Any vegetarians out there?

[jak2002003]

I have been thinking about stopping eating meat for many months. I don't have any problems eating meat from animals kept and killed humanly, but I hate factory farms and other animal cruelty.

Yesterday I stopped at the traffic lights and I pig transporter truck pulled up next to us. It was a really sad thing to see. All the pigs were overcrowded, some having to walk or lay on top of others, many squashed into the sides and corners and they were screaming and many were covered in blood.

The temperature was so hot and they had no shade. I this this is so wrong. Even if I choose carefully at the supermarket for free range food I can not be sure the animals are treated OK. Also when eating in restaurants there is no way of knowing where the meat comes from.

The only reason I hesitate to go vegetarian is because its hard to find any food without meat in it here in Thailand. I would have to cook most of my own food.......and I am lazy! Is it difficult to make delicious vegetarian food. I don't have a lot of time as I work a lot and am so tired when I come home.

Thanks.

 

[Kevin565]

I've been a Vegetarian my entire life. It can defiantly be harder to find food and prepare it but in my opinion it is worth it. We actually have a Vegetarian thread full of information:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/586795/vegetarians-and-vegans-thread

 

[thaiturkey]

I agree that the way pigs are transported is unpleasant to see, although I have never seen any screaming or bleeding. Out in the sticks you can find small breeders and sellers whose pigs are looked after in the traditional way if you want to avoid pork that has been transported.

You should have no difficulty finding vegetable only food. Most restaurants will cook any dish you ask for provided they have the ingredients. Most will have an abundance of vegetables. If you like plenty of flavour, Thai cooks are expert at making sauces. If you don't want food cooked in fish oil, ask them to use vegetable oil.

 

[jak2002003]

I have tried asking the Thai cooks to make me vegetarian food, but most can't seem to understand why someone will not want to eat meat. I had one guy say he could cook the food vegetarian, but when I came to the table there were bits of chicken in it. When I asked him why, he said 'oh its just a little bit to add flavour'.

Another time a lady did a similar things but but prawn in it as she thought these were not animals or something like that. I am in the North of Thailand and the people hear are big meat eaters!

I will try again from today. I will give it a trial period of a week to see if it works out for me.

 

[thaiturkey]

My son and daughter in England are vegetarian. I took my son to an Italian restaurant where he ordered vegetable soup. The waiter explained that the chef always used chicken stock in the vegetable soup!

Many people expect Thais to be vegetarian in the mistaken belief that all Buddhists avoid meat. The locals here are also great meat eaters but there's no problem getting veggie dishes unless you go to a limited-menu restaurant. My wife eats most meat other than beef but her second chef is a strict vegetarian. They will cook anything but understand veggie orders.

Perhaps you have been visiting limited-menu restaurants or the locals don't want to bother cooking something different from their norm. I know that you have to be very clear about veggie food orders. They are quite capable of cooking it in fish oil if you forget to ask for vegetable oil.

I'll ask my wife later if she can offer you any tips for getting the food you want. She's at the restaurant doing the veg, prep. at the moment while I slave away on the internet.

 

[thaiturkey]

I called her, worried that you might be starving!

She says ask for Arhan Jay (literally 'food vegetarian').

Let me know if that works. She says you're welcome to enjoy veggie food at her restaurant if you happen to be passing this way.

 

[jak2002003]

Thank you for asking your wife! Yes I always ask for 'ahaan jay' and no fish sauce 'mai sai nam plar prick/. Where is Thailand are you? I think my problem is I am in a rural village and we just have lots of small markets and small restaurants.

Don't worry, I am not starving! I have my chickens for eggs, my own veg garden and some fruit trees - lots of Jackfruit this year too! I will be off to the market this evening and will try asking as some food stalls if they have ahaan jay.

 

[thaiturkey]

We're near Korat.

Good luck at the market!