Patricia Bolduc: I'm a vegan now, but I was vegetarian for over 33 years before that.I should think anyone can have diary products. It's a good way of keeping a record of events in your life...oh, sorry, you meant "dairy products"! My bad!- Some vegetarians eat dairy products. I did when I was a vegetarian. I didn't eat cheese made with rennet though, nor yoghurt and cream thickened with gelatin.- I didn't eat chocolate, but that wasn't because I was a vegetarian - it had more to do with the caffeine giving me migraines. That said, most vegetarians can probably safely eat chocolate. Most chocolate contains dairy products though, so not all vegetarians can.- A regular (evening) meal might be a stir-fry with either rice or noodles, or a curry with rice. Those would be the two most common meals amongst a wide range of options.- For reasons I cannot honestly fathom, but in the end I'm rather glad that I did. If the question was "Why are you a vegetarian?" rather than "Why did! you choose to be a vegetarian?" - it would be much easier to answer: for reasons of health, ethics, morality, karma, environment, philosophy, taste, animal welfare, animal cruelty, sustainability, individuality, free will, peace of mind, you name it.- The ups are probably mostly covered in my previous sentence (i.e. the reasons why I am a vegetarian).- The downs - very few and far between, and becoming fewer and further between as time goes by. The usual downs proffered are (A) a lack of things for vegetarians to eat at restaurants - that's changing with time, as more eateries are becoming vegetarian-friendly (and more vegetarian-friendly products are appearing on supermarket shelves) - and (B) ridicule or contempt from non-vegetarians - I don't know if it's just the calibre and maturity of people I associate with at work and socially, or a gradual general societal change in attitude towards vegetarianism, but I find that the ridicule and contempt rarely rears its ugly hea! d these days. Either that, or I've become so totally inured to! it that it's like water off a duck's back and I don't even notice it....Show more
Elmo Tervo: A lot of meat eaters see the question on the main page however many come to this category to preach cannibalism.You only have to look at the answerers and many are repeat offenders.It's ok, they can't change my beliefs no matter what they rudely say.
Sol Bayn: its on the home page, or just a simple search is required
Eli Trapeni: vegetarians usually still eat dairy products. vegans do not. however you need to look out for rennet in your cheese, that is not considered vegetarian.yes you can still have chocolate.this morning for breakfeast i had some homemade vegan banana and blueberry muffins with a tofu scramble with veggies, and some orange juice. then i had some granola and an apple for a snack. for lunch i had some left over stir fry- a lot of veggies and some of those weird noodles that expand in the water ( i love those) lol and i had some whole grain rice a! nd green tea with that. then i had some celery sticks with peanut butter, and i just made some spinach and eggplant lasagna. and i think i might have some popcorn later maybe....i choose to become a vegan mainly because of animal rights- although i do not like peta and i dont support them watching their video meet your meat was one of the main things that made me think about what i was eating. then watching earthling and reading diet for a new america finally pushed me over the edge. now after being vegan for a while i like it for the health benefits and the envirnmental benefits as well.i dont really have 'ups and downs'..i love being vegan and i think its the right thing for me. the only down part of this lifestyle is the part where people and even my family put down my beliefs, but even that doesnt really get to me.....Show more
Ronny Dorge: I would like to be a vegetarian, but I find it so hard because I always have to cook for my family and they love meat. So I ! have to cook it and smell it and it gets harder that way. Any suggestio! ns?
