RE: Digest Number 106

[Guest guest]

Hi Holiday!

 

I became officially veggie just over a year ago when I realised my

for-health-reasons fat free diet contained no meat or cheese and I wasn't

missing it. My background is sort of meat-eating - Mum doesn't like meat but

doesn't consider herself veggie, and Dad's allergic to eggs but loves meat. I

had a typical child/teen's dislike of vegetables and 'rabbit food', and the

veggie things we tried back then weren't nice - I didn't think I was cut out to

be veggie back then although I was concerned about animal rights.

 

The step to veganism for me wasn't so much a step as just deciding how far I

would take the vegetarianism. It was enough just to find out what exactly it

entails, agree with the reasons (so many more than I had thought), and find to

my surprise, 1. Soya milk is palatable, and 2. Baking without eggs is possible.

Instant vegan! (and with no sense of loss or sacrifice at that.)

 

Now, I feel there's no way I'll go back to my old eating habits - the odd times

that I grab something non-vegan out of desperation I end up wishing that I

hadn't, because I don't even enjoy the taste any more. And that's it, really.

 

How about you? (got to answer your own question, you know - only fair :-)

 

Magda

[Guest guest]

In response to mommy starting baby on solids. We tried a new food every two

weeks. We alternated fruits and vegetables. Our family has a lot of

allergies, so we went slow. In doing a lot of reading and getting

information from allergy doctors and naturopaths, foods to wait on are, any

wheat, corn, tropical fruits, nuts, seeds, eggs, and fish. As a nursing

mom, I was asked to not eat or limit my intake of dairy, tropical fruits,

completely avoid nuts, and fish, as well as citrus and other tropical

fruits. Wheat and corn I tried to minimize. I used a lot of rice, quinoa

and other grains. Soy and rice milk were what I used for my " dairy "

 

What the doctors told me, and I read is that if introduced to these high

allergy foods too young you can 'activate' intolerances and allergies that

they might not get if the intestines are allowed to mature. We waited until

1 and 1/2 and then introduced string cheese, tropical fruits until at least

two,(he's 22month and never had oranges,grapefruit etc.) nuts and fish,

three. Corn and wheat we introduced very slowly at about a year old.

Avocados we were asked to avoid too. And I love avocadoes.

 

What did that leave us? Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. I know I have

a good eater in general, but because he ate only vegetables and fresh fruits

his first year and a half he has not gotten used to a lot of sweets and

fillers that are in many of todays foods. He loves oatmeal, rice pancakes

(and now wheat.) The advice I received about introduction to new foods was

to remember, the first year is for the introduction of solids and to have

fun exploring textures and smells and finally taste. I also read it takes

AT LEAST 20 introductions to a food before a child can truly like or dislike

a food. There is no need to hurry. Also remember there tummys are no larger

than their fists, so a couple of tablespoons of food is all they really need

at a time. It was also suggested that I track reactions to foods as each is

introduced. It takes 4 to 5 days in some cases before you know whether a

baby can tolerate the food. Look for dark circles under the eyes, suddenly

catching cold and or a runny nose, sneezing, diaper rash, (especially a

ring around the anus), a sandpaper like texture or actual rash on the skin.

Of course shortness of breath or vomiting.

 

Good luck. Hope this helps.

[Guest guest]

My son loves refried vegetarian beans on a tortilla shell with soy cheese

melted on top with a little avocado (guacamole to use for dip) He could eat

a ton of this stuff. (and so could I) He also likes stir fry. with fried

tofu. You cube extra firm tofu and brown it in some olive oil and put a

little bit of tamari, soy, braggs (that is what it is called. It contains

essential amino acids and tastes like soy sauce only healthier.) Or you can

by vegetarian " chicken nuggets or corn dogs that are vegetarian. There are

some great substitutes for hamburgers and hot dogs too. You can buy

vegetarian ground hamburger too for spaghetti's hot dishes etc. This was

very helpful when my husband and I were learning (and still are) about

vegetarianism and not missing the meat. There is a great product out there

that is seitan that you can cut up and use just like you would chicken for

cooked dishes. I have used it in lots of stir fry dishes. Vegetarian

lasagna dishes are great too. If you're looking for " fast food " Amy's is

one brand we like a lot. Have fun experimenting.