Industrial Vegetarian?

[Tutter]

I can't become a vegetarian, as I have a very low levels of iron etc., yet, because of health issues, cannot eat various foods, and cannot supplement. So meat is important to my health.

However, I don't eat beef at all anymore, we buy buffalo at a local ranch for all our meat needs. We can get any cut you can get with beef, and even corned buffalo! They live a wonderful life (The owner always says that they only have one bad day....), do not have hormones or antibiotics in them, have more iron than beef, yet less fat than boneless, skinless chicken breast. It may take a little getting used to, to cook with it, but I've been doing it for so long that I don't think 2ce about it anymore.

I eat chicken, but again, just free-range, natural or organic.

We don't eat farmed fish, or imported fish. Being that we aren't that far from the coast, fresh fish isn't difficult to get, but we limit it.

I especially like what we catch in our creek. We have rainbow trout, bluegills, and once the water landlocks in places for the summer, past our property, any trapped steelhead....if we can beat the otters to them! (The water stays cold and fresh because there are springs feeding it all year long.)

It's funny, I ate beef all my life, but now it kind of turns my stomach. I've had it 2ce since switching to all buffalo, years ago, and I hope not to again. It was no longer as I remember it. That's probably all in me, but it still doesn't make me want to eat it.

 

[Corey NC]

I am vegan which most people feel is too "extreme" but I believe if I support something (or don't support something) I am going to go all the way.

I am the healthiest I've ever been and I am in great shape and loving life.

 

[poppycat]

We try not to buy any animal product that was raised in confinement. Emphasis on try. It's not always possible or practical.

But since pastured meat costs more, we naturally eat a lot less of it.

We have tried bison, and I it tasted pretty good, similar to beef but not exactly the same. My kids get a hoot out of eating spaghetti and buffalo balls.

 

[zippychickens]

Wow, I'm out of my element on this topic. We are a meat eating family. We butcher our own hogs, my husband hunts and therefore we always have supply of ducks and deer. He also fishes so we usually have a small supply of fish. I buy chicken and beef. hopefully within the year I will have a supply of meat birds and won't have to purchase chicken at the srtore. Anyhow, My point really is to let you know about a little loophole. Some meat is advertised as free range. Which we all think means the animal has spent it's life outside running around. But actually some of these animals have very little free ranging, so if you are really passionate about what you eat, make sure to check out the living conditions or you could be fooling yourself.

 

[RedTailRanch]

Hey Zippy, this also applies to eggs. The commercial packagers have found all sorts of loopholes. Many people buy cage-free or organic thinking that these birds lead better lives and produce healthier eggs. Cage-free doesn't mean "pastured". Neigher does free range. These birds can simply be put in one enclosure rather that in small cages, but they can still pack them in there and STILL have horrible living conditions.

I think that eating meat is fine as long as it's raised and slaughtered in a humane manner, which it sounds like you do. Plus, I'm sure that it tastes MUCH better!!!

 

[Tutter]

Zippychickens, I'm not sure where you are located, but there's good hunting here. A friend used to always give us elk jerky he made himself, and it was very good!

You're right about those loopholes...good thing to remember!

 

[HorseFeathers]

I don't like how they coop (pardon the pun) up the animals. And the things they feed the poor beasts... (chicken litter, old gum still in its cellophane wrappers,

etc.) For these reasons I am a "free-range-itarian." No way I'm eating anything that never saw sunlight and supporting that sort of busness. Grrr... people can be so inconsiderate about animal welfare.
*rants about various enviroment-exploiting things we humans do*

 

[HorseFeathers]

Quote:
You rock. But I couldn't be fully vegan... I like steak and sushi too much.