Ahhhh, vegetarianism. A topic only outdone in its divisiveness by veganism.
I know that many people don’t like vegetarians very much.
No, don’t protest. I know.
We’re always the person at group dinners who makes the table order a vegetarian option, when everyone actually just wants six plates of butter chicken.
We’re always harping on about free range eggs. If you come over to our house, we WILL serve you tofu (sorry).
I try not to talk about being vegetarian all the time – because, you know, I like having friends – but when the Mamamia office started asking me questions the other day about vegetarianism, I realised that were a lot of… misconceptions about non-meat eaters.
So without further ado, I give you ‘Everything you always wanted to know about vegetarianism, but were too afraid to ask (because you were worried they would never shut up about it)’.
“Why are you vegetarian?”
I’m a vegetarian for ethical reasons. I don’t think I should cause any loss of life if I can absolutely help it – and given that what I eat is a conscious choice, I can help it.
But people are vegetarian for lots of different reasons. Some people are motivated by concerns about their health, some by concerns about the environment and sustainability, and some people just want to save money (meat is expensive, y’all!) – all of which sound like pretty good reasons to me.
“How can people say, ‘I’m a vegetarian’ but still eat fish? Or chicken?”
Okay, so these people might be stretching the truth a leeeetle bit when they call themselves vegetarian. They would be more accurately described as ‘pescetarian’ (meaning they eat fish) or ‘flexitarian’ (a hilarious word you will not find in the dictionary).
However, I don’t think people who are only kind-of-sort-of-vegetarian deserve any judgement or derision. Movements like ‘Meat Free Mondays’ and ‘Meat Free May’ point out that even reducing your meat consumption a little bit, can have a positive environmental impact. I don’t think that everyone needs to be hard-line about their beliefs; people just do the best they can.
“Eating meat is just the circle of life. Cats eat mice. Lions eat antelopes. Didn’t you watch The Lion King? How are we any different?”
Firstly, OF COURSE I watched The Lion King. Secondly, that’s a big question. I think what people are asking is: shouldn’t we just do it because it’s natural?
The thing is, humans do plenty of things that require us to curb our natural instincts. Among cavemen, it would have been totally natural to punch some bloke because he ate your mammoth hide. Or club your woman over the head and drag her back to your cave. But as a society we have decided that’s not really appropriate anymore, and so we make our decisions using a higher level of reasoning.
A related point to this argument is that people often ask me, “But humans have a greater capacity for intelligence than animals, so can’t we just eat them?” I’ve got to say, if a genius alien species took over earth and started eating humans because they thought they were smarter than us, I’d be pretty put out.
But I also agree: humans are capable of a kind of rational thought that (many) animals aren’t. But I think with that higher level of thought, comes responsibility. If I can recognise that eating animals might be causing them pain, and can see an alternative, I personally feel like I should take that alternative route.
“Is not eating meat good for your health, or something?”
Plenty of people feel this way. There’s a lot of evidence to suggest that the standard Western diet features entirely too much meat, and generally not enough vegetables. And becoming vegetarian is a pretty good way to ensure you eat more greens, trust me.
However – as with anything health-related in life – look after yourself. You can’t become vegetarian, and then try to live off M’n’Ms and Cheerios (hello, my 18-year-old self). If you’re vegetarian, you have to think about what you eat – and make sure you’re eating the right things.
“Where do you get the necessary vitamins and minerals? Do you have to take pills?”
Aside from when I first became vegetarian, and wasn’t looking after myself properly, I have been fit as a (herbivore) horse. Getting the necessary nutrients, basically just requires eating the right things. Lentils, tofu, eggs, beans, and leafy greens are a good place to start.
I also take an iron supplement (for the obvious reasons), a multi B vitamin supplement (which is supposed to assist with energy delivery, or something), and an omega-3 supplement (so technically, I suppose that means I’m not a ‘real vegetarian’ either). I’ve never been iron deficient – or deficient in anything, actually.
“Would you ever date somebody who ate meat?”
Well, I live with my meat-eating partner, so yes. I do, however, encourage him to buy free-range meat products wherever possible (and try to push for locally-produced products too, so that the meat has a smaller carbon footprint).
“Would the meat industry suffer if everyone stopped eating meat?”
Well, yes. Although that doesn’t seem particularly likely.
But plenty of industries have evolved and changed over time. Back in the day, cobblers were in big business. They’re not so much any more. Some industries disappear over time, and others will replace them.
“If everyone stopped eating meat, would the country be overrun by cows?”
Ummm, I’m not a cow population scientist, but I think as long as we didn’t have a wild cow population we’d probably be okay.
A lot of people bring this up with me, in regards to kangaroo overpopulation, so I thought I would also mention: meat-eaters, give kangaroo a go. The general scientific consensus seems to be that they’re better for our environment, and a more sustainable choice for Australia.
“Do you miss meat?”
Oh god yes. I was essentially a carnivore before I became vegetarian. I miss meat pies, and beef jerky, and anchovies, and oysters, and ribs, and chicken wings, and… But I also don’t find being vegetarian hard. You get used to it. Whenever I have a serious meat craving, I just eat some of those fake, soy “chicken nuggets”.
And the great thing is? It’s been so long since I tasted real meat, I can’t even tell the difference.
And it’s not just hippies. Some famous vegetarians and vegans include…
Are you vegetarian? Or do you have a problem with some vegetarians, or their arguments?
Top Comments
Yes I am a lacto vegetarian for the last 35yrs, & as mentioned all the reasons 2B so I've always stated, "all of the above" I don't miss flesh food @ all, especially these days with all the options....back in the day in aussie it was a real challenge 2 find anything @ all on a restaurant menu. So I leaned 2 cook, most ethnic foods only use flesh as not much more than a garnish. With regard 2 habits formed by our upbringing U have 2 consider that it's a generational thing going back eons, even in the 60's people had this notion that your body would magically transform any crap U consumed into perfect nutrition, this was turned around by the hippy movement somewhat, but in a continously overpopulated world isn't it time we evolved into a healthy sustained diet that leaves nothing out, anyone been 2 a Toaist temple restaurant ? Hundreds of mock-flesh dishes & I've seen people enjoy it & not even realise it was plant based.This is a time historically 4 change UC this everywhere in every category of life, if we don't learn 2 make big changes, we all know deep down we R going 2B in deep doo doo ! Ok so my question after all that is why R Sanitarium smoky BBQ burgers so rubbish now when they use 2B the bomb ? Has the company/recipe changed ? Ok peace & love 2 all ! A4 !
Im vegetarian because i have educated myself on animals and their character. When i view meat now i do not see it as a product to eat but as dead body. I can no longer seperate a cow, chicken or pig from a horse or pet cat or dog. No animal life is less valueble than mine. I cant stop all the animals death in the world but i dont want to eat them in the same sense i wouldnt eat my pet dog. This is my own personal choice and i dont get offended when other people eat me. Its just personal preference. Everyone is different and i understand and respect that. Though i think its important to be aware of what it is you are consuming. Big consumer Coorperatations only care about money. Not you.. or your health.. not the welfare of animals or of humanity or of life. People need to Stop listening to the advertisements of pockets lined with money and realise the world is corrupt with how its run. There is no justification for the cruelty inflicted in the meat factories on a mass scale.