Introduction:
Our group - Stephanie DiBella, Megan Frantz, Kelly Peterson, and Sarah Pickell - researched the advantages and disadvantages of being a vegetarian for this collaborative project. We conducted 2 interviews (1 with a vegetarian dietitian and 1 with an ex-vegetarian health food store co-owner), which form the bulk of our documentary, so the data is largely qualitative and subjective.
Before presenting the documentary, we would like to disclose a fully transparent view of where each group member stood at the project's beginning. People rarely feel the exact same way about anything, and our group was no exception. Here, you will find each member's thoughts and expectations for this project, the mindset with which each member approached the topic and research.
Before presenting the documentary, we would like to disclose a fully transparent view of where each group member stood at the project's beginning. People rarely feel the exact same way about anything, and our group was no exception. Here, you will find each member's thoughts and expectations for this project, the mindset with which each member approached the topic and research.
Our purpose.....
Stephanie DiBella
I was a vegetarian for five years of my life. I started right when I left high school and before I entered into college. I wanted to eat healthier and save the animals along with the environment. I wanted to make a change to my body inside and out. I wasn’t a vegan but I always tried to buy organic eggs and milk. Having healthy or organic food in your household is a step for a healthier future. Doing the research for the collaborative project gave me facts and knowledge on being a vegetarian and living the lifestyle.
I feel the reason why I stopped being a vegetarian about a year ago because I didn’t have the knowledge. I stopped being a vegetarian because I was getting sick often, I had hardly any protein in my diet, and I felt weak. I was doing the vegetarian living for a healthy lifestyle but I didn’t have the knowledge to stick with it. After doing this research project on the advantages and disadvantages of being a vegetarian I now feel that I have gain the knowledge of the lifestyle. Being a vegetarian has many positives if you have the facts. People who live this lifestyle aren’t just helping themselves but also helping the plant.
I feel the reason why I stopped being a vegetarian about a year ago because I didn’t have the knowledge. I stopped being a vegetarian because I was getting sick often, I had hardly any protein in my diet, and I felt weak. I was doing the vegetarian living for a healthy lifestyle but I didn’t have the knowledge to stick with it. After doing this research project on the advantages and disadvantages of being a vegetarian I now feel that I have gain the knowledge of the lifestyle. Being a vegetarian has many positives if you have the facts. People who live this lifestyle aren’t just helping themselves but also helping the plant.
Kelly Peterson
To be honest, I had no interest in investigating the ups and downs of being a vegetarian. I eat what I feel like, and that often includes meat, fish, and poultry. I have no problem with other people being vegetarians, but I knew I wouldn't be changing my habits after this research. It looked all but useless to me, and the prospect of zero interest and zero use did not appeal.
However, the rest of the group agreed on this topic, so I resolved to do the work necessary for a good grade. It's kind of that simple.I suppose I should mention that, contrary to Professor Mangini's assertion that good research sees you changed on the other side, this research has affected no change in me (or else it wasn't "good" enough). I learned a little about vegetarians, blood type diets, and organic food, but having gone through a lousy, unintentional, med-induced diet not too long ago, I'm pretty happy with where I am and have no intention of changing my eating habits, especially when doing so would likely involve both more work and money. I'm a lazy, poor college kid; but I'm a lazy, poor college kid who knew she'd be doing a lot of work for this project and did do a lot of work. :)
However, the rest of the group agreed on this topic, so I resolved to do the work necessary for a good grade. It's kind of that simple.I suppose I should mention that, contrary to Professor Mangini's assertion that good research sees you changed on the other side, this research has affected no change in me (or else it wasn't "good" enough). I learned a little about vegetarians, blood type diets, and organic food, but having gone through a lousy, unintentional, med-induced diet not too long ago, I'm pretty happy with where I am and have no intention of changing my eating habits, especially when doing so would likely involve both more work and money. I'm a lazy, poor college kid; but I'm a lazy, poor college kid who knew she'd be doing a lot of work for this project and did do a lot of work. :)
Sarah Pickell
I was raised as a vegetarian, and have been a vegetarian most of my life. There have been a few brief periods where I have tried to expand my diet to include meat, but it never seems to work out, and I always revert back to my favored veggie foods. My mother is a dietician, so that also made it easy for me to be vegetarian. I was surrounded by healthy, vegetarian and delicious food all the time at home. Going away to college was an eye opener as to what other people ate, because I had never seen people eat meat for every meal.
When we first started discussing this research project, I was really interested in discovering what other people thought about vegetarians, and what the health benefits are, since for me it was second nature. What I learned from this research is that there are many health benefits to being vegetarian, but in the end, you have to make the choices that are right for you. If you decide to eat fish, poultry and meat, make sure it is the best kind for you. Vegetarianism isn’t the “right” way to eat for everyone, but for me, it’s what makes me satisfied and feel most healthy.
When we first started discussing this research project, I was really interested in discovering what other people thought about vegetarians, and what the health benefits are, since for me it was second nature. What I learned from this research is that there are many health benefits to being vegetarian, but in the end, you have to make the choices that are right for you. If you decide to eat fish, poultry and meat, make sure it is the best kind for you. Vegetarianism isn’t the “right” way to eat for everyone, but for me, it’s what makes me satisfied and feel most healthy.
Megan Frantz
Like our religious beliefs, our diets are often based on a personal choice. For some who were raised on a vegetarian diet, the choice was made for them at an early age by their caregivers. For others they've made a conscious choice to eat this way. Still others throw "caution to the wind" and eat as they damn well please.
For me I enjoy my protein in the form of meat. I've been raised in a family of "meat-eaters" and never gave it much thought until now. After viewing the movie Food, Inc. and reading materials that I've researched, my views on a vegetarian diet have changed tremendously. I suffer with acid reflex that at times can't be controlled. After reading the research stating that your blood type can effect your digestive tract I'm beginning to think it could be a possibility. For me this has been an eye-opening experience and one that will leave an impact on my personal life.
For me I enjoy my protein in the form of meat. I've been raised in a family of "meat-eaters" and never gave it much thought until now. After viewing the movie Food, Inc. and reading materials that I've researched, my views on a vegetarian diet have changed tremendously. I suffer with acid reflex that at times can't be controlled. After reading the research stating that your blood type can effect your digestive tract I'm beginning to think it could be a possibility. For me this has been an eye-opening experience and one that will leave an impact on my personal life.
