Is a Vegetarian Diet in Your Future?Deciding to begin a vegetarian diet is an important life decision. I wanted a page on vegetarianism included in this web site from the beginning because, while I’m not one myself, I have known quite a few. Their reasons for being vegetarians vary widely, but every one of them is deeply committed to the lifestyle. I admire this, and wanted to make it easier for others who may be considering this change in their approach to life and food to understand what it's all about. There are many myths about vegetarians, and most are not based on fact. The reality is that this diet is arguably the healthiest one out there, and gets not nearly enough attention. Surveys indicate that less than 3% of Americans subscribe to the vegetarian way of life today, but the number is growing. I truly believe that within a few years, we will see as many as 10% become some form of vegetarian. As we learn more about disease, diabetes, trans-fats, hormones, and the benefits of a plant based diet, more people are realizing that many of our health problems stem from the animals and animal by-products we consume. Recent studies have shown that long-time vegetarians have a multitude of health benefits not enjoyed by their meat-eating counterparts. Fewer of them die from heart attacks. They seldom get diabetes or prostrate or colon cancer. And they have lower rates of hypertension and high blood pressure. It’s enough to make you stop and think, isn’t it? There are 3 basic forms of vegetarianism. The most conservative one, vegan, eats nothing that contains animal proteins or by-products. My first vegan friend Wendy used to say that she “wouldn’t eat anything that ever had a mother or a face.” While this is a seemingly prohibitive diet, there is a lot of fun and nutrition to be had, with some planning. Even in Des Moines, Wendy was able to find places to eat that served the kinds of foods she ate, and we had a great time as she taught me about the vegetarian diet and lifestyle. Other vegetarians avoid meat, but eat eggs and dairy, while some vegetarians avoid eggs, but still eat cheese. Avoiding these can make cooking more interesting, as so many recipes call for either milk or eggs, but the challenge is what keeps it exciting. My niece Karla was a vegetarian who occasionally enjoyed milk and cheese products, and in fact, many vegans started out this way, and later found their way to a completely animal free vegetarian diet. Whether your decision to go vegetarian has to do strictly with your conscience, or is simply a matter of improving your health, the vegetarian diet, in any of its forms, will almost certainly improve your health. Along the way, you may also help the planet, get yourself more in tune with Nature, and make more friends who share your commitment. One of the ways to lose weight with a vegetarian diet is to cook and eat enjoyable foods in new ways. The following link takes you to a sight with loads of Traditional American Recipes, both Vegetarian and regular. Feel free to check it out, and use some of these traditional American Recipes to spice up your diet!
Low Fat Traditional American Recipes Check back occasionally for updates, recipes, and further investigation into the vegetarian lifestyle, and please e-mail us if you'd like to comment or let us know about your experiences.
You can do that on our
Motivation page,
and be sure to leave your first name and e-mail so we can get back to you. Good luck, and good eating. Stay Healthy! You may find some interesting low calorie and diet recipes on my friend Vandana's site. These recipes are mostly reviewed or have been picked up from reputable resources. Great Low-Calorie and Vegan Recipes Folks, I wanted to drop you a line on this page about a book I'm reading called, "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan. First of all, it's a great book, in my opinion, and, while he didn't write it to promote the vegetarian lifestyle, it may end up being an unintended side effect! If you can pick it up at a local bookstore or your library, it is a must read! Mr. Pollan goes so deep into our current food processing system that you can't help but have your eyes opened about what we've been eating for the last 30 years or so. Why am I commenting about this on our vegetarian page? Precisely because the description given by this author on the condition of the holding pens and slaughterhouses where our beef is prepared for butchering is frightening and disgusting! It's enough to make a carnivore become a plant-eater. Add to that the other information about how these animals are force fed grain to fatten them up when they are not even designed to eat grain, coupled with the drugs they're injected with to make them "safe", as well as....well, read the book if you care about your health at all. Also, check out our eating healthy page, where we discuss Pollan's latest book, "In Defense of Food". This one will also make you cringe, while delighting you with his distinct love of real food. Needless to say, I'm crazy about his research into our food system and its fallacies and fantasies. Both of these books are must reads for anyone concerned about the health of the food we eat before it becomes our food. Even if you're already on a vegetarian diet, you'll appreciate and learn from his depth of knowledge about plants, animals, humans, and how we all interact. We'll talk more about it on future pages, but meanwhile, enjoy your vegetarian diet! It's certainly more appealing after reading a few hundred pages of Michael Pollan! Learn all you need to know through these tips on herbs, weight loss thru vitamins, known side effects, tips for infants, as well as guides regarding vegetarianism, hair nutrition, natural and multi-vitamins. Great Vitamin Supplement TipsWeight-loss-thru-Healthy-Living Home Page
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