Day 9: DELICIOUSLY DISGUISED

            Upon learning that I’m a full-time vegetarian, people magically seem to grow incredibly inquisitive in a matter of mere seconds. I have no issues with answering their questions regardless of any redundancy. Nonetheless, even the most patient person in the world would want to smack him/herself continuously over the head if he or she were asked time and again whether or not he or she will ever eat burgers, nuggets, hotdogs, etc. again.

            Although self-inflicted punishment is a bit of a severe reaction, it is not as if I don’t have my reasons to support my strong feelings. It may appear to be a logical question, but it is actually rather ludicrous (clearly it makes me bitter to even think about). If my life choice is to be a devout vegetarian, why would I consume meat ever again? Think about it. Does that even make sense? Additionally, I am still able to eat cheeseburgers, turkey breast, chicken strips, tacos, chili, etc. without sacrificing my own personal beliefs. What is my secret you ask? Each of the aforementioned are made from meat substitutes, like tofu, soy, etc. I’m aware that tofu has a negative connotation among most Americans, but in various products, the tofu has been so cleverly disguised that it makes it difficult for a vast amount of people to even notice the differences in taste. MorningStar Chik Patties, for example, taste nearly identical to your average chicken patties – the main difference being that the occasional piece of bone or fat that you might encounter midway through your meal is excluded from the product (yes, back before I went Veg., this did actually happen to me). Brands like Boca, MorningStar, and Amy’s have revolutionized the way we vegetarians get by in our world. They are constantly producing tasty foods that make it possible for vegetarians to satisfy a meat craving while still remaining true to their values.

            So it is possible to have your bacon and eat it too, even for us vegetarians. I definitely suggest trying a meatless meat product at some point in your life. My question to you is what is one odd food that you think everyone should try?

Day 8: A KINK IN THE CHAIN

            By turnpikes, in shopping centers, near malls – wherever you turn there they are. The “they” I am referring to are chain restaurants, and maybe I’m just a weird observer of these sorts of things, but it seems like chain restaurants make up a substantial part of the typical (and stereotypical) American cuisine. We’re all guilty of spending money there. Hell, for some people, these food joints are their favorite places to grab a bite to eat. Putting aside their high-caloric options and oversized portions, I still have a bone to pick with chain restaurants (no pun intended). The most bothersome fact about these places is that they have very few vegetarian/vegan-friendly choices on their menus (and by very, I mean CLOSE TO NONE).

            I became aware of this disappointing reality over spring break. While out with my friends, we decided to go to Applebee’s to put some dinner in our stomachs. Being that they are all proud meat-eaters, they had zero difficulty finding something on the menu to feed their hunger. I, however, did not share that same experience. First off, I am a very health-conscious eater as is; I watch what I put into my body, so that in and of itself limits my options. On top of that, I don’t consume any meat, poultry, or fish. As I perused the menu, I saw absolutely nothing to fit my style of eating. I wound up ordering a house salad – you know, the kind you get as a side to a larger-portioned meal. It was hardly satisfying, and it was at that moment that I realized chain restaurants should have more items for vegetarians and vegans to order. Why should we be penalized solely because we refuse to ingest prepared animal carcasses? How is that fair? The United States is supposed to be the “Melting Pot,” where cultures, ethnicities, and races mix together to form one great nation, yet on the whole, it seems we are very set in our ways. What I mean to say is if America is so keen on welcoming diversity, then why do people with differing views, or in other words, minorities, face so many more obstacles than those who are part of the majority? I don’t think that it’s right, and sure, it’s easy to look at this argument and think that they’re only chain restaurants, but in a society where equality is striven for, no issue of inequality is too minimal to go unspoken for. My question to you is what is one issue of inequality that either you or someone you know has faced?

Listed below are four chain restaurants and the items on their menus that a vegetarian could consume:

-Applebee’s: nothing on the menu itself…garden salad plain when requested; kids menu: grilled cheese sandwich or macaroni and cheese – nothing for vegans

-T.G.I. Fridays: Southwest Wedge Salad, Classic Wedge Salad, Broccoli Cheese Soup, French Onion Soup

-Ruby Tuesday: Fresh Garden Bar, Garden Salad, Broccoli Cheese Soup, Vegetarian Minis; Vegetarian Pasta Marinara

-Texas Roadhouse: House Salad, Caesar Salad, Country Veg Plate (which consists of four sides and limited to one salad)

http://www.applebees.com/MenuLandingStatic.aspx

http://www.tgifridays.com/menus/menus.aspx

http://www.rubytuesday.com/menu

http://www.texasroadhouse.com/our-menu/

Day 7: CELEBRITIES KNOW BEST...

