Do you think, Veg food is good? Is it possible to survive in the US as a vegi eater?

Question

My friend is changing to Veg (in total). He says no meat, no fish, No Chicken and not even eggs. Cool. I like his idea. But the point is will he be getting his vegi food in the US every where? If you are already vegi eater, are you comfortable with it? Because, I also have a little thinking to orient towardds it.

Answer 1

ADVANTAGES OF BEING A VEGETARIAN
Longevity

Adventists can expect to live between 4 and 10 years longer than the general public. Not all Seventh-day Adventists are vegetarian. Vegetarian Adventists can expect to live up to 12 years longer. Adventists in general have an advantage over the general public probably because they eat more fruits and vegetables.

Less Heart Disease

Because of the low fat, saturated fat and cholesterol content of the vegetarian diet the risk of heart disease is lowered. High blood cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk of heart disease. Vegetarians have only half the risk of dying from a heart attack when compared with the general population.

Less Cancer

It is thought that up to 40% of all cancers are diet related. Cancer death rates have been associated with obesity and high-fat/low-fiber diets (a low in fruits, grains, and vegetables, but high in animal products). Vitamin A and C are thought to be protective against colon cancer. Lowfat diets protect against prostate and breast cancer.

Less Bowel Disease

Diverticular disease and appendicitis appear more frequently with lower fiber intakes. High fiber diets increase the ease with which the food can pass through the system and decrease the transit time from mouth to anus. Bile acids are very irritating to the lining of the intestine. Shorter transit time reduces the contact between nutrients and digestive juices and lining of the intestinal tract. Also less time is allowed for the breakdown of bile acids into carcinogenic substances.

Less Osteoporosis

Lower protein intake and a higher vitamin D and calcium intake may contribute to higher bone density in Seventh-day Adventist women.

Less Obesity

It is easier to plan a low-fat diet for a vegetarian than a low-fat diet for a meat eater. The fiber in plant foods dilutes the energy and provides a satisfying meal without all the calories. Diabetes over the age of 40 seems to be related to obesity. Those able to manage their weight will have less risk of diabetes.

Less Hypertension

The factors involved in high blood pressure are many, but 30-40% of society are sodium sensitive and would be better following a lower sodium diet.

Endurance

For many years it was thought that meat provided the energy for the muscle. It is now known that the best sources of food for endurance exercise are the carbohydrate foods. The body uses glucose to produce energy not protein. A meal of pasta is standard fare before a marathon race. It has been determined that vegetarians enjoy greater strengths of endurance than meat eaters.

Answer 2

I've been a vegetarian for 4 + years and I'm still kickin'. By vegetarian, I mean that I don't eat any kind of meat at all. However, I do still eat cheese, use butter and milk (and eggs if I REALLY have to) while cooking. I eat ice cream. I can eat at almost any restaurant around and find good foods in the grocery store with no meat. Most people give me no problem if I want no chicken in my Taco Bell Border Bowl or take off the bacon on my Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes. It's easy to find meatless foods because we have so many options available.

As for a strict vegan diet (no meat, diary, animal byproducts at all), of course it's possible, but in our culture and society today it would be very hard to have a *normal* type lifestyle, like eating out in restaurants, frozen dinners (although I think there are some vegan options available, like Amy's), etc. Even regular snack foods or other processed foods would be out of reach for a vegan because many things are made with hydrogenated this or that which I understand comes from animal byproducts. You'd have to read labels very carefully.

Answer 3

I have lived in some places that are very unsupportive of a vegitarian and vegan lifestyle but I still manage to eat healthy and happy. Right now I'm in South Carolina and when I got here they had next to nothing and then I found a deli that supported vegetarians and the owner and many customers told me where to go to get different foods such as flaxseed breads, vegan frozen meals, organic soy milk at a reasonable price, and fresh vegetables. I normally visit about three stores per month but I get everything I need for about $50 a week. That includes food for my boyfriend. So it is possible. The best thing to do is to look online and find places such as health food stores and then gradually find places that sell the same things cheaper. I know Kash 'N' Carry recently switched to Sweet Bay and they sell all kinds of vegetarian and vegan options. Bi-Lo also has a good selection and even Walmart has jumped on the veggie wagon. When I was in Texas HEB was pretty decent. In Nebraska Walmart was my only option. When I visit my boyfriends family in Pennsylvania we go to Giant and they have a great selection of vegetarian and vegan options. Florida has been the biggest supporter I've found so far.

