Are you a Vegetarian?

[Sojourner]

A short poll on the eating habits of Club Adventist Members.

Edited August 21, 2015 by Sojourner

[Outta Here]

I am a former vegetarian.

My husband and I had a difficult time maintaining a vegetarian diet. He is allergic to too many foods, he was becoming deficient in nutrient intake. Additionally, because the carbohydrate content we were earing was too high, we both gained weight over the years. (Our kids did too.) Another side effect of the high carb diet was an overload of gluten. It was constantly affecting my husband's health. 

We now primarily eat a limited selection of low starch, low oxalate  (they cause kidney stones) fruits and vegetables; gluten-free breads and grains; and a variety of clean,  non-fish meats and eggs. We are losing weight (95 pounds between the two of us) and are much healthier.

[Jessie-Jess]

I am a vegetarian, trying to follow the God-given Adventist health message as I understand it. I haven't been trying as hard as I should, but desire and plan to try harder. As my understanding increases, my diet will likely change. For now, I try to avoid eggs and dairy as well as meat, and to avoid other animal products, except for honey. I'm trying to avoid refined cane sugar/pure cane sugar, which is usually filtered through bone char, and to cut down on other processed sugar, even organic, natural, and raw sugar (except maybe honey, which I seem to be eating more of). 

Also, vinegar is being cut out of my diet, and I am trying to cut back on the salt. Except when I eat in the cafeteria here and they have white pasta, I eat whole grains, and am trying to cut spicy out of my diet, including cinnamon. 

Soda/baking soda/baking powder are also being cut out. 

Not meaning to go about as though I am trying to boast of merits or anything, but rather am explaining my diet. For those of you (if any of you) who have visited my website, this might also help you to understand the changes being made on my site. The Lord gives me the strength, provides the food, and I have actually been feeling healthier and functioning better most days. By the grace of God, I am able to do this, and my taste buds and appetite are changing to suit the better diet. No regrets in making the change. 

I was a meat eater as a child, and didn't believe I could accept the non-dairy diet and enjoy vegan cheese, but I do now. The Lord can bring about a change in our lives, if we stop making excuses, ask His help, cooperate with Him, and believe that He will. 

[Unchained]

I grew up as a Pescetarian but I began eating meat during my teens. When I was in my early twenties I became a vegetarian. I'm no vegan, but I eat very little eggs and dairy products and I normally use soy products instead of milk.

Vegetarianism is a blessing, it's a wonderful gift and not a burden!

 

[JoeMo]

I was a vegan for over 10 years - didn't even eat honey cuz it came from a bee.  I got into a situation at a conference once where steak was the only thing on the menu.  I was SO grossed out; but I didn't want to offend my host.  I cut into the bloody rare filet mignon hoping I wouldn't get sick right there.  I had totally lost my taste for meat - I thought.  It was absolutely delicious; and I ate the whole thing.  Then I was afraid I would be sick in the morning.  Didn't happen - I felt great.

My wife wasn't amused that I wanted a burger or some chicken every once and a while - until she decided to try a lo-carb diet (I think it was Atkins?)  She had to eat animal protein; when she decided that beef and chicken didn't taste so bad either.

We eat meat 2 or 3 times aweek now as a side dish - not an entree.  I feel as healthy as ever.  I could become a vegetarian again; but I don't think I'd want to be a vegan again.  We eat eggs; still avoid dairy products and big sugar items like soda pop and massive chocolate things.

[Aliensanctuary]

I wasn't vegetarian until I married at age 29, but was becoming involved with the SDA church for several years before. I started getting grossed out by the blood vessels and cartilage and bone chips in the hamburgers from McDonald's and other restaurants. After vegetarianism and veganism for a number of years, I rarely have a piece of fish and maybe a little chicken or turkey, but never at home. So, I'm probably 99.9 % vegetarian. I've never seen Miss Jessie's website, but am interested. Will have to try to find it, unless she posts it here.

I'm looking at recipes now to replace the ready-to-eat boxed or frozen stuff with fresh fruit and veggies. I really like stir fry with fried tofu and homemade sub sandwiches with a little cheese. I wouldn't eat meat at all except that sometimes it smells really good at the cafeteria at work. It never tastes as good as it smells, though, and I sometimes don't feel well after dining on it. I think that I will discontinue the meat, too. I'm sure that it's full of nasty chemicals and gmo's, anyway.

