stimac@tymix.UUCP (Michael Stimac) (01/14/84)
As a vegetarian of 12 years standing, I would like to offer some comments to the readers of net.vegetarian: 1) Before becoming vegetarian, I had always had some degree of respect for the practice, and felt some admiration for those who had the "steel will" it took to deny themselves the pleasures of eating flesh. 2) I never made a 'rational' decision based on religious, health, ethical, or nutritional reasons to become a vegetarian. I DID feel badly that animals had to be killed to provide, meat, though. I have never had the heart to kill animals. After awhile it began to dawn on me that, although I was not personally killing animals, by buying meat I was simply paying someone else to do the 'dirty work'. 3) I discovered the book "Diet for a Small Planet", and discovered that other people thought it was possible to exist without meat. (I had assumed that some sort of super heroic effort of asceticism was necessary, like only potential saints could have the moral fiber to become vegetarians). "Diet for a Small Planet" presented a large variety of meatless dishes, beyond the 'peas and carrots' concept. 4) I discovered that being vegetarian meant that one ate something tasty and satisfying (and nutritious) instead of meat, not (as I assumed) that one ate as before only there was a large empty place on one's plate where the pork chop should go. (This, by the way, I have found to be the airline's conception of a vegetarian dinner. ugh) 5) I suggested to my wife that we try some of the recipes in this book. We never discussed the matter again, and no specific decision was made, but we never again had a meal with meat. I soon afterward found the companion volume "Recipes for a Small Planet". 6) A contributor to this newsgroup suggested that vegetarians had their eating habits because they did not LIKE meat, and that the ethical or nutritional benefits were mere rationalization. I love the taste and texture of any number of meats; I did for years, and I still do. I sincerely wish it were possible to eat meat without killing animals. 7) Another contributor (L.C.) expressed concern about 'bulk' and whether one will just be hungry again in half an hour if meat is not eaten. I fully agree that if a person simply eats as they always have, but without the meat, that person will feel very hungry (and in fact will become mal-nurished). I believe (no supporting facts, sorry) that this has to do with providing complete-protein substitute for the meat that is no longer being eaten. 8) I do eat cheese and eggs, as well as vegetable protein combinations such as beans and rice. This makes it not too hard to get along when I go out to eat at restaurants. I find that Chinese, Italian, and Mexican restaurants are the easiest to dine in with little fuss. 9) My body feels much better since I stopped eating meat, especially, it feels much cleaner. I used to have to shower and brush my teeth several times a day to feel non-offensive; this no longer seems to be necessary. 10) I do not consider myself to be a health food nut. We buy all our food a the supermarket, wash it carefully, and prepare it lovingly. We buy occasional products at health food or natural food stores simply because they are not available elsewhere. The only canned foods we use are tomatoes and sometimes kidney beans when we haven't time to cook the raw ones. We do eat soy meat-substitutes, such as Grillers (a hamburger patty food - I told you I liked meat, I especially like hamburgers). I doubt if these would suit a person who strictly ate natural foods, though. 11) I've never taken any vitamin or mineral supplements (except for vit C during colds (I'm not sure it helps, btw)). I've not been to a doctor since I became vegetarian. I hadn't been to one for many years before that either. 12) I have no quarrel with people who do choose to eat meat; I'm even willing to prepare meat for them to eat if the situation will be most graceful that way. I do not attempt to convert meat-eaters to my style. I sometimes point out to them that it is not a black and white situation: one can eat THIS meal without meat, and go ahead and eat meat tomorrow if they wish. 13) For me, vegetarianism is not a demanding, hidebound situation. I eat what I prefer to eat; right now I prefer not to eat meat. I will, very rarly, eat a little meat if the gracefullness of the situation warrants it. If I am a guest in your house, eg. and you serve me meat, not knowing of my preference, I will eat some and say nothing, just as I would do if you served me a vegetable or dessert I did not like. 14) I like to cook, and find learning new ways to create main dishes out of vegetables to be fun. I also like to invent new combinations or new ways to combine existing combinations. 15) I became a vegetarian without really trying and I had no vegetarian acquaintances or friends. It's not as hard as one might think; and if you devote a little effort ot learning how to get complete protein, you will be well rewarded, in my opinion. Michael D. Stimac Tymshare, Inc. Cupertino, CA ...ucbvax!hplabs!oliveb!tymix!stimac