Carnivore? Herbivore? "Mixedivore"?

[Natasha]

I'm being inquisitive again ('cause I do it so well!!) ;) I'd like to know how many of us are "all meat" eaters, how many do not eat red meat, eat only fish, are vegetarians, are vegans...the whole gamut. Please respond! I'd also be interested in hearing any related comments, of course! Wishing everyone a good weekend.

Natasha

[BlueMoose]

I didn't eat meat of any kind at all for about 7 years, then started eating poultry and fish. Lately, I've really been having trouble eating them, but I haven't eliminated them totally. It's kind of been an issue with me lately, because I would miss chicken and turkey in some recipes, but I'm more "comfortable" not eating them at all. Fish isn't much of an issue, because I'm not all that fond of it. Anyway, I've been eating pretty much a lacto ovo vegetarian diet lately, but I still chose "eat no red meat, but do eat fish and poultry" in the poll. Boy, am I rambling or what?

Chrisi :p

[lindrusso]

Great poll! I do eat meat - mostly lean pork, chicken and seafood - and occasionally ground beef (love that Spaghetti Pie). But it's weird to say that I eat meat after so many years of being a quasi-vegetarian - with seafood as the only animal source. And even now, if I eat meat a couple days in a row, I generally crave a vegetarian meal - which we tend to have 2-3 days a week.

[Lynne1975]

I eat mostly beef and chicken, although I like everything. I rarely eat pork because I don't really care for it. I would eat more seafood, but I am intimidated by cooking it. I feel better when I eat protein - I stay full longer, am satisfied after a meal and have more energy.

[gertdog]

No poultry, red meat, or fish for me. I do eat milk, cheese and eggs, although I'm trying to cut down on the cheese.

I also try to avoid gelatin but recently have been surprised to learn that it lurks in places I wouldn't expect. I read the ingredients for my favorite light sour cream recently... gelatin! I checked the other 3 brands of sour cream at the store... no gelatin. Weird. Same thing with ice cream... I'd read many labels at the store... no gelatin. So it never occurred to me to also read the fine print at my favorite local ice cream shop... gelatin! Boy that ice cream is good... I see an internal struggle ahead... to eat or not to eat...:p

[hlao23]

I just thought I'd offer some "related comments". My DH and I are both omnis but only eat meat about 1x per week. The only type of meat we completely avoid is processed meat. We also dabble in veganism.

Veganism facinates me. I love the environmental aspects behind it. I really wish CL would do an article on meat substitutes and how to incorporate them. We almost never bring meat into our home (maybe 6x per year) and so I'm very limited to the number of recipes I try from each issue.

[lorilei]

Alright. Tell me why I'm having trouble answering this question :)

I'm not really "cutting back" on meat, per se. Yes, I tend to avoid beef -- almost never eat it (due mostly to my concerns about hormones and mad-cowish things). Don't eat /much/ pork, although I haven't banned that from my diet either. Eat lots of seafood, mostly out of preference. Also eat fowl. And a bunny here and there. I guess I should say that I'm not morally opposed to eating meat.

But, IN GENERAL, I prefer vegetables. My husband and I eat meat on occasion (he and I are pretty much working on the same wavelength). But, most of the time, I'd rather have a nice pot of rice and beans than a steak. I'd rather sit down with vegetarian chili (with beans) or spaghetti (with fennel seed) than try to wade through mountains of ground beef. I FEEL healthier when I eat less meat. And TOFU (rather than making me gag) makes me infinitely happy.


:) I knew I should've checked "other".

[emilycat]

I love this question!
It's always difficult for me to explain to people that no, I'm not a vegetarian because I eat fish. You'd be appalled at the number of people who think eating seafood doesn't interfere with one's being a vegetarian. So I am very fond of the term I adopted from a member on the board, "vegaquarian." I probably eat seafood 2-4 times a week; the rest are vegetarian meals.