Daren Ventrice: vegetarians can yesvegetable meals, maybe tofu or other soy productsThere is no logic in killing animals for food since it is proven unhealthybetter health, weight loss, more interesting tastes and recipesdown side, people will call you stupid for doing it...Show more
Inell Riesgo: im actually a vegetarian since birth so i really dont know how meat, fish and even egg taste. we include dairy products on our diet, (that is what we call lacto vegetarians). i also eat chocolate as long as it does not contain any traces of egg. there are meat substitutes such as gluten or tvp (texturized vegetable protein)that is actually available in some grocery/supermarket or vegetarian food store, taste and texture is actually similar with meat, so we can still cook typical dishes that meat eaters cook, but then of course no meat, fish or egg... why vegetarian??? healthy living... and i dont agree killing animals just to satisfy our stomach. ups - low cost, he! althy, animal/environmental friendlydowns - you cannot eat on parties!!!!! (hahahaha... my most common problem whenever i go to any party) good for you if they serve sidedishes like buttered veggies and eggless desserts, atleast you can eat something......Show more
Hipolito Rightmire: -I love cheese! Dairy products are fine. VEGANS are the ones who don't do dairy.-Yes, Heath Bars and 3 Musketeers are my favorite.-Bean and Cheese Burritos, Veggie Burgers, Mac and Cheese, Pasta, etc.-I love animals. -Ups: You are saving animals-Downs: Less protein: but it can be fixed with beans and soy meats that are yummy!...Show more
Aubrey Tirri: no thats veganyestofu with some kind of veggie or fruit i like tofurkeyanimal cruelty issueshealthier feel better about myself
Zora Mazzie: 1. You can be a vegetarian and eat dairy products and also eggs ( Vegans can't have dairy,eggs,or anything that comes from an animal)2- yes you can have chocolate if your vegetarian.3- I eat! things like beans, nuts, salads, fruits, vegetables ( im not a junk fo! od person)4-- I chose to be vegetarian for animal rights and then decided to go vegan for animal rights5- ups-- you're helping the animals. downs- sometimes it's hard to go places with your friends because they're a bunch of meat eaters. certain places have hidden ingredients that are not vegetarian or vegan....Show more
Marcel Then: actually very little tolerable
Terresa Tsasie: nonono u can eat dairy not eating it is for vegaans thats a common mastakeyes u cand defenetaly eat chocolate ;) i looove iti eat a salad lots of fruits and drink wateri was a vegitarian ever cince i was born soooups meat causes global warming beleave it or not u dont kill animals :) and u have a healthier lyfestyledouns some restaurants dont serve vegitarian food :(...Show more
Dwight Siniard: Yes. Be disciplined enough to not eat anything but vegetables. Self discipline is your need.
Cassondra Vanholland: - no a VEGETARIAN means no meat and fish, a VEGAN eat no meat fis! h dairy eggs or animal products-yes you can eat chocolate-i love chicken strips wrapped in a wrap with lettuce and mayonaise:) (yves vegie chicken strips)- When i was 6 i was told where meat really comes from, it made me sad so I stopped eating meat then and there- the ups are that you lose weight, feel better about yourself, and save 100 animals every year- the downs are: NONE :)...Show more
Rayford Latz: is it because they see it on the homepage with all the other questions, or because they scan the vegitarian section waiting to say why people should eat meat? cause its crap! i like the people who actually come to support other vegitarians, not say how good meat is!the people who support being a vegitarian but still eat meat is somewhat tolerable,
Sook Hershkowitz: -Depends on the type. Lacto-ovos eat eggs and dairy, lactos eat dairy, and strict vegetarians and vegans eat only plant foods.-Depends. If you don't eat dairy, you can only eat certain chocolates, b! ut if you're vegetarian, you can eat it so long as there isn't any DEAD! animal byproducts-Tonight I had tacos (with vegetarian refried beans instead of meat), loaded with romaine lettuce and tomatoes-Health. More vegetables = better nutrition, period. The other reasons (animal welfare, environment) are also nice and at this point I'm almost tempted to cite animal rights as my primary reason, but to be honest, I became vegetarian for my health.-Ups: Look better, food generally tastes better, and contrary to the horror stories you may have heard on the internet, people in real life generally have a lot of respect for vegetariansDowns: One word: RESTAURANTS. Even if it is very easy to get a vegetarian option, it is usually high in dairy. It is for this reason that I try to eat at home most of the time. If, however, you can find a restaurant that serves a healthy vegetarian meal (veggies and rice, for instance), it is definitely worth it....Show more
Michal Semple: Depends on what type of vegetarian you are.Ovo-Lacto Vegetarians eats eggs/da! iry but no meat (chocolate is allowed it has dairy in it)Semi-Vegetarians aka Flexitarians no red meat (Fish and poultry is allowed)Pescatarian Fish is the only meat allowed.Most vegetarians eat a lot of pasta/vegetables/fruits/seed/nuts/rice/beans/grain. (Soy is a bean)Most vegetarian become one for health reasons, food allergies, and love for animals.The downs is it hard to get enough protein and that makes you TIRED.I am not a veg, but I lived with one for a few years and it made me a better cook!...Show more
Gerardo Greist: i confused myself
Toby Women: Maybe you should take a deep breath and a hamburger and think about what it is you want to say! :)
