Hi there, just got done watching two PETA videos

and am sick to my stomach. I cried so hard. Why do they have to SUFFER like that???? Why no consideration for the fact that they feel pain?

I cannot eat meat anymore. They are not treated or raised in a healthy or ethical manner. A few generations ago, people kept chickens but they could run around, they were healthy, and they met their end with an axe, which was quick. They didn't want them to suffer. Then they used their feathers and all their meat.

Not so anymore.

And I just can't take it. I cannot eat it knowing how they lived and how they died.

So here I am. My daughter and I both have decided to really commit ourselves to vegetarianism. It shouldn't be too hard for us, as neither of us are big meat-eaters, anyway. We eat a lot of veg meals as it is. But going all the way will be the trick.

Lone_Star_Dem told me about this group and I am thankful. I sent off for a vegetarian starter kit from PETA. We won't be vegan (at least not at this point), but no more meat of any kind for us. We already love Gardenburgers and soy milk!

The videos made me cry, too. It was heartbreaking for me. I'd already made my choice before seeing them, they just helped confirm it.


On edit: I'm reading this group and the lounge, I thought when I saw your post I was in the lounge. Duh. I'm glad you found the group! I forgot to post a link in my first message. :)

along with their fake chicken, fake sausages and other products will get you through the transition just fine. They've helped many a transitioning person over that "OK, no more meat {SOB} hump."

Once you realize pigs can't lay down and never see daylight and stand knee deep in their own waste, you are off pork. Once you realize the horror show of debeaking chicks and overcrowding them in a barn for a miserable 6 weeks of life, you're off chicken. Once you've driven past a feed lot in August or heard horror stories of overworked people being injured on the job in slaughterhouses, that kills any enjoyment of beef.

Eventually, the enormous variety available in plant foods becomes known and you just don't miss the meat at all.

You know you've really made the grade the day you walk past a fast food restaurant and the smell of grease and burning blood makes you queasy.

meat for about 18 months when I was in college. I have no idea why I went back to it, but I can distinctly remember feeling like I was going to hurl when I saw a slab of steak (cooked) on a plate.

I hope to return to that. I saw the debeaking. :cry: I saw the baby pigs having their tails trimmed, their ears docked, their teeth cut AND castrated, all with no pain relief and all at once. My GOD, the horror of that sickened me. I'm not an overly religious person, but I kept thinking "May God forgive us..."

you'll never miss chicken once you try Quorn nuggets. :-)

And don't forget your pets; Organix, Wysong and Newman's own dog and cat food is made with organic, free range chicken. While dogs can go veggie (Wysong even makes a vegan dog food) cats cannot-so finding a food that allows the chickens to have a better, healthier life is essential.

:hi:

I'm pretty new here in general, but this is a fabulous group and full of resources. Congrats on your choice!

I have never seen the PETA videos - I went veg before I knew much about it, and I know the videos would just make sick. Now I'm trying to go vegan, but I'm taking it slow and trying to get rid of the easy stuff first.

Good luck with your new decision! This will be a really good place for support. :grouphug:

You're very right. The old days were a very different time. Small farms were the norm, animals didn't suffer so much throughout their lives. Death was at least quick, if not pain free.

Congratulations on your dietary choices. Not only will both you and your daughter be alleviating the pain and suffering of so many animals, but also helping your fellow man and our planet. The health benefits are usually a given, as well.

The PETA starter kit is good because it's chock full of really tasty food. I would strongly recommend a couple cookbooks on how to prepare tofu, etc. For the times that maybe you're missing that "meaty" taste and texture, Boca Burger, Gardenburger and Tofurkey are amongst the more easily found brands that should fit the bill. Personally, I'm addicted to the Gardenburger riblets. Low in fat, high in protein, loaded with taste.

This group is an excellent resource, and I really like the folks here. Any questions, any time, come on by. Hope you stick around!!
:hi:

It's great to see you here! The videos from Peta are eye opening, especially the meet your meat....IMO. I don't think I could ever watch it again. Okay, I know I couldn't.

I am so glad uo decided to make the change to vegetarianism! You and your daughter will have fun trying new recipes and different things like the veggie burgers and "chicken".

Stick around the group and let us know how you are doing and if you have any questions along the way!!

I started thinking over the weekend, we are going to have to be particularly careful with my daughter's vegetarian diet, as she is a pre-teen girl and really needs to get all the vitamins and minerals, iron and protein she can.

I am going to Whole Foods to look for a multivitamin formulated for pre-teen girls (wonder if there's one for veg pre-teens?).

And I'm going to talk to her about eating complete proteins, a wide variety in her food choices, etc. We'll be learning together. Thanks again for the support, I'm sure I will lean on you guys a bit as I learn this. It's been three days now, meat free. I feel great!!!!

Years ago I read a book, '101 Things You Can Do to Save the Animals' by Peta. Each chapter was only about 1-2 pages long, but each chapter told of some horror that we humans perpetrate on our fellow creatures, ususally for profit. It was the hardest reading I've ever done. I could only read 2-3 chapters at a time & I would frequently end up in tears. I had been veg for a few years at the time I read that, but it really opened my eyes to how extensive our cruelty to other animals is.

Good luck in your endeavor. It's not nearly has difficult as you might think & you will feel so much better for it!! There are so many wonderful veg replacements these days. I recall when there was just tofu & tempeh. Now there are garden burgers, vegan mayo, cream cheese & sour cream, & soy ice cream that is good! Here's a great resource for recipes: http://vegweb.com/recipes/ There is also a great forum there if you have questions.


Whenever people say, 'We mustn't be sentimental,' you can take it they are about to do something cruel, and if they add, 'We must be realistic,' they mean they are going to make money out of it. —Brigid Brophy

and the Meatrix. Sickening, isn't it? I'll never but meat again unless I'm 100% sure it was raised and slaughtered in a humane fashion.