Vegetarian here too. I'd be fine with eating a small amount of locally grown meat, but I don't because it's simpler and I don't really miss it. Vegetarians don't really need to worry about B12 more than other folks, it's a problem for vegans.
I was a vegetarian as a teenager for several months. I felt it was the responsible thing to do. But I felt horrid, and all those protein 'substitutes' played havoc with my digestive system. So, I reverted to my carnivorous ways, except for dairy products. I eat far less and better quality than I used to, and I'm working on a new fruit and vegetable garden in the yard.
Maybe a poll should be added on the subject, since the original question was "how many". I've been growing as much as I can myself, and thinking about removing still more sod from my stupid yard to grow something more useful. Over the fence from my garden is a truly impressive garden though. The guy is an Italian immigrant, and he has about 20 peach trees, 5 grape vines, pole beans on every structure you can see, and tomatoes between everything else. Lots of other stuff too, and all on a smaller than average suburban back yard.
Vegans need to work about taking B12 supplements, as a vegetarian you can get B12 through the eating of eggs, cheese and drinking of milk. Most veggieburgers, soy products (milk, TSP), and cereals are fortified with B12. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SSimon @ Jul 25 2006, 12:15 PM) [snapback]292113[/snapback]</div>
we recently decreased our meat intake and really increased our veggie, fruit and grain intake. i also believe in moderation in all things... finally got the husband to go along with it
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sloflier @ Jul 25 2006, 08:01 PM) [snapback]292308[/snapback]</div> I've done a lot of research on the internet on this topic as I wanted to be assured that I'm not deficient in this area and I couldn't find any site that quantified the amount of B12 in dairy products. I know the body only needs a teeny amount to function properly but I would like to be assured of my intake quantities. I also believe, as you suggested, that soy has B12 due to the fermentation process. But the quantities are NEVER listed on the label. Sniffle. I usually also don't eat cereal. Do you have knowledge of the quantities of B12 in a cup of yogurt or in two egg whites (I never eat the yolks). Any quantities you have would be apprieciated.
Numbers aside, it's probably not a bad thing to take a multi-vitamin daily. I started taking one last year after my doctor recommended it. The funny thing about her recommendation was that she basically said it might help, and it won't hurt you, so why not! I also consume large amounts of cheese whenever possible, so I'm not all that worried about B12
I would like to, but it's been extremely difficult in terms of habits. I'm going for the sushi diet soon... absolutely no comfort drawbacks there. (unless I get one of those tapeworms or something)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(sloflier @ Jul 25 2006, 09:01 PM) [snapback]292308[/snapback]</div> Quite right. For the worried, take a vitamin with B12 once or twice a week and be done with the entire discussion.
I've been one since 1970, when some friends bought chickens and we were going to have to kill them to eat them...I couldn't. I'm 56 now...
I'm not a vegetarian but I have to think that Prius owners tend to be more health-food conscious. I don't see many Prii around my area -- one per trip if I'm lucky. However, the other day, while shopping at Whole Foods, I saw three others. I had also seen one or two the last time I shopped there.
I became a very strict ovo-lacto-vegetarian when I was 19, which would have been the year 1967. I was so strict I would not wear leather or use a camera. (Photographic emulsion is made with gelatin, a product of the slaughterhouse.) I ate nothing containing refined sugar, since in those days sugar was refined using bone charcoal. I became less strict beginning in 1990, and six years ago I began eating fish. I still eat no red meat or fowl. While in Spain I was at a tapas bar with Spanish and Argentinian friends, and they ordered snails. My brain told me to try one, but my mouth vetoed the proposal. The Spaniards ate the snails with great gusto. The Argentinians each tried one, and both gagged on them. Snails are so popular in Spain that long lines form at the street stalls that sell them outside the mercados. You have to feed them on corn meal, or some such, for several days, to get rid of the mucky flavor of their usual diet of rotting vegetation. In Spanish they are caracoles.
Vegetarian here as of a month ago... I am 19 now. I tried being vegetarian for animal cruelty reasons when I was younger but because of the lack of coordination with my parents (who were buying my food) It didnt last, so I am picking it up again for health reasons, for being against harm of sentient beings, as well as because I couldnt do it before and so I am proving to myself that I can now.
Vegan here. And here's why: http://www.whyvegan.com http://www.meetyourmeat.com http://www.cok.net http://www.factoryfarming.org
Carnivore here....although I've made a definite effort in recent years to reduce my red-meat intake and eat more fish/chicken instead. But I could never completely eliminate one particular type of food from my diet. I don't have that kind of self control.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Etel Rose @ Aug 25 2006, 03:19 AM) [snapback]309227[/snapback]</div> factory farming makes me sad. it's horrible for the animal and it's rough on the environment. i wouldn't have such a problem with the concept of meat eating if the animals were treated humanely AND killed humanely. they cut the beaks off chickens because they cram them in such tight quarters for cripes sake. the animal products that i eat are cheese and eggs. i always purchase free range sources ( i just found out recently that cage free and free range mean two different things) and i only buy the cheese with microbial enzymes and not the enzymes from digestive tracts. absolutely no rennet or gelatin.