Originally Posted by spankysparkle (Post 8769898)

i'm always amazed at why veggies have to explain why they're vegetarian: health/animal rights etc etc
and why we're always asked: 'but don't you miss meat?' FFS no, it's a lifestyle choice, let it be.

Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy (Post 8769902)

Each to their own! It's actually very hard to get just regular veggie pies here. I saw one brand in pricesmart but it was $5 per pie! None of the own-brand pies are vegetarian.

Originally Posted by Kiwilass (Post 8769910)

I had someone ask me the other day how we chose to raise our child i.e. vegetarian or meat eater, cos we're in a mixed marriage. I think people are just curious because it's not that common.

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian (Post 8769912)

Is it a proven fact that being a veggie is healthier than not?

Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy (Post 8769932)

You have to watch what you eat as either veggie or non. I personally have suffered from lack of various Vitimin Bs and also lack of Creatine which I only found out about 6 months ago. I always wondered why I found it harder to exercise than other people and it turns out meat contains that stuff, which is basically muscle fuel. Now I have creatine supplements before I go to the gym.

Not big issues and I certainly don't think they're worth killing an animal for to avoid.

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 8769963)

If creatine comes from animal products then how do they make the creatine supplements?? I imagine you take ones suitable for vegetarians.

Originally Posted by spankysparkle (Post 8769958)

by health I meant people who are advised by their doctors not to eat much (red) meat.

Originally Posted by spankysparkle (Post 8769958)

Is it healthier? Yes, IF you follow a balanced veggie diet that includes lots of raw food (many don't) vs people who stuff themselves full of red meat, processed food and veg cooked to death.

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 8769935)

Why amazed? Isn't it just conversation? MOH is always asked why he won't eat lamb, he doesn't like it, why doesn't he like it? He just doesn't. Tomatoes, he can't eat raw tomatoes, why? the make him ill. How do the make him ill?..........and so on. Not really a lifestyle choice more a mealstyle choice.

I suppose being veggie is more a lifestyle choice if you do the whole no animal products in anything thing.

Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy (Post 8769932)

You have to watch what you eat as either veggie or non. I personally have suffered from lack of various Vitimin Bs and also lack of Creatine which I only found out about 6 months ago. I always wondered why I found it harder to exercise than other people and it turns out meat contains that stuff, which is basically muscle fuel. Now I have creatine supplements before I go to the gym.

Not big issues and I certainly don't think they're worth killing an animal for to avoid.

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian (Post 8769976)

So is chicken and fish not meat then?



What about the comparison between those that eat a balanced veggie diet and those that eat a balanced non veggie diet. Extremes, as I am sure you are aware, count for nothing.

Originally Posted by Almost Canadian (Post 8769976)

So is chicken and fish not meat then?

of course. i've just never heard of people saying that they have been advised by their doctors to eat less fish or chicken

What about the comparison between those that eat a balanced veggie diet and those that eat a balanced non veggie diet. Extremes, as I am sure you are aware, count for nothing.

Originally Posted by Kiwilass (Post 8769921)

Is it just a lifestyle choice though? I couldn't be vegetarian because I get really intense cravings for meat and I love it. Whereas Oh has been vege since he was around 20 and has never ever craved meat and is indifferent to it. I can't imagine that. My body seems to need it. It seems to me that vegetarianism is just easier for some people.

Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy (Post 8769970)

Creatine is made in the lab from chemicals. It's a relatively simple compound.

Originally Posted by spankysparkle (Post 8769979)

i have no problem with people asking if they are simply curious, but often people are amazed that we don't eat meat (I mean we are South African and they LOVE their red meat!) or being pitied because surely we must miss the taste of meat. urgh. Anyway, thankfully we don't get that anymore (at least not in the UK). being a Vege/Vegan is a lot more acceptable now than it was 10 years ago :)

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 8770017)

So one can't get all the nutrients one needs without eating meat or fish or resorting to a chemistry set?

Mind you most meat eating people don't eat well so probably are no healthier than the vegetarians next door but if one was purely aiming for the most nutritious diet then omnivore-ing is the way to go.

Originally Posted by Kiwilass (Post 8770033)

had the same thought.

It's my one concern with OH being a vegetarian for so long. We have some ex-vege friends who ended up giving it up due to health issues.

Originally Posted by The4BellsLondon (Post 8768261)

The Canadian authorities specify minimum nutritional values for key nutrients for any 'simulated poultry substitutes' to be sold in Canada. As they currently stand, most of our products would not meet all of these criteria, and to achieve this, in some cases, it would be necessary to fortify Quorn products with some of these nutrients. Fortification does not at present meet with our brand values.

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 8770053)

It was one of my reasons for giving up. Osteoporosis and wanting an easier way to get calcium in than dairy and legumes. B vitamins can be a problem too and I have a veggie friend who has to have B12 shot regularly.

Since we have been in Canada we have eaten more red meat, cheaper than chicken etc, and cholesterol levels went up, in spite of cheese consumption going down. So now we eat more ground turkey burgers and eat veggie meals three times a week. Hopefully this will work.

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 8770025)

I didn't think it was unaccepted 10 years ago, 20 even when I did the veggie thing. Vegan though, now that was definitely considered crank world.

