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Word Of The Day: Cheesetarian (Yup, It’s What You Think It Is!)

Melanie Abrahams — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 19:00:23 +0000

I was 12 when I first realized that I wanted to be a vegetarian. I didn’t think it was cool to dissect animals and bugs in class, and it seemed wrong to eat animals, too. I told my mom, and she was cool with it–even though she was pretty sure I’d just grow out this phase–but she refused to cook vegetarian meals just for me.

That’s how I became a cheesetarian–which is actually our word of the day! “What’s a cheesetarian?,” you ask . . . well, a cheesetarian is someone who practically lives on cheese alone. Cheese pizza. Cheesy toast. Cheese fries. String cheese. A big old hunk of brie just because it’s Monday. Yup. That’s what happened to me. My mom thought if she didn’t cook vegetarian meals for me that I’d eventually just start eating burgers again, but instead, I just resorted to eating the easiest (and tastiest) food of all–cheese!

Eventually, living on mozzarella sticks got kind of boring and I started muching a bigger variety of foods (much to my doctor’s relief!), but to this day the one thing you can count on me having in my fridge is a whole lot of cheese. Usually Manchego.

Are you a cheesetarian or do you know a cheesetarian? Do you love cheese as much as I do? Tell me in the comments!

Did You Know You Can Make A Grilled Cheese In The Toaster?!

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What I Eat (Or Don’t Eat) Is None Of Your Business

Jessica Booth — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:00:16 +0000

I'd rather eat a salad then steak. Why do you care? | Source: ShutterStock

Okay, time for a not so shocking confession: I don’t eat meat. I’m not a vegetarian, because I still eat fish, so the actual term for me is pescetarian. I stopped eating meat about five years ago, and it was a decision that I still feel really great about. Now, you would think that my eating habits wouldn’t really be interesting to anyone else but me, right? Wrong.

Ever since I made the switch from carnivore to pescetarian, I have been questioned and bothered about it by the majority of people I come in contact with. And honestly, I really wish it would stop. Curiosity is no big deal. I don’t care if you ask me what made me stop eating meat.

The comments that bother me are the ones that come from people who seem to be personally offended by the fact that I’m a pescetarian. Or by the people who insist on making fun of me for it every chance they get. Or the people who insist on trying to talk me into eating meat again, who basically flat-out tell me I’m stupid for making the choice I did.

I’m sorry, but why is what I choose to eat, or not eat, any of your business? Oh, right… it’s not. Since I have friends who have also made the decision to cut meat out of their lives, I know that I’m not the only one who gets picked on. It’s beyond annoying for a lot of reasons, and honestly, it needs to stop.

Go ahead, eat your burger. I don't care! | Source: ShutterStock

Like I said before, I don’t care if people are curious about my decision. I tell everyone the same thing: I read a book about what goes on in slaughterhouses and what is actually in our meat and chicken. It completely grossed me out! That afternoon, I immediately stopped eating meat. And please don’t tell me “fish have feelings too.” I’ve heard that ‘clever’ line one too many times. I do have an almost unhealthy love of animals. But, the real reason I became a pescetarian was for personal health reasons. So, drop it with the fish feelings, ok?

Most of the people who tell me I’m dumb for not eating meat are people who claim they “hate” vegetarians/vegans/pescetarians because we push our beliefs on others. First of all, that’s an unfair stereotype. I’ve never tried to talk someone out of eating a hamburger because I don’t want to eat one. In fact, for the first two years of my new diet, I worked at a steakhouse selling over-priced filet mignon. I mean, come on.

Second of all, those people are being incredibly hypocritical. Look, you’re telling me you hate that others make you feel guilty for eating meat, right? Then why are you sitting here trying to talk me into eating meat again? That literally makes no sense. No matter how much you tell me how yummy it is, it’s not going to make me change my mind. Go ahead, wave your bacon under my nose – I’m not going to eat it.

I don't really want to listen to your judgemental statements. | Source: ShutterStock

Then there are the people who tell me their life goal is to get me to unintentionally eat meat. Unbelievable, right? But I’ve heard this from a bunch of people. And honestly, it just sounds pathetic to me.