As for my reasoning, I stopped eating red meat a couple of years ago, because the thought of eating "red" meat is very unappealing to me. And I love cows. :)
As for the rest of it, I've never been extremely fond of any meat except pork, and I simply don't like the thought of eating fuzzy, furry or feathery things. I stopped eating pork and poultry entirely only around last Christmas. I realize fish are animals, but I'm not the most rational person in the world, and the sea-creature thing just doesn't faze me at all. I luuuuuve some fish. :D

[pmmahan]

DH and I eat everything - meat, chicken, pork, fish. I've flirted with vegetarianism for health reasons, but I can't bear the thought of giving up salmon or chicken permanently. (And I wouldn't consider myself a vegetarian if I ate fish but not meat).

That being said, I love tofu and veggie burgers and whatnot. I snack on soybeans. I like soy cheese. I try to eat tons of veggies and beans.

[kwormann]

This is also interesting for me at this time. I also was a quasi-vegetarian, but have been having digestive problems and extreme difficulity losing weight. It was suggested I cut out all starches and sugars, eating only whole grains, vegies, fruits and pick up more protein to help in building muscle. Its amazing how it has helped (altho I am still eating desserts;) ) So to answer the question, I recently picked up more meats into my diet and have been trying to find recipes full of flavor so I would enjoy it. I have ALWAYS loved seafood!

[Safari Girl]

Meat wise, my diet is a bit weird. I eat chicken and fish but I won't touch pork (unless by accident if it's in something and I don't know it's there), lamb, rabbitt, or any other non-traditional meat, and I only eat beef that's ground (it's the only red meat I'll eat - in lasagne, meatballs and burgers, though I prefer veggie burgers). My DH and I mainly subsist on chicken and fish and vegetarian meals.

[KValley]

I am in the "Eat all kinds, but cutting back generally" with the addition of cutting out red meat almost entirely. One of my goals this summer while DH was gone was to work on expanding my repertoire of meatless main dishes and to get comfortable cooking beans, lentils, grains like quinoa and spelt, a wider variety of leafy greens. I'm happy to say that I have accomplished this (still learning, certainly!).

We used to eat much more pork (it was very good and very cheap in the Midwest); now our meats are chicken and salmon- I rarely cook other fish as we love salmon SOOOO much- why bother with anything else ;) I am aiming to cook meals with meat no more than 3 times a week with salmon making an appearance at least once- and to concentrate on grains, legumes, beans instead. We've cut out white flour/durum pasta and white rice entirely. DH cooks steak when I am out of town...

I don't think I could ever go vegetarian completely- I do enjoy poultry, fish, and pork very much- I'm just trying to create a more balanced diet. I haven't resolved my conflict about animals, however, as I am very big on animal rights and protection against cruelty. That is an internal struggle and that's where I am.

[Gina O]

During June and the first two weeks of July I attempted to eliminate meat and fish from my diet. I had always wanted to seriously try vegetarianism so I did. What I found was that I ate way too much cheese as a result. I enjoyed the whole process, especially forcing myself to think differently about food and meal preparation. But, I really did not feel that I was eating very healthy because of the amount of cheese I was eating.

Now I am back to eating everything, but still focusing on eating less meat generally. And because of my "experiment" I realize that there are lots of options out there. Gina

[Jessica]

I cook vegetarian food more often than not, but we eat chicken and fish and occasionally red meat or pork. My DH was raised on meat every day and he still prefers meals with meat, but he likes lighter food and is often astonished at how much he enjoys my meatless meals.

I find that the less I eat meat, the less I crave it. When I do get a taste for meat, it is usually because I have not eaten enough protein recently.

[Jewel]

We eat all traditional meats, like beef, pork, chicken and turkey, and we don't really find ourselves cutting back on how often! I've tried to learn with my previous weight loss and my current pseudo-struggle with the last 25 lbs, that I can't cut OUT anything that I like. We love to cook, we love to eat, and we love to be creative! The only thing that doesn't make it past my front door is seafood. DH is allergic to everything but salmon and fresh tuna steaks, and I've never been a seafood eater either! He and I must be the only non-seafood eaters in Washington State, so we definitely belong together! Even then he will order salmon out rather than me fixing it at home. I don't like that stuff either!

