Calling Vegetarians

All this discussion about vegetarianism reminds me of when DD2 was about six or seven and disliked vegetables, especially broccoli. She announced that she was going to become a 'meatatarian'.
Nowadays she eats very little meat and not a lot of dairy food either.

I think you are pesco-vegetarian if you eat fish but no meat , lacto-ovo if you eat milk and eggs but no meat and vegan if just plant food.

Darling daughter is pescovegetarian. Her two daughters seem to be the same as they just will not eat meat. Not too fond of fish either.

We are omnivores

Cheers, petallus. Good post.

There have been no studies which prove that vegans are healthier because they are vegans. To prove anything you have to have a control group and you would have to find a group of vegans who are smokers. Vegans are usually non smokers and this group is healthier no matter what they eat.
How on earth have you got the impression that I don't think humans can live on a wide variety of foods. I see this all around me - especially at the supermarkets.

I am not getting into a discussion if you feel it does not have its place on GN. Perish the thought that we could have a serious discussion on gransnet.
Perhaps I should move to the Philosophy Forum.

the above is for'nightowl

Good article from the American Institute of Cancer Research.

"We don’t really know how much of the health protection of a vegetarian diet comes from avoiding meat or dairy and how much is due to the nutrients, fiber and protective compounds in plant foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans and nuts. Most vegetarians do tend to eat more of these healthy foods than non-vegetarians. But replacing meat-oriented meals with these whole plant foods will almost surely have an entirely different health impact than meatless meals based mainly on processed refined grains, with limited variety of vegetables and plenty of sweets and soft drinks."

Whenever anyone gets hot under the collar about an issue, I always think it means they are feeling uncomfortable about some basic belief they hold which is being offended.

It seems a shame to let things become personal and it's great to try to research and find facts if we can, but so often clinical trials simply offer up the answer the researcher wanted because of the way the trial was funded, because of the way the group/s were selected, because of the kind of 'evidence' which was used and the way it was collected. Sadly, these days there seems to be such conflicting advice that comes out of trials, especially when it is mangled by the media that I wonder what the point is anymore of relying on any of it.

The thing is, I feel, that the world is bigger than us. And what we do in our home in these days of large-scale farming and international markets actually matters. It didn't matter when we went to the butcher who bought his meat from the farmer down the road, when the animals were fed wholesome diets not contaminated by drugs and not produced by a conglomerate more interested in profit than welfare, when they were killed on site or nearby thus minimising the toxins produced by the fear and stress of long journeys to abattoirs, when they weren't kept in their thousands in indoor barns because it was convenient and profitable (and thus needing to be fed antibiotics and growth promoters throughout their short lives because otherwise they'd be endlessly ill). Stopping to think about these things is surely a good example to set to the young people around us who are going to inherit this troubled world. And maybe we will safeguard their future health too.

Yesterday I was in the Co-op and I heard, behind me, a young mother saying to her child 'so, what d'you want, shepherds pie or sausage and mash?'. I glanced over my shoulder, they were by the processed food counter and what they were looking at was ready meals. So very sad that so many youngsters don't know how to produce simple good food from simple, cheap ingredients.

If you decide to eat meat, fine. But why have so many meat eaters invaded a thread called 'Calling Vegetarians'? Answers on a postcard stuck on your wall.....

Because most (all?) meat eaters also eat vegetarian foods, anniezz, and the OP was asking for ideas. I'm still hoping she tells us all what she makes and how to make it ourselves. Omni means all. Omnivores eat everything edible—everything vegetarians eat and everything vegetarians don't eat. Quite a simple idea really. It puzzles me why people sometimes don't appear to understand that.

The people making the most objections to others' food choices on this thread are the vegetarians (some of them), not the omnivores.

Excellent post, annie.

When did I say I despised meat eaters? Not respecting people who eat dead animals is different from despising them. I reserve despising for people who deserve it, people like IDS, for one.

Regular posters (as opposed to trolls or spammers) don't 'invade' threads on Gransnet, Anniezz.
We are all free to comment on whatever subject we like.