What I’m really trying to say here is that I don’t understand why others feel the need to put me down for being a pescetarian. My diet isn’t affecting you, so why do you feel like you have the right to tell me it’s stupid? It’s rude, it’s ridiculous and it’s totally uncalled for. Please stop judging me for my decision – and stop judging every other vegetarian and vegan out there also. There’s no reason someone else’s diet should make you annoyed or angry. Eat what you want, and let us eat what we want. Plain and simple.

Are you a vegetarian, vegan or pescetarian? Have you ever been made fun of for it? Let us know in the comments!

Case in point: what this guy said to this vegan

Romantic Date Ideas For Nature Lovers

Abiola Abrams — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:00:54 +0000

Beach cleanup day anyone?! | Source: Shutterstock

You’re in love. Not only is that certain somebody super hot and sweet and kind and into the same electro hip-hop mixes that you are, but he’s also smart enough to know a good thing when he sees it (and want to take care of it!). Yes, one of those things is you, but the other thing is the planet. When you’re dating an earth-friendly hottie, the best thing you can do is celebrate the earth with some fun nature dates!

So bring on the fun date ideas!

5. Pack A Picnic Blanket And Pucker Up
Everyone has dreams of being spoiled one day over a romantic restaurant dinner and candlelight, right? Forget that! For Earth Day all you need is someone cute to have a fun conversation with, an old blanket to spread on the ground and a park, bench, or backyard. Use Tupperware or other reusable containers and real plates instead of disposable ones. It’ll make everything seem fancier, and you won’t be hurting the earth!

4. Fishing and Flirting
Earth Day and Earth Week are about respecting the cycles of the environment. Instead of the prepackaged food loaded with preservatives that our great grandmothers wouldn’t even recognize, keep it simple. Take your flirty friend fishing. You can borrow a pole if your family doesn’t have one and learn as you go. Keep your giggles down to a minimum or the more serious fishermen and women will boot you from the scene! And definitely eat anything you catch. Fishing for sport is just kind of mean to the fish.

3. Plant Flowers Instead Of Giving Them
Getting a bouquet of flowers is super romantic, but planting them is even better. Not only will you have gorgeous flowers to look at for a longer time, but planting flowers actually helps the planet! Bees–sure, they can be scary, but they also pollinate a ton of the food we eat!–are attracted to certain flowers. And since American honey bees are dying off, these honey bee gardens (that you and your honey can plant together!) are more important than ever!

Best. Date. Ever. | Source: Shutterstock

2. Eat Veggie!
Going vegetarian isn’t just good for your body, it’s also good for the planet. When you eat a meaty hamburger, not only are you killing an animal–but also some rain forest, since rain forest is cut down every day to plant food to feed to cows. Yikes! Going veggie even part-time will make a huge impact. Veggie tacos, anyone?!

1. Get High
Grab your love, your reusable water bottle, and your handy GPS, and go for a hike! Climb to the highest spot in your town and enjoy a few kisses after checking out the view. You’ll have a totally new appreciation for nature–and privacy!

How do you help protect the earth? Do you have any other romantic date ideas that would be good for Earth Day? Tell me all about them in the comments!

Want More Date Ideas?

Confession: I Say I’m Vegan, But I Totally Cheat

Alissa Bilfield — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:00:40 +0000

not vegan

This is what I say, but not always what I eat! Source: etsy.com/shop/exaltation

When people hear the word “cheater,” they might think of gross celebrities who’ve cheated in relationships, or kids who’ll never actually know how to spell since they’ve cheated on every test ever. Those kinds of cheaters are pretty bad.

I’m a cheater, too–just of a different kind. I am a vegan, but that is just 95 percent of the real story. The other five percent is kind of a lie. I’ve been vegan for years, which means I don’t eat or use any animal products at all–no meat (obviously!), no poultry or fish, no milk products, no eggs, honey, leather, fur–you get the idea. Some of my good friends are vegan, too, which makes it easy. We cook together, we sip soy milk together, it’s like a big happy scene.

Thing is, without my vegan posse, things get a little more complicated and I . . . cheat.