Answer 4

I have been a vegetarian who eats dairy products since 1970. My husband is on a similar diet. Our daughters (22 and 25 y.o) are vegans, no animal products for over eight years. We are all fine. We live in Montana, a beef ranching state and get by well. There is lots of good tasting "fake meat" now. Most is made of soy, but some is from other sources. It allows a great choice and variety of meals. There is "cheese" made of soy or rice. People who eat a plant based diet can be and are very healthy.
There was just a bit on the local news about a former Mr America, now 72 yo, who still works out and is vegan.

cf: George Bernard Shaw

Answer 5

For the same reason people pick on others for their height, skin colour, race and so on, I should imagine. People seem to be bullies by nature. I will admit that often I am disgusted by people who eat meat, fully aware of what it is, and mock it (making jokes and making the noises the animal made, showing it no respect), *but* I always do my best to keep my opinions to myself. If they want to eat meat it's their choice and I try to show them respect for it (what I will not abide by is people who are cruel to animals or slaughter them in an inhumane way), but it would be nice to get respect back sometimes. If I go out with others and they ask 'what's in your sandwiches? Chicken?' and I tell them no, I'm a vegetarian, it would be nice if they would let it go at that. But no, they feel the need to mock or look as though I'm mad or some member of some weird club. I don't go up to them and say 'What're you eating? Beef? Oh, how could you, you murderer! You must be insane' I try to show respect for others dietary choice. It would be nice if they would do the same. Unfortunately, they don't. That's why things like racism exist.

Answer 6

I think it is very good. Yes it is possible to survive in the US as a veggie eater only.

He needs to learn how to eat right. You need to replace to the meat with certain things not just anything. He needs to do some research on being a vegetarian. It's very easy to forget about what your eating and not get enough of iron and certain other things in your diet. It's not hard to be a vegetarian though. Don't get that idea. He just needs to do some research on it. We have our own food pyramid. He needs to get familar with it. K

Answer 7

veg food is awesome! :) it is totally possible to survive as a vegetarian or as a vegan. with a little research, a little know-how in the kitchen, and some logic (duh, stay away from mcdonald's!), one can survive being an herbivore in this almost carnivorous world.

i became a vegetarian in march and a vegan in june. my husband and son took the plunge with me, and we love every minute of it. we haven't intentionally eaten any animal products since then and will not for the rest of our lives (unless my son decides otherwise when he gets older). my energy levels are higher, i feel better than ever, and i feel good knowing that i am not eating animals anymore.

not all parts of the US are very veggie-friendly, but a lot of the bigger cities are. as more people are leaning towards an animal-free diet, more grocery stores are starting to carry meatless options. happycow.net and friendsofanimals.org has a list of restaurants that are geared for vegheads.

best wishes! :)

Answer 8

Over 60 years ago I was born a vegetarian. Could not even stand to smell most meats cooking.
The doctor told my parents not to feed me nothing but meat and that I would start eating when hungry.
After having my milk cut off at school and nothing but meat on my plate--I could not eat. TWO DAYS LATER-my parents started feeding me vegetables.
Be sure to take a vitamin B12 and maybe some IRON.
I eat butter, ice cream, eggs if baked in a cake.
The thing I tell people when they ask--"I don't eat anything with a face!!"
Also, make sure you get enough protein.
Even most restaurants have vegetarian items listed.

Answer 9

Yes, the U.S. is pretty veggie friendly. Most decent supermarkets carry tofu near the produce, and have some veggie meats in the frozen section.

Most of the main chain restraunts (TGI Fridays, Ruby Tuesdays, Red Robin, AppleBees, Dennys) carry a veggie burger on the menu, and will make substitutes/eliminations from other dishes upon request.

I'm very comfortable with my diet (I eat no meat (which includes fish and chicken) But I do eat dairy and eggs. And I rarely have a problem eating out. I have been a vegetarian for 17 years and not had a problem eating (I love to eat LOL).

Your friend's biggest problem will be staying away from eggs, depending on how picky he is. They do sneak them as a minor ingredient in alot of veggie meats.

It's a much healthier lifestyle, because the meat industry pumps the animals so full of steroids, hormones, etc.. it's a real health risk to humans to consume meat with all that trash in it! To say nothing of how inhumanely the animals are treated!! Think about it! Go ahead and wait, if you want, until your friend has lived that way for awhile and talk to him some more, about the challenges, etc, before considering trying it out yourself. But it's awesome.. Actually it's kind of liberating, because most Americans are stuck on a meat and potato diet (Burgers and fries, for example) Going vegetarian forces you to learn about the joys of indian and asian food (much of which is pretty much vegetarian to begin with) and experiement with many other ethnic dishes! It's awesome!

Answer 10

There are literally thousands of simple recipes that are vegetarian or if you dont have eggs or milk or other animal derived products vegan. . And yes you can live well on that diet. Type in Vegan Wolf on the google and the Vegetarian Society these are two web sites I use.