素食其實不難，只要有心，任何年齡層都做得到

　　选择素食的人口，在个人健康、动物生存权、道德、环保、宗教等议题愈来愈受普罗大众关心下，近年来，逐渐的上升，年龄层也逐渐的下降。为了探究什么原因让年轻一代的青少年选择吃素，蕃茄小屋的编辑群特别从2004年5月24日起在网络上，依年龄

(1)18岁以下的青少年
(2)18岁以上的年轻人或青壮年的区分，做了一项英文的问卷调查。我们采用的方法是，将问卷贴在一些著名的素食论坛上，让网友自由填写，短短一个星期的时间，总共有来自美国、加拿大、英国、英格兰与澳洲等国家，约40位的素食网友填写了这份问卷。陆续我们将把这些问卷结果翻译之后，登载在每一期的蕃茄小屋中，与大家分享。

　　这份问卷目前虽然大部分还在翻译当中，但初步可以发现：

1.素食其实不难，只要有心，任何年龄层都做得到。
2.素食也能吃的很健康。
　　后续我们将再做比较详细的分析与整理。在此我们先将代表性的几个问卷结果刊登出来，与大家分享。
青少年组(一)

名字：abby
年龄：15
性别：女
国家： 英国，艾赛克斯州
素食类别：严格的素食者
1．影响你素食的原因为何？
我出生之后就开始素食，但成为严格的素食者，是在一次学校带领我们参观一所乳牛场时才决定的。那次我发现到他们所介绍我们认识的信息中，所从未谈到的有关雄性小牛的事。我看到了小牛被关在很简陋的茅棚内，而且当我着他们的眼睛时，……我看到他们害怕与痛苦的眼神。我无法不联想到其它方面的事情。起初我是为了这些动物，而选择成为严格的素食者，但接着我领悟到严格素食主义的力量-----素食是为了所有的人类、动物与环境。
2．素食年龄：出生之后就开始素食，严格的素食则有一年的时间。
3．素食难吗？
我生来就素食，因此对我来说，素食并不难。但严格的素食，刚开始是有一些难，但现在我发现我喜欢严格的素食，而且决不会回头。
4．那本书或那个人影响你成为素食者呢？
彼得．辛格的《合乎伦常的生活》(writing on an ethical life)，以及朱丽叶．葛拉蕾的《沉默的方舟》(the silent ark)。
5．那句话影响你成为素食者呢？
「暴力面前，众生皆会颤抖。众生都惧怕死亡，热爱生命。从别人的身上我们看到自己。如此一来你会去伤害谁？你会做出什么伤害的举动？」～佛陀
6．你如何获得每天所需的蛋白质呢？
从豆类、坚果、豆腐。
7．请提供一份你每天一般会吃的食物计划表
--早餐：辗碎的谷物、坚果与干果等、豆奶。
--午餐：苹果、香蕉、柳橙、自家做的无盐全麦面包以及鹰嘴豆芝麻色拉酱。
--晚餐：炸豆腐拌荞麦面
--点心：水果/素巧克力
8．你觉得为什么其它人也应该素食？
因为如果没有人愿意改变他的生活型态且相信因果，人们不会有所长进，律法不会改变，社会也不所有改变。如果人们能接受动物也会有痛苦的感觉，我们就应该将这个观念带进我们的每天生活当中，那么这个世界将会是个更平安与和平的地方。
9．当你到非素食的餐馆吃饭时，你是否有点菜的困难呢？如果是这样，你怎么办？
我经常最后只是点带皮的马铃薯(土豆)与豆类食品。或者，..怎么说呢，没有起司与其它东西的披萨。是蛮困难的，但我的朋友都很支持我，所以看到我这样总是笑一笑。
10．你认为你的饮食均衡吗？如果没有，请说明。
绝对是均衡的，我相信严格的素食主义是这地球上最健康的饮食。
11．素食的利弊为何？
成为一般素食/严格素食的优点是，这是你个人最大的一个进展….这是每个人都可以做到的，----告诉周遭的人你对动物所受的苦感到痛绝。缺点是….没有任何缺点耶！:d
12．任何建议？
我是一个已改头换面的人…….我终生奉行严格的素食:d
 