I use lean cuts of beef and pork, and cook mostly with chicken breasts, and trim all visible fat on all. I don't really worry about 'what could happen' from eating the red meat, since we usually are very careful with how it's prepared. When I make anything with ground beef, I put it in a colander after browning and rinse it under hot water so the majority of the fat goes down the drain. Personally, in my weight loss quest, I've found protein is my best friend. It fills me up and keeps me energized longer, but I don't feel bloated and sluggy like I do when I eat too many grains (even whole grains) and even simple carbs. I find myself grilling or baking chicken breasts or turkey breasts and slicing them up like tenders for munching on at work or in the evening! Best snack for me and makes me feel better.

DH and I feel if we cut a food out of our diet we would be depriving ourselves, but if we learn healthier ways to incorporate them in our daily diets we will be satisfied and happier! I'm all for happy! :D

[valeriek]

My response is exactly that of BlueMoose's. I went vegetarian for about 5 years but in the last 2 years have started eating meat again. I only eat chicken or turkey (about once every two weeks)and occasionally have seafood (usually when my BF - who is a big steak lover - drags me to a steak house and my only choice for a meal that I can tolerate is the salmon). I don't care for seafood that much, which is why I rarely eat it. I haven't had a steak in 9 years. I just don't eat read meat or pork. I also won't touch "exotic meat" i.e. lamb, duck, deer, etc. When I do eat chicken or turkey, it can't have any bones in it. Kind of grosses me out. Gosh, I sound high maintenance and picky! So I checked the eat no red meat, do eat poultry/fish category.

[Wendy w]

I have answered in the "other category". I eat a lot of vegetarian meals (mainly pasta & salad) although I am not a "true" vegetarian. I will have chicken or fish once or twice a week. As far as red meat is concerned, I will have beef maybe 3 times a month. I rarely eat pork, lamb or other red meat.

[aggie94]

Wow - Julie wrote my post for me! I'm also in the "Eat meats, but cutting back generally" category. My New Year's Resolution was to eat less meat. I have dabbled in vegaquarianism (thanks, Em!) but find it very difficult to cut meat out of my diet entirely because of DH's love of beef and pork and my love of poultry. I do eat very little beef and pork, though, but still eat a fair amount of chicken and turkey. I also found it pretty hard to get enough protein when I wasn't eating meat for long periods of time. If I could, I'd eat seafood everyday; unfortunately, that's not in our budget!

There are a few meats that I absolutely will not eat, though: rabbit, lamb, veal, game animals (deer, buffalo, quail, etc.). For these animals, the association to the animal itself is so strong for me that I can't eat them. But for some reason, I lose the association between meat and animal for things like beef, pork, and poultry. (And like Emily, for some reason the rationale just doesn't apply to sea creatures). I struggle with this a lot, because I am a huge animal lover and especially as I get older, I've become even more sensitive to the plights of animals.

[Kristine]

I eat chicken or turkey occasionally (maybe 1-2 times per week, if that), but that's about it in the meat department. I really don't care for red meat or fish, and could never eat a whole serving, but I do have a bite every once in a while if my family is having it for dinner. I have nothing against eating animals, it's just that I don't like meat too much. :)

[jazzyjas]

I was a vegetarian for 10 years (eating Chicken twice in foreign countries when I had explained I was a vegetarian and they didn't get it -- I didn't want to make a scene). When I moved to Bogota for 7 months I soon realized that it would be very difficult to eat a diet that consisted of more than white rice if I didn't start eating fish (most of my meals were provided for me and restaurants didn't cater to vegetarianism either). So I started eating fish and seafood. I still only cook them myself once or twice a month -- although I will eat them out.
Then last summer I deciced to take another job to pay off my car loan and started working doubles at a local restaurant. They would feed us but it was almost always chicken. After two months of not eating much all day I decided an occasional meal with chicken isn't so bad and I have cooked that for guests or eaten it out since then. I would say that I eat fish or chicken about twice a week (although my trip to Seattle had me eating seafood daily).

Jasmine

[BlueMoose]

Originally posted by valeriek
When I do eat chicken or turkey, it can't have any bones in it. Kind of grosses me out. Gosh, I sound high maintenance and picky!

I'm just the same way, but I prefer to think of myself as "discriminating" ;) .

Chrisi :cool:

[Peggy C.]

