being vegetarian?

Question

Ok so i've learned over 4 years of having a vegetarian sister that it is a lot harder on your family then you think. My sisters not the pushy type that tries to force it on you but I mean I had to give up going to a lot of resturants that i liked because they didn't have anything except "salad" that she could eat.

Do you all realize that when you make your decision? (and i don't want well its better for the animals and that kind stuff. I just want the answer to the question I ASKED)

ok its not that we NEVER go to a resturant i like but its that she is always in a bad mood if we go somewhere that doesn't have like pasta or something,. so we don't usually. my whole point is that i don't think vegetarians think about their family or friends or whoever when they make such a decision. Ya know what now that i think about it its not just being a vegetarian its EVERYTHING. its deciding to drink or to move away or anything. anyway still answer above question

Answer 1

I think you both should compromise on this. Sometimes go to a restaurant that you like and she eats a salad, sometimes go to a more veg friendly restaurant (like a veg one or chinese or ethiopian or India....). Actually with veg friendly sometimes you can still get meat for the other person if you go to an ethnic restaurant ...

Answer 2

I'm not even sure how to answer this. It's strange to me to read that you consider your sister selfish for making a personal decision about what she puts into her body. It's not a drug problem that's making her sick. She's not on your case about eating meat.

Anyway, I think your situation is unique. I've known how to cook for a long time. If my family wants meat, I'll make myself something else. For the most part, nobody complains about my vegetarianism. They eat better and more healthfully when I cook.

I've gone to steakhouses with my family and been able to order vegetarian entrees. I consider it a treat to be taken out to eat, even if it isn't at a restaurant that I really like. If that means I order salad, whatever, I order salad.

Now, if your sister is asking to be accommodated to the point where your family is going out to all-vegetarian restaurants that only have one or two things that you'll eat, you are entitled to ask that you go to one of "your" restaurants now and then. But if you're going to restaurants that serve a lot of dishes that you enjoy, don't bring it up. You might come across as ungrateful.

Answer 3

Oh, boo hoo hoo. Why can't you go to your favorite restaurants when your sister isn't present and go to a place that has more than salad when she is dining out with you? Is it so terrible to go to a place where she can get a pasta dish--pasta, for crying out loud!--and you can get your meat dish? Or do you just have to go to a place where every single thing has something meaty in it so you can watch her pick through a salad and validate your decision to eat animals?

I mean, it's not as if she's demanding you go to vegetarian restaurants all the time, is she? She's just asking to go to a place that has options for both vegetarians AND omnivores. Right?

Do you realize that your sister has made an ethical decision about what she puts in her body, and all she's asking is that when you dine out, you go where she can get something more substantial than a freaking salad?

Answer 4

Yes it may be be inconvenient for you that your sister choses to be vegetarian and therefore you may miss out on going to your favourite restraunts but vegetarism ismore than sving animals although that is a bonus its also about health. Here are some interesting facts

"If Americans were to reduce their meat consumption by only 10 per cent for one year, it would free at least 12 millions tons of grain for human consumption - or enough to feed 60 million people... Indeed, if Americans were to stop eating grain-fed beef altogether the grain thus released would be enough to feed all the 600 million people in India."


(Animal Liberation, Peter Singer, Thorsons, 1983.)

Being vegatarian is healthier, than any other diet possible and that isn't even touch the hormones and antibiotics, used in raising animals, and the possibilities and realities of meat borne illness, Mad Cow Disease etc. .

Better for your heart. Proven to reduce heart disease, and even reverse coronary heart disease.

Automatically lower s your cholesterol levels. The only foods that contain cholesterol are animal products, like meat and dairy. And since a three-decade-long study found that not a single subject with a cholesterol level below 150 has ever developed heart disease, that's hard to ignore!

Vegatarians have lower rates of obesity, coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, large bowel disorders, cancers and gallstones.

Reduces stroke risks and coronary artery disease.

Reduces symptoms of fibromyalgia.

Reduces food poisoning. 95% of food poisoning is linked to animal products.

Your bowels will work much better, therefore, keeping your whole system healthier.

Live longer healthier lives. One 21-year-long study that compared meat-eaters and vegetarians showed that the greater the meat consumption, the greater the death rate from all causes combined.

Increased vegetable and fruit intake reduces your need for taking a multi vitamin plus increases your antioxidant intake.

Also being a vegearian has en proven to reduce incidence of diabetes,heart disease even help diminish the symptoms of arthitus.

Yes it can be difficult when someone' healthy diet encrouches on your restraunt preferences but than again if your sister died of heart disease that also could have an inconveniencng effect as well. Maybe you could lobby for more restraunts to have a better selection of vegetarian meals instead f whinging about how put out your own life is.

