Should I become a Vegeterian OR ........????
By evangleen
@evangleen (218)
India
October 1, 2007 4:40am CST
Hi People!!
THIS IS A Simple request TO ALL OF YOU .....
I have been STRUGGLING to find an ANSWER to THIS....
I am a non-veg eater,
A FEW YEARS BACK I witnessed a lamb being slaughtered AND SKINNED, and since then its really hard for me to eat meat again....
I have been trying to decide whether to leave meat or not .....
My PROBLEM is......
that I have never had a really healthy diet since childhood (being weak and allergic to many stuffs)
and now after growing up I have pushed myself a LOT by EXERCISING and becoming diet conscious.....
I loved taking RED-MEAT, CHICKEN, AND FISH.......
BUT after the incident I feel VERY GUILTY every time I eat it with my FAMILY or friends.....
HOWEVER,
I don't like to be the ODD one out and fuss about food when everyone else is enjoying the meal together....
BUT I CANT CARRY ON LIKE THIS!!
MY INNER CONSCIOUS IS NOT ALLOWING ME TO LET THESE INNOCENT LOOKING ANIMALS BE TORTURED FOR MY TASTE-BUDS
OR EVEN MY LIFE!!!!
"I BELIEVE ITS EQUAL TO A CRIME"
"BUT WILL MY DECISION DO ANY DIFFERENCE TO THIS WHOLE ACT OF BRUTALITY WHICH IS WIDELY DONE "
PLEASE HELP ME TO GET OVER MY "GUILT FEELING" BY EITHER ACCEPTING IT OR CHANGING IT !!!!!!
6 people like this
16 responses
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
1 Oct 07
Hi Evangleen,
I think certain animals were put on this earth to supply us with nourishment and were meant to be eaten.
Im not discouraging you from becoming a vegetarian or vegan, if thats what you would like to do then thats your choice.
I just dont want you looking at meat as a killing spree and that innocent animals are being slaughtered. Just like PrincessLee said, its part of the food chain. I agree with her on that.
If your thinking about being vegan because you really dont eat vegetables to begin with, all I have to say to that is to do some good research on the subject. There are many things that you would think vegans could eat, but cant because of the other ingredients contained in them. Like chocolate for instance, contains animal fat. Being a vegan you wouldnt be able to eat that.
If you feel this is a more healthy choice for you, becoming a non meat eater isnt always the most healthy way. Eating balanced meals and exercise is a healthy life style, not cutting out certain foods because you feel guilty about what you saw. Had you not seen it, would you still feel this way?
Bay xx
2 people like this
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
2 Oct 07
I don't think it's right to say that being a non meat eater is not healthy. There is plenty of research out there that says if you have a balanced vegetarian diet, it can be perfectly healthy. In fact, many doctors now recommend a vegetarian diet. Heart problems and obesity are all problems that are facing us these days, mostly Americans, and fatty red meat is largely to blame, plain and simple.
@evangleen (218)
• India
6 Nov 07
HEY BayleighGray ,
I TRUELY APPRICIATE YOU!!
Thanks for caring so much ......well I do like to eat vegetables and have cut short on MEAT INTAKE. Well am a bit sensitive and really dont want to be a non veg anymore .....but as you said I would like to get a deeper kowledge about vegans......BEFORE CHANGING MY LIFE STYLE I MEAN MY DIET COMPLETELY......THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR USEFUL THOUGHTS :)
1 person likes this
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
2 Oct 07
I said its "not always the most healthy way" I didnt say its not healthy at all to cut out meat.
Bay xx
@SHAMRACK (8576)
• India
1 Oct 07
Hi,
As far being a vegeterian is more better than non-vegeterian. It is known from the scientists and other experts that this non veg keeps your brain function a bit back, it get fat, behavious has bit of animal instict so on goes the non-veg catagory. Being vegerian is far better than non-veg. It is general difference between a non smoker and smoker.
2 people like this
@evangleen (218)
• India
6 Nov 07
hi there! thanks for that comment I would keep that in mind........stay happy :) god bless!!
@raphael_volts (1131)
• India
13 Nov 07
Hey, your discussion got quite popular and discussed about.