Celebrities are everywhere. We see them on magazine and DVD covers. We hear about them on the news and the radio. We even try to smell like them by purchasing their personalized fragrances. Regardless of how much you may dislike the colorful world of pop culture, the fact of the matter is that it surrounds us and is relevant to our everyday lives. Famous people are aware of their influence over the general public, hence why they are the ones chosen to represent companies in ads and why it becomes newsworthy when they speak up to support a campaign. Now what does this have to do with vegetarianism one might ask – the answer is simple: vegetarian celebrities use their power to advocate their lifestyle choices.

Some find that this is a cheap way to kickoff a new food trend, similar to the zero carbohydrate, frozen meal delivery, and point distribution type diets. Personally, I feel that because celebrities are so incredibly looked up to, they should be able to endorse their beliefs, within reason, to the public, especially where vegetarianism is concerned. For as much as we seem to know in this age of technology that we’re a part of, on the whole, we are severely clueless on pressing matters – vegetarianism/veganism being one of them. People simply do not know or understand what being a vegetarian entails, why someone would choose to live this way, what health benefits come from this kind of diet, how being a vegetarian impacts the meat industry, etc. Shame on us for choosing to spend so much time social networking and not so much time informing ourselves, which would only take about ten minutes mind you. Such a lack of knowledge is exactly why I support celebrity spokespeople. They are merely using their fame to communicate to others why being a vegetarian/vegan is a great and important way to live, and I am grateful to have such role models utilize their stardom for good in our society. And so I ask you what is your position on the influence of celebrities in the United States?

Listed below are some well-known vegetarian/vegan celebrities:

-Carrie Underwood

-Anthony Kiedis (singer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers)

-Leona Lewis

-Natalie Portman

-Josh Hartnett

-Prince

-Kristen Bell

-Alicia Silverstone

-Andre 3000

-Tobey Maguire

-Joaquin Phoenix

-Gwyneth Paltrow

-Rachel McAdams

-Chelsea Clinton

-Alec Baldwin

-Kal Penn

-Russell Brand

-John C. Reilly

-Reese Witherspoon

http://www.allamericanspeakers.com/Celebrity_Vegetarians.php

Day 6: A FURLESS COURSE OF ACTION

“Do your homework (even though I don’t).” “Don’t party (even though I do).” “Go to sleep early (even though that’s not even close to what I do).” Each of the aforesaid are what I like to call hypocritical statements. One of my biggest pet peeves in the world is when people tell others to do something that they themselves do not do. Clearly because this blog is about vegetarianism, it somehow has to relate, right? Exactly! It bothers me to no end when people try to attack me for my stance on animal rights.

Though I’m sure there are many out there who do not consume meat but will still wear leather, I am not one of those people. My personal belief is that innocent animals should not be killed for human benefit – be it a fast food craving or a fancy for fur coats. I recognize that there are certain circumstances where the difficulty of obtaining products not made from animals outweighs the simplicity of just buying those products, so it is slightly more understandable why a person with my beliefs would prefer not to have to exert so much effort on what should be a minor task and would wind up taking the easy route. On the whole, however, people such as myself aim to find purses, shoes, wallets, etc. made from cloth or plastic rather than leather. I research various brands and designers who support the animal rights cause and opt for faux fur and pleather as opposed to real animal coats and skin.

To some, I may sound crazy – a nineteen-year-old girl attempting to better the world and what she believes in by boycotting animal products – and I’m okay with that. Nonetheless, to me, it is not that silly of a fight. It doesn’t matter to me if in my lifetime, it’s only one rabbit that I manage to save; it’s still one less bunny being brutally beaten, tortured, injected, skinned…you get the gist of it.

So once and for all, I’d like to put an end to these absurd rumors that try to make vegetarians out to be ignorant hypocrites. They could not be further from the truth. In fact, from my own personal observations, it is the vegetarian population that seem to be more informed on where their food comes from, how the animals are treated, and the like. My question to you is what do you find to be the most irritating hypocritical statement/belief/expression?

Day 5: RISE ABOVE THE RUMORS

If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s rumors. Whether it’s a pop culture rumor – Jennifer Aniston is adopting a baby from Mexico – or a social rumor – Karen got a nose job, rumors are rumors, and I think we can all agree that they are ridiculously annoying. One rumor that I’d be happy to debunk right here and right now is this ludicrous idea that vegetarians are lacking in protein, or are, in other words, protein-deficient.

Speaking from personal experience with the matter, I can honestly say that I am in great health. I do not suffer from extreme exhaustion, I have not contracted any sort of disease (knock on wood) due to a poor immune system, and my muscles have yet to fail me. Each of the aforesaid are common effects of protein deficiency, and being the lacto-ovo (typical) vegetarian that I am proves that my diet is not lacking in the proper nutrients – specifically protein. In fact, many people overestimate the amount of protein they need per day, leading to an increase in caloric intake thus causing weight gain. Additionally, if you exercise daily and stick to a reasonably healthy diet, then you should not face any lack-of-protein-related health concerns.

