[Kitalpha Hart]

I have a cousin who is vegetarian
I don't know why, but she isn't one of the obnoxious ones who gives them a bad rep
When there's a potluck and mom makes taco salad, she omits the meat. My cousin loves said taco salad, and did even before she stopped eating meat

[Den]

Given my tendency to get anemic if I'm not careful, I can't go 100% vegetarian/vegan. And like I said, food desert. I don't have a lot of options for vegetarian stuff that isn't kinda pricey.

[Kory]

I used to have very heavy periods and I was anemic because of them...
I used to take iron pills for a while, but I guess it sorted itself out.

I've been on and off vegetarian since I was 14, but I finally committed to it around 2015.
I never tell people what they should or shouldn't eat, unless it's like someone I love and they are eating unhealthy all the time and it's getting to the point where they are eating themselves not an early grave... That is the only circumstance in which I would suggest they eat something else. Even then, I won't try to force someone to go vegetarian, I would just suggest they eat healthier.

I'm not anemic anymore, but I have to get my blood drawn once a month because of my medication and my results have been showing that I have low iron. Thankfully, my iron isn't low enough to count as anemia anymore

[MonBon]

I wanna practice animating but I don't wanna pay for software and I don't really like the few free ones I've tried. Feels bad man

Edit: I'm sorry to hear that Ava. I've had a similar history with anemia. Been on birth control to regulate my period for a few years and it's been great.

[Kory]

I used to think I wanted to be an animator!
But I realized right away that I didn't like drawing *that* much, and I really wasn't a fast enough learner when it comes to computer software. :(

I'm glad birth control has been helpful for you!
I don't know why my body does weird things. xD
If a person takes birth control to regulate periods, do they still need to take iron pills if they are anemic? Or does the BC do all the work? :o

[Den]

They still need to take iron pills to help with the anemia. I'm at a healthy level of iron now, but I still take the supplement just in case. I'm kind of paranoid about it because three years ago, I was hospitalized for severe anemia (normal levels are around 12-14. I was at 4).

[Kory]

Oooh! That sounds really scary. :(
Have you been doing better since?

[Mekatra]

If you're iron deficient you should try to limit your intake of things that have a lot of tannins in them like tea and red wines. They inhibit your body's ability to absorb it properly, making you even more anemic.

[Kory]

Ohh!! I didn't know that!

I drink tea almost every day!
Does it matter the type of tea? Like green vs. black vs. white vs. herbal?

My iron is pretty low usually because I'm vegetarian, but it's not been so low that it counts as anemia, though...

[Mekatra]

It's the tannins that inhibit absorption, so black tea is the real culprit. You're pretty safe with green, white and herbals.

[Den]

Originally Posted by Ava

Oooh! That sounds really scary. :(
Have you been doing better since?

Oh, yeah. haven't had an issue with that since 2016.

[Mekatra]

So if you are in an area where vegetarian foods are hard to come by, but you want to reduce your meat intake for whatever reason, a really great resouce we keep around for winter in case we get snowed in is Augason Farm's Black Bean Burger powder. You can get a 2 pound can of it on Amazon (or other places online) for about 15-20 bucks and it will make a pretty hefty amount of black bean burger mix that you can then make into patties, or tacos... or lasagna, sloppy joes, meatballs. Whatever you really feel like black bean burger mix would be good for. Since it's a dry mix that you add water to it doesn't need special storage other than keeping the lid on it. I highly suggest it to people trying to go vegetarian on a budget or in situations where food storage or availability is rough (or even those that aren't because frankly they're tasty and economical.)

[Kory]

Originally Posted by Den

Oh, yeah. haven't had an issue with that since 2016.

That's good to hear! :)
Also, is your avi in mourning? :( Did someone pass away?

Originally Posted by Mekatra

So if you are in an area where vegetarian foods are hard to come by, but you want to reduce your meat intake for whatever reason, a really great resouce we keep around for winter in case we get snowed in is Augason Farm's Black Bean Burger powder. You can get a 2 pound can of it on Amazon (or other places online) for about 15-20 bucks and it will make a pretty hefty amount of black bean burger mix that you can then make into patties, or tacos... or lasagna, sloppy joes, meatballs. Whatever you really feel like black bean burger mix would be good for. Since it's a dry mix that you add water to it doesn't need special storage other than keeping the lid on it. I highly suggest it to people trying to go vegetarian on a budget or in situations where food storage or availability is rough (or even those that aren't because frankly they're tasty and economical.)

That sounds delicious!
I haven't made black bean burgers in a hot minute. Right now I live in Southern California, so there's an overabundance of vegetarian/vegan friendly places haha. Also so many more options at grocers for vegetarians/vegans :D

I still have to work on meal prep, though.. ^^;

[Den]

naw, she's dressed as La Llorna. I'm starting off the Spoopfest subtly this year.

[Kitalpha Hart]

Yay for incoming spoop season

I have no idea what my iron levels are at
I think I run on the low side tho, family history stuff

[Kory]

Oh good!!
:D

I have known people to dress their avatars to match how they feel IRL sometimes. :o
Spoop is much better than sad! OuO