| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Audrey D Abbott |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 03:51:54 AM
I am considering moving away from meat. I have a variety of reasons and thoughts that I am still sifting through. I think that your opinions may help me sort mine.
Did you become a vegetarian (I'm including all types from strict to those who still eat fish and sometimes chicken, dairy and eggs) all at once or gradually?
Was there one event or situation that converted you instantly? If so, what was it (if you care to share)?
I am not a soy advocate. Like everything else, I think it is fine in moderation but I'm not going to switch from one problem to another (and yes, I think we are going to see some negative fall out from too much soy). So, if you don't enjoy soy, how do you meet your protein and iron needs through diet (I'm not looking to increase my supplements!)
As a bonus question, I'm also looking at going raw as much as possible. Any Raw Diet fans here? |
| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jul 06 2006 : 01:09:53 AM
No Problem!! Glad to help...if I did!  Hope it works well for you and if there is anything more information I can help you get please let me know!! 
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Destiny~ |
Posted - Jul 05 2006 : 1:57:50 PM
Sorry it took so long to respond, I forgot which topic this was under.
I'm going to look at the book you suggested. It sounds pretty good. I'm not much into substituting the soy based products for meat. I did do it for awhile but decided I just didn't want the meat, fake or real.
I guess maybe I should look more for vegan cookbooks. I hadn't really thought about it because I don't consider myself that extreme but it's probably the only way I'm going to be able to avoid all the dairy dependent recipes.
Thanks for your suggestions.
"Let us, together, sow seeds for a better harvest-a harvest for hope."
Jane Goodall, Harvest for Hope |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 29 2006 : 5:43:48 PM
Destiny,
I was raised almost vegan, we used no eggs and very little dairy (no hard cheeses) so I can help you. The family favorite, which I like very much as well, is "The Oats, Peas, Beans & Barley Cookbook" by Edith Young Cottrell. website to purchase
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1572582618/qid=1151623550/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2200153-6444813?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
Now this is a vegan cookbook however, unlike many of them, the recipes use things that for the most part (except carob) you can pick up at any supermarket and many of them are very good tasting. On a big downside for me anyway, there are no pictures. But since my family has been using it for years many of the recipes I know what they taste like or would taste like. Another vegan one that a friend of mine loves is "The Total Vegetarian Cookbook" by Barbara Watson, but I have not tried any of the recipes so I do not know if it is a good one or not. If you are just trying to stay away from dairy use regular cook books and sub meat analogs instead for example in most supermarkets they carry Morning Star products. They have a product that is basically a frozen "hamburger" It comes in a bag called griller crumblers I believe. This can be used for Any recipe using hambuger or ground beef.There is a meatless broth that can be used both in "beef" and "chicken" flavors made by Dismat Corp. called "McKay's" I use it all the time when a recipe calls for brooth or stock and you can buy it here;
http://www.somethingbetternaturalfoods.com/herbs_seasonings.html
I am sure there are other places online where you can buy these but wanted you to have at least one source. The smaller jar last me a very long time, so it may be all you need for a year or so. I am more then happy to share more recipes with you ( I have MANY) if you would like. Unfortunatly, I left all my cookbooks in the states and they are in storage. I have quite a few more great ones there, but I will see if I can remember their names and get that to you as well. Let me know if there is anything more I can help you with!
Til Next Time...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Destiny~ |
Posted - Jun 29 2006 : 10:52:32 AM
Buttercup, I'd be interested in your cookbook list, especially any that don't completely revolve around cheese. That's one issue I'm having. I'm trying to avoid dairy (allergy) and so many vegetarian recipes call for it as a large part of the basis for the recipe.
I plan on purchasing a book, when I save up, by Lorna Sass that is vegetarian pressure cooking. I'm not sure there was a single recipe that had cheese in it and I loved the quickness of pressure cooking. I started doing it for potatoes. It is so quick. I like that it uses less electricity (electric stovetop) and its fast and the food taste great. Its not boiled out, its not fatty like frying. Sorry I got carried away, this is my latest passion pertaining to food.
"Let us, together, sow seeds for a better harvest-a harvest for hope."
Jane Goodall, Harvest for Hope |
| KJD |
Posted - Jun 28 2006 : 7:11:07 PM
Destiny's tagline is a quote from Jane Goodall in Harvest of Hope. I was reading this book this week and there's a lot to be learned about nutrition and vegetarianism in it. I'm not a vegetarian - yet - but have been contemplating it recently and discussing it with my husband. I grew up with our own cows who were not given antibiotics, so I "knew" my meat and knew it was good. The cows are gone now, so I buy organic products as much as possible, and usually opt out of the meat when I cook it for my family. I just really love vegetables, and I could relate to something Jane Goodall says in her book - she just feels "light" and I know what she means - I love when I feel light! Less food, healthier food gives me that feeling. I happen to believe that God provided animals as well as vegetation for us to eat, so that's not my motivation - I guess health and a feeling of well-being is my reason for exploring. |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Jun 28 2006 : 6:59:17 PM
Hello All!
