Thats NOT Vegetarian?!

If you are like me, someone just stepping into being a vegan/vegetarian or one for many years there might of been a few foods that you didn't realize were not considered veggie friendly! Some of these are surprising and really makes you realize you have to take a look at everything! Some of the things on this list are just plain disgusting to even think that people are eating these things!!
I know a lot of similar topics have been floating around the web and it is hard for me even to remember them all, so I figured I would put them all together in one place. If you have anything to add to the list let me know!!


These are things that contain meat lurking in their ingredients! They are food we might of assumed were vegetarian or vegan but boy were we wrong!

Velveeta

This was a childhood favorite of, well, EVERYONE! What is better for creamy yellow mac and cheese and yummy melted grilled cheese sandwiches! Well after learning that Velveeta contains animal enzymes from calf stomachs, your mouth might stop watering!

Parmigiano Reggiano
While we are on the topic of cheese, this one is another shocker! To make parmesan, you need to curdle the milk with rennet of calves stomachs! ICK!

Worcestershire Sauce

Such a bold taste with one secret, anchovies! Gross!! No wonder it is so salty.

Enriched Orange Juice 

Where do you think they get the omega-3s from? Fish oil and gelatin! Coco-Cola Juices also can get their vitamin D from lanolin which is a oil from the fiber in sheep wool

Soy/Veggie Cheese Slices

I know! This makes no sense! Why would someone want to eat a dairy alternative and they sneak something that is non vegetarian! Some of these so called "soy" cheeses contain casein which is a not so good for you protein in milk.

Marshmallows - Gummies -Jello- Peeps- Starbrusts- Sweetheart Candies - Gummiebears

.. a long list of candies that still goes on! They all contain gelatin. Gelatin is actually everywhere, you will find it all over this list infact! How they get it is the not so cool thing! It is derived from skin, bones, tissue, hides and bones of animals. It also can be listed as E441. All those cute holiday candies and gummies don't seem so innocent now!

Beer & Wine- Guinness

DO NOT WORRY! Not all beer and wine contain meat! You just need to be careful on what you pick! You can sometimes find gelatin from animal bones, bone marrow, casein (milk protein) in your adult beverage. In some cases, they will use fish bladders to filter out the cloudy yeast from certain beets and wines.

Here is a site with lists of wines and beers that are vegan, because I know this is the most important topic! Find out is your booze is vegan! Yellow Tail Red wines are and I am so happy to hear!

White Sugar

Although the back of the package might say the only ingredient is sugar, doesn't mean it isn't hiding anything! To make the sugar white they use a process that involves bone char! Sometimes brown sugar can be processed like this as well. Always make sure to look for unrefined sugar, or better yet go sugar free and use natural sweeteners such as stevia and dates!

Refried beans

You would just assume that there was nothing to harm when trying to order a vegan meal at a Mexican restaurant but it comes out that some restaurants use lard. Its best to always ask since a lot of do places refrain from that.

Peanuts

Due to some brands using gelatin, these guys are another non veg item. Beware of the Planters Dry Roasted Peanuts. They just had to taint the nuts!

Altoids

Inside these strong breath mints you will find gelatin made from collagen from animal skin and bones! Not so minty fresh huh?

Barbecue Flavored Chips

Sometimes you just assume chips are vegan or vegetarian by the flavor name. These guys hide chicken fat for "natural flavoring". I hope one day to learn even more about the tricks of "natural flavors" and share it with you all because it is a grimy business!

Lays BBQ Baked, KC Masterpiece BBQ Chips and Ruffles The Works Chips are a few to name.

Red Dye

You can find this guy lurking under the names Carmine, Crimson Lake, Cochineal, Carminic Acid and Natural Red #4 not to be confused with FD&C Red Dye #40 (this one is bug free but has its own problems). This is a really gross one! The coloring is made from tiny red beetle like-insects ground up. Yes, the Aztecs and Mexican Indians use to use this for a color dye, but the bug part is just creepy! You can find this in a number of things from red sodas, fruit juices, gelatins, candy and unfortunately, that beautiful pink Starbuck's strawberry frapichino.

Margarine

I cant believe its NOT butter

Do not believe the hype! In fact it contains whey and gelatin, so it might as well be butter.

Cake Mix and Hostess Products

Well thank god the Twinkie is no more! All of hostess products contain beef fat! This gross guy can also be found in boxed cake mixes under, "lard".

Seriously!?! Who thinks to use these things in our food?!

After that list... it feels like NOW the world might end!!

Well, most of this stuff is so processed that you shouldn't be eating it any way, but sometimes things happen! Everyone makes a mistake, now looking back I can say I have made a bunch. Last weekend we went to a hibachi restaurant for my cousins birthday, after taking two sips of my miso soup all my family looked at me and we all had the same thought, "Oh no! This has meat in it", everyone tasted it!! Little did I know, after asking the waitress we found out that in fact there soup was made with beef broth! We happened to be in the most unfriendly asian restaurant for vegetarians (most asian restaurants have lots of veg options!) ! They didn't even have tofu in the restaurant which you usually can always find!
I have eaten some gummy bears a few months ago, and have had bites of my sons velveeta boxed mac and cheese and I have consumed white wine from YellowTail! The point of the story is it is a learning process that shouldn't be life or death! After I realized each of these things contained meat instead of freaking out like I was going to die, I stepped back, stopped eating and just made a conscious  note. I am more proud that I have not gone agent my new ethics of not eating flesh, rather than dwell than small mistakes where meat has crept  into my food. Just because you made a slip does not mean you are not a vegetarian or vegan any more, it is not like you lost virginity, if you loose it once it won't be gone forever! Try again and pick your self back up! Everyday I eat this way I see my self take a small step at a time to the end goal, a healthy, happy and energetic person who makes conscious choices about the things I do and eat.

Live well, Be well & Shine Bright

XO BB