Are you a vegetarian?

...is it just me who doesn't understand the terms "quasi," "pseudo," and "semi" vegetarian?  I mean, either you eat meat or you don't... 

Very few things are that black and white in my world. But that just my opinion. 

...is it just me who doesn't understand the terms "quasi," "pseudo," and "semi" vegetarian?  I mean, either you eat meat or you don't... 

I agree, you shouldn't call yourself a vegetarian if you eat meat (red meat, poultry, fish etc..).  I think it causes a lot of confusion and is probably the reason why my grandmother continually tries to feed me either fish or poultry whilst saying its vegetarian!

I've been a vegetarian for several years now.  The state of US slaughterhouses really really disgusts me.  I ate kosher meat for awhile, because that tends to be the cleanest...but eventually it was just too expensive where I lived and I was a poor college student. So, I gave up meat and became a vegetarian.  Now that cost isn't really an issue...I'm a vegetarian because I genuinely feel healthier not eating meat.

I read a report awhile back that said the kosher meat industry really wasn't any better than the mainstream meat industry.
I used to eat kosher meat only a long time ago as well, but it is sooo expensive and really for no good reason.

Very few things are that black and white in my world. But that just my opinion. 

Well, I can understand preferring to just say "I prefer a vegetarian diet" if people are continually trying to feed you fish if you say you eat it a couple of times a year and they assume that's all you eat.  Or if you eat meat occasionally but prefer to not eat it most of the time. 

Maybe it's just the terms themselves that kind of puzzle me.  They don't bother me, I just find them a bit strange, if that makes sense. (Though it does get a bit old when people continually ask me if I eat fish and chicken)

I agree, you shouldn't call yourself a vegetarian if you eat meat (red meat, poultry, fish etc..).  I think it causes a lot of confusion and is probably the reason why my grandmother continually tries to feed me either fish or poultry whilst saying its vegetarian!

You stated in your earlier post that you ate meat recently so does that mean you should no longer call yourself vegetarian? Maybe that's why your grandmother is confused about what you eat? 

I think it's up to the individual to decide what label, if any, to place on themselves.

You stated in your earlier post that you ate meat recently so does that mean you should no longer call yourself vegetarian? Maybe that's why your grandmother is confused about what you eat? 

I think it's up to the individual to decide what label, if any, to place on themselves.

I was a vegetarian for six years, not counting the two month period (right after I moved to the UK) I did eat a bit a meat and by bit, I mean two meals.  You can be sure I didn't call myself a vegetarian then and wouldn't unless I was sure I wanted to go down a path that did not include eating meat.  In any case, my grandmother tried to feed me meat when I was a vegetarian, so I doubt my eating meat recently had anything to do with it....unless she had a psychic vision?? Hmmm...

I'm not going to get into it with you, but if people want to put a label on themselves, they should be sure that its the correct one.  Isn't it easier to be a person who rarely eats meat than a quasi-vegetarian that only eats four legged animals on Sundays?

If people were to ask I say I'm a vegetarian.  Since I do not eat ANY meat.  I do eat fish, which I don't consider meat.  I don't eat fish very often, mostly when I dine out.  I was being honest in my post saying I'm a pseudo-veggie since I'm not a strict vegetarian.  I do eat dairy which some people consider on the cusp (lacto).  I haven't eaten any type of meat in over 20 years so I guess I'm a bit more liberal in the definition.  I have a friend that says she's a vegetarian, but she eats white meats...to me that's NOT a vegetarian at all.

I did do almost year being a vegan.  It wasn't for me as I missed cheese way too much!

...is it just me who doesn't understand the terms "quasi," "pseudo," and "semi" vegetarian?  I mean, either you eat meat or you don't... 

To a lot of people, fish isn't considered meat. Besides, if I don't tell people I'm a vegetarian, I'm liable to get served a great heaping plate of roast beef! It's easier to just say that I'm a vegetarian than to explain the whole fish and poultry thing. Obviously friends and relatives understand, but if you're getting invited out to dinner or a social event, nobody really wants to know the full details. If someone asks specifically, "Are you a vegetarian?" I'll say no and explain what I am.

Maybe there should be a nice convenient word for those of us who don't eat red meat!

I did do almost year being a vegan.  It wasn't for me as I missed cheese way too much!

I only lasted three days! For the same reason -- CHEESE! 

I wish I could say I can't believe we are discussing this....

Food is a complex and emotional issue. People's choices are based on so many factors. At what point does someone lose the right to call themselves a vegetarian if they occasionally eat an animal product? If their diet is less than 99% vegetarian? 80%? Is it really anyone's call but their own?

Human beings don't always fit into nice neat boxes. Not ethnically, spiritually, sexually, emotionally, and certainly not with food. The world would be a very boring place if we did. 

Maybe there should be a nice convenient word for those of us who don't eat red meat!

Oh there is...omnivore.

If people were to ask I say I'm a vegetarian.  Since I do not eat ANY meat.  I do eat fish, which I don't consider meat. 

Vegetarian:
–noun 1. a person who does not eat or does not believe in eating meat, fish, fowl, or, in some cases, any food derived from animals, as eggs or cheese, but subsists on vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain, etc. 

I don't go around saying I'm a pseudo vegetarian. I wouldn't call myself a vegetarian now...I just don't eat red meat.  I've had people go "SO YOU'RE A VEGETARIAN!?" when I've said I don't eat red meat and I immediately say no.

Hmm I guess you are right in a way...you either are or you arn't. You either eat meat or you don't. I just don't consider "meat" chicken or fish...I always think I'm talking about beef when I say "meat".

I guess it's a personal choice on how you discribe yourself.

omnivore implies you eat red meat doesn't it?

omnivore implies you eat red meat doesn't it?

Omnivore implies you eat meat (red meat, poultry, fish, etc..).  Most of my family won't eat pork or seafood...does that make them vegetarian? No..because they still eat beef and chicken.

Just because you choose not to eat one type of living being, doesn't mean the rest don't count. 

I should say that my problem is with people who call themselves vegetarian, yet still eat flesh (I guess I should call it that because some people think fish isn't meat).  Its ridiculous.  I really don't understand how someone can say that eating chicken isn't considered being vegetarian, but eating fish is.  They were both alive and had to die for someone to eat them..what is the difference?

Omnivore means you eat everything. And since most of the folk who kindly stepped forward on this thread have made choices that they don't eat everything, it's not a valid term.

Uber_Yank for the day or two you ate meat you weren't vegetarian but then suddenly on the 3rd day you were again?  I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would say that's ridiculous.  Personally I don't care what anyone else eats or what they label themselves, it's up to them.  It's not a competition.