Why I Am Vegetarian & The Economical Benefits…

Posted on by in General, Recipes & Food, Saving Money & Finances

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I have been Vegetarian now for around 9 years. I don’t remember the exact date or year but it’s been long enough for the idea of eating meat to be quite foreign to me now. I don’t miss it, I don’t get lulls of tiredness from not getting enough food and I generally feel very healthy. Being Vegetarian really isn’t all that hard once you get started.

One thing that is weird about being a veggie is the amount of defence you have to put up. Generally I don’t judge or comment of anyone’s need to eat meat but the minute it’s found out that i don’t I am often immediately called upon to explain my rational!

Well last night I watched a documentary that pretty much summed up why I am a non-meat consumer.

The documentary is called Earthings and can be seen in full below. I urge you to watch it and then comment here….

Earthings is a 2007 documentary that is narrated by Joaquin Phoenix (The Emperor from Gladiator and he played Johnny Cash) and with music from Moby. It covers the main areas in which we rely on animals and highlights the way we abuse them and give utter disrespect to their being…. In return we are reaping the ill effects in the form of many diseases and illnesses….. Basically the message is you reap what you sow!

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I became Veggie mostly because of bad farming methods and decided initially I would eat well farmed meat only….. After my weekly budget could not afford this kind of meat I found myself almost exclusively vegetarian and bar a few minor (mostly drunk) slip ups I have been that way ever since.

Economical Benefits of Being Vegetarian

As I mentioned above my weekly shop did not have enough budget to include well farmed ethical meat, so I found myself filling up on veggies, grains and related things. I actually started to realize that my shopping bill was coming in under budget. If you stay away from the processed veggie food (apart from for treats) you will find the savings coming thick and fasr. Here are just some of the ways being Veggie saves me money:

  • Being Vegeatarian encourages me to buy a lot more raw un-prepared food.
  • Having less ready made options my interest in cooking from scratch has greatly grown.
  • Dried foods such as beans replace proteins from meats but work out much much cheaper.
  • Some veggies are just easy and practically free to grow yourself.
  • Meat dishes at restaurants are often almost twice the price of veggie meals (often hidden in side dishes).

Also for many being Veggie reduces the chance of cholesterol and could theoretically save on medical bills in later life. Basically if you contorl your diet it can be great for your health and your wealth.

Let me know your thoughts on all this…

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9 Responses to “Why I Am Vegetarian & The Economical Benefits…”

  1. Ruth - Web Career Girl

    18. Jan, 2010

    One of my resolutions this year is to become vegetarian. In truth I have been almost vegetarian for quite a few months though. I had meat for Christmas dinner and it was enough to make me happy with my decision and to know I won’t miss it next Christmas.

    I became more interested in cooking in recent years after being with my partner who is a great cook. He also avoids dairy due to eczema. In fact he used to avoid wheat and sugar for the same reason but now it’s just dairy. So in many ways I was already used to substitutions (albeit not substitutions for meat) and I didn’t find it was as difficult experimenting with non-meat dishes.

    In fact the veggie meals we cook are delicious. They are practically as good as meat ones (and better), especially since I no longer see meat as so appealing. I do crave meat junk food though, I know it’s bad for me but I’m really craving it!

    As for budget, it’s a very good point. Tesco here though does 3 packs of meat (big packs) mix and match for £10 though which is so cheap and I think pretty disgusting that an animal’s life is so worthless. I’m sure it’s definitely not the best quality meat though. But substitute that for vegetables or vegetable protein and it’s much better for you and cheap.

    I am rambling on! Just nice to talk about going veggie. I have not watched the documentary yet but will do so once I have time.
    .-= Ruth – Web Career Girl´s last blog ..Sometimes Doing Things Your Own Way Is The Only Way =-.

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  2. Forest

    18. Jan, 2010

    @Ruth, Thanks so much for the comment…. Not many people comment here but I was expecting a few pro meat comments that would make me have to defend myself!!

    The documentary is very sad and makes you see just how worthless an animal life has become…. A recent report I saw said that if everyone involved in a production of a hamburger and the meat was all priced and paid correctly that the price for one burger would be $126…. I do understand this kind of injustice is happening with crops too but we really would all benefit in the long run from stopping the killing of animals or at least making it far less factory like…. At least the native Indian’s and many other cultures gave praise and said sorry to the animal they killed.

    As for meat, if you miss junk pick up some veggie junk…. It won’t be as good at first but after time you forget what meat tastes like. Every time I eat lentils I have to ask someone if there is chicken stock in it as for some reason my brain tastes chicken in lentils now even when i make them myself….

    The cheap meat industry is completely responsible for so many bad illnesses (foot and mouth, mad cows etc etc ect) so even if eating it is not directly harmful the industry itself causes so much harm….

    I could go on…. and on….. and on…… and on…… but I won’t :) !

    If you have any questions about being Veggie just send me a mail (I am going to be away in Alexandria for a few days but will be back online on Thurs).

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  3. Ruth - Web Career Girl

    20. Jan, 2010

    Thanks Forest :) It’s good to read your blog here, I have missed your posts! I hope your trip away is going well.

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  4. Forest

    22. Jan, 2010

    Thanks Ruth… The trip was awesome and I got to see some amazing things.

    I’ll be posting on here regular from now on but not much on Real Blogging Tips.

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  5. Money Funk

    23. Jan, 2010

    I feel the same about being vegetarian and bad farming methods. And then to find out pastured-raised beef means the cow only needs a 4′ x 4′ area outside their pen to be considered for that term. How are we suppose to feel safe?

    Maybe Organic Grass Fed, Pastured Raised cows…. how do you know when to feel safe. *chucks* Plus anything organic grass fed meat is only carried at specialty markets great increased prices.

    Vegetarian tastes better anyway. :) In fact, I have decided to greatly increase my know how on cooking up Indian Food – love that stuff.
    .-= Money Funk´s last blog ..How-to make a plan to revamp closet in 2 hours or less =-.

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  6. Forest

    24. Jan, 2010

    @Money Funk,

    Ha ha, Yes I am used to Vegetarian now and we can never be safe when it comes to ethical meat…. Sadly veggies and fruit have their own set of issues too such as human rights of workers and pesticide problems….. Basically we have really screwed our own society up and it’s hard to be totally ethical in the current climate….

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  7. Cliff

    24. Jan, 2010

    the documentary here show just how cruel man really is and why we need to change before its to late i have felt this way for a while and wish others did to and wish the governments would see the error in all this and make the changes that need to be made. For nature is not our threat we are. We are going to destroy ourselves and this planet if we do not change. I just hope and pray it is soon before its to late. Thank you for the time to put this together i hope more people watch this and i hope it makes them think real hard about what needs to be done and hope they make the changes needed this is a very moving and informative video once again thank you for putting it on here.

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  8. Forest

    28. Jan, 2010

    @Cliff, Thanks I agree completely… Thank you very much for taking the time to comment.

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  1. Get Over The Fear Of Cooking At Home… - February 28, 2010

    [...] I became Vegetarian (see my post about Why I became Vegetarian). Shuffling round the supermarket with a budget in mind I ended up finding myself filling my basket [...]

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