vegetarians and seafood
By Amy
@artemis432 (7474)
Abernathy, Texas
May 15, 2008 6:39pm CST
I know a lot of people like my mom who title themselves vegetarians but eat seafood.
I know in my mom's case, its more about health then moral views. The idea of slaughtering an animal, chopping off the heads of cows and chickens then eating the skin and flesh and organs don't bother her.
She lost over 150 lbs this way.
My question is, in your opinion is a vegetarian someone who eats seafood, technically, I know it isn't. But I'd like to know what the general opinion is.
Also, if you're a vegetarian - what are your reasons?
2 people like this
4 responses
@Sarduspater (64)
• Spain
16 May 08
I don't really understand vegetarians, eating meat is in our nature of animals and anyway the most of people that are vegetarian wear leather shoes or use leather bags etc.
2 people like this
@lilaclady (28206)
• Australia
16 May 08
I believe we were meant to be grass eating animals, I think if we were meant to eat meat we wouldn't have to cook it to get the texture to eat it...plus I read first people were born with an appendics which they say is for grass eating animals only but evolution this is shrinking...don't know how true all that is...I don't wear leather, I but my shows and bags from cheaper retailers and I also read that they can make such great imitation leather and fur these days some people who pay big money for leather items may be taken in...
1 person likes this
@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
16 May 08
Most vegetarians wear leather shoes or use leather bags... Did you conduct a survey with all vegetarians in the world? Lol...
Anyway, even if most vegetarians do wear leather, consider the good they are doing just by not eating meat. It is better to do SOMETHING than nothing at all, in my opinion.
What's not to understand about vegetarians, anyway? There are so many reasons people have for being vegetarian. Health, ethics, environment, taste preferences... I think they are fairly easy to understand.
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
16 May 08
wooitsmolly, I was with you, until I got to the part where you said at least they do something by not eating meat. If its unethical to eat meat, its hyprocritical to use the skin but discard the meat.
Otherwise, I'm with you.
Eating meat isn't natural, our bodies are optimized to a vegetarian diet. Meat is toxic to our bodies, especially with all the hormones and anti-biotics in them. Most scientists believe early humans were herbivores, not carnivores, further, our bodies more closely resemble that of herbivore not carnivore. We're capable of it, but we're capable of eating styro foam too. Or worm soup.
You may picture caveman hunting big game, but the truth is, if you look at the ENTIRE history of humans, meat eating is a relatively new past time.
Anyway to each his own.
1 person likes this
@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
16 May 08
Like you said, if you eat fish you are not a vegetarian. I think it is silly that people who eat ANIMALS want to label themselves vegetarian (I am not calling your mom silly 
but the logic there IS flawed.)
If someone ate no meat except beef, nobody would be willing to call them a vegetarian!
I actually had a person in one of my nutrition classes ask if fish was meat.... I was just thinking and this girl is going to be a dietitian when she graduates? Oh boy...
I am a vegan and my reasons are 100% ethical. I am not a vegan because I want to be healthy, I eat healthy because I want to be healthy I have pretty much always been a healthy eater (since I moved out on my own, that is.)
but the logic there IS flawed.)
If someone ate no meat except beef, nobody would be willing to call them a vegetarian!
I actually had a person in one of my nutrition classes ask if fish was meat.... I was just thinking and this girl is going to be a dietitian when she graduates? Oh boy...
I am a vegan and my reasons are 100% ethical. I am not a vegan because I want to be healthy, I eat healthy because I want to be healthy I have pretty much always been a healthy eater (since I moved out on my own, that is.)@wooitsmolly (3613)
• United States
16 May 08
My mother is a "vegetarian" now that she has learned about it from me. I put it in quotes because I think she eats meat here and there, but doesn't tell me. My father basically eats nothing but meat 
... he thinks vegetarians are "ridiculous" but yet he has heart, colon, sleep, and weight problems.... hmmm wonder why 
. I wish he wasn't so closed minded.. he doesn't eat any fruit or vegetables at all. Maybe one salad a month...
I think the problem some vegetarians have is that they don't want to cook. I believe that in order to be healthy you really need to start cooking your own food. Eating strictly processed from boxes and bags is not going to do much for your health. *ahem* that's how my boyfriend is. He won't eat what I cook, either, so he just makes a lot of pasta-roni and eats a lot of faux meat... 
... he thinks vegetarians are "ridiculous" but yet he has heart, colon, sleep, and weight problems.... hmmm wonder why . I wish he wasn't so closed minded.. he doesn't eat any fruit or vegetables at all. Maybe one salad a month...
I think the problem some vegetarians have is that they don't want to cook. I believe that in order to be healthy you really need to start cooking your own food. Eating strictly processed from boxes and bags is not going to do much for your health. *ahem* that's how my boyfriend is. He won't eat what I cook, either, so he just makes a lot of pasta-roni and eats a lot of faux meat... @artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
16 May 08
I don't like to cook - I have a toddler - but have to for him - plus I get migraines and there are too many things in processed foods that effect that. Although also have a lot of scent and visual triggers.
Also, the digestive system, as we learned in school, is the foundation to the immune system doesn't deal with processed food well. I personally think that's why a lot of people have digestive problems. Not all of course.
'Course I also think nutrition plays a role in many ills, including ADD. The research that carbs and fats aren't metabolized the same with those with ADD resonates with me personally.
I don't know, thanks for contributing and for your honesty.
1 person likes this
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
16 May 08
I think its silly too, I mean come on.
I'm glad you do it for ethical reasons. There are unhealthy vegetarians too, those who actually just want starch. That's it. I'm glad you're healthy.
I take it your family aren't vegetarian/vegans?
1 person likes this
@lossforredwords (3619)
• Philippines
4 Jun 08
I have the same case with your mom, I've been a vegetarian for two years but right now I don't consider myself as one because my body needs seafood specifically the fish oil. Well, when it comes to my reason of being a vegetarian its both health and morals. I definitely need this diet for my high cholesterol and for me as much as possible I don't want to see animals being slaughter cause they to shed tears but I think being carnivores is a part of our lives and consider as normal. So for me, every person's judgement when it comes to eating fish meat and being vegetarian depends on how they view health and how they interpret morals.
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
10 Jun 08
I take an awesome omega supplement that I started when I was pregnant. Have you tried seaweed for your cholesterol - they have supplements and tasty snacks too. And if we ever get hit by a nucleur bomb - snort - the stored up seaweed in our system will protect against radiation.
@ShardAerliss (1488)
•
16 May 08
Pft, you're not a vegetarian if you eat animals, as defined by being living creatures with cell membranes and not cell walls (the most fundamental difference between flora and fauna... then you get fungi and viruses and it all gets more complicated).
Animals that live in the sea are animals nonetheless.
However, I call myself a vegan for simplicity's sake. It's so much easier, when meeting a new person or ordering food at a restaurant to say "I'm vegan" than to explain exactly what I will and will not eat.
For clarification now, before anyone asks; I ONLY eat animal products if the farms and slaughter houses adhere to strict legislation as set down by Freedom Foods (and I'm going off them) or The Soil Association (or similar board), if it is local game, or if I personally know the farmer/small holder.
But you try going through all that at a restaurant...
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
16 May 08
I can see how that might be difficult information to obtain or information to explain.
I also feel the same about local vegetables. I guess you go through places that don't abuse the animals or feed pack them chock full of anti-biotics and hormones.
@artemis432 (7474)
• Abernathy, Texas
10 Jun 08
This is random, but I'm overtired from travel and I think I'll go around for a little while this evening saying "pft". :)--