Jonathan Schlussel: i don't look down on vegitarians ( a good friend of mine is one) i just can't understand. if i eat only vegi's than i'd starve. it just don't stay w/ me
Eliseo Luma: There is no diet restriction on them but they are not natural. As such you should stay away from them as much as p! ossible. All of them have side effects, especially after ingesting a l! arge amount. Splenda is the brand name for sucalose. There are known issues with it and food safety. Most are from large doses.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucralose#Health.2C_s......Show more
Valentine Willinger: A vegetarian can eat dairy products and eggs, but vegans do not. You can eat chocolate (I love it, especially dark). I chose to be a vegetarian when I was five years old because my mother told me that killing people was wrong, and I thought that if that was wrong, then killing animals must also be. My parents have always supported me, and I have been respectful of their choice to eat meat. For me, the ups are that I don't feel bad about animals dieing, and It is healthy for me. The biggest down so far was going on a trip with my orchestra, and having to bring my own food to one of the restaurants that we went to; and also other people are occasionally mean to me about my choice to be veg. Today, my meals were this:Breakfast: grapefruit and cinammon ro! llLunch: vegetable soup, yogurt, appleDinner: chinese food takeout-vegetable lo mein, vegetarian dumplings, rice, saladSorry if this is too much, but i really want people to know that being a veg. isnt that hard. Good Luck with your dietary choices!...Show more
Coleman Senn: cause they are 40 year old losers that live in thier mom''s basement and have cancer from too much meat or hig closterol and their sole purpose in life is that!
Hollis Demasters: (Everyone else answered the other questions really well, so I'll just be a little more specific on question 3.)This is what I ate/drank today. I eat/drink similarly every day.8:15am: 1 cup of Kix cereal with 1/2 cup of 2% milk. 1 slice of bread with grape jelly.10:00am: Half a bottle of water.11:30am: 2/3 cup of green beans. 1/2 cup of applesauce. 1 tortilla with melted cheddar cheese inside. 1 cup of 2% milk.2:00pm: Half a bottle of water. 1 package of "100 calories" Cheez-Its.4:00pm: Approximately 10 (small) pr! etzel sticks.6:30pm: 1 cup of noodles with cheese sauce and meatless "b! eef" crumbles. Half a bottle of water.9:00pm: A few dill pickle wedges.Vegetarians become hungry more often than meat-eaters, hence the many times per day I eat. It's convenient to keep snacks in your purse/car/backpack/place-of-work/etc....Show more
Granville Stray: - If your a lacto-vegetarian you can have all the dairy products you wish. - Lacto-vegetarians can eat milk chocolate. If you choose to not eat dairy you eat dark (non-dairy) chocolate. - There are thousands of meals to choose form in vegetarian cookbooks. - I never liked the taste, texture, or smell of meat. - I'm not sure what you mean by ups and downs. The diet takes a little getting used to and you can't just stop at KFC for lunch anymore, etc.Mayo Clinic - Vegetarian diet: How to get the best nutritionhttp://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vegetarian-diet/H......Show more
Elvin Mannheimer: - Most vegetarians do- a lacto-ovo vegetarian eats eggs and dairy, an ovo-vegetarian eats eggs, and a lacto-vege! tarian eats dairy. So its depends what kind of vegetarian you are, but most I know are lacto-vegetarians, so yeah most of us can.- Yes, if you eat dairy. If chocolate is made with lecithin (animal byproduct), then no, but I always see soy lecithin which is not an issue. -Sample (this is what I ate today):Breakfast: chocolate chip pancake and bananaLunch: salad with veggies and a protein barDinner: pasta with tomato sauce, olive-garlic-and-abuncha-other-stuff-fancy breadSnacks: some lemon crisp cookies, walnuts, an appleReally, does it look that much different from what any other person would eat today? Maybe add meat to the pasta sauce and chicken to the salad, but really, it wasn't much of a change when I switched.- My primary reason is its better for the animals. I have always been an animal lover. I don't think its right. Look up factory farms, look up some stats on the treatment of veal calves and chickens and pigs and so on (if you haven't already). Its disgust! ing, in my opinion. And then, you think about what these animals are f! ed, and how they're pumped full of steroids and growth hormones- must be lovely for are bodies who are indirectly eating all that. Though if you google anything along the lines of "reasons to go vegetarian" you will come up with many stats and facts concernignn health and the environment that I'm just too lazy to type out :)- The biggest up for me is knowing that nothing died to feed me, that my plate doesn't have a slaughtered animal on it. And all the reasons mentioned above, The biggest down is when people are making fun of vegetarians with unreasonable or invalid points- I mean, if you can honestly come up with great arguments against vegetarianism, feel free to make your point against me, but when people are saying things like its unnatural, its the food chain, you dont get enough protein, arguments that are completely unsupported or obsolete, it REALLY gets on my nerves. (I don't often come across these people, but when I do... grrr....)Second biggest down is find! ing a meal when eating out.OK sorry I talk (or write I guess) so much, but hope this helped! :)...Show more
Donnie Bolio: You don't have to eat just vegetables. Vegetarians and vegans eat all kinds of plant foods - grains, all kinds of beans, all kinds of legumes, nuts, soy foods, chickpeas, salsa, hummus, many kinds of chips, some kinds of candy and more.