It was like I was forced to eat it. Source: prettygirlfood.com

This year, at my best friend’s birthday party, she had this ginormous Mrs. Field’s Cookie Cake–totally NOT VEGAN! But how could I refuse my best friend’s birthday cake? Isn’t that like, bad luck or something? So I ate a respectable sized slice of the cake, though I did wipe off that gross blue frosting which gives me a little credibility, right?! I know, I’m letting down my vegan sisters and brothers, but what else could I do? I didn’t want to be the no-fun militant vegan at my friend’s party!

And if you think I only cheated that once, you’re wrong. Like most cheaters, my cheating wasn’t a one-time deal. I often find myself at the local coffee shop, meeting friends to chat, or just catching up on emails. How can I be expected to resist those delicious-looking, fresh-baked scones? Especially when I’ve been running around all day and my tummy is grumbling so loud. I call it my ‘don’t ask, don’t tell policy’ wherein I really hope the barista won’t ask if I’m vegan, and I definitely won’t tell her that I am!

So yes, I’m a cheater and I don’t make excuses or feel guilty, either. I say I do it for others, you know, to be courteous, but really, sometimes I just really want that croissant!

Are you vegetarian or vegan? What do you think about girls who say they’re veggie but then “cheat”? Tell us in the comments!

Want an even more scandalous confession? You won’t believe what this girl did!
not vegan

Animal Testing

Gurl — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:59:48 +0000

Animal testing is when scientists, students or commercial firms such as cosmetic companies use animals for biological research, typically in a laboratory setting.

Vegetarianism

Gurl — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:44:53 +0000

Vegetarianism means not eating meat and, for some, other animal products.

Two of the most common kinds of vegetarian diets are “lacto-ovo,” which includes eggs and dairy but not meat, and “vegan,” involving a more complete rejection of animal foods.

Help Me Peta2: Wrapping It All Up

Gurl — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:01:06 +0000

Hey gURLs—it’s Rachel here, and it’s my final blog with you for peta2 month here at gURL.com. I’m so excited to have been able to chat with you all (no matter how heated it got!) about animal rights, how we can help, and why exactly people decide to go vegan.

I’m sure more than a few of you are still on the fence—and some of you are even offended by me saying that no, you can’t really eat meat and care about animals—but the point I’m trying to get across is that we are all powerful. Every gURL has choices to make in her life, and you can either choose to live compassionately, or support an industry no one really agrees with.

|Check out Rachel’s tips on going veg the easy way!|

I once ate meat, wore leather, bought dogs from breeders, and used products that were tested on animals; I once argued that we were on the “top of the food chain” and that animals on factory farms “were treated well” … but then I learned. It’s OK to admit your mistakes—all gURLs have them, but now that you know how animals are treated on factory farms before they make it to your plate, you have a choice.

I feel good every day knowing that I’m living by my values. I consider myself a caring, compassionate, understanding person. The meat, dairy, egg, animal testing, circus, and other industries that exploit animals are against those values. They go against everything I hold dear—and I think everything most of you value as well. As gURLs, we should stand up and fight for what we know is right, and against things we know are wrong—no matter how unpopular it may be.

|Stand up for what you believe in on the Shout Out Boards!|

If you have questions, need help, or want to continue the debate with me—add me on Facebook at Facebook.com/Rachelatpeta2 or e-mail me at RachelO@peta2.com. <3

Stay loud!

-Rachel

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Help Me Peta2: What’s the Easiest Way to Go Veg?

Gurl — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:45:23 +0000

Alright, gURLs, Rachel here—and it’s almost my last blog with you for peta2 month! Sad, I know—but you can always keep in touch by e-mailing me at RachelO@peta2.com and adding me on Facebook! Now let’s get to more of your questions!

What’s the easiest way to start transitioning to vegetarianism?