Thought I know you so why not I also put some effort and come up with some of my own advice.
You had been a meat eater ever since, but now that you have seen the real slaughter and killing you don't want to eat the meat. Not like all the animals are tortured, actually chickens etc. have to be eaten or killed time to time or else there breeding capacity would take them well off limits and I can say that because I have had a chicken farm of mine at my village since long. I have sween how many kids each one of them has. Its just like rabits, atleast 5 in one go.
If that birth rate keeps on soon there will be enough chicken to cover the earth. I wouldn't say that someplaces people do cruelty to awnimals as keeping them in small places where they can't even live easily the last days of there life. But this can be dealt with and changed.
As long as it goes for health, you can maintain it with a regular diet, no matter veg or non veg. It depends on you, how seriously you take your food. EAting to please others is stupidity, just follow your feelings and your instinct, and take a a few advices. Vegan behaviour can also be healthy if taken nicely.
Take Care
Eat Healthy
GOD Bless YOU
@nancyrowina (3850)
•
1 Oct 07
If you feel that bad about eating meat then stop, just make sure you eat something in it's place that replaces the protein and Iron and other vitamins meat gives you. It is possible to not eat meat and be healthy just do some research, this website gives a lot of useful information on how to do it.
http://www.vegsoc.org/
@zabawaus (1730)
• United States
1 Oct 07
Hey Hey Hey,
It is surprising that someone in the world actually at the same position with me. I was a meat eater for 29 years and for almost more than a year I quit eating red meat and recently after I saw a video of KFC torturing chicken from the time they are growing till they are being killed. I quit eating chicken too. ( By the way I am protesting KFC at every platform . You all quit eating KFC. They are making massacre to all chicken. But don't suggest you watch the video It is horrible.) I can not help you to help you about accepting it because I couldn't accept thats why I still don't eat meat. But If you want to change it. There are lots of things you will enjoy to eat.Like pasta, macaroni's, pizzas, baked potatoes, rice, salads, vegetables and fruits and much more. Hope you feel relieved soon. good luck
1 person likes this
@zabawaus (1730)
• United States
2 Oct 07
Mercy for Animals, an animal rights group based in Ohio, has just released video footage of an undercover investigation into a House of Raeford Farms slaughterhouse in North Carolina. House of Raeford Farms, which is one of the biggest turkey processors in the country and supplies companies. Videos showed how much torture they did to these poor chikens You can find the video all around internet but I don't suggest . Anyways companies such Deny's and Arby's quit working with them after receiving tones of protesting letters, e-mails... But KFC is after looong years they are still insisting on working with these kind of Raeford Companies. And also you can check all details about KFC . I am sure you will find more realistic informations via internet. You will not like what you will see.
@princesslee (158)
• Australia
2 Oct 07
Maybe its different in the states. KFC here has different suppliers
@princesslee (158)
• Australia
1 Oct 07
KFC get their chicken from suppliers - they don't 'grow their own' so to speak. So they cannot be torturing chickens. I know this is fact because my brother was an assistant manager at KFC for years!
Many people make bogus videos of a lot of things these days. It's common. They suck people in with them.
I believe animals are part of our food chain, but I have full respect for those who choose not to eat them. I don't like animals being used to testing, being treated cruelly in any way.
1 person likes this
@princesslee (158)
• Australia
1 Oct 07
Have you seen a food chain? It's where one thing lives of another, right? You get an animal eat a smaller animal, which eats a smaller animal again, and so forth. We are animals & are at the top of our food chain.
Animals were put on earth for us to survive off. Imagine how overrun by animals the earth would be if we didn't use them for food? It's a natural part of the life cycle. So there is no need to feel guilty.
Before you ask, yes, I have seen animals slaughtered. They are not tortured. They are killed quickly and humanely.
Red meat is necassary for protein and iron, both of which very important in the diet, especially the iron for women. Fish and chicken are very good for you too, especially fish for the fish oil.
1 person likes this
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
2 Oct 07
"They are not tortured. They are killed quickly and humanely." I volunteered with animal liberation for a couple of years and let me tell you they are tortured. Have you ever wondered why veal is white? Is it humane for a pig to be encased in a stall with concrete for bedding and no room to even turn around? Is that humane and natural? That to me is torture and we have no right to do that.
