Welcome to Gaia! ::

Was vegetarian for about 10 years, and I still have a primarily veg diet. In general, I feel much healthier when I abstain from meat. That said, re-adding meat into my diet was a miserable ******** experience, so I still eat meat from time to time. I don't want my body to forget (again) how to handle it, and it's nice to have the flexibility. biggrin

I would definitely encourage people to try going meatless for a week or two (or more), if they have the opportunity, even if it's just for fun. Try some new meals, learn more about nutrition, and quite possibly save some money. *shrug*

I only started eating tofu recently (within the past year), and that's thanks to Pixie. It's always annoyed me a little bit how it's sort of the first thing people think of when they think "vegetarian". That said, it is very versatile and inexpensive (a big block is like $2 here, which can be used for at least two meals), but it was definitely an acquired taste for me. (Acquired texture, maybe.) It was also impossible to buy in my hometown when I was younger, so even if I had liked it, it wasn't an option. x3

I would have some trouble going vegan, mostly due to apathy and my love of cheese. x3 I've considered doing it for a month, just to see how I feel, but that probably won't happen until I'm only buying groceries for myself.

But yeah. Once you stop eating animal flesh, you become acutely aware of how much of it you used to eat, even if you weren't a total carnivore. Going vegan would make you painfully aware of all the other animal bits that you eat without even thinking about it. Most of my favourite candies aren't vegan, and anyone who likes milk chocolate is out of luck. (Although I'm sure there are alternatives.)

Merry Christmas Eve ATG! 4laugh

Here in the future it is already Christmas. So have a merry Christmas guys. Or as the gift wrap I bought from Think Geek reads, "have a satisfactory non-denominational capitalist wintertime gift-giving season!" mrgreen

Love you too, Lobo! xd

I haven't wrapped all of my gifts in it. Just the ones to people who I think will "get it."


Also, Terra loves tofu. Yum yum! And there are vegan chocolate options. Chocolate itself of course comes from the pods of the cocoa tree so it is technically vegan because it is from a plant. The problem comes down to picking a brand that hasn't had animal products added to it. The most obvious things that would spring to mind there would be dairy but other additives are usually in there too. As with most food choices, it comes down to how well you have educated yourself on how to read the ingredients list. (Or, "is there an app for that?") I have tried some vegan chocolate brands. They were still good but not as overall satisfactory as what I've been raised to regard as chocolate. That said, just as I've learned to no longer want salt on my food and can no longer stand the taste of sugar in my tea, I'm sure I could learn to prefer the taste of vegan chocolate too. It's just a matter of what you are used to.

Whoo day off! (I grabbed your booty, Are. Oh-ho-ho~ 4laugh )
Merry Christmas, all.

I just took all my deodorant sets out of their boxes. Holy ******** I have a lot. D: Need to find space for this stuff!

Been so busy with holidays. I will return eventually. I hope the celebrations have been fun for everyone! 8D