If the Bird Flu struck the US and Canada, would you consider being a vegetarian?

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by honeychile
There are certain health magazines (ie, Prevention) who refer to anyone who eats a majority of vegetables and no red meat as "the new vegetarians".

What annoys me about this sort of thing is that when you have all these people running around calling themselves vegetarians even though they eat animal products like fish and/or chicken or who only refrain from eating red meat, it results in others thinking that vegetarians eat fish/chicken/whatever. Then you'll end up at some dinner where someone says "Oh yeah I ordered chicken for the vegetarians." Bah.

[honeychile]

I went to a luncheon where one of the women had ordered a vegetarian meal, and was served chicken. She burst into tears!

I'll bet that hotel never makes that mistake again!

I'm not a vegetarian, but when I was working Advance, I learned quickly to order a vegetarian meal at least once for every two meals, only because the mass-produced meals are usually so loaded with calories/gravy. blech.

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by valkyrie
OMG I LOVE YOU. No really. I do.

I think calling yourself a vegetarian if you eat fish is lame. Calling yourself a vegetarian if you eat chicken is just wrong.

It IS technically a form of vegetarianism, though. Eating just chicken and fish is called "semi-vegetarianism."

But I think that if you eat chicken and fish, you need to say "I'm a semi-vegetarian" . . . not "I'm a vegetarian."

And yeah, I feel your pain on the whole non-vegetarians-ordering-chicken-for-the-vegetarians issue.

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
It IS technically a form of vegetarianism, though. Eating just chicken and fish is called "semi-vegetarianism."

But I think that if you eat chicken and fish, you need to say "I'm a semi-vegetarian" . . . not "I'm a vegetarian."

Exactly. Say semi. Just don't say vegetarian, or be prepared to feel the wrath.

I guess what I don't understand is why someone who eats fish and chicken would even want to label herself a vegetarian. It's not like being a vegetarian entitles you to admission into some exclusive, secret club or anything, so what's the point? Say "I don't eat red meat" or whatever, but don't claim vegetarianism.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by valkyrie
I guess what I don't understand is why someone who eats fish and chicken would even want to label herself a vegetarian.

Maybe they think it's sexy or fashionable?

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally posted by valkyrie
Say "I don't eat red meat" or whatever, but don't claim vegetarianism.

That's just what I say, because I'm sure if I said, "Oh, I'm a semi-vegetarian" that would just open the door for a lot of questions about just what exactly I do and don't eat. As it happens, really the only meat I just don't like to eat is red meat, so I just say that. Clear and to the point. I wouldn't call myself a vegetarian at all, because that's just not the case.

[Tickled Pink 2]

Originally posted by Peaches-n-Cream
Your post made me sad. Do you get flu shots? I'm thinking about getting one this year because of the avian flu. I need to talk to my eye doctor in case it might cause a problem with my cornea infection.

I've never gotten it, but I'mma get it this yr.

For the immune system - once antibiotics for strep throat and then bad reactions to the antibiotics caused a vicious cycle that tore mine up.
My Dr. recommended Echinacea & that helped alot.

[LightBulb]

Aunt Voula: What do you mean he don't eat no meat?
[the entire room stops, in shock]
Aunt Voula: Oh, that's okay. I make lamb.

[Tom Earp]

HIPPOCRATES!

Well, eat vegies and where does the shit come from that fertilizes it or them! DA!

If I get a pang for leafy Rabbit Food, got to Have Chunky Blu Cheese on it

Eat Carrots makes You see Better.

Eat an Apple a day to keep the Dr. away!

As Crockadile Dundee once said "Snake is not bad but always gives Me Gas!"

[AXO Alum]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
But I think that if you eat chicken and fish, you need to say "I'm a semi-vegetarian" . . . not "I'm a vegetarian."

Agreed! I have been a vegetarian for what... 13 years maybe? Long time. Anyways, I am a lacto-ovo vegetarian meaning that I eat dairy & eggs. But no chicken!

I too have had the chicken-vegetarian problems. I can forgive my husband's 80 year old grandmother (who is 100% Italian BTW) -- she did make potatoes & vegetables for me... never mind they were cooked with the chicken... but I don't expect someone of that age to understand that I don't eat meat... or things COOKED in meat!

At convention, the vegetarian meal one night was salmon... and the dressing (without telling us) was bacon peppercorn or something like that (def bacon) -- thankfully I smelled the bacon in it & ordered oil & vinegar instead.

I have to be VERY careful with labels too -- my son is also a vegetarian, so I check for chicken fat (thrown in a lot of veggies - including Del Monte's Southwestern Rice & veggies in the can) and gelatin (in a lot of fruit snacks & dips) in everything.

Being in the south, its hilarious to see the look on people's faces if you are at a restaurant & ask "Do the turnip greens/blackeyed peas/etc. have meat in them?" -- they first say "no" but then if I say "no fat back?" they'll say - "well of course they do!" I guess I should just start specifying that if there is any animal contents mixed with my food, I don't want it

[valkyrie]

AXO Alum, I didn't know you're a vegetarian -- cool!

One year, my mom put chicken broth in the "vegetarian" stuffing she made me for Thanksgiving. LOL she never made that mistake again.

I miss marshmallows. I found a place online that sells vegan marshmallows, but they're always out of stock. I want s'mores!

[Phigirl04]

I was raised vegan. Although, due to some serious health issues, I eat some fish and free range chicken. I have a huge iron deficiency, and even iron supplements and bags of spinach did nothing, so I followed the advice of my dietician to add some meat to my diet.

I also have pretty much no working immune system (partially due to being born very premature) and the flu shot and pneumonia vaccination are not helpful for me, they don't prevent anything because my immune system can't build up tolerance to anything.

Valkyrie, I have an organic food store here that usually around this time of year stocks vegan marhsmallows, so if you want I might be able to get info from them to get you some. Let me know if you want more info!

[Tickled Pink 2]

They say you can't get it from cooked "birds" , but who knows? I wouldn't touch chicken or turkey with a 10 ft pole.

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally posted by Tickled Pink 2
They say you can't get it from cooked "birds" , but who knows? I wouldn't touch chicken or turkey with a 10 ft pole.

Well, you do have a point there. They didn't think you could get mad cow disease from eating cooked meat at first, either, and now that they've learned more about it we know that you can, so...

[_Opi_]

probably.