This is a tough one! Everyone has a different way of going about giving up animal products. Some people go cold tofurky right away, and others slowly transition by eating less meat over time. There are lots of vegan products on the market that make it super easy to transition—things like vegan chicken, vegan riblets, non-dairy cheese, vegan ice cream, etc—and you can even find vegan food at places like Taco Bell and other chain restaurants. My personal tip is to start trying lots of new foods, new fruits and veggies, and try out some recipes. I replaced foods I had once thought I couldn’t live without with new ones, that way I didn’t miss anything but found all new favorite foods instead!

|Wanna see how one gURL made the switch to go veg? Check out this Comix!|

One important thing to help you stay on track is to keep in mind why you’re making the transition—whether it’s for health reasons, because you care about the environment, or (most commonly) because you love animals and know it’s wrong to hurt them. If you’re ever feeling like giving up meat is too hard or you forget why you’re doing it, watch this: http://www.meat.org, check out the peta2 blog for tips, contests, and advice, and e-mail us at peta2@peta2.com for help! That’s what we’re here for .

|You can get veggie (and everything!) support on the Shout Out Boards, too!|

Are you thinking about becoming a vegetarian? What inspired you to it? And if you’re a vegetarian already, what are your best tips? Share below.

-Rachel from peta2

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Help Me Peta2: Can You Care About Animals and Still Eat Meat?

Gurl — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:43:06 +0000

Can a person really care about animal rights and still eat meat/wear leather and fur/use products tested on animals?

Some people may think that yes, this is possible, but peta2 and I disagree. Consider this: Anyone can say they care about animals, but if they pay for them to be mutilated, tortured, and killed for a reason as silly as taste buds, lipstick, or a new coat, then how much do they really care? We think eating and wearing animal products is directly participating in the abuse of animals—unfortunately, there’s no way around it.

|Wanna win cool animal-friendly peta2 merch for free? Get on it!|

Luckily for us, buying products that weren’t tested on animals, avoiding fur, leather, and wool, and going vegan have never been easier, with vegan options and alternatives at places like Target, Wal-Mart, Kroger, and more.

We should all remember that as consumers, we have the power to influence corporations that exploit animals. Every time we open up our wallet and pay money for a product, we have a choice; It can be a compassionate one, or one that hurts animals.

|Want to take the first step to helping animals? Take the quiz and see how you should get started!|

How do you feel about loving animals but still eating meat? Do you agree or disagree with me? I’d love to hear your thoughts below.

-Rachel from peta2

more ways to get gURLy:

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Help Me Peta2: Won’t Cows Go Extinct if Everyone Goes Vegan?

Gurl — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 19:23:44 +0000

Hey! Rachel again, here to answer all of your questions about animal rights! A few weeks ago you submitted questions to gURL.com about veganism, PETA, and more! I’m answering them this week. Check it out!

If everyone in the world were vegan/vegetarian, wouldn’t farm animals go extinct because no one would be there to breed them? Aren’t we kind of keeping them alive?

The simple answer? No. Animals are bred on factory farms (often on things called “rape racks”… yep) only to be mutilated, tortured, and killed to end up on a plate. Every person who takes a stand against cruelty to animals and stops eating animals lessens the demand for these animals to be killed, therefore lessening the number of animals bred. The world isn’t going to go vegan overnight, so animals won’t be overpopulated and “taking over” as some people think.

|WDYT about going veg? Discuss on the Shout Out Boards!|

Yes, factory farms are keeping animals alive, technically—but they live in their own waste, in filthy cages and sheds, bred to be so heavy they can’t walk, confined to cages so small they can’t ever lie down, and are just waiting to have their throats slit or to be dismembered while fully conscious. This is no kind of life for anyone, and animals simply shouldn’t be treated this way.

What do you think, gURLs? Do you know anyone who has a farm and treats their animals well? What’s it like? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and keep your questions comin’! See you soon!

-Rachel from peta2

more ways to get gURLy:

Pearls of wisdom, survey q’s, polls, quotes to live by — it’s all on gURL.com’s Twitter. Follow us!
Luv gURL? Then ‘Like’ us, too! Let’s be friends on Facebook and you’ll get first looks at stories!
Can’t get enough of gURL.com? We don’t blame you. Sign up for our weekly newsletter!
Let’s talk. Shout Out advice, music, politics, poetry, your style and MORE!
Your hook on hooking up: gURL’s sex, health & relationships blog.
Need some advice, quick? Ask Heather anything; she answers three q’s, daily!
Bored? Take new quizzes and play gURL games!