Also I once counted about 7000 different vegetarian and vegan recipes, amazing ones using a variety of fresh ingriedents and there are millions of recipes using a variety of cultures' cuisines but can some restraunts manage more than a salad or lentil soup and pasta with "seasonal vegetables". NO. And if you ask for something vegetarian after looking at a menue with NO vegetarian options the best you will be offered is a toasted sandwich or a pasta with tomatoe sauce. Its incredibly hard trying to find a decent meal in a restraunt because still the vegan/ vegetarian diet is labeled as rabbit food which is completely untrue and yet there are thousands of people who refuse to give the vegetarian a fair go. Vegetarians are looked upon as weird and silly in their health choices. Even leading cooks in australia, England and America insist taht no meal is complete without killing an animal when its absolute nonsence.

Answer 5

I don't get it. The only places that don't have vegetarian-friendly items are fast food places, and rib and steak places.
Meat-eater or not, there's no reason to go to fast food places. Just because you both go to a vegetarian-friendly restaurant doesn't mean you are being deprived. You probably get better meat dishes there anyway. As long as it's not a TOTALLY vegetarian place, it's really an equal opportunity thing (in fact you probably have more meat choices in the vast majority of family restaurants and ethnic restaurants). Look at it that way.

Answer 6

yes i realize that people who consume meat have a hard time understanding people who don't.

i think you already know that your question will not produce a question you are satisfied with, because you throw in the disclaimer "(and i don't want well its better for the animals and that kind stuff. I just want the answer to the question I ASKED)" Vegetarians don't become vegetarians because it is convenient and an easy thing to do. all of us vegetarians and vegans can attest to how difficult it is to function in a society dominated by meat-eaters, and many meat-eaters will attest to how annoying and inconvenient vegetarians are.

however, the most important point i can stress is that i don't think your sister (and the rest of the vegetarians in this world) made the decision to be veg for selfish reasons and to put you out. she, like many of us, has the lives of animals in mind, the lives of animals that must be sacrificed everytime meat-eaters decide they want to enjoy a temporary good taste.

Answer 7

Lol, indeed you have lessen the number of beings killed for your tastebud, even though unintentionally. Be proud of you.

Do not take more than what you give to this earth, resourses and lives. We should preserve the earth, environment or at least have a concern to leave "the last fish & the last tree" before we die. We always think like a typical end user, presume that others or someone else will care the world, Remember...the money cannot be eaten.

Be empathy, then you will understand the whole "creation" and mercy.

Answer 8

If she isn't pushy, why are you not going to restaurants that she won't go to because they just serve salad that she could eat??
I think that if anyone decides to follow a certain dIEt regime, if they feel like they want the support of those around them, ie, their family, then there are concessions that must be made certain times.
I have eaten many salads at steakhouses because I am a veggie...however...at the steakhouses...they also have baked potatoes...they sometimes serve sweet potatoes...so, I don't know what restaurants she can't go to?
It is hard on families...but I think it's time you talk to your sister... :)
Good luck!

Answer 9

And you don't think living in a non veggie world is hard on the VEGETARIAN? You sound very selfish and clueless. Turn on the tv and you are hit with meat lovers commercial, drive down the road past the billboards promoting meat, or try finding just ONE decent vegetarian option in a grocery store or restaurant-you will be hard pressed to find much beyond salad and fettucini alfredo, when there are a wide variety of things that COULD be available. Yes, we realize it when we make our decisions, but should we NOT do it, just to cater to people who don't respect our decision? If you can't be supportive of your sister, then don't expect her to be supportive of your choice to eat meat. Its your choice, as much as she has made hers-but MUCH harder on her to follow than the little inconvenience it makes to you. Dead animal parts are in everything from toothpaste to computer parts-being a veg is more of a lifestyle choice. Having to "give up" going to a restaurant that serves factory farmed food hardly seems much of a sacrafice. If you want to go to restaurants, then go with your friends, but don't be so shallow as to whine and criticise your sister for being more commited to living in a world that largely supports causing something to bleed and die, just in order for you to satisfy your stomach. Kudos to your sis for having the courage to stick it out and stay committed. Perhaps you could follow her example and learn a little compassion-I am not saying you should be a veggie, when clearly you don't want to, but at least give her credit for sticking to her guns in a world that does not mind killing millions of animals every day, when mother nature provides all we need to live on a plant based diet.

Answer 10

Well, I did not go vegetarian. But just like those who do, I changed my diet for reasons of belief. I did realise at the time that it would be very difficult for my family for a number of reasons (it wasn't just the diet that changed), but I did not care. The was no way I could not convert, my heart would not allow it.

All this has not stopped my family going to the restaurants they like. I either just opt out of it or offer to home-cook for them the foods I can eat too.