Using the protein excuse just doesn’t cut it for me. If you don’t want to be a vegetarian or are having a difficult time transitioning to such a lifestyle, don’t blame the food options, but instead be honest with yourself and once and for all bust that protein myth. And so I ask you what is one rumor/myth that truly irritates you?

Listed below are vegetarian-friendly common foods with fair amounts of protein in them:

-Bananas = 2 grams

-Potatoes = 7 grams

-Eggs = 26 grams

-Tofu = 6 grams

-Spinach = 6 grams

-Cheese = 7 grams

-Bread = 3 grams

-Peanut Butter = 7 grams

…just to further discredit the rumor.

Sources:

http://nutritiondata.self.com/

DAY 4: CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

            I find it interesting that people are more willing to debate my vegetarianism than my political affiliation. It makes me wonder where the source of this tension is derived from. Is it a jealousy thing, meaning are people envious of my self-control and willpower? Does it come from pure skepticism in my belief that saving animals is more important than eating them? Is it merely a source of argumentation since our culture seems to thrive on debate? Whatever the case may be, it never ceases to amaze me that there are so many anti-vegetarian people out there who feel the need to loudly vocalize their criticisms of my dietary habits.

            Personally, I am not at all confrontational, and I believe strongly in respecting others’ opinions regardless of whether or not I agree with them. Yes, in my own utopia, not a single soul would bite into a slab of beef, chomp down on some chicken, feed on fish, polish off a piece of pork, devour deer meat…you get the idea. However, I am fully aware that these beliefs are specific to me, and I would never push them on others. In fact, most of my friends would qualify as proud carnivores, and although I do not particularly find pleasure in observing my friends cut into the flesh of what was once a real-life version of Wilbur (Charlotte’s Web reference), I refrain from guilting them into what I think is moral. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and who am I to tell someone that their views are incorrect? Unfortunately for me, this same courtesy is not reciprocated.

            I am teased on a daily basis for my vegetarian lifestyle. People have called me “lame,” a “loser,” “stupid,” “ridiculous,” “ignorant,” and a “weirdo hippie freak,” which, just as a side note, happens to be a personal favorite of mine. How is it that I, who am just going about my day in a normal fashion, have to endure the various taunts as an effect of my life choices? I am not so thin-skinned as to take these judgments to heart, but it is rather irritating that people feel that compelled to try to force their beliefs on me. I have my own reasons for being a vegetarian, and it would be very much appreciated if others would be mindful of said reasons. It’s almost ludicrous to think that what I eat, or choose not to eat, would spark a fire in others to pick on me for it. Larger, more relevant issues exist, so perhaps it would benefit our society if we focused a bit more on them and a bit less on the harmless veggie-eaters out there. My questions to you are what is one thing that you have been teased about, and how has that teasing affected you?

Day 3: FROM ONE VEGETARIAN TO THE NEXT

“Do you eat fish?” “Are you allowed to consume cheese?” “This has egg in it, so is that all right?” “A friend once told me that your kind can eat meat every once in a while – true or false?” Believe it or not, I am asked these very questions on a daily basis. Sure, there are definitely times when I feel like responding (more like screaming) that I am a VEGETARIAN, which is basically self-explanatory, but instead I try to take the high road and patiently explain what it is that I do.

I am what most people call just a regular “vegetarian,” meaning I do not eat any kind of meat, including fish, but I do eat eggs and dairy. The technical term for this is called a “lacto-ovo-vegetarian.” Even though I respect and admire those who are, I am not vegan. Veganism eliminates all animal products from one’s diet and is notorious for being an expensive lifestyle. Butter, milk, eggs, honey, cheese, chocolate, ice cream, yogurt, etc. will not be seen on a vegan menu. Then there are pescetarians, and they take the lacto-ovo-vegetarian route with the addition of seafood. Because there are people who exclude all meat but fish, there have to be people who exclude all meat but poultry, right? Correct! Those types of people are referred to as “pollo-vegetarians,” or “pollotarians.” Chicken, turkey, duck, goose, quail, what have you are all consumed by pollotarians. Aside from poultry-eaters, there are people known as “flexitarians,” and on the whole, they approach the food world with a lacto-ovo-vegetarian’s appetite. However, their diet is a bit more flexible since they have the freedom to occasionally eat meat if they so choose to. Overall, there are several more types of vegetarians that exist, but the aforementioned are the ones I most frequently run into.

To answer those everyday questions, I do not eat fish, I am allowed to consume cheese, it is all right if I chow down on a product that contains egg, and my specific kind (lacto-ovo) does not ingest meat. So my questions to you are what is one habit/lifestyle choice that people always question you about? And are you flattered by their inquisitiveness, or does it annoy you?