06/14/2008 14:10:52

Quote: Eating meat or not eating meat is not what's going to change your lifespan, and if she thinks it will she should do some damn research on the subject rather than listening to the Vegan terror mongers. Many vegetarians actually have no clue what they are doing and get sick because they don't do it right. They go Tofu happy and think that all you need is tofu beans and lots of garlic to stay healthy. Not true...

 

You're somewhat right in a certain context, when you are in the Antarctic or some place where fat
starvation occurs as your body speeds up its metabolism to extremes to
compensate for the environment. As someone who has done a lot of research into quality of life issues, such as nutrition and longevity, eating vegetables and naturally occurring starches, to the absence of fats and proteins, does not make someone sick. In fact a very low calorie diet is behind many a centenarian last twenty years or so.

In the context of our over-indulged culture cutting down on meats works benefits like lowering "bad" cholesterol, which may or may not reduce the risk or premature cardiogenic problems. A person who eats non-complex fats tends to have a lot more energy for stuff like walking to the TV when the remote control isn't readily available instead of having to metabolize their last meal and napping in the comforterer. And for proven longevity, there is an old adage "Eat mostly vegetables, leafy ones, not just the seedy ones." 

Your picture of vegans as pasty-looking waifs is far from a proven reality, except in anorexic adolescents and the adolescent-minded. While the over-ample portions of "necessary protiens" (as well as what usually accompanies it) on everyone's usual diet has the 400 pound gorilla, allusion intended, of too many of us having adult on-set diabetes, hypertension, and gradual renal failure. All the while growing more and more non-ambulatory, leading to a serious degradation in the quality of life of the individuals.

06/14/2008 09:51:16

Eating meat or not eating meat is not what's going to change your lifespan, and if she thinks it will she should do some damn research on the subject rather than listening to the Vegan terror mongers.

Many vegetarians actually have no clue what they are doing and get sick because they don't do it right. They go Tofu happy and think that all you need is tofu beans and lots of garlic to stay healthy. Not true.

You need to up your protein level something fierce to stay healthy. Mushrooms and Beans are both essentials for this.

 

My suggestion, develop a good healthy relationship with the Indian resteraunts in your area. Indian food is Vegetarianism done right. This does not work the same for chinese food as most chinese resterauns in the USA use fillers and native foods that make their food higher in fat, calories and salt (and salt is a real killer since it can raise your blood pressure through the roof).

 

 

 

06/14/2008 06:50:45

I am not a vegetarian but have been around the veggie-terrorists forever, including the vegans. The older I get, the more am prone to vegetarian eating. I find the "Veggie Burger" at Burger King is a decent decadent eat, and they always have some BBQ around the place to squirt on top. Indian foods can be wonderful, they often include fetta or just white cheese. Mexican restaurants have great and filling vegetarian meals. At home I do a lot of lentil soups over ramen noodles as a quick hearty meal.

 

06/13/2008 22:55:18

Oh yeah, don't forget to add all the traditional fixings... potato salad, corn on the cob, watermelon, etc.  It will bring the experience closer to what you are used to having and might make the cravings go away faster!

Good luck!

06/13/2008 22:53:01

I like the morning star burgers too but be careful!!  Many non-meat alternatives are not good for grilling (they can get sticky due to lack of fat/juices that meat has).  Read the labels first.

What is it about the bbq that you miss?  Me, I'm happy as long as I get the good wood/grilled flavor so things like thicker slices of eggplant are nice if marinaded and grilled.

If you want BBQ sauce flavor, you can use extra firm tofu and marinade it in sauce(at least an hour, two is better) and grill it kabob style with or without veggies. Or go for something like bbq chili beans made with the meatless burger crumbles.

06/13/2008 17:48:33

Boy, you get shot in Texas for givin up BBQ.  There are just some things that a amn gots ta do.

 

This coming from a total fat bastard who is on a new diet as well,

Brian 

06/13/2008 15:20:25

Well, I'm a dyed in the wool meat eater (but I don't eat wool ), and yet I have significantly cut back on my red meat consumption quite a bit. As a result, I have found that vegetarian Boca Burgers or any of the fake meat products put out by Morningstar farms to be good solutions for that meat jones. They actually taste like the meat they set out to impersonate! Fake meat technology has come a long way. Why not take a Boca burger and grill it on the BBQ, putting some BBQ sauce on it?