Meat is to a new veg* as *blank* is to *blank*?

[bertha katzenengel]

Since I quit eating meat twelve days ago, I have seen meat EVERYWHERE. It's in ads. It's in tv shows. It's on the windows at 7-11. It's in everything my co-workers take past my desk on the way to lunch. It's in the cafe at work, which I used to rely on but no more, not after that tofu wrap incident (they obviously don't know how to cook for vegs).

It does not make me want meat. I don't want meat.* But I really don't like seeing these ads.

What's analogous? If I can find some analogies from other aspects of life maybe I can get over this.

Meat is to a new vegetarian as seeing straights holding hands is to a closeted gay person? As alcohol is to someone newly sober? What?


* The only thing that's going to be hard is going to ball games and not having hot dogs. That's practically un-American anyway. I've never been to a ball game but that I didn't have at least one. If I were in L.A. or N.Y. I could probably get a tofu dog, but not at a Bowie Baysox game.

[Elad]

1. It gets much easier

I had strong cravings at first, but after a few months, the smell/sight of meat started to make me physically nauseous.

I would compare it more to cigarettes, though, personally. Speaking as someone who has both quit smoking and quit eating animal products, they both affected me in similar ways.

Here's PETA's list of veg-friendly ballparks (not sure if this helps, but a lot of ballparks *are* offering veggie dogs these days):
http://www.goveg.com/feat/ballpark/1.asp

[bertha katzenengel]

2. I didn't know there was a list!

Thanks, Elad.

I'm lucky, I think. I don't crave meat itself. I can't even imagine it. But I miss the bite, the chew - y'know, how it feels to eat it.

Jesus Christ, I sound like a fucking freak. I can't believe I didn't quit sooner. So ashamed.

[Elad]

3. Try SmartMenu "Steak" style fajita strips

Very chewy and meaty, I use them in stir-frys all the time. :)

[bertha katzenengel]

4. Cool! You know, Elad, I honestly thought it would only be tofu.

I'm glad to have all these other vegetarians and vegans around me to help. I'd be lost. Thanks.

[Elad]

5. You're welcome

It's very easy to be veg these days, imitation meats abound and are extremely tasty and realistic. There's plenty of protein options, not just tofu (although I do recommend experimenting with tofu until you learn how to make it well, as it's very good!).

Not only that, but groups like PETA and others have incredible resources available out there - just about anything you need, you can google and find that PETA or Veg Resource or someone else has already done the research for you put it online. :)

Congratulations on your switch, btw, I think you'll do fine!

[flamingyouth]

15. Oh, I love those

I make sukiyaki with them too.

My store was out of them today - I was sad. :cry:

[livinginphotographs]

6. I know that RFK Stadium in DC has veggie dogs.

They look and taste like rubber, but for what it's worth...

[bertha katzenengel]

7. tomorrow we're going to a minor league game... i expect to get some very

nice french fries. :)

[smbolisnch]

8. I tried them once.

They reminded me of the fetal pig they tried to make me dissect in 7th grade. I did not like them. :(

[shockra]

9. The meat and dairy industry propaganda is absolutely insidious.

I've been thinking about posting about that myself, because it's been driving me mad. The propaganda is so thick, you get they impression they'd literally shove meat down your throat if they could. They do everything just short of it. If they didn't constant incite cravings in people, and constantly tell them how "yummy" meat/dairy is, they might stop and notice that they didn't want it or need it all the time.

People bitch and moan about PETA giving veggie propaganda to kids, but the meat/dairy industries have been serving up their own for decades in the schools, with government help. There's a good chapter on that in Diet for a New America.

When I was a vegetarian I could pretty much deal with all the commercials or driving past the fast food places. I'd just think "that's not for me" and mentally shut it off. But now I realize how much a political issue it is, and I see everything with a different perspective. How it affects society, health, and animals. It's even worse as a vegan.

I'm a channel surfer anyway, but it seems I can't watch anything for more than a few minutes, or even a few seconds before there's a advertisement for meat, eggs or dairy, or they're eating/ordering meat on a show, or having a Hallmark moment over ice cream cones.

I have to switch when there's a KFC, Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, Red Lobster, Carl's Jr., Chili's, Outback or Applebee's commercial. A commercial for ice cream, eggs, egg beaters, margarine or butter. A cheese or yogurt commercial. All info-mercials for food gadgets or barbecues have meat on them.

And then there's the pharmaceutical ads! Since I've been reading so much about the health issues involved with a diet full of animal products, all the drugs (and testing kits) for diabetes, the antacids, the heartburn medications, the cholesterol lowering drugs, the blood pressure meds, the hormone pills, the erectile dysfunction pills, the weight loss pills, the laxatives, the fiber mixes, the etc. etc. are all for conditions where it has been proven that a diet without animal products will significantly improve or cure the condition. And calcium supplements? You wouldn't need them if you didn't eat so much protein/animal products. And if you take them while you are eating a high protein diet, they aren't liable to do much good. Aspirin to keep your arteries from clogging? Just don't eat meat.

