[net.veg] Comments intended to encourage those interested in veg

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

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