Let me get this straight (re: what makes a vegetarian)

[hollywood926]

If I give up ALL animal products, I'm a vegan. If I eat fish and dairy, but no pork, chicken or red meat, am I a vegetarian?

I guess that's where I am leaning right now. I drink a wee bit of soy milk, but I'd really prefer regular non-fat milk for my cereal. And I like tuna sandwiches!

Argh. This is going to be a bigger step than I thought.

[curse10]

1. if you eat fish you aren't a vegetarian

vegetarianism requires that you don't eat the flesh of any animal. Bi-products (like cheese, eggs, and milk) are okay.

[AlienGirl]

2. If you eat fish, you're still an omnivore

Some people call people who will eat fish flesh but no other animal flesh "pesco-vegetarian," but I prefer if fish-eaters don't define themselves as "vegetarian." Too many times, when I've told someone I'm veg, they reply, "But you eat fish, right?" :eyes: It makes it socially awkward for those who don't eat anything from kingdom Animalia when a host throws a party and makes a fish dish because all the vegetarians *she* knows eat fish. (Yes, it's happened to me.)

If you eat no animal flesh but do eat dairy, you're a lacto-vegetarian. If you also eat eggs you're a lacto-ovo-vegetarian.

Tucker

[Piperay]

7. It happens to me too

people will think it is safe to give me tuna, chicken, turkey etc. NO I do NOT eat any of that. x(

[hollywood926]

9. Luckily, I don't eat eggs, anyway!

I eat egg beaters!

[CrispyQ]

3. Vegetarians Classified

http://www.purewatergazette.net/vclassification.html

[Kenneth ken]

5. that made me laugh - thanks. n/t

[Maru Kitteh]

4. Congratulations on your interest in reducing or maybe someday eliminating

your consumption of animal flesh and animal products. Bless you for making this decision, because it shows that you have an interest in the well being of your planet, your health and your fellow humans as well.

Please take a look at "meet your meat" for a look inside the industries including dairy. http://www.meetyourmeat.com/ It is very difficult to see but something everyone should.

Once you take the plunge and give up flesh eating, I can say from VERY recent experience, you will be amazed at how easy it really is and will probably end up like me - wondering what in the heck you were so worried about in the first place. I'm happier and more energetic than I've been for years.

I used to love steak and lobster, I used to love little smokies and ham sandwiches. Guess what I've discovered? I didn't love them any more than I love other foods I now eat more of! Fresh green salads with plenty of baby carrots and cherry tomatoes, hashed browns with a side of sweet cold cantaloupe, garden rice with stir fry broccoli, water chestnuts and baby corn. I made the best soup I've ever had in my life tonight. I got the recipe out of John Robbins "Diet for a new America". It took me a grand total of about 20 minutes to make and it was Sooooooooooo delicious. Corn and potato chowder with red pepper and onions.

As for the taste of cows milk, perhaps it would help your cravings to know that every single glass of commercial milk contains pus. :puke: Um... yeah, pus. This is not speculation, it is little known (like the dairy industry is going to tell you this stuff?) but well established fact. Why won't the government tell you about the pus in your milk? Because the govt. agency in charge of monitoring the dairy and meat industries is also the very SAME agency in charge of PROMOTING them. Little conflict of interest ya think? The citizens of Florida drink an average of 2,074,180 pus cells per gallon of milk. Do not forget this will be even more concentrated in products such as cheese and ice cream.

Please don't be discouraged or think this will be too difficult. I had never even known any vegetarians before I made this change in my life. I grew up in eat your red meat and potatoes you better finish your milk Nebraska. I had never planned a whole day without flesh and animal products, let alone a whole lifetime but we are eating some of the tastiest, most rewarding food we've ever enjoyed as a family now.

I would like to suggest a couple of short easy reads for you, "Diet for a New America" by John Robbins which I mentioned above because I think you will find much of the nutritional information very comforting in it and it has a large number of extremely tasty recipes. The second book, even shorter and easier to get through is "Mad Cowboy" by Howard Lyman, a fourth generation dairy farmer and cattle rancher who is now both a vegan and a food safety activist. His book is very entertaining, even if it is a little scary.

Best of luck to you on your journey. I would be happy to help you in any way you may like.:hi:

[smbolisnch]

6. Great post!

:D

[flvegan]

8. Worry less about the label.

The reduction in consumption is the goal. If you can eliminate all animal meats, then that's great. Be proud of your vegetarianism. I think a lot of failures in the pursuit of a compassionate diet/lifestyle hinge on the label, concerned with the "giving up" of something. It's horizon expansion, away from what you've been conditioned to accept as the norm. It shouldn't be viewed as a limitation.

Going vegetarian or completely vegan is a big step, though, or it can be many smaller steps leading to the same goal. A vegan doesn't just abstain for animal-based food (meat, eggs, honey, etc) but also material products (wool, leather, fur, silk, etc) as well as avoiding items tested on animals (shampoos, makeup, etc).

If you replace red meat, pork, poultry and eggs, but continue to eat dairy and tuna, no, you won't get to wear the "I'm a vegetarian!" button, but you'll be much healthier and happier, you'll be lessening your negative impact on the planet in a huge way, AND you'll be saving countless animals in the process. That's really awesome.

Though...I won't lie...if I can nudge you towards the vegan option, I will. I offer any help I can give.

[hollywood926]

10. Thanks, everyone!

I am getting the two books mentioned by veganistan and I have downloaded the vegetarian starter kit from Peta's website.

I WILL have more questions in a separate thread!

Thanks for your help!