Why are people so black and white about vegetarianism?

[GradeSeven]

I live with a vegetarian despite being an omnivore myself. I've got used to most of my meals not having any meat and have found it has virtually zero impact on my enjoyment of food - because generally great flavours are because of good seasoning, herbs & spices and deep rich sauces etc etc. You really don't "need" meat and I'd be happy enough if I never ate meat again.

I also increasingly think that eating less meat is better for my health and the planet - win win.

However it is very convenient if I go someplace where meat is one of the only decent options, or if vegetarian food is not done well. I can just pick a meat dish, no drama. And it's such a rare thing for me to eat meat, I know in the grand scheme of things it won't have a big impact.

Why can't vegetarians do the same as me and just accept that eating meat once in a blue moon for the sake of convenience and enjoyment will not "undo" all the good that many months of not eating any meat at all has done.

Instead they becoming obsessed with the label of "vegetarian' and having to live up to this ideal. And tying themselves up in knots in certain situations in order to avoid meat, especially if it is some tiny meat-derived ingredient that is causing the issue. It would just be easier all round to relent - just for one meal.

I understand if you are a hardcore ethical vegetarian who loves all animals you will never eat meat - but that isn't typical of most vegetarians these days is it?

I guess I'm just not such a black and white thinker about these things, and like to embrace the grey!

It's interesting how so many people say they can't digest lentils and that's acceptable but digesting a carcass is easy!

I understand if you are a hardcore ethical vegetarian who loves all animals you will never eat meat - but that isn't typical of most vegetarians these days is it?

I’d say it was typical of pretty much every vegetarian. What makes you think it isn’t?

I do not want to eat the flesh of an animal, ever.

It’s not something I will compromise on.

Lentils are complex to digest though- they have indigestible carbs and lectins which cause issues in many people’s digestion. Most people have no problems apart from some wind, obviously. Animal meat is simple.

You know much of digestion is carried out in the small intestine inhabited by gut floats, which are a material part of the digestion process right? It’s not that our stomachs are full of acid which dissolve everything and the base molecules get absorbed.

maybe learn about physiology before spouting off, or perhaps just don’t be patronising (especially about a topic of which you are clearly ignorant).

You don't need meat.

I do.

Give me a chunk of meat over herbs and spices. I can eat protein without anything on it.

This is something that gets raised often to vegetarians/vegans.
It's really simple: many people like the taste/texture of meat but don't want someone killed so they can eat it.
In answer to the OP, eating even a tiny amount of meat would be traumatic for me, the notion of eating someone's decaying body part is fundamentally wrong. If I accidentally sip a drink with milk in it, my mouth feels coated for the rest of the day, and the idea of drinking milk intended for a different species' child is repugnant and morally reprehensible.
I find it very difficult to see the grey because I have always innately felt like this, so it's difficult to understand that other humans aren't bothered.

I am not vegetarian but do eat mostly vegetarian food. I have tried to do as you suggest - if I'm eating out, choosing something that has meat in it. Like you say, it's convenient to have more choice.

But I just don't enjoy it. Don't like the taste, don't like the texture.

When I'm eating out, I want to enjoy my food. I suspect most vegetarians are the same.

If you’re vegetarian, you don’t eat meat or fish.

if you eat mainly vegetables, but occasionally eat meat, great. But you’re not vegetarian.

I guess that would be pretty black and white to some but to me, it’s just factual?

I’m not ignorant. Pretending your digestive system is so weak that it can’t digest simple animal meat- as though it has lost the ability through lack of practise- always seems a bit embarrassing.

Are people tying themselves in knots? How? Why?

Depends where in the world you live I suppose. Here in the UK we vegetarians are very well catered for. I don't think I've had to tie my self in a knot even once.

It also depends why you're vegetarian. The idea of meat has always made me a bit squeamish even before becoming veggie. The longer I'm veggie the more squeamish I get about it. Sure if I was starving to death I'd force meat down. But I'm not so I don't need to.