 
 
成年组(一)

名字：annie
年龄：35
性别：女
国家：美国，印地安纳州
素食类别：严格的素食者
1．影响你素食的原因为何？
我是在帮助我先生做学校的一份研究报告时，开始素食的。当时我们还未素食，但我们却在那个时候发现肉食会对健康造成危害，以及畜养动物的环境所会对地球产生的侵蚀。于是为了家人的健康，我们决定素食。
2．素食年龄：3年
3．素食难吗？
一点不难。我们发现大部分的餐厅都非常贴心，而在家里吃时，食物的选择是无限的。素食之前，似乎所吃得东西都只局限在鸡、牛或鱼。那真是令人厌烦的。
4．那本书或那个人影响你成为素食者呢？
在帮我先生做研究时，我读了哈尔．莱门(howard lyman)所写的「发疯的牛仔」。这本书导引我走上正确的路。
5．那句话影响你成为素食者呢？
「除非你能够拥抱并接纳所有的生物，而不只是将爱心局限
于人类而已，不然你不算真正拥有怜悯之心。」～史怀哲
6．你如何获得每天所需的蛋白质呢？
从豆类、坚果、豆荚、综合维他命补充品。
7．请提供一份你每天一般会吃的食物计划表
--早餐：综合水果、格兰诺拉的谷片、加黄豆奶的咖啡
--午餐：烤马铃薯(土豆)、色拉、水果切片、苏打水
--晚餐：意大利蔬菜面、大蒜面包、苹果派、豆奶
--点心：炸蕃茄片、椒盐脆饼、烤的豆腐条、坚果、生菜
8．你觉得为什么其它人也应该素食？
如果不是其它理由，…..，那么为了你的健康。肉类食品会慢慢的破坏你的结肠，而且许多癌症皆与肉食有关联。
9．当你到非素食的餐馆吃饭时，你是否有点菜的困难呢？如果是这样，你怎么办？
只有一次在菜单上找不到任何可以吃的，….我只点了一些小菜，结果凑成一盘非常棒的蔬菜组合。

10．你认为你的饮食均衡吗？如果没有，请说明。
我知道我吃的均衡，医师同意我的吃法。
11．素食的利弊为何？
其中一个优点是….不用担心因吃肉而感染过来的疾病，缺点之一是….逛商店找东西时都须读所有的标示。
12．任何建议？
尝试素食一个月看看。我们是这样开始的。在发现素食让我们觉得更舒服，且对我们更有益时，我们从未再回头吃肉。试试看！
 
 
 
first name: abby
age: 15
gender: female
state: essex
country: uk
vegetarian type(vegan or veggie): vegan
1. what influenced you to become vegetarian?
i've been vegetarian since birth, but decided to go vegan because i visited a dairy farm with my school and realised that the talks they gave us never told us about what happened to male calves. i saw the cows in their sheds briefly, and looked into their eyes...i saw fear and pain. something i could not be connected to anymore. i did it for the animals ultimately but then i realised the strength of veganism - it's for people, the animals and the enviroment.
2. how long have you been a vegetarian?
veggie since birth, vegan for a year
3. is it hard to be a vegetarian?
i've been brought up veggie so i never had a problem with that. vegan was a little tough at first, but now i love it and i could never go back.
4. what books or who gave you the inspiration of being a vegetarian?
"writings on an ethical life" by peter singer, and "the silent ark" by juliet gellatley
5. which quotes that inspired you to become a vegetarian?
"all beings tremble before violence. all fear death, all love life. see yourself in others. then whom can you hurt? what harm can you do?" - buddha
6. how do you get your protein everyday?
beans, nuts, tofu
7. give a general meal plan of what you eat each day:
-breakfast muesli and soya milk
-lunch apple, banana, orange, homemade wholemeal bread (no salt!) and hummus
-dinner stir fry with tofu and buckwheat/soba noodles
-snacks fruit/vegan chocolate
8. why should other people become vegetarians?
because without one person changing their lifestyle and believing in a cause, movements never grow, laws never change, and society never brings a change. if people could accept that suffering should extend to animals and we should evolve to incorporate this into our everyday lives, then the world would be a safer and more peaceful place.
9. when you go to non-vegetarian restaurants, do you find any difficulty ordering appropriate meals? if so, what do you do?
i often end up ordering jacket potato and beans. or say a pizza...without the cheese etc. it's difficult but my friends are supportive so it's always a laugh
10. do you think you are on a well balanced diet? if not, please explain why.
absolutely. i believe veganism is the healthiest diet on the planet.
11. what are the pros and cons of being vegetarian?
pros of being veggie/vegan are that it is the biggest step you can take as an individual...that everyone can take, in order to tell the people around you that you are abhorred by animal suffering.
cons...they aren't any!!! :d
12. any comment?
i'm a changed person...i'm vegan for life :d
 
