Basically it means that I don't consume the flesh of animals, red dye, gelatin or rennet. Dairy, eggs and honey are still part of my diet.

I still cook meat for the husband. It's just a personal moral decision I've made, judging or condemning those with opposing diets would be nuts.
I don't believe in pushing my own beliefs on everyone like those extremist plant munchers.

Have you been doing this long? Jess and I have hopped on and off the vegan thing all year. I am fine with almost vegan except eggs. I need eggs! I've been buying cage free eggs tho.

That's cool Bec! For awhile now I have been avoiding red meats and dairy. Not because of animal reasons, but because of the antibiotics and hormones they put in that stuff. I eat eggs if they're completely organic. I've slipped up quite a few times though, especially recently with going to Idaho and everything. But I've noticed that my skin is clearer if I avoid that stuff. Milk does NOT agree with my skin I have finally figured out =P

Can I ask why not gelatin? I haven't heard much about gelatin, does it have something bad in it?

I think its made from horses. The red dye is one I don't know about.

Well, I really started changing when I had the baby ducks. One night I was cleaning up some chicken breast, it was disturbing with them chirping in the background
For a long time before that, if I chewed too long, ate too much or thought about what I was chewing, I couldn't finish and had to spit it out.

Thelma and Jess, I had no idea! Now vegan is a bold step! I dunno if I have that much will power

Red dye (This just plain old creeps me out! Leave my food the natural color please...)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmine

gelatin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gelatin

rennet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rennet

My sister is basically the same, I think. But that plant eater always pushes her beliefs on me. I'll never forget the time I was a day away from giving birth to Leonor, and my sister whined and complained because I wouldn't get up to push the chicken's legs back into the cooking pan!

Don't forget Becky, refried beans have to be fat free, and chips have to be lard free. If you decide to go that extreme, anyway. They use animal lard in refried beans.

Wonderful Becky. I'm trying to figure out what I've eaten that was red now.

I was a vegetarian for a long time, about a year. I felt so much better than I do now. I still ate dairy, just not meat. Well, I would have been really close to being vegan if it hadn't been for the yogurt. I love my yogurt. I do buy the Stonyfield organic yogurt. I also ate fish. I love seafood. I keep tossing around the idea of giving it another go. Simply for the fact that I felt so much better than I do now.

The red dye really creeps me out now and I will be avoiding it all costs!

I didn't know that about either red dye OR gelatin! This is why people are sick all the time and get cancer! They use some weird stuff in food nowadays! Especially pre-packaged food and whatnot. Thanks for sharing. That's gross, I may cross those things off as well!

I haven't read about the gelatin yet. I don't think I ever eat gelatin?

i'm that kinda vegetarian too! have been for about 18 years or something now. good luck! and ask around something are vegetarian but i don't always take my chances.

Yeah, it freaked me out considering gelatin is found in both marshmallows and Starburst!

Jess, gladly, I don't eat either one of those

Rachel, I had a lovely vegetarian Mexican gumbo a few nights ago at Qdoba. I have actually been craving it since
I like when things are clearly labeled 100% vegetarian for me but I have been scouring labels and asking about things like crazy.

We are going back to the fair tomorrow, and I plan on asking about how whatever I eat is prepared. They have a great fruit crepe stand there for me as a last resort
I am looking forward to funnel cake/fried dough and another blooming onion!
This was ours by the time we were done with it, if I had remembered to take a picture before we dug into it. It was much more impressive overflowing the plate ha


This was my ridiculously adorable tiny "baby cone", which was about half the size of the average child cone.


And here is the calf we were all helping to name. Oreo was in the lead but we wanted the second runner up "Molly Moo"


Last edited by Becky on Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:14 am; edited 2 times in total

Awesome job Becky. What does DH think about the new life style?

He says he would like to join me, but he doesn't think he would be able to give up chicken

One thing I have working for me, I don't have to "give up" seafood because I never ate it in the first place

The in your face finger pointing vegans get on my nerves. When people are curious about your eating habits, present them with facts, save the biased guilt-based lectures and let them decide.
Who doesn't enjoy an intelligent conversation as well as the freedom to form their own conclusions rather than being in the uncomfortable position of being force fed aggressive ramblings. As usual, the nuts make everyone else look bad and that is the reason people roll their eyes when they hear the word "vegetarian".

On another note, Google the word "freegan" or "freeganism". I learned about these people watching TV the other night

I've done my share of dumpster diving. Its like birthday presents. Fun for the unexpected pleasure but not a reliable source for things you need.