Originally Posted by Kiwilass (Post 8770033)

had the same thought.

It's my one concern with OH being a vegetarian for so long. We have some ex-vege friends who ended up giving it up due to health issues.

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 8770017)

So one can't get all the nutrients one needs without eating meat or fish or resorting to a chemistry set?

Originally Posted by spankysparkle (Post 8770087)

we just gor back from living in Germany for 3 years, and there being a vegetarian is very strange, and often on our travels we have come across people who think vegetarians eat fish and/or chicken :D


mr fluff has been veggie for 23 years now, and zero issues, me for 10. I think you can be healthy as a vegetarian if you eat a high raw balanced diet, but it is not easy. including things like green juices (home made, with spinage or other dark green leaves, fruit, veggies and even sprouts) help - i can give you a recipe if you like, and enough seeds and fresh sprouts, which are super easy to grow and very, very good for you. a green juice a day keeps the doctor away ;). it looks vile but tastes YUMMY

Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy (Post 8770107)

I had the same feeling when I found this out, actually made me question it a lot, problem is I've been veggie for over 15 years so I'm stuck in my ways :P I still feel good about not eating meat.

Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy (Post 8769932)

You have to watch what you eat as either veggie or non. I personally have suffered from lack of various Vitimin Bs and also lack of Creatine which I only found out about 6 months ago. I always wondered why I found it harder to exercise than other people and it turns out meat contains that stuff, which is basically muscle fuel. Now I have creatine supplements before I go to the gym.

Not big issues and I certainly don't think they're worth killing an animal for to avoid.

Originally Posted by NomadicJ (Post 8777270)

MLC? Manly Loving and Cwtching?

Originally Posted by Kiwilass (Post 8777465)

ha ha smart arse.

:wub:

Originally Posted by The4BellsLondon (Post 8768261)

hi all

just got this e mail response re Quorn avaialability in Canada . . . maybe if all the veggies harass then they might push harder . . .

Thank you for your recent contact regarding Quorn products.

For your information all Quorn products are only made here in the UK and are branded and sold only by ourselves.

We have investigated selling Quorn products in Canada in reply to enquiries from other consumers.

The Canadian authorities specify minimum nutritional values for key nutrients for any 'simulated poultry substitutes' to be sold in Canada. As they currently stand, most of our products would not meet all of these criteria, and to achieve this, in some cases, it would be necessary to fortify Quorn products with some of these nutrients. Fortification does not at present meet with our brand values.
We are therefore unable to advise when or if we will be able to sell Quorn products in Canada.

As Quorn products are sold frozen, it is not feasible to despatch small quantities for direct sale.

Unfortunately, we do not sell our products direct in the USA this is only through distributors. UNFI distribute our products in Vermont, and may be able to work with you. We have heard from Canadians in the past that have done "Quorn runs" to the US taking coolers and purchasing products there and bringing back home to Canada for personal use.

Hope this information has been helpful. Feel free to contact us again with any additional questions or comments.

Yours sincerely

Tracey Cope
Consumer Care Advisor

Originally Posted by Exilelass (Post 8779296)

I contacted the (I forget their offical name) agency who decide if this can be imported or not and they told me that it is "unfit for human consumption" :huh:
My veggie brother, s-i-l and niece seem to be doing quite well on it in Scotland. Maybe it's the air? :confused:

Originally Posted by fledermaus (Post 8779381)

and yet they allow Miracle Whip

Originally Posted by mzp (Post 8779746)

quorn - ugh... has no one had any adverse effects after eating it? i get severe stomach cramps, fever and then i have to rush to the loo - eaten it twice and both times this happened. won't ever touch it again!

Originally Posted by mzp (Post 8779746)

quorn - ugh... has no one had any adverse effects after eating it? i get severe stomach cramps, fever and then i have to rush to the loo - eaten it twice and both times this happened. won't ever touch it again!

Originally Posted by CanadaJimmy (Post 8779815)

Yeah I'm still failing to understand the support for the stuff when there's far better quality produce right here in Canada. Just let it go! :rofl:

Originally Posted by Tuppence (Post 8781062)

you can't beat a fake frozen "chicken" breast you can nuke in the microwave in 3 minutes.

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8781068)

Unless you want dinner, of course.

Originally Posted by Tuppence (Post 8781062)

Has anyone else tried the Canadian Superstore stuff? We use the President's Choice fake chicken breasts, fake breaded chicken fingers, meatless meatballs and burgers.
Not vegetarians, just rarely have meat for health reasons, and you can't beat a fake frozen "chicken" breast you can nuke in the microwave in 3 minutes. Perfect for lazy old me. It takes longer to steam the broccoli!

Originally Posted by Atlantic Xpat (Post 8781088)

Surely the health problems associated with meat pale into insignificance compared to those associated with chemically processed nuke'em fake chicken breasts?

Originally Posted by Tuppence (Post 8781085)

I live in the land of convenience :rofl:

Originally Posted by dbd33 (Post 8781106)

A land of which I'm fond. Rather than a microwave, I use a telephone. It may be that I eat irradiated imitation foodstuffs but, at least, I don't do so knowingly.