 

 
first name: annie
age:35
state: in
country: usa
vegetarian type(vegan or veggie): vegan
1. what influenced you to become vegetarian?
helping my husband do a research paper for school. it was a topic that was given to him, we were not vegetarian at the time. we found out about health hazards of meat and conditions of farmed animals and the erosions of the land due to it. we decided for our family's health we should choose vegetarianism

2. how long have you been a vegetarian?
[3 years
3. is it hard to be a vegetarian?
not at all. we find that most restaurants are very accommodating and the choices of food at home are limitless. before becoming vegetarian, it seemed like every meal was centered around chicken, beef, or fish. that gets boring

4. what books or who gave you the inspiration of being a vegetarian?
during the course of research i read "mad cowboy" by howard lyman. that set me in the right direction.
5. which quotes that inspired you to become a vegetarian?
it is a man's sympathy with all creatures that first makes him truly a man.~ albert schweitzer
6. how do you get your protein everyday?
from beans, nuts, legumes, and multivitamin supplements
7. give a general meal plan of what you eat each day:
-breakfast..........mixed fruit smoothie, granola cereal, coffee with soy creamer
-lunch...... baked potato, salad, piece of fruit, sparkling water
-dinner.... vegetable lasagna, garlic bread, apple pie, soymilk
-snacks.....chips, pretzels, baked tofu sticks, nuts, raw veggies
8. why should other people become vegetarians?
if for no other reason... your health. meat slowly destroys your colon and it is linked to so many cancers
9. when you go to non-vegetarian restaurants, do you find any difficulty ordering appropriate meals? if so, what do you do?
[only one time was there "nothing" on the menu as a meal....i just ordered a bunch of "side dishes" and ended up with a very nice vegetable platter.
10. do you think you are on a well balanced diet? if not, please explain why.
i know i am, my doctor agrees.
11. what are the pros and cons of being vegetarian?
a pro would be... not worrying about getting diseases transmitted through eating animal and a con would be... not being able to go in to any store and find what you need without reading every label.
12. any comment?
give it a try for one month. that's how we started. we just never went back when we found out how good it made us feel, and how good it was for us! try it.

素食让人身体舒畅 精神愉快

　　上期介绍了我们在网路上所做的青少年素食习惯与饮食问卷调查的初步结果，这期我们继续在这里做后续的介绍。目前这份网路问卷调查已告一个段落，总共收到来自九个国家67份的问卷回复。相关背景资料如下：

国家 (单位：人)
美国 44 加拿大 7 英国 7 英格兰 3 苏格兰 1 澳洲 2 纽西兰 1 新加坡 1 中东地区 1 合计 67 

性别 (单位：人)
男(m) 35 女(f) 32 
年龄 (单位：人)
18(含)岁以下 38 18岁以上 29
其中吃素超过5年(含)的有29人，并有两位是生出来就吃素的。接下来我们将再介绍其中四位的问卷调查结果给大家参考。



