Perpetual Healthy Eating and Fitness Rant & Rave thread

[MiniDriver]

Got on the bike after work yesterday and probably shouldn't have.  Only did a half-hour, but my knee's complaining about it this morning.  Time for a rest day.

Still working on the pumpkin-spinach stuffed shells idea.  And trying to come up with another idea for this weekend. Maybe black eyed peas and kale?

[Courtney]

I suspect it is your microbial flora (not systemic candida but your entire community of gut flora). There is quite a bit of evidence pointing to an unhealthy (ie abnormal) intestinal flora leading to both IBS and yeast infections. In fact this is the very reason that antibiotics sometimes causes yeast infections and diarrhea, bloating, etc. Ever tried probiotics?

My issues are also likely related to microbial flora hence why my dr was trying to get me to test giving up dairy and why I am actually really trying probiotics for a while.

I trust your sciency knowledge, MM!  Tell me about probiotics.  What are you doing?  I've really only heard the buzzword from Jamie Lee Curtis, I know very little about them.  I'll google as well, but I 100% trust you. 

[Courtney]

What, exactly, is Kefir?  Is it something with these magic probiotics?   

cgraz, those carrots sound GOOD.  I shall try those this week if I pick up some carrots! 

[diablita]

And I'd like to know about the probiotics for your dogs, Mouse.  Poor Eddie gets so itchy in the Spring and Fall.

[onawhim]

Kefir is a fermented milk drink and has tons of probiotics in it.   Way more than yogurt.  It tastes like slightly fizzy runny yogurt (to me).  I love it.  The Liberté brand is really good. 

[Ice Cream]

Anyone see the vegan article in the health section of the NYTimes?

[Ergonomic Mouse]

And I'd like to know about the probiotics for your dogs, Mouse.  Poor Eddie gets so itchy in the Spring and Fall.

dev.... My vet recommended we try him on them... It has probiotic specific to the canine gut flora in addition to digestive enzymes. It is called iflora pet probiotic. It is in powder form and I sprinkle about 1/8th teaspoon on their evening meal

[Ergonomic Mouse]

Kefir is a fermented milk drink and has tons of probiotics in it.   Way more than yogurt.  It tastes like slightly fizzy runny yogurt (to me).  I love it.  The Liberté brand is really good. 

yep!!!  Good stuff!

[Clementine]

Anyone see the vegan article in the health section of the NYTimes?

I did.

(For those who didn't, it's here: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/14/how-to-go-vegan/)

[merigayle]

not a bad article!

[MiniDriver]

I did.

(For those who didn't, it's here: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/14/how-to-go-vegan/)

Since then, I’ve spoken with numerous vegan chefs and diners who say it can be a challenge to change a lifetime of eating habits overnight.

I don't think it's necessary to make changes overnight.  Make changes gradually.  Not ready to give up sushi?  Don't!  Find a path that works for you.  It might take a month or two to work out the transition, or even longer.  The point is to start the path towards a "plantstrong" (as Mr. Engine #2 calls it) diet. 

She got to the point later, in a way:

Finally, don’t try to replicate your favorite meaty foods right away. If you love a juicy hamburger, meatloaf or ham sandwich, you are not going to find a meat-free version that tastes the same. Ms. Voisin advises new vegans to start slow and eat a few vegan meals a week. Stock your pantry with lots of grains, lentils and beans and pile your plate with vegetables. To veganize a recipe, start with a dish that is mostly vegan already — like spaghetti — and use vegetables or a meat substitute for the sauce.

And I agree that it's easier to transition with meals that are already mostly vegan - bean burritos, for another example than it is to expect a vegan meal to taste like (or have the mouth feel) of meat or cheese.

[Run Amok]

Ate the other half of my kale pasta for lunch. Yum!

I did.

(For those who didn't, it's here: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/14/how-to-go-vegan/)

Personally, my response was: 

I think they could have pretty much started and ended with avoiding meat/dairy substitutes for a while. If you can find a "milk" you like, fine (I like the unsweetened coconut milk in the tetra pak, myself)... but the cheeses and the meat substitutes don't taste like meat. So, if you're expecting them to, you will be sorely disappointed.

I wish they would have focused a little more on recommendations of foods that are "naturally" vegan... i.e. not pizza that tastes good even if it's not cheesy and not substituting squash rav for cheese rav and not subbing tofu scrambles for egg scrambles. How about looking, instead, at incorperating whole grains, veggies, and legumes into your diet. Or, building layers of flavor/how to get the best flavor out of your veggies.

I think getting more comfortable with foods that start out vegan, can help reshape your idea of what a meal looks like. One of the biggest challenges for people is often that they conceptualize a "meal" as a protein with some sides. Having a satisfying vegan meal is partly about accepting a new kind of meal.

I kind of thing she just perpetuated the myth that vegans subsist on a bunch of fake crap designed to look/taste like meat/dairy... which really doesn't have to be the case.

My 2 cents worth anyway...

[diablita]

dev.... My vet recommended we try him on them... It has probiotic specific to the canine gut flora in addition to digestive enzymes. It is called iflora pet probiotic. It is in powder form and I sprinkle about 1/8th teaspoon on their evening meal

thanks!  researching now...