I find your post quite confrontational Margaret and I'm not sure why you seem to have been so offended by mine. What I was actually trying to say was there is a variety of research and a variety of views about whether meat is healthy or necessary and (as annie said in her excellent post) research can prove whatever you want it to prove. So I was certainly not saying "don't let's have a serious discussion on gransnet" but rather, this is an argument that could go round in circles and prove nothing. Nor did I suggest that you think humans cannot live on a variety of foods - please read my post again to see what I said on that point.

People are of course free to discuss anything they like on gransnet, otherwise there would be no forum.

Returning to the "what can I make for a veggie that is special?" original question, I think one of the nicest meals I have had recently, veggie or omni, was Yotam Ottolenghi's mushroom lasagne

DiL made this for us for a family get-together, and even a self-confessed rabbit-food hater SiL loved it. Be warned, it does take a fair bit of preparation, but can be done in advance and just put in the oven an hour before you want to eat - you can then spend that hour sitting down.

It serves six with some green salad and good bread, (or maybe your roasties and other veg?) and is about as far from the pots of lentils brewed up in "The Young Ones" as you can get. You could grill some bacon for those who prefer a spot of unrespectable animal flesh with their meal to crumble over it, but I suspect they would enjoy it straight.

Wow, that's a serious load of cheese, Elegran, even for six.
If you are doing it for vegetarians, the gruyere can often be made with animal rennet so it's best to check. Just saying for any non-vegetarians who want to make it.

Perhaps not ideal for regular consumption, durhamjen, if you are taking care of your arteries, but really delicious.

These days I normally don't use dairy or sugar in my cooking and last night I made a
Raw Chocolate + Raspberry Cheesecake, though it has no dairy in it. You do need a good blender and food processor for some of these recipes and the ingredients are sometimes more expensive. When DD2 was younger she was severely allergic to dairy and it was difficult to find recipes with no dairy. There is now a huge choice of interesting recipes online.

I tend to use Tofutti original in my cheesecakes, Faye. What do you use? They used to do a sour cream equivalent which was even better, but for some reason they have stopped doing it now.
Have you noticed that Viva! have a new cookbook out? I am going to buy a pack of three for less than £30, postage free. Perfect for Christmas presents. Just hope that nobody else in the family knows about it, because we will be swapping books!

That recipe is brilliant, and perfect timing. My granddaughter had a strop today when she discovered that her brother was making the Christmas cake, and told me he wasn't allowed to. I'll print the recipe off to show her what she can make.

Elegran, that cheesecake recipe is not for everyday consumption either. It actually says so, occasional treats only. You'll see why if you look at it.
i tend to use agave syrup which I presume is similar to rice malt syrup. My grandson thinks it's honey.

As a meat eater I don't think I invaded the thread, rather tried to give some helpful advice as I have cooked for non-meat eating offspring and friends. GGgran said that her DGD ate fish anyway, so there will be plenty of recipes out there - a type of special fish pie or Wellington would be nice for Christmas day.
I may not be vegetarian but I enjoy vegetarian dishes quite often (especially a lasagne or a chilli made with quorn).

I eat a whole range of vegetarian dishes, but enjoy a whole range of meat dishes too, if we go out for a treat meal then fillet steak always hits the spot. I have some vegetarian friends who eat fish as well, and one who eats chicken once a week, it's whatever keeps you fit, healthy and [don't forget this bit] enjoying life.Good food is part of life, and we are lucky enough, as one poster said, to have the luxury of choice.
A nice simple meal is a rissotto, made with or without meat.
I wouldn't want to live without bacon or sausages though.Like marmalade and tea, they make life worth living.
Vegetarian lasagne is fab.As are stuffed mushrooms.Now I am so peckish that I will have to go and toast a crumpet[with butter and honey.]

I don't like honey.

I would like some toast and marmalade but I will be strong and go to bed.

Are eggs vegetarian? I don't think I'd want to live without scrambled eggs, although I could easily do without meat.

Nope! Eggs can't be vegetarian Ana as they are product of chicken. But hey, so what? Eat them anyway.