青少年组
(1)
名字: maggie
年龄:18
性别：女
国家: 美国
所在省份: 印第安纳州和明尼苏达州

素食者种类(彻底素食或一般素食): 彻底素食者
1．什么影响你成为素食者?
我读了很多关于人们如何容易且天然的方式来吃且不伤害动物的资讯。对我来说，如果吃可以不造成其它动物的伤痛，那我们应该都如此做，因为人也是动物，而且大家是平等的。
2．素食年龄?
从1994年起我就是一名素食者，2001年后则成为一个彻底的素食者。
3．素食难吗？
一点也不。一路上有点艰难，有时候，要解释我是一个彻底素食者但又不伤到对方有点难，但就是这样。
4．那本书或那个人影响你成为素食者呢？
朋友给我的启发，以及一些书，像《一座小行星的饮食》 (diet for a small planet)，moosewood出版的食谱，和一些陈述食品工业界残酷对待动物和人的资料。
5．那句话影响你成为素食者呢？
卡夫卡说 "现在我可以平静的看你；我不再吃你了"
6．你如何获得每天所需的蛋白质呢？
许多东西含有蛋白质！发现新东西是令人振奋的。豆制品(豆浆, 优格, 奶酪, 大豆)、 花生酱、豆类(在墨西哥炸玉米饼, 面卷饼, 色拉, 通心粉, 红番椒里)和绿叶蔬菜，像菠菜和芝麻菜。
7．请提供一份你每天一般会吃的食物计划表
--早餐：格兰诺拉燕麦卷加大豆优格和水果。咖啡和柳橙汁。
--午餐：墨西哥面卷饼加大豆、大豆奶酪、胡椒、菠菜、玉米和蕃茄。
--晚餐：色拉 (菠菜、青菜、甜菜、豆腐、红萝卜、和蕃茄)，也许再加通心粉配开心果和蔬菜，面包加美乃滋或一个加拌酱的素汉堡，一个蔬菜派...等等！
--点心：大豆冰淇淋，麻花，红萝卜和芹菜条，优格，饼干等等。
8．你觉得为什么其它人也应该素食？
因为我们生活在一个拥有许多健康资讯的时代，且在超级市场和合作社里都有许多健康食品，所以要吃得好又健康而且不伤害其它动物是一件容易的事。因为这是如此的简单，人们应该把握这个不会造成其它动物伤害而存在的机会。它会让你感到健康，看起来健康，而且心灵上至少也比较与世界和平的在一起。
9．当你到非素食的餐馆吃饭时，你是否有点菜的困难呢？如果是这样，你怎么办？
通常我会问服务生是否可以点些纯素食餐，然而大部分餐厅都有未标示在菜单上的素的或纯素的菜。
10．你认为你的饮食均衡吗？如果没有，请说明。
是的。
11．素食的利弊为何？
优点：感到健康、看起来健康、低胆固醇、减少疾病、花费少、容易准备。缺点：必需解释我的吃素决定！需要试着不粗鲁或高傲地宣扬我的饮食习惯。
12．任何建议？
进行这项调查问卷和你们的网站是好个主意! 祝你们好运!
 
