Skinny *****

chulie

if we werent meant to eat it....why does it taste SO good! LMAO

(Just in case my comedy is lost on anyone....this is not something i am saying that needs to be clarified....I'm SIMPLY making a joke!!!)

CaitlinEats

Hmm...I thought the book was hilarious! However, I am mostly vegan, although I let myself eat dairy when on vacation, at holidays, etc.

I understand why folks tend to think that vegans don't get enough protein, but I really think that belief comes from a lot of misinformation about what our bodies need and where protein comes from.

For anyone who is interested in veganism but isn't sure about the ability to get enough protein without "normal" foods, I recommend reading Eat to Live by Joel Fuhrman, which is full of really good information about high-nutrient diet. For example, 100 calories of spinach (or was it broccoli?) has more protein than 100 calories of meat--the difference being, of course, that you have to eat a lot more volume of spinach to get to 100 calories. If you have a small appetite and some sort of protein deficiency, that might be a problem, but for folks trying to lose weight (while still getting to eat real food), that's actually a blessing! I can eat several filling cups of spinach, get tons of protein and nutrients, and still not hit 100 calories? Brilliant!

Anyway, that's where I'm coming from, but I understand why the Standard American Diet is more appealing--it's pretty tasty, at least until you get used to eating more healthful foods. The book "Food Revolution" is also really good, but more focused on heart health and diabetes and even animal cruelty (wheras Eat to Live is more focused on weight loss and nutrition and isn't about animal cruelty at all).

mamacassi

I wouldn't really go vegetarian just to lose weight. I think once you pick up meat again you'll have to transition back which might result in gain if you don't do it well. It's a lifestyle choice. Hm...
I'll pick it up and read it though

CaitlinEats

Hi mousme,
I'm not sure if your post was in reply to my post, but I didn't become a vegetarian to lose weight. I've been a vegetarian for more than 20 years (and I was a lot skinnier back then than I am now!). I agree that it's much more effective (and long-lasting) to be a vegetarian for the right reasons. I do, however, think that folks who are looking for a good weight loss and health strategy should consider a vegan, high-nutrient, lowfat diet as the absolute healthiest around. I'd definitely choose "Eat to Live" over "Skinny *****," though.

BamaRose0107

The way I feel about is as follows: We were given free will! If you choose to eat meat thats your choice and no one should condemn you for that. If you choose to be vegetarian that is your choice and noone should condemn you for that. We can all discuss this till we are blue in the face however we are all human and we will never really know the answer to which way is right or wrong. Opinions come in all different varieties and just because I have an opinion that does not mean that anyone who disagrees with me is wrong. Some people might not like the book for no other reason than they don't like the book and again we are human we are all different and that is fine. The world would be very boring if we all agreed with everyone else and were all the same.

Caelynne

Totally! It did help in persuading me to give up most meat though (yes, I know I slip up). Dairy? Not a chance. I am addicted to it, and at least now I know why. But seriously... They really are total *****es!

xecila

I've been on both sides of the fence. When I was around 16 I became a vegitarian (vegetarian, not vegan.. I still ate dairy) but I had a huge issue with eating enough protein, not because it's particularly hard, but because I was under my mother's roof and she wasn't very flexible with the groceries. She'd buy what she thought we needed, ignoring the fact that I wasn't eating meat. Eventually I started feeling very tired all the time, broke out of my vegetarian diet (and got sick the first time I did it! Your body really gets used to having no meat). Now I'm at sort of a middle ground. I eat chicken and fish, but tend to avoid red meats. Not because I believe eating birds and fish is any more holy than eating cows, but more due to the health aspect of it.

Humans are omnivores. We eat meat, and we eat plants. I fully believe our bodies can survive off a mixed diet, or a meat free diet. There are plenty of places to find protein other than meat, you just have to do your research and buy the right things. It's not all chomping on celery sticks, trust me.

As for the whole god factor, I'm agnostic so I think I'll stay away from that one. All I'll say is that we definately have free will, we might as well exercise it.

bennettv

There are lots of options for ethically raised meat that is healthy. My suggestion is get to know a few farmers. You'll learn a lot about food that you won't find in any book. All our meat comes from a farm, that we visit, and I have no conflict whatsoever about the impact it has on the planet.

My son is allergic to soy and dairy. Meat is a required part of his diet, but no one in our family over does it.

arfletcher

The religion that I was raised in is mostly veg as a rule of thum - its not a neccesity or a "rule" of the religion though.

I have seen more fat vegetarians and vegans than I can even say. Not eating meat does not equal healthy - just like eating meat does not equal healthy. In order to be a healthy vegetarian/vegan you just have to do some reasearch - just like to be a healthy omnivore you need to do some research!

Just to add to the argument - Did you know that if every family in the States (or it might be North America) cut down their meat consumption by 1 meal a week, it would be the same as taking 100,000 cars off the road for a year! Also - if cows were farmed the way that they were supposed to be - in fields grazing instead of in barns suffering - then they actually cut not only their own carbon emissions - but also those of the environment around them - it has to do with their grazing increasing plant growth and their hooves actually breaking down waste so that there isnt the same carbon.

I have never been vegetarian - I dont know that I could do it - I just dont have the energy... and I LOVE steak!! It all comes down to your own personal choices... I would love to be able to only eat meat from the local butcher down the road from my house, I know that the meat that he sells is ethically treated and fed good feed - but unfourtunatly I am POOR! So I buy meat in the grocery store and try not to eat more than two meat meals a week. I eat local eggs when I can get them, again though - 6$ a doz for the local grain fed free range eggs - or 2.50 for the other... Sometimes I dont even get to make the choise - my wallet makes it for me! :laugh: There are so many other ways to get complete protiens - you may have to mix beans and rice and corn, or something of the like to get complete protiens... but it can be done!!