Former vegans who went back to lacto-ovo vegetarianism

[Jemdude]

Yes, but in this case the poster has ED issues. I love animals too, but I am not willing to put their lives before mine.

I agree, although not every vegan takes things that far. According to some vegans that I have talked to, some will take medication with animal products in them if they need it for medical necessity.

[jenni-anti-fur]

I agree, although not every vegan takes things that far. According to some vegans that I have talked to, some will take medication with animal products in them if they need it for medical necessity.

Yuppers... I know one who takes meds for a medical condition thats very serious and they dont give it a second though....cause its a no brainer...they have no choice.

[Pirate Huntress]

I'm actually considering going back to lacto-ovo... :/

[rockindancer86]

I don't know if you've tried it or you have it in your area, but it's called Mrs Baird's Sugar Free Whole Grain Wheat. It's yummy and pretty soft, toasts well too. And for baking, I just found this recipe:

http://www.recipezaar.com/Feather-Br...nd-Buns-336855

Just want to point out that if I remember correctly, she has celiac disease, so wheat's a no-go.

Youve completely missed the point. Being vegan is not about whats right for YOU, its about whats right for animals.

So unhelpful.

I'm actually considering going back to lacto-ovo... :/

May I ask why?


I went vegan at the same time I moved to Japan, and was overwhelmed. I could read, couldn't speak Japanese, etc. Here, when I explain that I only want veggies in tempura, no fish, shrimp, etc., I get fishcakes included because once it's been processed, it's no longer considered fish.

I went back to (minimally) lacto-ovo-veg because it was the best way for me to keep my sanity. I've recently instituted a Vegan Home rule, and since dairy isn't in traditional Japanese food the only thing left really is egg, if I have tempura or okonomiyaki (egg pancakes) at a restaurant or something. And the spaghetti may have egg in it, I don't know (I'll check a package this afternoon).

I'm struggling with whether I want to cut those eggs back out. I think I will, because my beliefs are aligned with veganism. There are no veg*n restaurants here, no veg*n convenience foods (though they're not good for you anyway!), and again... fishcake is a vegetable... and even the soymilk where I live isn't vegan. And the soy yogurt they sell here has gelatin, and sometimes the pickled plums even have fishbroth in them, which I found out is really weird because traditionally they don't. Odd.

I went back to vegetarian for convenience and my sanity, basically. Now that I'm settled here I've got to decide whether to go back to vegan or not. To a vegan, that probably seems like a very easy question. To a vegetarian it's a bit complicated.

Also, even if I return to vegan, I'd take medicine made with animal products if I had to. While I don't think humans are better than animals, I'm not going to sacrifice myself in that kind of situation.

[Kiseki]

Just want to point out that if I remember correctly, she has celiac disease, so wheat's a no-go.


So unhelpful.


May I ask why?


I went vegan at the same time I moved to Japan, and was overwhelmed. I could read, couldn't speak Japanese, etc. Here, when I explain that I only want veggies in tempura, no fish, shrimp, etc., I get fishcakes included because once it's been processed, it's no longer considered fish.

I went back to (minimally) lacto-ovo-veg because it was the best way for me to keep my sanity. I've recently instituted a Vegan Home rule, and since dairy isn't in traditional Japanese food the only thing left really is egg, if I have tempura or okonomiyaki (egg pancakes) at a restaurant or something. And the spaghetti may have egg in it, I don't know (I'll check a package this afternoon).

I'm struggling with whether I want to cut those eggs back out. I think I will, because my beliefs are aligned with veganism. There are no veg*n restaurants here, no veg*n convenience foods (though they're not good for you anyway!), and again... fishcake is a vegetable... and even the soymilk where I live isn't vegan. And the soy yogurt they sell here has gelatin, and sometimes the pickled plums even have fishbroth in them, which I found out is really weird because traditionally they don't. Odd.

I went back to vegetarian for convenience and my sanity, basically. Now that I'm settled here I've got to decide whether to go back to vegan or not. To a vegan, that probably seems like a very easy question. To a vegetarian it's a bit complicated.

Also, even if I return to vegan, I'd take medicine made with animal products if I had to. While I don't think humans are better than animals, I'm not going to sacrifice myself in that kind of situation.

I DO know 1 vegan here. He's been vegan this whole time and never went off. I think he mostly eats tofu and curry. I honestly don't know how he does it and not go crazy. I get irritated all the time just being VEG. I know what you mean about all those hidden ingredients. Plus it is SO expensive to constantly have to buy sh!t from import shops.