(2)名字: lindsay
年龄:18
性别：女
国家: 美国
所在省份: 密执安州
素食者种类(彻底素食或一般素食): 绝对的素食者 (一定要把"绝对”丢进这里...哈)
1．什么影响你成为素食者?
http://www.farmsanctuary.com网站上的内容占有很大的关系。不过，在我大约十三岁时, 开始觉得应该停止吃肉，所以我慢慢的减少肉量而且努力的学习有关素食主义的相关内容。我致力于素食是因为我不想让一只动物因为我想有东西吃而丧失生命；这是除了对地球有善之外的非暴力精神。
2．素食年龄?
大约四年。吃素的第一年，我的涉入是非常深浅不一。
3．素食难吗？
我觉得吃素蛮简单的。大致上，我不再有任何的肉食欲妄。真的，我觉得成为彻底素食者是比较困难。我尽力一天一次的彻底素食。
4．那本书或那个人影响你成为素食者呢？
我阿姨在我约十四岁时给我一本叫《素食之道》(becoming vegetarian) 的书，一本简单介绍素食营养的书，让我读起来不困难。这本书让吃快餐的人也受到说服。
5．那句话影响你成为素食者呢？
我不认为有任何的名言。
6．你如何获得每天所需的蛋白质呢？
豆类, 豆腐, 豆制品, 有时一些蛋白质饮料。谷类中也含有蛋白质。
7．请提供一份你每天一般会吃的食物计划表
--早餐： 谷片或加水果的luna条。
--午餐： 素三明治，或一些洋芋片，或一些饭--午餐常有些变化。
--晚餐： 通常是素汉堡。有时是一些豆腐，经常拌有青菜。
--点心： 点心棒，水果，青菜，一些洋芋片或饼干或一些垃圾食品。
8．你觉得为什么其它人也应该素食？
我相信素食主义，而且我将为它代言去教别人有关素食主义。我相信吃素对你的身体，地球和动物有益。
9．当你到非素食的餐馆吃饭时，你是否有点菜的困难呢？如果是这样，你怎么办？
有时确实会有困难。通常我会要求没有奶酪的食物，或请服务生帮我做选择。我总能找到东西吃，即使是牛排馆我也能吃到马铃薯和色拉。有时你必须享受和别人一起共餐的时间，而把食物摆在第二位！
10．你认为你的饮食均衡吗？如果没有，请说明。
有时候是，有时候不是。但是，我知道如何有个均衡的素食，但有时我吃了太多的碳水化合物东西或太多的脂肪或垃圾食物。我指的是，有几天...但不是一天到晚。是的，我觉得我吃的很均衡。我可以多吃点蔬菜的。
11．素食的利弊为何？
优点是我对我的决定感到舒服，那就是我感到我对地球及动物有直接和经济上的帮助。只要我吃得好，身体方面也感觉很好。
12．任何建议？
我很高兴填写这问卷调查，而且我希望有更多人能从素食中找到快乐。
 

成年组
(1)
名字: tricia
年龄:35
性别：女
国家: 美国
所在省份: 麻省州
素食者种类(彻底素食或一般素食): 绝对的素食者 (一定要把"绝对”丢进这里...哈)

1．什么影响你成为素食者?
有益健康
2．素食年龄?
一年
3．素食难吗？
不
4．那本书或那个人影响你成为素食者呢？
首先：robert young博士写的《身体的奥妙》(the ph miracle)， 第二，我的新男朋友。
5．那句话影响你成为素食者呢？
“即使你与生俱来手上有一把枪，但这不代表你要开枪”
6．你如何获得每天所需的蛋白质呢？
少量的混合核桃, 偶而豆子.
7．请提供一份你每天一般会吃的食物计划表
--早餐：有绿叶的色拉、水果或蔬菜汁
--午餐：有绿叶的色拉、麦粒蕃茄生菜色拉、炸豆泥三明治
--晚餐：泰式饼或是豆腐馄饨和蕃茄酱以及有绿叶的色拉
--点心：混合核桃、洋芋片、新鲜水果,
8．你觉得为什么其它人也应该素食？
去扩展和享受世界上的美味、具有创造力与健康的食物，并且给予动物和平。
9．当你到非素食的餐馆吃饭时，你是否有点菜的困难呢？如果是这样，你怎么办？
对，有时候 。如果是这样，点一些素食开胃菜，或一大碗”特别”的色拉。
10．你认为你的饮食均衡吗？如果没有，请说明。
是的。我完全按照我身体的需要来吃。我会注意我的能量状况并吃营养补充品.
11．素食的利弊为何？
优点：我感觉更有能量，想的更清楚，而且负面情绪减少许多。
缺点： 生活在肉食世界里是最大的挑战。人们不会给自己和他们小孩子的吃另一种选择。他们甚至很少想到对地球的伤害。这些人天生和我有不同的哲理，所以我们只能相斥的共同存在着。 我的挑战是克服这种无知，而且秀给他们看他们直接污染了这个星球。
12．任何建议？
我不能改变世界，但我能改变我自己。
 

