I don't know if anyone has emailed you yet so here goes. If you go to In-n-Out and order a Veggie Burger they will make you a burger just like normal but without the meat. I know it sounds strange but it tastes really good and there are no meat juices running on it. They will treat you right. Enjoy, and don't forget the cheese(mmmmmmmmmmm) Jason.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

Answers

Yeah, I know, but it's fried on the same beefy grill as everything else, right? And fast-food places typically use animal-based fats to fry things in, so I never eat anything from those places anymore--even french fries.

Plus, I'd had a grilled cheese (one that I made) the day before, and I think my circulatory system was still recovering. Vegetarianism is just one of many reasons why I don't eat fast food.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

The Vegetarian Resource Group (www.vrg.org) has done a good deal of research on the ingredients of fast food menu items. Nearly all the "major" chains seem to use vegetable oil for deep frying, a practice which which confirmed by a friend of mine who works in the food service industry. Animal based fats are simply too expensive for frying, not to mention their bad reputation with even meat-eating members of the public.

The "danger" for the vegetarian/vegan, as was pointed out, is the frying of animal products in the same vat with vegetable foods. This practice unfortunately rules out, for me (as a vegan), many otherwise excellent Mediterranean restaurants, as they will sometimes fry falafel in the same oil with less savory items.

The VRG's guide to fast food restaurants is available for $4 from their web site. Their monthly journal also contains a summary of their findings frm two or three years ago, although I am too lazy at the momene to look up the URLs.

-- Anonymous, March 02, 2001

And also too lazy, it would appear, to correct my own typographical errors...

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2001

Well, according to the new book Fast Food Nation fast food chains often flavor their french fries and other non-meat items with beef extracts. They're not required to disclose this other than describing the additives as "natural flavor."

According to the book, "The McDonalds Corporation will not reveal the exact origin of the natural flavor added to its french fries. In response to inquiries from Vegetarian Journal, however, McDonald's did acknowledge that its fries derive some of their characteristic flavor from 'animal products.'"

There's really just no way to know. I know the same is true of other restaurants, but fast food doesn't really have much else going for it, so I'd rather just eat a power bar than eat that greasy, meaty crap.

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2001

See, now, I take offense to that "greasy, meaty crap" dig. One woman's pile of meaty crap may be another man's impulse hunger satisfying meal destined to be greasy meaty crap.

If we're ever gonna learn get along JW, you're just gonna hafta get over this. And, while you're at it, start beliving in the existence of God too.

Seriously, I think you're onto something with this vegitarian kick. Just think about all the money I could save at the steakhouse. "Nah, she don't need no menu... she's a veternarian. Just bring her a glass of water and the side salad that comes with my prime rib. And make it well done, it makes he squeamish when she sees blood running down my chin."

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2001

From the Pop Culture Studies Institute (made up name representing any study reported from a pop culture source such as Jeopardy, Reader's Digest, New Woman Magazine, Inside Edition, etc., or when one thinks that was the source, but can't remember)

-- Women are dainty eaters when eating with someone they have a "love" interest in. Men are unaffected in same situation --and eat like a pig --or as usual.

Of course, if she's a herbivore, and you're at a steakhouse results could be misleading.

(i think "God" would be a meateater -- remembering some verse to the effect that he spews those nasty lukewarm agnostics from his mouth, so I can only assume, he was feasting on atheists and false god worshipers at the time)

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2001

I think I'm incapable of eating daintily, love interest or no. Perhaps my interest in food overrides my interest in men.

-- Anonymous, March 04, 2001

Jen Wade wrote: fast-food places typically use animal-based fats to fry things in

Wrong!

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2001

Does it make sense for a person who does animal research to be a vegetarian? Is one supposed to make up for the other?

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Well, I'm not a vegetarian for animal-rights reasons, so my work and my diet don't have anything to do with one another.

-- Anonymous, March 06, 2001

Okay, then why are you a vegetarian?

-- Anonymous, March 08, 2001

I became a vegetarian because I was 12 years old, and at the time I thought it was cool.

I've stayed a vegetarian, because I didn't really miss meat, and because it's healthier, and because I think eating animals is kind of gross, especially if you know something about the conditions at meat packing plants.

-- Anonymous, March 08, 2001