[Jessie-Jess]

I was a vegan for over 10 years - didn't even eat honey cuz it came from a bee.  I got into a situation at a conference once where steak was the only thing on the menu.  I was SO grossed out; but I didn't want to offend my host.  I cut into the bloody rare filet mignon hoping I wouldn't get sick right there.  I had totally lost my taste for meat - I thought.  It was absolutely delicious; and I ate the whole thing.  Then I was afraid I would be sick in the morning.  Didn't happen - I felt great.

 

Bloody steak? Are you talking about an Adventist conference? Was it in the US? That is really disgusting. The Bible says that we shouldn't eat of the blood (Deuteronomy 12:23, 1 Samuel 14:33). It's a sin. If God forbids it, we simply shouldn't do it. I should be really shocked if this happened at an Adventist conference, since it's against Scripture, our doctrines, and our health message.

Edited August 23, 2015 by Jessie-Jess
more details, changed a word

[JoeMo]

Bloody steak? Are you talking about an Adventist conference? Was it in the US? That is really disgusting. The Bible says that we shouldn't eat of the blood (Deuteronomy 12:23, 1 Samuel 14:33). It's a sin. If God forbids it, we simply shouldn't do it. I should be really shocked if this happened at an Adventist conference, since it's against Scripture, our doctrines, and our health message.

NOOO; it was not a church conference; it was an energy marketing conference (I'm in the utility business).  When I say "bloody steak; it wasn't actually bleeding; it was just rare (red in the middle).  It was a small group with a fixed, pre-ordered menu.  Even though I eat meat, I don't think I would do it with a group of vegetarians out of concern over offending them.  If I am served meat when I'm out; I ask God's blessing (like I would over veggie food) and eat it.

[Lauralea]

I am a vegetarian because I think it is healthier and feel better, but would not be offended if others ate meat out. 

[Geoarrge]

Keep in mind that the red juice in meat isn't actual blood.  It's mostly water and myoglobin. 

[B/W Photodude]

The Bible says that we shouldn't eat of the blood (Deuteronomy 12:23, 1 Samuel 14:33). It's a sin. If God forbids it, we simply shouldn't do it.

Having been a vegetarian for most of my life, I don't usually give the subject a lot of thought. However, my personal opinion is that there is little difference in eating pork or beef when "prepared" in the usual ways. I would consider it unclean unless it were kosher slaughtered. Since there are no kosher butcher shops anywhere near me, meat is out even if I were inclined to eat it.

I remember a steak house ad on the radio I heard once. "Our meat is aged 21 days!" Sounded pretty gross to me. 

[Outta Here]

So glad to know there are none here who are offended by those of us who choose to eat meat. For my husband and me, our diet of fruit, veggies, grains and meats is better and healthier.

[LifeHiscost]

So glad to know there are none here who are offended by those of us who choose to eat meat. For my husband and me, our diet of fruit, veggies, grains and meats is better and healthier.

I was a meat eater until reading in the Lord's prayer I was praying for His will to be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. I knew there not only would be no death in heaven, including the death of little furry critters, I was motivated successfully to give up meat even before being religiously inclined in that direction, which was positively a Divine miracle considering the fact that I was raised on a farm with pork chops being my favorite dish, especially when seasoned with "Mortons Tenderquick".

I'm excited when I think of the time in the near future when I'll be invited to eat the fruit from the tree of life which will put to shame all the GMO, antibiotic and pesticide filled foodstuffs.

God is Love!  Jesus saves! 

 

[Outta Here]

Pleased to hear it, LHC! Prayer is an important part in our lives, concerning everything including what we eat. 

I Corinthians 10:31Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

[phkrause]

Keep in mind that the red juice in meat isn't actual blood.  It's mostly water and myoglobin. 

Not really!! I have a book, which is still in Massachusetts storage, and not sure of the name of the book. Written by Dr JM Hoffman, many years ago. If I figure out the name I will post it. Not even sure if its still in print.