I think you're doing a very good job and esp. for where you live. I personally would not go vegan here. Why don't you just try strict veg. and not worry about trace ingredients?

[rockindancer86]

I DO know 1 vegan here. He's been vegan this whole time and never went off. I think he mostly eats tofu and curry. I honestly don't know how he does it and not go crazy. I get irritated all the time just being VEG. I know what you mean about all those hidden ingredients. Plus it is SO expensive to constantly have to buy sh!t from import shops.

I think you're doing a very good job and esp. for where you live. I personally would not go vegan here. Why don't you just try strict veg. and not worry about trace ingredients?

Thanks That's basically what I'm doing, strict veg, at the moment, at least in restaurants. I'm doing the vegan house thing, and mostly it's stopped me from eating tons of bread and pocky. I checked some pasta packages today, and so far none of the ones I read had egg in them which is nice. I don't worry about trace stuff when I'm out, though.

I'm doing fine without soymilk right now, because I ordered hemp milk... but that's expensive so I doubt once I run out that I'll do it again any time soon! I mostly use it in cooking anyway, not for drinking. I can buy plain, unsweetened which is vegan, or sweetened which isn't. I suppose it'll depend on what I'm making.

I might keep the egg option open at restaurants and such so I don't go completely bonkers... since most places only offer tempura when I ask what I can eat!

[Kiseki]

Thanks That's basically what I'm doing, strict veg, at the moment, at least in restaurants. I'm doing the vegan house thing, and mostly it's stopped me from eating tons of bread and pocky. I checked some pasta packages today, and so far none of the ones I read had egg in them which is nice. I don't worry about trace stuff when I'm out, though.

I'm doing fine without soymilk right now, because I ordered hemp milk... but that's expensive so I doubt once I run out that I'll do it again any time soon! I mostly use it in cooking anyway, not for drinking. I can buy plain, unsweetened which is vegan, or sweetened which isn't. I suppose it'll depend on what I'm making.

I might keep the egg option open at restaurants and such so I don't go completely bonkers... since most places only offer tempura when I ask what I can eat!

I don't worry about tempura cuz it's fried in the same oil as the meat/fish tempura anyway

Hey, have you checked out the Kibun Tonyu? That's what I drink and I'm positive it has no dairy in it! At least I've read the box a million times. The cocoa flavor is so good!

[Skylark]

I've given two solid attempts to go vegan in the almost ten years I've been a vegetarian. Both instances faded out after a few months. I was living with my family at the time and a full-time college student with two part-time jobs, which wouldn't have stopped me if I were as committed as I would have liked to have been.

Right now, although I live alone and do most of my own cooking, I'm not ready to make the 100% switch. I almost never have eggs on hand and never buy liquid cow milk because the powdered versions for baking are so much handier. I don't like eggs in most things that aren't baked anyway. I'm not going to stress, for now, about incidental dairy in a packaged food product or when I'm with my family or out to eat. When I have two or more choices in front of me, and one is vegan, I often make a conscious effort to choose that one. So, I'm not vegan, but I do often make vegan choices and believe that is a positive step.

[Kiseki]

I've given two solid attempts to go vegan in the almost ten years I've been a vegetarian. Both instances faded out after a few months. I was living with my family at the time and a full-time college student with two part-time jobs, which wouldn't have stopped me if I were as committed as I would have liked to have been.

Right now, although I live alone and do most of my own cooking, I'm not ready to make the 100% switch. I almost never have eggs on hand and never buy liquid cow milk because the powdered versions for baking are so much handier. I don't like eggs in most things that aren't baked anyway. I'm not going to stress, for now, about incidental dairy in a packaged food product or when I'm with my family or out to eat. When I have two or more choices in front of me, and one is vegan, I often make a conscious effort to choose that one. So, I'm not vegan, but I do often make vegan choices and believe that is a positive step.

I think most of here who are L/O eat mostly vegan. I still don't think it's terrible to have some pizza or chocolate now and again though

[rockindancer86]

I don't worry about tempura cuz it's fried in the same oil as the meat/fish tempura anyway

Hey, have you checked out the Kibun Tonyu? That's what I drink and I'm positive it has no dairy in it! At least I've read the box a million times. The cocoa flavor is so good!

Eww, I never thought of that... makes perfect sense, though. And I don't think they sell that soymilk here. I'll keep an eye out, though.