[merigayle]

I think getting more comfortable with foods that start out vegan, can help reshape your idea of what a meal looks like. One of the biggest challenges for people is often that they conceptualize a "meal" as a protein with some sides. Having a satisfying vegan meal is partly about accepting a new kind of meal.

I kind of thing she just perpetuated the myth that vegans subsist on a bunch of fake crap designed to look/taste like meat/dairy... which really doesn't have to be the case.

My 2 cents worth anyway...

totally agree. growing up we always had meat as focus of dinner, some potato product and some "vegetable" (i use the term vegetable loosely because ours consisted of canned green beans, canned corn or frozen spinach  None of my meals resemble that.

[Clementine]

I wish they would have focused a little more on recommendations of foods that are "naturally" vegan... i.e. not pizza that tastes good even if it's not cheesy and not substituting squash rav for cheese rav and not subbing tofu scrambles for egg scrambles. How about looking, instead, at incorperating whole grains, veggies, and legumes into your diet. Or, building layers of flavor/how to get the best flavor out of your veggies.

I think getting more comfortable with foods that start out vegan, can help reshape your idea of what a meal looks like. One of the biggest challenges for people is often that they conceptualize a "meal" as a protein with some sides. Having a satisfying vegan meal is partly about accepting a new kind of meal.

I kind of thing she just perpetuated the myth that vegans subsist on a bunch of fake crap designed to look/taste like meat/dairy... which really doesn't have to be the case.

My 2 cents worth anyway...

I think the people who commented on the article got this point across pretty well (but, of course, it would been nice to have more emphasis on it in the article text). And there were actually a LOT fewer "anti-vegan" comments on this article than on most NYTimes articles that discuss veganism.

I also think that this comment is right on:

Why does everything have to be 100%. That last 2% is 80% of the effort. Just be 95, or even 90% vegan and I'd wager u get 99.99% of a 100% of the vegan diet heath benefits.

[Run Amok]

Well, I agree and don't agree. If you're going to be vegan, it's kind of about going 100%. But, I'm all about skipping the "manifesto" approach to eating. Eat what you think is right for you... it doesn't have to have a name or rules.

[merigayle]

Which is why i do and do not like labels. Labels are good so i can say, hey i am vegan, so people know and can accomodate, but seriously, i will eat ice cream, so i am not really vegan. People get so hung up on labels. I know people who have done it different ways-- go whole hog cold turkey vegan and others who eased into it. I think if you eat a standard american diet, going vegan and not eating just junk is hard. It can be a lot more cooking than many are used to and a lot of flavors and textures people are not used to. I look at what we ate growing up and it was pretty darn bland and no though-- meatloaf 2xs a week, steak/burgers 1x, spaghetti 1x, chicken 1x, pizza 1x, dinner at grandmas (chicken or brisket) 1x week. So, yeah, not much variation, pretty bland, not much effort cooking. We did not really eat fast food besides pizza but that may have been more about there being no fast food places in our town growing up Oh how things have changed!Imagine going from my mother's menu right into what i eat now-- pad thai, curries, quinoa, lentils and veggies, cashew cheeses, baked tofu, etc. Yeah, quite the shock of flavors, colors, tastes, textures, cooking methods, etc.

[Clementine]

Well, I agree and don't agree. If you're going to be vegan, it's kind of about going 100%. But, I'm all about skipping the "manifesto" approach to eating. Eat what you think is right for you... it doesn't have to have a name or rules.

Right. Which is why I would never call myself vegan, but don't have a problem with saying "I eat a mostly vegan diet". Of course, I mostly just keep it to myself unless someone asks.

There are some vegan advocates who say that vegans would be a lot better off if they didn't make it look so hard (i.e. obsessively worrying about an ingredient that makes up <1% of a product, etc). Getting more people to eat "mostly vegan" (or even "sometimes vegan") would be way better for the planet/animals than saying "you're either in or out". (i.e. 100 people eating 80% vegan may be better than 20 people eating 100% vegan)

[merigayle]

well, obsessively worrying about an ingredient when you make decisions also on moral or religious reasons is not "making it look hard" but everyone can pick the level they feel most comfortable with. DD went to a yoga class Saturday and they had fruit snacks, there was gelatin in them. She had already eaten them, i cannot turn back time, but i did not take any home with us as DD wanted, however, if I know in advance i always bring a substitute or check ingredients. At her old school i brought her own soy milk, but would let her eat yogurt, because i felt like she was excluded enough with her dietary needs and the yogurt was from the farm down the street. I do pick my battles. My neighbors feed her cheetos. I survive. But at the same time, things like gelatin are a HUGE no-no for me and some things have other ingredients like "beef juice" (Hostess cupcakes) that i just cannot overlook. I do not say i make it look hard though, cause i have been doing this for so long and know all the substitutions. As you can see, i always have an answer for MM on non dairy alternatives and anyone else looking for non dairy alternatives


oh and i want to make this tomorrow. http://veggiegrettie.com/2012/01/27/vegan-dessert-hummus-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip/

[diablita]

beef juice?