A learning process.

[Guest guest]

I gradually stopped eating animal products over a period of time

after fasting for 4 days to clear my body up a bit and tapering off

and stopping way too many doctor prescribed medications (one was to

combate the side effects of another, etc. until I was a mess,

mentally and physically). I decided to listen to my body and take

heed to what it was saying to me. I found I simply cannot digest

beef, pork and highly processed foods. After eliminating those things

I noticed chicken, fish and even shellfish made me feel unwell and

even aggressive. (It was a strange discovery, not one I had

expected.) Then eggs seemed to upset my stomach. Processed cheeses

did as well but Greek style brine cured feta digested well.

Buttermilk and 1% milk was good and gave me a protein boost.

 

I eat lots of beans, all sorts of rice (brown is the best), pasta in

moderation (it's a bit processed) and any vegetable from artichoke to

zucchini. (A to Z) I'm a bit iffy on the tofu but eat it sometimes.

(I have a difficult time cooking it to be palatable.) I don't want

much fruit but a fruit juice is nice on occasion.

 

I am a real 'chow hound' and have cooked since I was 10 years old. (I

worked in a bakery for 4 years and love to cook and bake

from 'scratch'.) I don't eat many baked goods now, pita, chapatis,

paan, tortillas, any breads with little or no yeast seem to agree the

best. I don't eat sweets or anything from a fast food restaurant.

(Taco Bell claims that their bean burrito has no meat products in

them but my tummy said otherwise.) It is difficult to find a

restaurant that has food that is acceptable to eat but I have an

Indian, Thai and Lebanese restaurant that have excellent vegan fare.

(I love falafel, hummus and tobbouli!)

 

I am learning more each day about cooking vegan, as the western diet

is meat based, it has been to take an entirely new approach to

cooking. I alternate days when I eat calorie dense food (beans, rice,

pasta, fried food) with sauted vegetables (always in olive oil and

always well spiced and herbed) which are lighter. I have slowly lost

weight and with moderate exercise have never felt better, with many

chronic ailments resolving themselves (much to my surprise).

 

I love Boca products for when I am 'lazy' and don't feel like major

cooking. They are so much better than they were 20 years ago! Also, a

nice variety.

 

I hope to get new recipe ideas from other members and hope I can also

lend a hand to people who are at a lose as to how to make veges

delicious. (I have cooked for 40 years and have a bit of training in

nutrition.)

 

I only wish I had gone 'full vegan' sooner instead of being a 'semi

vegetarian' all my life. I feel so much better but there's no going

back to meat eating now. Being vegan is a lifestyle.

 

I'm glad to be a member of this club and hope to interact with you

all in the future.

[Guest guest]

HI Dorothea

 

On Thu, Aug 19, 2004 at 10:49:53 -0000, Dorothea wrote:

>

> I am learning more each day about cooking vegan, as the western diet

> is meat based, it has been to take an entirely new approach to

> I hope to get new recipe ideas from other members and hope I can also

>

> I only wish I had gone 'full vegan' sooner instead of being a 'semi

> vegetarian' all my life. I feel so much better but there's no going

> back to meat eating now. Being vegan is a lifestyle.

 

 

What a lovely intro, I enejoyed it.

Persian

 

" We have enslaved the rest of the animal creation

and have treated our distant cousins in fur and feather so badly that,

beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate a religion, they would

depict the devil in human form " - William Ralph Inge

 

" The human body has no more need for cows' milk than it does for dogs' milk,

horses' milk or giraffes' milk. " ~Michael Klapper, M.D.

 

Only when the last tree has died

and the last river has been poisoned

and the last fish has been caught

will we realise we cannot eat money. - Cree Indian saying