(2)
名字: 林雪雄
年龄:25
性别: 男
国家: 新加坡
素食者种类(彻底素食或一般素食): 一般素食
1．什么影响你成为素食者?
动物的痛苦
2．素食年龄?
12 年
3．素食难吗？
天下无难事
4．那本书或那个人影响你成为素食者呢？
禅宗六祖慧能
5．那句话影响你成为素食者呢？
没
6．你如何获得每天所需的蛋白质呢？
豆奶
7．请提供一份你每天一般会吃的食物计划表
--早餐：面包，豆奶
--午餐：面，菜
--晚餐：饭，菜
--点心：少吃
8．你觉得为什么其它人也应该素食？
健康比味道和钱还重要
9．当你到非素食的餐馆吃饭时，你是否有点菜的困难呢？如果是这样，你怎么办？
不会
10．你认为你的饮食均衡吗？如果没有，请说明。
需要多吃水果
11．素食的利弊为何？
没有坏处，好处一大堆
12．任何建议？
无
(1)first name: maggie
age:18
gender: female
country: usa
state: indiana and minnesota
vegetarian type(vegan or veggie):vegan
1. what influenced you to become vegetarian?
i read lots of information on how easy and natural it is for humans to eat without hurting animals, and it seemed to me that if it is possible to eat without causing pain than we should all do so because humans are animals too and we are all equal.
2. how long have you been a vegetarian?
i have been a vegetarian since 1994 and a vegan since 2001.
3. is it hard to be a vegetarian?
not at all. roadtrips are a bit tough and it is sometimes hard to explain to others why i'm vegan without insulting them, but that's it.
4. what books or who gave you the inspiration of being a vegetarian?
my friends gave me inspoiration and then books like diet for a small planet, the moosewood cookbooks, and various articles on the cruelty towards animals and humans exhibited in the meat industry.
5. which quotes that inspired you to become a vegetarian?
franz kafka - "now i can look at you in peace; i don't eat you anymore."
6. how do you get your protein everyday?
protein is found in so many things! it's almost exciting discovering new areas. soy products (soy milk, yogurt, cheese, soy beans) peanut butter, beans (in a taco, burrito, salad, pasta, chili) and through leafy green vegetables like spinnach and arugula.
7. give a general meal plan of what you eat each day:
-breakfast - granola with soy yogurt, and fruit. coffee and orange juice
-lunch - burrito with beans, soy cheese, peppers, spinnach, corn, and tomato
-dinner - salad (spinach, greens, beets, raw tofu, carrots, and tomatoes), and then maybe pasta with pistachioes and veggies, bread and margarine or a gardenburger with dressings, a vegetablke pie...whatever!
-snacks - soy ice cream, pretzels, carrot and celery sticks, yogurt, crackers, twizzlers, cookies etc.
8. why should other people become vegetarians?
because we live in age with so much information about health and well being, and because good healthy foods are inside so many supermarkets and co-ops it has become very easy to eat well and be healthy while not hurting other beings. because it is so simple people should embrace this one chance of existing without causing harm. it makes you feel and look healthy, and mentally i at least tend to be more at peace with the world.
9. when you go to non-vegetarian restaurants, do you find any difficulty ordering appropriate meals? if so, what do you do?
often i ask the server if i can alter a meal to be vegan although many resturants have vegetarain/vegan meals that are simply not labeled as such.
10. do you think you are on a well balanced diet? if not, please explain why.
yes.
11. what are the pros and cons of being vegetarian?
pros: feel healthy, look healthy, less cholestoral, less diseases, smaller grocery bill, easily prepared meals. cons: having to explain my decision! trying to promote my diet without being rude or morally haughty
12. any comment?
this is a great idea, the survey and the web page! good luck!
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2)
first name: lindsay
age: 18
gender: female
country: usa
state: mi
vegetarian type: strict veggie (always gotta throw that "strict in there...hah)
1. what influenced you to become vegetarian?
www.farmsanctuary.com had a big part to play in it. however, around age 13 or so, i started to feel like maybe i should give up meat, so i reduced it significantly and made an effort to learn more about vegetarianism. i am devoted to it because i do not want to take another beings life so that i may eat; it is in the spirit of non violence in addition to being earth friendly.
2. how long have you been a vegetarian?
about 4 years. the first year i was really dappling.
3. is it hard to be a vegetarian?
i find it fairly easy to be a vegetarian, generally. i have no taste for meat left, really- i find being vegan a good deal more difficult. i just take it one day at a time and do my best.
4. what books or who gave you the inspiration of being a vegetarian?
my aunt gave me a book called 'becoming vegetarian' when i was about 14- a very simple book on vegetarian nutrition that made me see its not so difficult. fast food nation was also very, very convincing.
5. which quotes that inspired you to become a vegetarian?
well, i don't really think there were any quotes.
6. how do you get your protein everyday?
beans, tofu, soy products, and sometimes a protein shake. grains have some protein, too.
7. give a general meal plan of what you eat each day:
-breakfast - cereal or luna bar w/ fruit
-lunch- veggie sandwich, or some chips, or some rice- lunch is kind of varied.
-dinner - usually a veggie burger. sometimes some tofu, always accompanied by a veggie.
-snacks- snack bars, fruit, veggies, sometimes chips or cookies or something cruddy.
8. why should other people become vegetarians?
i believe in vegetarianism and i will always be an advocate for it in addition to being there to educate people about veg*nism. i believe it is a good decision for your body, the earth, and the animals.
9. when you go to non-vegetarian restaurants, do you find any difficulty ordering appropriate meals? if so, what do you do?
sometimes i do. what i usually do is ask for items without the cheese, or ask the waitress/waiter to help me out with a selection. i can almost always find something to eat, even at a steakhouse i can have a plain potato and a salad. sometimes you have to enjoy the people you are with and kind of take the food as secondary!
10. do you think you are on a well balanced diet? if not, please explain why.
sometimes i do and sometimes i don't. however, i know how to have a balanced veg*n diet, but some days i eat too many carbs or too much fat or too much junk. i mean, you have those days...but on the whole, yes, i feel that i eat a pretty balanced diet. i could use some more veggies.
11. what are the pros and cons of being vegetarian?
the pros are feeling good about the decision i have made, which i feel benefits the earth and the animals in a direct and economic way. i also feel better physically, as long as i eat well.
12. any comment? i enjoyed filling out this survey, and i hope there are more people out there who can find happiness in vegetarianism.
 
