Feelgood Theosophy
Welcome to the Feelgood
Lodge
Never been a better time
to become vegetarian
Before
we launch into this please note that being vegetarian is in no way mandatory
for members of the Theosophical Society.
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Thirty years
ago you stood a good chance getting thrown out an eating establishment if you
enquired about a vegetarian alternative. Exclusively vegetarian restaurants
were a “hard to find” item outside
Not just that;
vegetarianism was seen by many as an extreme position associated with religion
rather than health or ethics. A few vegetarians could be found evangelizing in
Youth Hostels and there were also a few Hip-Groovy types left over from the
1960s attracting some ridicule. In this atmosphere some vegetarians preferred
to work undercover and keep quiet about it.
Shopping for
vegetarian food wasn’t much better than eating out. You usually had to pay
through the nose at health shops but if you lived in an area with some Asian
shops (e.g.
You may have
picked up a book or two on the technicalities of a vegetarian diet on the “pay
thro’ the nose” basis at the health shop and perhaps a recipe book. You might
get tips from established vegetarians but for many, vegetarianism meant meat
and two veg without the meat.
Not everyone agrees
but in an era of information when nobody stands out any more, it’s all a lot
better now.
Rising concerns
about fat in the diet coupled with greater concern about animal welfare have
made the food industry take notice of demands for vegetarian alternatives. Not
just alternatives but vegetarian products that go beyond impersonating meat
dishes.
It seems though
that impersonating dishes that would normally have meat in them is still the
name of the game. You can now invite non-vegetarian friends round and give them
a vegetarian meal and often they won’t realize that they’ve eaten vegetarian.
If you eat out
you will nearly always find a vegetarian alternative unless you go to a greasy
spoon. But if you eat at greasy spoons, you probably aren’t vegetarian anyway
and it is indicative of the democratic nature of the catering industry that a
few still do an all day breakfast fry-up.
Greasy Spoons
do however seem to be in serious decline but this has been counterbalanced by
the move towards low carb-high protein diets like the
Atkins, which relies almost exclusively on animal protein. The jury is still
out on the long term effects of the Atkins Diet.
Vegetarians
have gained considerable ground over the last 30 years but their argument is
far from won. More people are be turning to vegetarianism and do not feel marginalized
by the decision but vegetarians are still very much in the minority.
If you decide
to join the ranks of the vegetarians, you will find the transition easier now
that the food industry sees you as an important and increasing target market.
Feelgood Theosophy
Thankyou for visiting the Feelgood Lodge
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