatever religion you are, I think there's a thing called Karma and we will reap what we sow. Pretty scary huh? We're not in Africa or in an igloo where there aint no food brotha, and we gotta kill to survive. We are in a plentiful land called America with plenty of healthy grains and non-meat protein sources and produce and we do not need to eat these animals just for greed, selfishness and "tradition."

It will be a wonderful day in our history when people realize that it's quite a silly and un-evolved requirement to have turkey for Thanksgiving. I will continue to dream of an America where there may still be a few people left who insist on eating free-range turkey for Thanksgiving, but most of us will be broadcasting their wonderful, creative meatless recipes! Un-vegetarians are living in little microcosms. They think they'll go buy a big dead bird on sale to put on their table, and try HARD not to think of the 45 million or so turkeys that were literally slaughtered just to carry on this stupid, unhealthy tradition. I became a vegetarian long ago because I got tired of trying to quiet the voice inside. PLEASE AMERIC

My name is Dwi from Indonesia. I have been total vegetarian since 1994. It was when I knew that some friends were healthy and "bulky", eventhough they were vegetarians. Actually I started long before, yet not serious, when I saw a cow dropping its tears just before being slaughtered during a moslem holiday celebration at my senior high school. That was my strong reason why I become vegetarian till now.
We have many subtitute food in Indonesia for being vegatarian. From tofu, tempe (fermented bean), to many kind of vegetables (as long as we have enough protein in our daily meal). It is when you have to prepare your own meal. The problem come when you attend a function and are invited to have dinner with many people. Everything in Indonesia always cooked with meat or meat gravy. So, I have to adjust myself with my preference. Eventhough for many people still considered odd, they can always accept when I only eat rice or vegetables (cooked without meat gravy). It is always how to explain to the host that they can understand my choice being vegetarian.
I agree with LMichelle about the digestive system. After a long time not to eat any meat, or dairy products, any small amount of scramble egg may make a problem to my stomach. I used to suffer diarrhea for a month due to that problem. Not a good situation, but this is my choice and I feel healthier and lighter since.

I am replying to the Thanksgiving/vegetarian article. Oh brother..............are kidding me. I have been a vegetarian for 20 years and it has never been a main topic of a family get together. "hey do you want some turkey........no thanks" the end. If all you family has to focus on when they get together for the holiday is whether you are having somet turkey perhaps spending it with someone else is best.

This is crazy!! I have been a vegie for 35 years and Thanksgiving is the most wonderful holiiday..There is such an abundance of food...who has room for turkey anyway.

This is crazy!! I have been a vegie for 35 years and Thanksgiving is the most wonderful holiiday..There is such an abundance of food...who has room for turkey anyway.

Hey WeGotPapi,

Its not just right for YOU but right for the animals as well. Go Vegan!

www.meetyourmeat.com

Hey Genevieve, just be honest and tell everyone who asks why it is you don't eat dead animals. I think that's the best way to deal with it. You never know what may happen. I mean, your answer on why you are abstaining from eating the flesh of fellow creatures may inspire some other thoughtful person to do the same. That's the way it happens. From my experience. Most people never think about going vegan until someone explains to them about the horrors of meat production and that its much healthier much easier to be vegan (or vegetarian) than they think. Except on Thanksgiving..no doubt .that day is the most difficult but you can use it as a reason to feel proud about who you are or even to feel good or realize that you are making a big big difference.

Who cares what everyone else is eating. I'm a vegetarian and if I'm going to someone's house for dinner and think that there may not be something for me to eat, I bring something that I and everyone else can eat. As for people wining about not wanting to cook for a vegetarian - what do you do if you've invited someone over who has food allergies or is lactose intolerant? Stop being so self-centered and think of others for a change. I dare any meat eater to go to the PETA website and watch the video of what goes on at a turkey farm. Most meat eaters keep their heads in the sand when it comes to how animals are actually treated, killed and butchered. They just don't want to know because it might make them stop and think for a second.

asmiththematrix

You Know, this comment here....."Vegetarians/vegans should never feel any embarrassment or awkwardness for not eating meat. When you know that what you are doing is right," should really read.....'When you know that what you are doing is right FOR YOU.....'

Get over it everybody!!! I have been a vegetarian for 20 years and if you do your homework you can easily subsitute beans & soy to ensure you aren't anemic. And who cares if you have to take some ribbing?? Aren't you tough enough to stand up for your choices? It's as much a tradition for my dad to tease us about Tofurky as it is for family to come together and have fun. That's what family and the holidays are all about!!

How lame for anyone to stress about cooking for non meat-eaters. Big deal! My daughters chose to be vegetarians in high school. Fine with me. Their needs have made me a better cook and hostess. Lighten up, be flexible and explore the possibilities. I love my meat but the world is filled with other goodies.