Any vegetarians out there?
#16
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 423
Re: Any vegetarians out there?
Barbies are the 'great' aussie pastime. But I never wanted to go to Australia for barbies! If you want to go to one, bring your own stuff, like mushrooms, pepers, pineapple, soy products etc. Many people bring their own stuff anyway.
I think people who act weird or be nasty to you are simply not worth worrying about anyway. Often they are ignorant of the issues behind why people become vegetarian: be them ethical, health, environmental etc
Sometimes people become uncomfortable with someone 'challenging' their social comfort zone. Sometimes you just get @rseholes
The bottom line for me, is that many people are curiously unaware of the whole 'vege' culture and may enquire on your reasons why: its important not to get too defensive about it, but rather explain (if you wish) why you dont like eating dead animals.
#17
Re: Any vegetarians out there?
Thanks Stephen. I really miss Quorn products. I found the Quorn pieces really handy and the burgers were yummy. Since being here I have made more stuff with lentils shich is healthy but a bit of a hassle sometimes. Still it is improving my cooking LOL.
Good answer about expaining about being veggie. I always stay positive and just explain to people about how cruel I think the meat industry can be. I saw a stomach churning dvd the other day that showed how cruel the slaughtering of the animals can be.
Whereabouts in Oz are you? Have you been to any veggie restaurants? I have just tried the Forest, the food there was really good. So can highly reccommend that if you are ever in West End in Brissie
Thanks again.
Good answer about expaining about being veggie. I always stay positive and just explain to people about how cruel I think the meat industry can be. I saw a stomach churning dvd the other day that showed how cruel the slaughtering of the animals can be.
Whereabouts in Oz are you? Have you been to any veggie restaurants? I have just tried the Forest, the food there was really good. So can highly reccommend that if you are ever in West End in Brissie
Thanks again.
#18
Re: Any vegetarians out there?
Take you own stuff to a BBQ. I do and my mates are even good enough to make sure it doesnt go near the meat and use different tongs.
On the whole, veggie food here is OK. I have been veggie 15 years and the mince/burgers etc in the supermarkets 15 years ago were awful, but thanks to Quorn and Linda Mcartney the range of veggie food in the UK is great. The stuff here is crap in comparison, but edible non the less. It can only get better. The veggies over here taste great though, much better than what I used to buy in the UK.
#19
Re: Any vegetarians out there?
At most gatherings in the UK, even work lunches, I find you get someone or two making comments, not necessarily nasty or jokey but a comment nonetheless, and it's just gets so f-ing tedious as it's every time & you just want to say shut the f up for f-ing once - but we accept it, cos that's how it is & it's no biggie really. I just can't see why it's ever comment-worthy to anyone, surely just the same as whether a non-veggie chooses chicken or beef, no-one comments on that. I was thinking it might be ten times worse in Oz cos of the barbie culture & the stereotypical fact of Oz not being so "culturally advanced". Hopefully it will not be the case!
#20
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 324
Re: Any vegetarians out there?
I found Australia was no where near as good as the UK for vegetarian foods and clear labelling of "suitable for vegetarians" on packaging, ie there wasnt any!
Also many products have "hidden" animal products, such as tallow (lard) in chips/biscuits, gelatine in yogurts/Ice cream and animal derived flavorings in snacks such as crisps.
I did find that Aussies would find it strange when i told them that that I didnt eat meat or fish, especially seafood they couldnt grasp the concept of not wanting to eat something that has been slaugtered. Still in fairness I have encountered many of these types in the UK to and it is oh so tiresome to get "funny" comments of work collegues etc when your only trying to peacefully eat your grub!!
Australia still has a long way to go when it comes to decent vegetarian foods and an acceptance of the lifestyle to the general population. Saying that its still easier to be a vegetarian there than Continental Europe (apart from the Netherlands, which I put almost on a par with the UK).
I must admit that when i arrived back in the UK from Oz it was a delight to go to Tescos, Sainsburys etc and see all the Linda McCarrtney/Quorn products. Even though i only buy convenience foods occasionally, its nice to have decent options when you want them. It was only great to have Chinese/Indian restaurants with lots of genuine vegetarian dishes and chip shops that dont fry in tallow (lard).
Personally I find Australias attitude to vegetarians backward by at least 15/20 years to the UK..........but then again where isnt Oz backward by at least one decade or two?
Also many products have "hidden" animal products, such as tallow (lard) in chips/biscuits, gelatine in yogurts/Ice cream and animal derived flavorings in snacks such as crisps.
I did find that Aussies would find it strange when i told them that that I didnt eat meat or fish, especially seafood they couldnt grasp the concept of not wanting to eat something that has been slaugtered. Still in fairness I have encountered many of these types in the UK to and it is oh so tiresome to get "funny" comments of work collegues etc when your only trying to peacefully eat your grub!!
Australia still has a long way to go when it comes to decent vegetarian foods and an acceptance of the lifestyle to the general population. Saying that its still easier to be a vegetarian there than Continental Europe (apart from the Netherlands, which I put almost on a par with the UK).
I must admit that when i arrived back in the UK from Oz it was a delight to go to Tescos, Sainsburys etc and see all the Linda McCarrtney/Quorn products. Even though i only buy convenience foods occasionally, its nice to have decent options when you want them. It was only great to have Chinese/Indian restaurants with lots of genuine vegetarian dishes and chip shops that dont fry in tallow (lard).
Personally I find Australias attitude to vegetarians backward by at least 15/20 years to the UK..........but then again where isnt Oz backward by at least one decade or two?
Last edited by eatstatic; Jan 12th 2007 at 6:25 pm.
#21
Re: Any vegetarians out there?
Meh! People look at me like I have *three* heads when I tell them I'm vegan. Their problems, not mine. The only truly irritating times are office parties - try and avoid them completely so long as doing so is not career limiting. Oh, and should you ever visit the US you'll find that drives through Utah require extra planning.
#22
Re: Any vegetarians out there?
Meh! People look at me like I have *three* heads when I tell them I'm vegan. Their problems, not mine. The only truly irritating times are office parties - try and avoid them completely so long as doing so is not career limiting. Oh, and should you ever visit the US you'll find that drives through Utah require extra planning.
Yep Each time we've been there we've had at least one supper of crisps from the gas station...In one roadside place we had the choice of the Roadkill Cafe or a German restuarant, where German effectively meant neo-Nazis judging by the skinhead clientele & certain symbols around the place, nice! Moab UT is the bizz tho.