To add to that, there's all these products that I'm boycotting because the companies test on animals, or endorse some kind of animal exploitation. Like Coke and Proctor and Gamble -- which has a LOT of products out there.

So basically what I'm saying is, TV is a Box of Torture. And then...you have to leave the house. :)

It's no surprise that vegetarians usually fall off the wagon more than once in their lives. You're made to feel like a freak if you don't eat stuff from animals.

[bertha katzenengel]

10. First, I read your whole post and feel your frustration

(even thought I'm not vegan).

Second, I may be in trouble. Coke is like my life's blood and I need to know why they're on this hit list. help?

[shockra]

11. There's a page at SHARK on Coke.

SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness

http://www.sharkonline.org/indexcoke.mv

I forgot to mention Arby's and Subway commercials. And leather furniture commercials, like the "Leather Ranch" one that's run incessantly by a local. x(

Thanks for reading all that. I hadn't posted about this before because I wasn't sure I'd be able to shut up!

And I forgot this:

:rant:

[CrispyQ]

13. I love Coke,

See my post below for a good substitute. Not as fizzy, (one of the reasons I love Coke is the fizz!), but Blue Skys are darned good!

[shockra]

14. Blue Sky IS good.

I got a six-pack of Black Cherry a couple weeks ago because it was on sale, and I was surprised.

I also drink Knudson's Fruit Juice Spritzers. But only when they're on sale (which is most of the time, actually) because they're pretty expensive.

[CrispyQ]

12. So I'm not the only one who switches the channel when some

fast food joint or restaurant shows pics of their tower of rotting, diseased animal flesh topped with gelatinous bodily fluids. Retch.

I love to cook & would probably watch more of the kitchen gadget shows on QVC, but everything they cook is meat, meat & more meat. And if it's a baking show, everything has eggs & dairy.

Americans wouldn't need all those damned meds if they would change their lifestyles; eat healthy whole foods, exercise 4 times a week & make whatever changes are needed to alleviate stress. It would help if we would clean up the environment, too.

BTW, kicking my Coke addiction was very hard! I kept going back to it, especially in the summer. Then I discovered Premium Ginseng Cola by Blue Sky. Ohhhh, it's very good. Still mostly sugar, but at least I'm not supporting Coke. As for P&G, I'm still stunned at the number of brands this awful company owns.

[flvegan]

16. This is going to be my worst post ever.

"Meat promotion is to a new vegetarian" as sexually suggestive ads, etc are to a new divorcee.

I've typed and re-typed my post at this point, and I just can't make it sound like a non-bullshit slam on women or marriage.

I'm going to throw myself at your mercies, and entrust that you get my gist without being offended. I don't mean to equate meat or food to or with women or spouses. I think that if everyone thought about it, they'd understand my point.

I hope I can explain better if anyone doesn't see what I'm saying, so PLEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAASEEEEE don't unload on me.

[shockra]

17. I get it as long as I DON'T think about it. LOL.

For some reason that reminded me of my boyfriend in high school. He'd burst out laughing every time the Sizzler Steakhouse commercial came on and they'd say "It's time to bone up for dinner."

[Ilsa]

20. No sweat, flvegan.

I immediately thought of what you were intending to say, not a comparisonof women and meat.

I think I see your point, and I think it is relevant because the sex drive is a very basic human instinct, and I think overcoming the conditioning to eat red meat might be as base as that.

[bertha katzenengel]

21. I had the same worry of offending someone when I drew the

analogy between meat and alcohol. No offense taken, flvegan.

Are you newly divorced? :hug: :(

[flvegan]

24. About 13 years ago, but

I remember it well. The analogy sorta sprung to my mind, and to me it seemed very close to just how I do remember it.

[sbj405]

18. Link to stadiums w/ veggie fare

http://www.soyhappy.org/venue.htm

[yewberry]

19. A goofy story about a ball game

Hiya!

A few years back, the place where I was working experienced a fairly serious fire, and we were forced to close for a week or so for repairs. My boss, in the greatest morale-boosting move I have ever seen, bought a block of seats for a Mariners game, and about 15 of us trooped down to the stadium. (Funny group--I think there were two meat-eaters and one ovo-lacto veg*n, but the rest of us were vegan.)

Said boss (also vegan) called Safeco Field and asked about availability of vegan food--there really wasn't any, unless you count french fries probably cooked in the same oil as fish or chicken. Ew.

What to do? He got permission to bring in food for us. He brought vegan dogs on whole wheat buns (and even organic catsup and mustard!) all tightly wrapped in foil and still nice and warm. We had little heart-shaped cookies for dessert.

What a great day. How much thought and time they put in for us...Thanks again, Francis.

[bertha katzenengel]

22. Goofy, my butt. That is really wonderful!

What a great boss. :bounce: Thanks for the story.

And I'm pretty surprised to hear this about Safeco Field. I thought Seattle was pretty progressive.

[yewberry]

23. I think it's better now

Safeco, I mean. They do have vegetarian stuff, just not much vegan.

They have sushi (cucumber rolls, etc) now, and maybe more. Haven't been for years.

Thanks.