Here goes, I (we, BF) can eat vegetarian for day on end, then I need beef and only beef. I'm not eliminating any options from my meal, but I am trying to add more fish.

Protein in the form of meat really picks me up.
:D

[beccathebaker]

After I went through cancer at age 19 after being a vegetarian for five years, I decided to try veganism for a while and found it too restrictive for someone with trouble gaining weight and radiation intestinal problems. For that reason, I first began to incorporate some fish into my diet and really liked it. Next came poultry when one afternoon I had the sudden craving for smoked turkey breast!! I now eat everything but red meat and pork, as those things don't really appeal to me very much.
It is very interesting to note that since I have started eating meat (really just as a condiment with a larger focus on the grains) I feel better and have fewer problems with low energy. I try to eat lean cuts and lots of omega-3 rich fish but I guess that the biggest lesson for me to learn was that just being a vegetarian was not going to prevent me from developing cancer- it is alot more complex than that. There is too much guilt in our society revolving around food choices- if we all just ate what made us happy and satisfied, I think we would be much better off!!
-Becca

[rosen]

I had to vote as other. I went 20 + years not touching red meat & rarely eating fish or fowl. But as I got older, it sort of lost its point. My DH & I eat (very satisfactorily), meatless a couple nights a week, still rarely eat red meat...but really enjoy a good fish or chicken dish. We banned any fast food YEARS ago, including commercial pizza. Once I discovered Eating Well Magazine (now defunct) & CL, my cooking (such as it was) became more mature & I took on the philosophy of...All things in moderation. We are very satisfied.

[funnybone]

We eat all meat and seafood, but it probably accounts to only 3 to 4 nights a week at the most. So, we are not cutting back.

When we do eat red meat, its really only in the summer in the form of Grilled NY Strip Steaks or Filet Mignon. Occasionally we will have a burger or we have beef in Chili (although I like the veggie versions the best). We do eat chicken (mainly breasts) and fish (at least once or twice a week). Other times, we go vegetarian, or we just grab a sandwich, cereal, or whatever. It depends on DH work and the kids sports and other events.

[rosen]

I had to vote as other. I went 20 + years not touching red meat & rarely eating fish or fowl. But as I got older, it sort of lost its point. My DH & I eat (very satisfactorily), meatless a couple nights a week, still rarely eat red meat...but really enjoy a good fish or chicken dish. We banned any fast food YEARS ago, including commercial pizza. Once I discovered Eating Well Magazine (now defunct) & CL, my cooking (such as it was) became more mature & I took on the philosophy of...All things in moderation. We are very satisfied.

[Little Bit]

I'm definitely a meat eater, since I adore barbeque in almost all forms, but I'm eating less than I used to.

I can't decide really, if I'm trying to eat less meat or more 'other stuff' to keep my diet interestingly balanced.

Everything in moderation, except chocolate, and that in excess only when the urge is irresistable. :D

[KristaMB]

I eat poultry occasionally and some fish, but no red meat. I really wish that I could incorporate more fish into my diet, but cooking it intimidates me. Even as a kid, I never really liked meat (including poultry), I have just tolerated it for the sake of protein. Often times touching the poultry while I prepare it grosses me out. Also, I'm not a good vegetable eater, so I've always felt like I couldn't be a vegetarian. I know, all this isn't logical...The good news is this post has made me want to evaluate my cooking habits! :)

[Jewel]

Originally posted by aggie94
There are a few meats that I absolutely will not eat, though: rabbit, lamb, veal, game animals (deer, buffalo, quail, etc.). For these animals, the association to the animal itself is so strong for me that I can't eat them. But for some reason, I lose the association between meat and animal for things like beef, pork, and poultry.

Oh Aggie, I hear you!! I had a pet Netherland Dwarf bunny named Bailey for a few years. Absolutely adored her. I got her litterbox trained and leash trained. I'd take her for a 'hop' (as opposed to walk) every evening and put up with all the strange comments from passersby ("Is that a rabbit?!!" Excuse me, it's got twitchy ears and a poofy tail, what do you think it is??) There's no way in Heck I could eat a rabbit now. For some strange reason, I think of lamb, rabbit, quail, and venison as cute little animals. I was always against eating Veal, then when I saw 'City Slickers' with Billy Crystal and watched him get so close to Norman, there was no way!! ("Look! I made a cow!")