I am Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian which tranlates to using eggs and milk in addition to your fruits, nuts, vegies, and grains. I was brought up this way and am a third generation vegetarian. I have stayed with it for several reasons (healthier, treatment of animals, killing something just so I can taste it cuz we don't NEED it to eat there are so many other things in this world to eat, and my belief that God made us to eat a vegetarian diet, to name the main ones) and would never change it. I raise my children the same way. Hubbie still eats meat out or once and a while I cook it for him (seperate pots n everything !!  ) I do not enjoy many vegetarian cookbooks because it assumes if you are vegetarian you want a bunch of vegies picked fresh and thrown on a plate. While I like my veggies, I am not a bunny rabbit!! I use regular cookbooks and use sub. meat products or tofu to revamp the recipe into a vegie one and find a lot of sucess there. I think veggie food should be pleasing to the eye, have a wonderful aroma to enjoy, and be tasty for all. I cook all the time for friends who eat meat and they love my food. I do know some very good cookbooks if you are interested. Also, so you know, it takes very little to provide the protein you need so that is not a concern. And for the other concern nutritionest that don't know better (sadly because they should!  ) wave in many people's faces is the need for Iron. Cream of Wheat cereal has more iron per serving then liver does. So if this is something you want to do, it can be done healthfully, tastefully, and enjoyablly! Feel free to contact me through e-mail or here if you have any questions at all!! Best of luck to you, and may you find the best choice for you and yours!
Til Next Time...
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| lvg4him |
Posted - Jun 28 2006 : 4:44:56 PM
google "dangers of soy" and you will see :D |
| Audrey D Abbott |
Posted - Jun 28 2006 : 4:29:35 PM
One of the things that causes me to worry about soy is the amount of marketing $$ ADM has put into broadcasting the "health benefits" of soy. Follow the money. ADM markets genetically modified "Round-up ready" soy beans. The farming of soy beans and corn with the runoff causes some powerful carcinogens to show up in the waterways. So, eat more, looks to me like your increasing your risks not benefiting. They are also finding the gentically modified beans do "spread". They don't really know fence boundaries. |
| lvg4him |
Posted - Jun 28 2006 : 10:27:37 AM
oh man - if you really want to know something scary check out the video THE FUTURE OF FOOD! YIKES! Only organic corn for me! Of course, I have been doing mostly organics for a while, but there is just one more thing to add to my organics only list. |
| Antoinettes Vintage |
Posted - Jun 28 2006 : 09:52:53 AM
So what about soy is bad? I haven't heard this before...
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| Audrey D Abbott |
Posted - Jun 26 2006 : 6:20:35 PM
Thanks for all your well reasoned and heart felt answers. I'm still on the path and really appreciate the references - I will look into them, thanks. I live in soybean and corn country. The Omnivore's Dilemma is Michael Pollan's new book that describes how much corn we are consuming and how hard it is to find food that doesn't contain it. Also the soy industry is big, Big, BIG. The genetically modified seeds that are "Round-up Ready" are also frightening. ADM has done a lot of (read:$$$$$) marketing around soy and health. When I follow the dollars to research/results it causes the skeptic in me to sit up and take notice. To each his own, but I'm not going to jump out of the frying pan and into the fire. Anyone notice that the more things we want out of our diet, the higher the cost ;) |
| katiedid |
Posted - Jun 26 2006 : 6:04:25 PM
I am pretty much in the same situation as Destiny. Althought I quit eating meat when I as 14, it was part choice, part compulsion... I was going thru some pretty hard therapy for a sex abuse/incest issue, I really wanted the cycle to break, and I for sure didn't want to hurt anyone or anything....I didn't want an animal to die for me to eat.
I don't eat soy either, it screws up my digestion.
As for the raw thing, go for, raw fruits and vegetables are very good for you, and important in any diet. Be kindof careful though, I don't want to offend anyone, but my sis in law got started on a raw vegan diet and she is really weirded out. Might not have anything to do with her diet, but moderation in all things is a good rule of thumb!