[B/W Photodude]

Not really!! I have a book, which is still in Massachusetts storage, and not sure of the name of the book. Written by Dr JM Hoffman, many years ago. If I figure out the name I will post it. Not even sure if its still in print.

Talk about "blast front the past"! My mom use to talk more about Hoffman than almost any other character in Adventism when when she used to go to some of his lectures. I believe he started in New York and eventually ended up in S. Cal.

[CoAspen]

Keep in mind that the red juice in meat isn't actual blood.  It's mostly water and myoglobin. 

A quick google search will verify that this is true...page after page after page of reference. There may be a slight amount of blood but what most people think is blood is exactly as described in the above quote. Surprised me for sure.

[phkrause]

Talk about "blast front the past"! My mom use to talk more about Hoffman than almost any other character in Adventism when when she used to go to some of his lectures. I believe he started in New York and eventually ended up in S. Cal.

He started out in the Bronx, and than moved to w 44th street. The church was called the Times Square Center, where he did evangelistic meetings for the Jewish people in NYC. When he retired, he than moved to Escondido, California, just n of San Diego.

[B/W Photodude]

Yep, she lived in Escondido for a number of years. Hoffman lived up the road in a place called Valley Center. I never got to hear him speak.

Antoher person of interest was Dr. Bonner. He made the line of soaps that you could use for everything including bathing and brushing your teeth! He had his manufacturing near Escondido. I had a friend who used to work for him. 

[Lauralea]

He started out in the Bronx, and than moved to w 44th street. The church was called the Times Square Center, where he did evangelistic meetings for the Jewish people in NYC. When he retired, he than moved to Escondido, California, just n of San Diego.

I wish there was more done for the Jewish people in NYC today, as well as others there.

[Lauralea]

Even though it is not something we should judge others about, vegetarians do live longer than meat eaters in the Adventist Health Study, comparing apples with apples, or Adventists with other Adventists in this case. It is true those classified vegetarian did eat meat occasionally. At least I hope we all would agree that eating greasy burgers continually is not ideal- not to judge others, but for health reasons.

[Jessie-Jess]

Having been a vegetarian for most of my life, I don't usually give the subject a lot of thought. However, my personal opinion is that there is little difference in eating pork or beef when "prepared" in the usual ways. I would consider it unclean unless it were kosher slaughtered. Since there are no kosher butcher shops anywhere near me, meat is out even if I were inclined to eat it.

I remember a steak house ad on the radio I heard once. "Our meat is aged 21 days!" Sounded pretty gross to me. 

I agree. Knowing also how cows are fed and pumped full of hormones, and chickens are too, I honestly believe that those animals are unclean now, too.

And really, what excuse do we in the US and other places of variety and options have to eat meat, when meat is expensive and here in the US we have many other healthier options? 

 

(I don't know if you're from the US, but I'm not only talking to you when I say that.)

Edited August 24, 2015 by Jessie-Jess

[JoeMo]

Even though it is not something we should judge others about, vegetarians do live longer than meat eaters in the Adventist Health Study, comparing apples with apples, or Adventists with other Adventists in this case. It is true those classified vegetarian did eat meat occasionally. At least I hope we all would agree that eating greasy burgers continually is not ideal- not to judge others, but for health reasons.

Do vegetarians actually live longer, or does it just seem longer to a vegetarian?

I have heard it said that fruits and vegetables are not food; they are what food eats.

PETA - People Eating Tasty Animals

I'm not "judging" vegetarians; just having a little carnivore fun!

[Jessie-Jess]

It sure does seem like people who don't like to be judged do judge others, especially those who they think or know are judging them. Then there's the question of what is judging? If a person is about to rush into a road full of heavy traffic, and you tell that person that what they're doing is dangerous, is that judging them, or warning them? But if you call that person a fool for doing so, then it may be that is judging. So it is, if God condemns something, and/or something is bad for our health, and we tell people, we are warning them.

Edited August 24, 2015 by Jessie-Jess

[Outta Here]

I don't think people need excuses to eat meat when it is healthier for them. Eating meat clearly isn't healthiest for everyone, but to say that vegetarianism is healthiest (or better) for everyone is a falsehood.