And as far as red meat being necessry-that is far from true. Iron and protein are both easily accessible in legumes, grains and vegetables. Sure, it's much easier to munch down on a piece of meat but it's also more unhealthy. With meat comes high levels of bad fats. And have you ever seen a fat vegetarian? It is a fact that vegetarians with a healthy balanced diet are generally healtheir than red meat eaters.
2 people like this
@princesslee (158)
• Australia
2 Oct 07
I've never seen white veal. The only veal I have bought has been red! You say that, as people, we are mean to animals. OK, so if I'm in a pen with a wild pig, do you think it will be nice to me? I think not. If I'm swimming in the ocean & a shark comes along, will it be nice to me? No. If I go near a bull, will it be nice to me? Definately not. Etc etc
An animal is an animal, humans included, and as animals we eat each other. It's the life cycle, the food chain, a part of life.
I understand a vegans viewpoint, and as I said have full respect for it, so have respect for mine.
@TDonald (1421)
• United States
2 Oct 07
The way nature works here on earth is life feeds on life. That's just the way things are. It's not cruel of barbaric to live according to the natural plan.
There are some who will argue that not killing animals makes you more spiritual. But remember, there is historical evidence that Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian. The elevate one form of life as not OK to eat and another as OK is just hypocracy.
We don't know the big picture. Maybe it is the destiny of the animal to become human food. Doing so may be part of the animals "spiritual" evolution. It's purpose may be to help you survive and make some difference in the world. Denying the animal it's life purpose would then be wrong in a situation like that.
Eat the diet that you want. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about your choices. They are your choices. Express gratitude for the life that is given to you, so that you may live.
You can always silently thank the animal
@HomeFlower (987)
• Canada
2 Oct 07
I'm a vegetarian (although I'm closer to vegan instead) and it's easy to live on a meat free diet.
People really over think the process of becoming a vegetarian. Just don't eat meat - that's all there is to it. Start slowly and give up one type of meat at a time and in practically no time at all, you'll find that you have completely eliminated meat from your diet. That's how I did it starting with pork (which I never really ate anyway), then red meat and finally I gave up poultry.
I gave it up for health reasons and after several years, I not only have better health, the medical problems that prompted my dietary changes have almost completely gone away...without medications of any kind.
Good luck with your decision.
If you decide to pursue vegetarianism as a lifestyle, take a look at meat your meat (dot) com and Kentucky fried cruelty. It's really gross.
@michecu (637)
• Philippines
2 Oct 07
Being vegetarian is common now-a-days. I think your family will understand that you want to be vegetarian. But to be vegetarian takes a lot of challenge since you have to prepare your own meal...or you eat only the veggies your family prepares. But anyway, being vegetarian is a very good option since it will lessen the toxins inside your body. You can get protein and fat from vegetables too and they are healthier compared to that you get from animals.
@wishme_luck (249)
• Philippines
2 Oct 07
you know i decided to eat meat becouse thats the way life is, its a matter of survival..anyway i love veagetable so much i eat meat once a week becouse our body need it. just dont let me see how you slaughter the cow and the chicken etc. but this things since the biggining people eat the meat. even in the bible they slauther the cow or the lamp for offering..its realy up to you honey. but veagestable is verry good.
@sinshaw (8)
•
1 Oct 07
its really quite simple if you like the taste of meat eat it put the thought of the poor lamb out of your mind i like little lambs as much as most but i also like the way they taste. if you cannot forget then stop eating meat, but remember our teeth are sharp for 1 reason and that is to eat meat.
@kiobug (2250)
• United States
2 Oct 07
Meat is meant to be eaten. It's nature. As horrible as it can be to witness there are some humane ways to kill animals. You wouldn't be here if your fore fathers hadn't eaten meat. It keeps you healthy and it tastes good. Vegitarians are okay but you can easily lose iron which isnt good for you. Meat is better.
@Bionicman (3958)
• Czech Republic
1 Oct 07
If you feel "Very guilty" every time you eat meat, you should become vegetarian. It's not hard...