I know that there are Vegetarians who read this conference.  I'm curious as
to how those of you who are Vegetarians became vegetarians, whether you
decided it yourself or were brought up that way.  What are your favorite
foods?  How are the different kind of vegetarians classfied?

24 responses total.

One big distinction is between vegetarians and vegans.  Vegans are scrupulous
about not using any animal products in their food, to the point that honey
is disallowed because it is taken from bees.  

What do vegans eat generally?

Fruit, vegetables, grains.  You can actually eat a very healthy diet
without any meat or dairy (or eggs) products.  Sweetners and oils can come
from plants, so except for the lack of meat and dairy items, your menus
look like everyone elses.  And many vegans are also careful to eat
whole-grains and relatively unprocessed fruits and vegetables.  

Traditionally a vegetarian could use dairy products and eggs (ovo-lacto
vegetarian).  In the early 80s many people who were cutting out red meat
(beef, pork) from their diets started to call themselves vegetarians too.
So their is currently some confusion because people who eat fish and
chicken call themselves vegetarians.  
.

I guess I'm just not sure of what vegetarians can or cannot eat.  One
of my friends is a vegetarian and she complains that it is so hard to
get something to eat at school.  I have to stop and think before I
realize that she's right.  Also when I'm going somewhere and ask if
she wants to come along, I have to stop and think if there is anything
she can eat there and I'm really not sure most of the time.

Is there a "typical" vegetarian meal?

"What vegetarians can or cannot eat" is a personal definition.  People are
vegetarians for different reasons.  The most common are: 1) ethical,
2)personal health 3) ecological/political.

If your friend is an ethical vegetarian, she is most likely making her food
choices based on "not harming animals".  Some religions encourage
vegetarianism (Seventh Day Adventists and Buddhists, I think), other people
make a personal decision to respect animal life.  

If your friend is a vegetarian for personal health reasons, then she is most
likely making her food choices based on animal fats being present in the food
(since they are usually less healthy for you than plant oils).  This is the
decision rule people are usually applying when they eat fish (or chicken) and
still call themselves vegetarians.  She may also be trying to eat more grains
and other complex carbohydrates as her source of protein.  

If your friend is a vegetarian for ecological/political reasons, then she is
most likely making her food choices based on the long-term and global impact
of our Western, meat oriented diet, and is trying to lessen the demand for
the resource intensive meat.  

So what she can eat depends on her personal reasons for becoming a
vegetarian;  how tired she is that day of digging through high fat, high
meat, high drug, high chemical food that we normally find on restaurant
and cafeteria menus;  and how hungry she is. 

The easiest thing to do is to ask her where she would like to eat. ;-).  
As far as "typical" well, if she still eats fish and chicken you might see
that on her plate.  If she still eats eggs, she might have those.  If she
still uses dairy products, there's all kinds of things she might eat.  And
if she is a vegan, it's hard to say.  Might be a salad, might be a sandwich,
might be a 3 course dinner.  Vegetarians are no more "typical" than any other
human.  

Actually she is a vegetarian because she was raised as such and has never been
otherwise.  It's just habits :)

Thanks for all of the information though.  It's very helpful.

A "typical" vegetarian meal might include whole grains (bread, rice, 
cereal, pasta, etc.), legumes (refried beans, split peas, tofu, soymilk, 
hummus, etc.) vegetables, and or fruits.

Actually, vegetarians tend to have much more varied diets than meat 
eaters do.  They have the whole range of the plant world 9and perhaps 
dairy) to choose from and most of them really love to cook and prepare 
interesting meals.  Most vegetarians I know, though, get sick and tired 
of a bowl of lettuce and tomato as their only choices in a "homestyle" 
or fasty food restaurant.

Yes, not eating meat would make someone have to be more creative
with the food they choose to eat.

Another question: Pizza toppings.  Which are vegetarian? (typically)
I invited my friend to an upcoming pizza party and she's afraid that
there won't be anything for her to eat there.

Typical vegetarian toppings: cheese, onions, mushrooms, peppers, hot peppers.
If she is vegan: Forget the cheese.  Veges listed are fine.
Generally: No hamburger, pepperoni, ham, sausage, anchovies.  
 

Speaking of vegan, I saw vegan chocolate chips the other day.  How
are they made?  I didn't know you could have chocolate chips without
milk in them.

Most chocolate does not have milk in it.  You are probably thinking of milk
chocolate candy bars.  I'll have to check for sure on the vegan choco chips,
but I think it's probably only cocoa butter and lecithin, and something like
hydrogenated vegetable oil.

I always thought there was milk in chocolate.  But then again I haven't been
exposed to much chocolate except for chocolate candy bars.

Another question to throw out on the floor... turkey isn't vegetarian is it?
So what ends up on the table for Thanksgiving?

Nope, turkey isn't vegetarian -- and any number of things may be on the 
table for thanksgiving.  One of my family favorites is "savory pie".  
It's a rich vegetable and cheese pie, sort of like a cross between a 
quiche and an omelet or souffle.

Another very popular dish is mushroom, rice, and nut loaf.  Very 
filling, very hearty and satisfying.

What is the exact definition of a quiche?  I've seen them before but they just
look like pies to me.

What is a souffle?  

Both are egg based -- so a vegan wouldn't be interested.

A quiche is eggs, butter, milk, and vegetables.  A quiche is similar, but has
no crust.

A quiche is egg and cheese mixed with almost anything else then baked
in a crust-lined pie plate.  A souffle has far more flour and less
cheese and egg, is crustless, and bakes in a high-rimmed, straight-
sided dish and usually rises quite a bit in the baking.

A quiche can be frozen or used as leftovers, no problem.  A 
souffle must be eaten immediately.  Leftovers and reheats
are pretty scary looking. ;-)

Yeah, but in my experience they taste OK.  Not company food -- but fine for
a "I need food *now*!" snack.

Just about anything tastes okay for an "I need food now!" type of snack :)

<grin>  Well, I'm a picky eater -- but when hypoglycemia strikes, you're
right.  Anything!

Hmm, what makes some people picky eaters and others not so picky?  Always an
interesting question in a house full of kids and some will eat anything
whereas others won't touch many things.

I don't find myself to be a picky eater...ask any of my ex girlfriends...

heh...you bastadge!

well it's been a while since someone posted..why?

We're all out to lunch?

Response not possible - You must register and login before posting.

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss