Opposing Diets

As a vegetarian I do not have many relationships with others like myself.  All of my closest friends and family are omnivores, so meat is always present. 

In some cases I would imagine this could cause problems.  Living in a house full of hard-core meat-eaters when you can’t stand the thought of eating animals can be a major issue for some vegetarians.  Trying to sustain a vegetarian lifestyle when you can’t eat any of the groceries brought into the house is also a frustration.  Refusing to eat something that has come in contact with meat in any way, but someone else is cooking your meal …

Yes, there are many difficulties being the only vegetarian in a group.

My boyfriend is a dedicated meat-eater.  The guy eats meat every day and more than just once.  He loves his steaks and chicken wings and burgers; all things that I find absolutely repulsive.  In addition, he practically refuses to eat vegetables, which are what constitute about 90% of my diet.

So, how do on earth do we manage to make meals together??

We have managed to find a common ground – pizza!

Pizza is one of the greatest foods for people with opposing dietary preferences.  The base is the same, but you have total freedom with the toppings.  Plus, pizzas very easily divide into equal parts, so I can load up my side with peppers, tomatoes, olives and mushrooms, and my boyfriend can put as much pepperoni as he wants on his side.

Check out our work of art!

A Healthy Lifestyle?

Vegetarian diets are often known to be “more healthy” than the typical omnivorous diet.  The main reason being: there is no meat.  Meat can be very high in saturated fat which often contributes to the development of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and strokes. 

Vegetarians are at lower risk of developing these diseases since they usually eat high quantities of fruits and vegetables which are low in saturated fat and cholesterol.  Jinan Banna of Livestrong.com says, “Vegetarian diets may be very nutritious if carefully planned.”  This is true; however, vegetarians need to be careful that they adequately substitute for the protein they do not get from meat.  This is an entire topic of discussion in itself, so I will hold off on the protein talk until next week.

Banna also says that vegetarian diets “may also be high in unwanted nutrients and low in those that are needed.”  So the question remains – is a vegetarian diet the more healthy option?  I suppose the answer is still up for debate.

If you are interested in healthy lifestyles and want to learn more, check out Free to be Fit – a blog on being active and getting fit.

Defining Your Vegetarianism

It seems to me that a lot of people think there is one standard definition for a vegetarian and that any variation is not acceptable.  These people are sadly misled because there are actually several different types of vegetarianism.

Some vegetarians are stricter than others and therefore they follow a more rigid diet.  The most popular varieties of vegetarianism are ovo-, lacto-, ovo-lacto, semi- and vegan. 

• Ovo-vegetarian: includes eggs but not dairy
• Lacto-vegetarian: includes dairy but not eggs
• Ovo-lacto vegetarian: includes both eggs and dairy 
• Semi-vegetarian: includes fish and/or free-range poultry

Every one of these diets is similar, except for semi-vegetarian, in that they exclude all forms of meat.  Semi-vegetarians consume fish and/or poultry because they define meat only as “mammalian flesh”, as defined by Wikipedia.

Vegans are a completely different breed of vegetarian, if you ask me, but I will discuss that at a later date.  

As you can see, not all vegetarians are alike.  We all have our reasons for eating, or not eating, what we do, and there is no right or wrong way to be a vegetarian.  Vegetarianism is a personal lifestyle choice (key word being ‘personal’) and everyone has the right to define the parameters of their life.

Life Changing Decision

The decision to give up a life of eating meat in exchange for the vegetarian alternative is a unique experience for everyone.  Some of us have been influenced by a close friend or family member or maybe even a celebrity role model, while others have been inspired by animal advocacy, religious reasons or the idea of a healthy lifestyle (Thinking about vegetarianism? Becoming Vegetarian).  Some vegetarians contemplate the switch for weeks, months, or maybe even years, whereas others make their decision based on impulse.  Every story is different and the reasons are endless. 

Personally, I was one of those 
people who made the decision on a whim.  I had had thoughts about the possibility of giving up meat and pursuing a more herbaceous diet, but I had never really been serious about making the change.  Or so it seemed.  One night, while visiting a friend in Toronto, we got on the topic of animal cruelty and vegetarianism.  My friend confessed that she had been thinking about becoming a vegetarian, and I agreed that the thought had crossed my mind once or twice.  We went for dinner and when we returned, I experienced an incredible “Ah ha!” moment.  This is when I made the announcement that I was going to be a vegetarian.    

My new life choice came as a shock to, well, to everyone.  You see, I was known for loving chicken nuggets and pepperoni pizza, so the news that I had given it all up was surprising, even to me.  Ever since this moment, my interest in vegetarianism has continued to grow and I am fascinated to learn about other people who have chosen this lifestyle and what made them do it.