For some inane reason I don't picture cute little chickens, adorable cows, or cuddly pigs. I'm blushing as I admit this, but I think of those as meat under cellophane in the market. If I see rabbit under cellophane, I see Bailey! But if I see Flank Steak, I don't see 'Bossie', I only see "YUM"!! :D

[aggie94]

Jewel,

I completely understand where you're coming from. I had a pet bunny for 7 1/2 years (he just died a few months ago), and the thought of rabbit as food just makes me want to cry. [DH's brother, who is a chef, came to visit one time and commented on how much he "liked" my bunny. I suspect that he was impressed by things other than his warm and fuzzy personality and his adorable floppy ears!] Same for the other animals I mentioned, including duck (which I had inadvertently left out).

I do tend to avoid meat for quite some time after going to the county fair and petting all the baby animals (baby pigs, cows, etc.) and seeing the baby chicks in their little incubators. But it only takes a couple of weeks, and the sight of meat under cellophane at the grocery store is really just meat under cellophane.

I am glad that it bothers me more than it used to. It's really prompted me to eat less meat and to be more conscious of the choices that I make. Like I mentioned in my earlier post, it's hard to avoid meat with my DH at home, but when we go out to eat, it's almost always vegetarian or seafood for me.

[SusanL]

For over 15 years I was a radical vegan, wouldn't eat noodles if they had eggs, had to check all labels or make them myself. Health problems and a change in my life, I eat some meat but not a lot, sometimes I push it around on my plate, DH is a big protein lover, gotta have it at every meal. Just as others have stated, he feels better and doesn't get hungry as fast (he is also thin from serious exercise program!)

This is still a struggle for me, but I do enjoy the flavors of meats, it is a texture thing with me also. It took many years to eat red meat, not a lot but I do like flank steak, also. Go figure. I am still evolving, which way will I go, I am still unsure. (But at least I am enjoying the ride!!)

[Jennett]

What a great thread! The vast majority of my meals are vegetarian or seafood. I adore fish and shellfish of all kinds, but I do worry about over-fishing, so I'm trying to expand my repertoire of unique vegetarian dishes. In the past when I want to cook a not-your-typical-weekday-meal, I've always gravitated to seafood. (Though I must say, this will be very hard in general, and especially after having CL's Malaysian Lime-Coconut Swordfish. Delicious!!!)

I do eat poultry, and definitely have some standby chicken meals. But I'm trying to eat more vegetarian meals than meat, and am finding it pretty easy. I also eat pork and beef, but very rarely (referring to frequency, not degree of doneness ;) ).

I must thank all you BB'ers who have posted so many delicious-sounding vegetarian meals. I have a really long list of things I want to cook! I live alone, and have friends who assume eating out is better than in, so I can never make everything I want to. Too bad I cannot kipnap people and cook for them. I think the laws against that are so unjust.:D

[Natasha]

Thanks for all your responses and comments to date! I've really enjoyed following them.

Here's to a good week for all of us (toasting with cup of freshly-brewed java).

Natasha

[LGBurns]

Don't know how I missed this thread before! It's been interesting to read everyone's comments. I chose "other" because all the other choices didn't seem quite right--mostly because I'm not "cutting back" on anything but I didn't feel comfortable just saying I eat all meat.

Usually, I cook one meat (I include anything flesh as meat--so include seafood) a week (although with the heat lately I haven't even done that). I don't really trust seafood in the middle of the country (with the sea being thousands of miles away), but I will buy frozen, vacuum-packed fish from TJs occasionally. Most of our dinners consist of tofu or other vegetarian proteins. But there's really nothing I won't eat--everything in moderation. I actually love rabbit (sorry Aggie and Jewel), lamb, quail, venison and other types of game meats. However, I only eat them very very occasionally.

For those concerned about animal cruelty and eating meat, you might look into local, organic meats. These will be a lot more expensive probably but at least you know that animals are treated more humanely. This is another reason I don't eat much meat--when I do, I try to buy organic, locally-grown and that's expensive.

