Why are you a vegaterian?

[McCarley]

I am just currious - this has been the topic of conversation with me and friends and family for some time now, so I thought I would include y'all too.

For me, eating meat (especially thick red meat - as I consider chicken and fish more of a "sub-meat") is one of the greatest pleasures on earth.

I do understand cutting out fatty meats for dietary reasons, but why meat altogether? Your thoughts are welcome!

 

[Judecca]

Meat is good.

This is what I think whenever I see it, and man has felt this way for six million years, and the Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons probably felt the same way.

Meat contains many essential amino acids that you would have to eat a wide variety of nuts/legumes/beans etc. to obtain. Amino acids = absolutely essential for weight-lifters. Red meat is also an excellent source of iron. I don't know about you, but I can think of at least two vegetarians I know who are anaemic (iron deficiency that causes pale skin, decreases stamina and increases risk of infections).

Not liking meat is one thing, that's fine. But if you're going to stop eating meat, you need to educate yourself about getting alternate nutrition sources. Vegetarian weight-lifters especially.

Everyone's already heard this before, so here's something you haven't If you have beef with animal ethics (no pun intended) and you're basically against eating meat because you believe the animals have suffered, try eating kosher meat. To make kosher meat, when an animal is slaughtered, a rabbi supervises the killing to make sure the animal does not suffer.

 

[McCarley]

Meat is good.
To make kosher meat, when an animal is slaughtered, a rabbi supervises the killing to make sure the animal does not suffer.

So... if the animal does suffer, is it not kosher meat? And if not, then what is it and what do they do with it then?

 

[Judecca]

Excellent question!

(Do I sound as nerdy as I think I do?)

You're absolutely right. The killing process is done by a shochet (Hebrew word, professional slaughterer) who uses a razor-sharp knife. He cuts through the neck and the arteries, causing death in 3-4 seconds. If it's done wrong, death can take minutes, which is extremely cruel. The meat is then sold as non-kosher, ordinary meat.

And then the animal's carcass is opened up and examined for any irregularities. If the animal shows any evidence of disease, it's automatically un-kosher.

This would also be why kosher meat is 2-3+ times the price of ordinary meat. But whenever I have the opportunity, I eat kosher meat instead because it's usually of a higher grade anyway. I'm not religious in any way, shape or form either!

 

[bred2k4]

I don't eat meat. I'm a pescovegeatian (I eat fish) primarily because my family have been so since I was aged 2. I can supplement my diet so I am not disadvantaged by not eating meat. I also understand that animals suffer.