Elvin Mannheimer: In all seriousness, it's fun to rile up vegetarians because their reactions are hilarious.As an example, you may want to learn how to spell "vegetarian" if you're serious about being one.
Arnette Dominici: they find them because you keep asking them.With the attitude you have against meat eaters why bothering posting it here and leaving yourself open to ridicule and scorn.
Serena Doak: 1. nope, we can eat dairy product. a lacto-ovo vegetarian means you eat dairy and eggs but not meat.a ovo- vegetarian means eggs only; no dairy or meat.2. yep we can eat chocolate, & it's darn delic! ious!3. veggie lasagna, salad, sandwiches, potatoes, etc4. because a lo! t of people dont realize the abuse that goes into making meat. the animals have to suffer the torture when they are alive, its horrible.5. the ups are; its healthy, you feel better about yourself, youre saving an average 93 animals a year by giving up meat. the downs are; if you go out to resturants, itll be hard to pick because they have a lot of meat products in their foods, people tease you about it....Show more
Byron Fortmann: I wanted to loose weight so I switched my regular sugar to Splenda and other substitutes. I was wondering how many are we allowed to have in a regular basis every day so that we don't gain weight? Can we gain weight from Splenda and sugar substitutes or no?
Tyrone Disanti: actually very little tolerable
Cliff Jacoby: I think meat is over rated..It gives men cancer. because they eat to much meat.. and they say meat gives men a sex drive
Russell Mckinzie: 1-no, thats a personal choice2-yes, most chocs nowadays are vege or ha! ve vege options3-pasta4-dont liek animal crulety5-downs your health can suffer if you dont know the needs of your bodyyou have to 'explain' yourself over and over, but thts true of us all at times anywayups, your happy being who you are...Show more
Launa Weingarten: If you usually sweeten your coffee and tea with sugar, replacing it with Splenda or any of the non-nuturitive sweetners is a great idea to save calories. There is even candy made with it.Don't let anyone try to tell you artificial sweetners make you fat. It's not true. It's like they saw a fat person with a Diet Coke and said "hey look artificial sweetners make you fat". That is the logic these people use.One of the first lessons of critical thinking is "when there is a correlation between two things, it does not necessarily mean one causes the other." There are people who are too simple minded to get that....Show more
Vernon Martorana: most sugar substitutes are either calorie free or so low you can! eat as much as you like. but be careful as canderel can cause side ef! fects - eg too much gives me headaches.
Whitley Leopold: You could find replacement meats that you family enjoys such as Boca or Morningstar. You could tell them that if they are going to eat meat they will have to make it annd not you.
Arden Strachn: I would much rather take the real sugar than use Splenda or other artificial sweeteners, especially if you only add some sugar to your coffee, smoothies, etc. They've been known to have many side effects and yes, they actually can cause weight gain. Here's an article that goes more into detail: http://www.womentowomen.com/healthyweight/splenda....@Brit: Maybe it's too complex of an idea for you to accept that the grand majority of artificial things are harmful to the body- if not all. The amount of calories you would be saving by using it if you will just be sweetening a few things, such as coffee or tea, is not worth the exposure to the toxins in Splenda or other sweeteners. Aspartame is the worst of them all. Ma! ny directly affect the brain in ways you would not desire. Over time the damage may be significant. Perhaps you're too naive to accept that and trust anything the FDA approves. Is that it? The FDA is a joke....Show more