[cchhbb]

MY DH and I eat all kinds of meat. I am trying to branch out. I grew up on a small cattle ranch and ate beef for lunch and dinner most days. I have since branched out and eat fish, and poultry in addition to red meat. I am a very picky beef eater. I rarely will eat meat that wasn't raised by my family. I can definitely tell a difference in the quality of meat. We don't use hormones, we feed grain, and slaughter animals before they get to old. For those of you that have an emotional attachment to beef, I am very different. All the animals on our farm have names and we know their personalities. Our animals are treated very well and some farmers say that we 'fluff their pillows before we go to bed at night.' I have the belief that they have a place in the food chain.

I am trying to add more fish to my diet. The only fish I ate growing up was fried. Then moving to Wisconsin reinforced that message. Now, I try to serve fish 1 -2 times per week. I only like super fresh fish and don't always have time to go to the store daily. I am buying more fish that is frozen since I've found out that tends to be some of the freshest.

[DSH]

I had to vote eat meat and not cutting back, because I see no reason to. My DH and I love all kinds of food, and as a result I vary the menu a lot. I try to serve chicken, pork, seafood, vegetarian, red meat each once a week. I feel that my consumption of red meat is within reasonable limits; plus, like many women I have very low iron so it is actually more healthful to have it once in a while.

[workinprogress]

I grew up in a midwest family where the typical dinner was beef, potatoes, and canned veggies. In my adult years, I've gone through phases ranging from "anything goes" to "won't eat anything that had a face." DH and I have been learning moderation in the last few years, however, and while we still eat beef, pork, and poultry, the frequency is greatly decreased, and we are beginning to eat more fish, legumes, and tofu. I feel a little silly making this discovery at the ripe "old" age of 43 ;) , but it has actually been fun experimenting with meatless recipes! Of course, you all already knew that, right? LOL! Oh well, better late than never. :)

Robin

[browneye]

We do beef about 1X per month. Which is a HUGE reduction for my dh. When we first met, he ate beef 2-5 times per week, and I was only eating it 2 times per YEAR if that! I am just not wild about beef. We had quite a gap there to overcome. Meatless meals were not appealing to him at all back then...we did find middle ground with Fish, seafood and poultry. Also game and stuff.
Now, as I mentioned, we do beef about 1X per month. Meatless is about 2X per week, and the rest is fish/seafood with occasional chicken. Pork is also maybe 1X month. Lamb every 4 months or so.
It's kinda funny, but I have found myself enjoying beef more since I've been trying to accommodate dh.....by using CL's beef recipes. I find the amounts of beef in the recipe more tolerable, and the recipes more interesting than I had ever expected.
He, on the other hand, has been delighted with some of the meatless stuff I have made, and we continue to learn more and evolve every day!
I see us moving more and more toward a healthier diet, though I doubt seriously we will ever be vegetarians. Vegaquarian, however, would certainly work for me!
Mainly, we enjoy eating, cooking, and flavors. Wine, too, although we cut back on that after adding up how much we were spending per year on wine!! Yikes:eek:

[JKS]

I read "Fast Food Nation" a couple weeks ago and have been uninterested in most beef, pork, and poultry since then. I'd recommend this book, but only if you are not very attached to fast food in your diet--NPR calls it "The Jungle" for the 21st century.

My DH is a carnivore. However, he is also a scientist and thinks that the "mad cow" thing is of real concern and is being underplayed in the USA, so he is staying away from hamburger/beef. He has been dietarily challenged lately. He is a plant scientist and often quips, "Plants are my friends. I love them, I don't eat them!"

With his begrudging acceptance, I am focusing heavily on veggies these days. Also, DH and I love to garden and produce large quantities of our own produce during this time of year, so we eat many vegetarian meals, just to keep up with the garden.

[kwormann]

It is interesting that this has surfaced again. I also read Fast Food Nation as well as Diet for a New America in March. I have no interest what-so-ever in meat (except seafood) since then! The thought of it is currently Grossing Me Out!

[yorkshirepud]

I voted for 'eating all meat but cutting back generally' ... I am trying to incorporate more vegetarian dishes into our weekly dinners ... started off with one (but slowly sneaking in 2 a week) ...

YP