Can Vegetarians eat Grass Types?

[Pokemon Trainer Jackey]

An odd question hit me earlier. Ok, in the show and games, there's several references to humans occasionally eating Pokemon. Even Ash has fantasized about eating a Magikarp. And vegetarians presumably exist in the Pokemon setting, since it's just realistic to assume some people would be and Prof. Oak is generally seen eating vegetarian dishes when he's shown eating. But, since some Pokemon are essentially plants.... Well, if a vegetarian eats something like a Bellsprout or an Oddish, are they no longer a vegetarian? 'Cuz they're plants, but they're not....

 

[PumpJack]

I think it depends on the Vegetarians personal reasons for their dietary choice; Some refuse to eat anything produced by animals at all- others do so as a bit of a protest in reaction to discovering how livestock are treated.

So I'd think that some would, and some wouldn't. Some people in the Pokemon world would probably refuse to eat any 'mons at all.

I mean, sure- ones like Miltank and Tauros look like they'd be adequate as a good burger- but could you ever eat a Gardevoir?


I think Poison, Steel, and Rock types are solidly off the menu, too.

 

[acatfrommars]

Hahaha this question blew my mind. Technically, these pokemon don't have any meat so if they are made of all vegatation then I don't see anything wrong with eating them if you are a vegetarian. Yes, throughout time it has been common for humans to eat pokemon and vice versa.

 

[moon]

There's probably a difference to eating a Grovyle and eating a Bellsprout though. One is an animal-like creature with grassly features, one is based off a plant and made animated. But when it comes down to it, I imagine eating the leaves from Oddish or fruit from Tropius might be okay... But the pokémon themselves are too much similar to animals to be considered vegetarian food imo ^^

 

[1zanag1]

That is interesting....
Slightly off topic, but your question reminds me of a meme which says "THINK. Not a single animal was shown in the entire series."

 

[Brendino]

I would think that as long as it was living at some point and had sentience (which as far as I'm aware, all Pokemon are), a vegetarian wouldn't eat a Pokemon, even if it was a Grass type. Eating the leaves or fruits produced by a Pokemon might be a different story, but like PumpJack brought up, some people won't even eat things produced by animals like eggs and milk, so I'm sure some people in the Pokemon would feel the same way.

Not that it would really matter to me, as I'd probably be the first in line for a Tauros burger topped with Emboar bacon, with a Moo Moo Milkshake on the side, so I'd probably be eating Grass-type Pokemon, too (provided they're edible).

 

[Atomic Pirate]

Maybe they could eat leaves cut from an Oddish, or mushrooms off a Paras' back, or fruit off Tropius' neck. I suppose as long as it wouldn't kill the Pokemon, it'd be fine.

 

[Silri]

I guess you'd still technically be a vegetarian even if you ate a Bellsprout, but it might be hard for some to swallow... (har har)
I would think those vegetarians that are motivated by moral/ethical concerns would not chow down on Oddish for dinner(or even Exeggcute for that matter). I know I have vegetarian friends who don't want to have to cause undue suffering to animals if they don't have to, which is why they won't even eat more humanely raised meat. I think that grass/plant Pokemon would feel pain/are more intelligent than regular everyday plants.
Vegetarians that are motivated only for health reasons would likely not have a problem at all.

 

[Fernbutter]

I am pretty sure you can eat them but think about this, it's still connected to their body,
which gives them feeling in all parts of their body in theory, which means even if you cut a part
from them it still means that they can feel it, very, very painfully.

 

[MantisboyN]

That is interesting....
Slightly off topic, but your question reminds me of a meme which says "THINK. Not a single animal was shown in the entire series."

I'm pretty sure that the early seasons showed nonpokemon animals. Didn't a Ghastly turn into a cat or something?

As for eating a grass type?

I would think that it'd be not cool to eat anything with eyes or a mouth, so that rules everything out (unless I'm forgetting something). I think, however, that it would not be unreasonable to cook up and eat a Razor Leaf.

 

[Pokemon Trainer Jackey]

I recall them showing fish and insects early on, but I don't recall seeing non-Pokemon mammals.

I guess it's really down to the individual vegetarian. There's so many different reasons why some people choose to be vegetarian, and some people do have loopholes. (Like, I live with a pescatarian who will eat meat from land animals if they lived in higher standards than typical meat-industry animals. Like, she has no problem with bison, rabbit, venison, etc because they are cared for with higher standards or are wild-caught, but factory-farmed beef/chicken/pork? Nope. Not with the way the meat industry currently is. Whereas my fiance would like to go vegan for health reasons, though hasn't weaned completely off animal protein yet, so the quality of life of the animal isn't even a major factor to him.)

Although I don't think a vegan would eat a Razor Leaf salad. Vegans are particularly strict about their diets and don't consume any animal products at all, even if producing the product doesn't harm the animal (such as milk, honey, and unfertilized eggs).