 
 
 
 
 
(3)
first name: tricia
age: 35
gender:female
country: usa
state: massachusetts
vegetarian type(vegan or veggie): ovo-lacto (transitioning to vegan)
1. what influenced you to become vegetarian? health benefits
2. how long have you been a vegetarian? 1 year
3. is it hard to be a vegetarian? no.
4. what books or who gave you the inspiration of being a vegetarian?
firstly; the ph miracle by dr. robert young, secondly; my new boyfriend
5. which quotes that inspired you to become a vegetarian?
'just because you may have been born with a gun in your hand, does not mean you have to pull the trigger'.
(pertaining to genetic tendencies and taking the steps to avoid them).
6. how do you get your protein everyday? handfuls of mixed nuts, occasionally beans.
tabor
7. give a general meal plan of what you eat each day:
-breakfast: green leafy salad, fruit, or juiced vegetables
-lunch: green leafy salad, tabouli, felafel
-dinner: pad thai, or tofu ravioli & tomato sauce & green salad
-snacks: mixed nuts, potato chips, fresh fruit,
8. why should other people become vegetarians?
to expand & enjoy the variety of delicious, creative, healthy, foods in the world & give peace to the animals.
9. when you go to non-vegetarian restaurants, do you find any difficulty ordering appropriate meals?
yes, sometimes.
if so, what do you do?
order several vegetable appetizers, or request an 'exceptionally' large bowl of salad.
10. do you think you are on a well balanced diet? if not, please explain why.
i do. i feed my body what it asks me for. i pay attention to energy levels & take supplements.
11. what are the pros and cons of being vegetarian?
pro: i feel much more energetic, i can think clearer, and negative emotions have minimized.
con: it is most challenging to live in a meat-eating world. people do not give a second thought to what they and their children ingest. they think even less of harmful effects to the earth. these folks and i naturally have different philosophies, therefore we have been co-existing mutually exclusively. my challenge is to cut through the ignorance & reveal to themthat they are directly contributing to the contamination of the planet. after all 'ignorance is bliss'.
12. any comment?
i can't change the world, but i can change me.