Love and light to ya'll
Kate
I was ovo-lacto for a long time, about 12 years, then got tested and had to give up dairy and gluten, so now I am a "part time vegetarian"
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| Destiny~ |
Posted - Jun 26 2006 : 10:30:48 AM
I'm semi-vegetarian, there's a name for it but I never remember what it is, I eat seafood and eggs. I've wavered with the whole dairy thing but suspected I was allergic, got tested in December. Yep, I'm allergic to cow's milk. So I'm working at staying off dairy. I use soy as a substitute, but only in moderation. I also don't eat fish all that often because of cost and mercury concerns. I love beans so that helps with protein.
Last night I finished reading an old version of 'Fit for Life', I'm going to try that for awhile. I've been a semi-veg for over four years now but have a lot of weight yet to lose.
"Let us, together, sow seeds for a better harvest-a harvest for hope."
Jane Goodall, Harvest for Hope |
| Bridge |
Posted - Jun 26 2006 : 09:57:23 AM
I have been working at being a vegetarian, with the goal of being vegan eventually.
Their are all kinds of things to eat to get your protein. I am anxious to try a recipe I have just gotten for seitan(wheat meat).
I feel so much better with out meat. My big struggle is that my sweetie won't give up his ground beef. He loves burgers. So I fix seperate main entrees for the 2 of us. Some of the things I eat he will eat, he is at least trying alot of them!!
~~Bridge's Boutique~~
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| Shirley |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 4:12:00 PM
I dont know if we are considered real vegetarians but but we eat no Red Meat, some chicken and only salmon if it wild caught.
The reason for the red meat, is because of all the chemicals and crap that they pump into these cows during and before they are slaughtered. The feed lots are dis custing, they have to give antibiotics to them in theses feed lots to keep them alive until they go get slaughtered. the other is Mad cow.
we eat poultry (try to just get certified organic) but not alot.
the rest is said above and I agree with them.
well this is just my opinion, will get down off my box now
shirley |
| cmandle |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 1:46:17 PM
People always ask me "well, what do you eat then?" when I tell them I'm a vegetarian. I tell them, "everything but meat!" It's easy to eat a wide variety of foods (including soy, Allison is right on about that) and get your complete nutrition from them alone. I went vegetarian 12 years ago for lots of reasons - mainly because I am against factory farming and animals suffering needlessly. I eat dairy and eggs, but only the "good" kind (free-range, organic...). As time has gone on, it gets a little blurry - am I vegetarian still because of my original reasons or just out of habit? Both, probably.
I went vegetarian all at once. Had a bad experience with under-cooked chicken at a Christmas dinner and decided the next day to cut meat out completely. I was leaning that way anyway. It took me many years to learn to eat my vegetables, but I credit my vegetarian choice for widening my palate - I LOVE MY VEGGIES NOW!
Go for it. You won't regret it and will feel healthier and happier. My baby's crying too, gotta run.
Catherine :)
p.s. I also stayed vegetarian throughout my pregnancy and now through nursing - the midwives and docs were all for it and weren't worried in the slightest. Got the right nutrients from my food and had a very healthy experience! |
| rabbithorns |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 1:35:16 PM
Lately I noticed the RDAs for protein have jumped sky high. When I studied nutrition adult requirement were about 38 grams per day (and preggos doubled that). Now they say we need 75 grams a day. I think that's mistaken. You can get your daily protein from the following servings of vegetarian source food:
8 oz baked potato = 9 grams
2 eggs - 14 grams
2 oz red beans - 12 grams
If you don't want eggs, you can substitute:
2 oz of cheese
OR
2 slices of bread and a cup of cereal.
It's very easy to get the protein in without eating animal foods or using highly processed packaged veggie foods like those awful (non-nutritive) frozen burgers. There's nothing wrong with soy - if you're eating the beans. Soymilk made fresh is also full of nutrients, but don't expect to get what the label says out of those storebought boxes. Nutrition labels inform us of the values of the RAW ingredients only - not the processed food result.
So if all you do is cut out the meat and don't even add another thing, you'll probably do just fine. If you're eating meat and cheese and milk and veggies and bread, you're already getting more protein than you need in a day.
http://www.rabbithorns.etsy.com |
| lvg4him |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 08:33:58 AM
I typed in my whole story (went vegetarian 8 years ago because of FIL colon cancer, stopped soy 6 years ago because it is bad, started learning about raw 3 years ago, went high raw about a year ago) but it deleted everything.
SO I will just say that I started a group for women who wanted to learn more about raw foods. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HealthSeekersForum
Benefits I saw: my grey hair turned back to orginal color, no longer woke up groggy, didn't need afternoon nap anymore, lost weight, feel GREAT! SOrry this is so short (my other post was much longer), but I didn't relaize I wasn't logged in and after logging in it deleted everything instead of bringing me back to the post I was working on. And baby is crying. |
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