Question for vegetarians and vegans!

[runnyeggontoast]

I’ve been strongly considering going vegan, or at least vegetarian, for a while but my will power just isn’t strong enough.

I don’t eat red meat often (I don’t hate it but I don’t really like it that much anyway) so I only eat chicken but even then I’m not fussed about it. I eat a lot of seafood and fish mainly. I don’t eat much dairy in a pure form so I wouldn’t miss that (cheese, milk, cream etc) but I eat lots of things with dairy in it and I’d struggle to give that up. I eat a lot of eggs too. I’m quite a fussy eater and found I didn’t like a lot of vegetarian or vegan substitutes and it made it even harder for me, never mind the fact my will power is rubbish.

but I love animals. I have dogs, horses and spend a lot of time around cows, sheep and chickens and it breaks my heart to think of what goes on in slaughterhouses and it makes me sick to think of them as food.

I don’t want to eat meat or dairy or eggs but my willpower is rubbish because ultimately I like fish and I like chocolate and I like chicken.

Does anyone have any advice, or does anyone know of any information about it that will convince my brain and upset me enough to stop eating meat and dairy?

TIA 😀

@Kanaloa I’m reporting your posts because you’re being quite rude for absolutely no reason. I’m saying it doesn’t matter what people choose to call themselves. It makes zero difference.

I've always fancied being a tight rope walker in a Mexican human circus. From now on that's what I'm stating my job title is on all official forms 😂

Report away. It’s not being rude to point out that you’re both wrong and persistently irritating. It’s just honest.

And it does matter what people call themselves if they’re just applying random labels they like the sound of that have nothing to do with what the truth is. For example ‘I’m a vegan who eats chicken’ or ‘I’m a train driver but I don’t actually drive trains I work in an office.’

I'm going to report you @Pumperthepumper for mocking my philosophical beliefs.

But that’s not what the OP is saying. They’re saying they’re going to try to be vegan most of the time. It makes literally no difference to anyone what they choose to call themselves. It doesn’t matter.

don’t want to eat meat or dairy or eggs but my willpower is rubbish

You don't want to that much then! It's really not that hard.

@Pumperthepumper I'm reporting yours, because it DOES matter what people decide to call themselves. Does it matter if you, as a teacher, call yourself a police officer? Does it matter if you call yourself a doctor?

Which means they follow a flexitarian/low meat/plant based diet. Not that they are a vegan.

Why are you backtracking now? If you’ve realised you’re wrong just gracefully admit it. You can cut down on animal products but it doesn’t make you a vegan and if you went round saying ‘I’m a vegan’ while also admitting you eat animal products people would think you were a liar.

Does it matter if I pretend to do another job? Yes.

Does it matter if I say I’m Jewish and occasionally eat prawns? No.

But so what if they did think I was a liar? It still wouldn’t make any difference.

Of course it would! You’d be a liar. That’s not considered a very attractive quality in a person. Do you often tell lies?

I have now read more of the thread. Sorry your request for advice has been derailed by in-fighting, OP.

But if you do use Instagram, there are so many inspirational accounts making veggie / vegan food there. i also really like minimalist baker.

So your main worry is that people might not find vegans attractive if they occasionally eat a bit of cows milk cheese? I’d wonder why you care so much about someone else‘a diet.

@Pumperthepumper as a teacher, I thought you wouldn't have wanted to recognise the massive differences between people's eating habits and lifestyle decisions. As a teacher, I thought you would've realised that being an ethical vegan is now a protected characteristic, and you've jumped all over it 😉. Reporting!!

I don’t think we’ll be able to meet an agreeable understanding about this - unfortunately I think you’re struggling to understand quite basic concepts so you won’t be able to understand that someone cannot be a vegan while eating the occasional bit of cow’s cheese. They are contradictory actions. Since you can’t grasp that I think you’ll really struggle with any sensible argument.

What is it you ‘reach’ out of curiosity?

‘Teach’ sorry.

Yes, sorry. If you do come back I’d say most people don’t care how you want to label yourself. Good luck with it anyway @runnyeggontoast

We both went vegetarian nearly 40 years ago, before we had children.

It was never a deliberate decision but a gradual process. A few landmark events along the way - who was going to chop the trout’s head off, programmes on halal vs humane slaughter - didn’t think much of either.

We ate some meat when visiting parents etc until we realised that we were happy to be vegetarian and call ourselves as such.

Then children arrived. Nurses and health visitors flapped, we persisted, children thrived.

We weren’t so strict that we forbade meat if they went to friends - but they were generally strict for themselves.

At 18-20 ish children nos 1&3 rebelled - and went vegan. After a bit they dairy shamed us. We gave up dairy + eggs, scoured wine labels to find vegan wines and here we are today 7 years later.

No regrets, healthier and a bit lighter. A lot easier if the whole household are on board.

All the best.

Child no.2 vegan at home less so when out and about but still vegetarian.

I found it easy to be vegan once I knew about what farming animals involved. I’ve also been on farms and in abattoirs since becoming vegan and I know I would rather starve than eat animal products. There’s plenty online to view if you want to see it if you choose to do if that way.

I know lots of vegans and some of them did it over a period of a few months which they found easier.

I also know lots of people that have just reduced how much they eat, they eat plant based the vast majority of the time but will occasionally eat animal products. My friend did it this way for about 2 years before deciding she wasn’t going to eat any animal products about 5 years ago and I’d now fully in with her whole lifestyle.

In fairness to @Pumperthepumper

"Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."

I think a lot of vegans aren't 100% vegan as it's virtually impossible to be one, hence as far as possible and practicable. I think eating meat once a week is a stretch but have known vegans to eat vegetarian when out, simply because vegan meals in pubs/restaurants are relatively new. So you either live alone or compromise.

I’ve been veggie since I was 8. I think every time I see a piece of meat I just imagine the animal in the slaughterhouse. Over the years so many people have quizzed me over my diet but I generally keep my diet to myself.

People I know have labelled themselves veggie or vegan and then are eating fish one night or ‘just one bacon sandwich’ after a night out etc.
I just smile and move on - it is none of my business. Ive no interest in others peoples labels - at most it would make me loose a bit of respect for them.

When I was young the choice of meals was very limited but nowadays it is amazing! Watch Jamie Oliver’s ‘meat free meals’ on 4 catch up. Also - so many inspirational instagram pages and Pinterest ideas. If your budget allows it order yourself a box of veggie/vegan recipes from gousto or hello fresh or any others like them! This will build up your cooking repertoire and you will soon realise that you can easily enjoy meals full of all the amazing flavours and nutrition but with little or none of the cruelty.

@Lunar270 Yes. As far as practicable and possible.

It's 100% impossible to be perfect, however, if a vegan goes out and eats vegetarian, they are a vegetarian.

A vegan would choose to eat in a place that served vegan, or not eat.

You don't get to change the rules on veganism.

I’ve discovered Cathedral City plant based blocks of ‘cheese’ this week and it’s really like cheddar. I’ve hated every other type I’ve tried but this stuff is really good.

@AlwaysUphill cheers for that. I haven't seen or heard about it 🤤