Do you have a relative, friend, or friend of a friend who is a vegetarian? If so, have you ever found yourself pondering the reason for their decision or what would it be like to be a vegetarian?
People, especially meat-eaters, tend to assume vegetarians have bland and boring taste in food, but these assumptions are wrong.
As a vegetarian, creativity in the kitchen is a way of life. To supplement the nutrients one would ordinarily gain from meat, vegetarians need to create new dishes with other ingredients which may have previously been over-looked.
This doesn’t mean finding an exotic new range of vegetables or another species of mushroom; it simply means exploring new alternatives. Soy products for example are largely used in vegetarian dishes.
Of course there is more to being a vegetarian than living off salad and soy products. There are three different types of vegetarians, each with their own specific requirements.
Vegetarians
- Lacto-ovo: Don’t consume meat, fish, but still consumes dairy and eggs
- Ovo: does not consume meat, fish or dairy, but still consumes eggs
- Lacto: does not consume meat, fish, or eggs, but still consumes dairy
We have conducted an interview with a few vegetarians, and this is some of their answers.
Karlyne Wang – QUT Fashion student
How long have you been a vegetarian?
“I turned vegetarian in Feb 2009, but vegan in June/July 2009.”
Why do you become a vegetarian? How did it happen?
“I ate a piece of meat one day and realized how much blood I could taste in the piece of flesh in my mouth. It was so overpowering that I was disgusted by it and did not want to eat it again.
Do you feel any difference when you were a non-vegetarian to a vegetarian now?
I feel a lot happier with life because I’m not putting dead bodies into my mouth anymore! “
Kelly Mitchell – Griffith Business student
Why did you become a vegetarian? How did it happen?
“My mother is a vegetarian. She motivated me and my brother to being one. Though she failed on my brother, but he eats less meat now. I guess that’s a good thing.”
Was there any time that you felt like giving up as a vegetarian? Is there any temptation?
“I’ll have to say no. My family is really supportive since my mother is a vegetarian and my dad is really understanding. He respects our decision.”
Angela Viana – Griffith Business student
Why did you become a vegetarian? How did it happen?
“I saw a dead animal on the farm one day and the sight of it was so disgusting it put me off. When it was time for dinner, we had chicken, the sight of that dead animal keep playing in my head and that’s when I decide to become vegetarian. “
When you first started out, was it difficult? Do you need/ have support from friends and family?
“It was pretty tough. I have to put up with my family. I don’t blame them as it was a sudden decision I made. Friends were supportive, but had underlying doubts as to whether I could last long being a vegetarian.”