I just don’t want to be part of the exploitation of animals ever. Even when it’s inconvenient.

I know someone who's allergic to meat, so it very much would be a problem for her.

But if people have given it up for religious or ethical or health reasons, why should they ever eat meat?

Meat eaters do eat vegetables (mostly; I think one or two of my colleagues try to avoid them...) so a meat-eater having a non-meat meal isn't a big deal, and most of us probably have at least one meat-free meal a day anyway. So it's a very different thing asking someone to leave out something they do it, than to ask someone to have something they don't eat, for whichever reasons.

I understand if you are a hardcore ethical vegetarian who loves all animals you will never eat meat - but that isn't typical of most vegetarians these days is it?

Isn’t it? I would have thought most vegetarians are vegetarian for ethical reasons. We don’t want to eat dead animals. Not “just occasionally”, not “just when it’s convenient”. I don’t like the taste (and no I don’t eat fake meat), and I don’t like the thought of it. So I don’t.

I’m not sure where you get the idea that “most” vegetarians are vegetarian for non-ethical reasons - like what?

In addition to what others have said about finding it grosses me out to eat dead stuff, I would add that there is something healthy and satisfying about commiting to something you feel strongly about and maintaining that commitment, even when it's inconvenient.

Don't use that laughing emoji at me. It's really patronising and makes me quite angry on what is not a particularly arsey thread so far.

Also, you're wrong. Enzymes play a part in digesting food and if you don't have the ones that help break down meat it's going to be uncomfortable. I never said it would kill you but your digestive system is not just 'acid'. Sticks-tongue-out emoji to you.

I really don't understand why anyone eats dead animals when there is no need to. I've been vegetarian for 33 years out of disgust. I just couldn't suspend my disbelief.

Because I don’t want to eat animals? I would say I’m remotely ‘hardcore’. I just don’t want to eat them, so I, don’t?

Because the marketing around food is to make it look as appetising and as appealing as possible. That’s why they pay people a fortune to make a fast food burger look 3inches of juicy deliciousness when in reality, you open the box and it’s a bit of rubbery old shoe leather slapped in between a squashed burger bun.

These foods are substitutes for where you would normally have meat. Vege mince, for instance is designed to be eaten with spaghetti and bolognaise sauce for instance. Vege burgers are designed to be eaten in a bun. Yes, they could create it in a cube, but that’s not going to look particularly appetising with a dollop of Dolmio plonked on top, or in between a burger bun.

Seriously?? Why should anyone to decide what someone else should eat?
I have been vegetarian for 40 years. I chose not to eat animals. It would go against everything I stand for. However I live with a carnivore and accept that's their choice.
As for those who think it wouldn't affect me to eat meat... On the one occasion when I was fed soup with meat stock because a relative didn't think I'd notice, I was violently ill within an hour. That's when they told me about the meat stock....

Most people I know who have made a choice to go vegetarian have done so as an ethical decision. I’ve been vegetarian since birth and I cannot separate the thought of the living animal and what it has gone through to get to the plate. I am amazed that anyone can ignore that, particularly when eating meat is not a necessity.
Perhaps because I was raised that way but I feel not eating meat is part of my core values. And so the idea of ‘occasionally’ eating meat sounds absolutely wild to me!

I agree with you . I think vegans tend to be a lot worse flexibility wise .

@forthispostonly how did you respond to this act of fuckery?

Why would this confuse you? I eat meat but I completely understand that eating flesh might be repellent to some people. Yes. Even a little bit. It like asking you to just sometimes eat horse meat or dog meat. Go on. Just sometimes, eat a pigs anus.

You do realise sausages and burgers aren't the animal? They are made into that shape using the meat. You could use the same argument for meat eaters, if you want to eat a dead animal, why not eat something that looks like a dead animal? But really it is for the same reason meat eaters do, because it is tasty and convenient. Lots of vegetarians grew up eating meat and many don't mind the taste of meat, but do not want to eat dead animals.