the focus of this elist

[Guest guest]

Holli, from your comments below, I take it that you are currently a meat eater

with some serious fears about eating a plant-based diet.

 

Do you want to learn about the value and efficacy of vegan diet?

 

Do you eat a gluten free diet?

 

Deborah

 

 

 

 

Karen got my point, I think. It's frustrating that so many products

focus on cravings rather than nutrition. Plus, being as I use these

allergy boards as a resource for finding tasty, healthy recipes for

feeding my son, it can be frustrating that so many product

recommendations are for these kinds of things.

I totally agree with what many of you said about it being an

occasional treat. The recipe on the better batter website for lamb

samosas looked tasty, and a good option for taking to parties this

holiday season. But at least one person commented they use this stuff

a ton, and that surprised me! If this kind of food makes up the bulk

of a person's diet, that person might as well be drinking sugar water

for the bulk of their calories.

I know that the majority of americans eat based purely on what they

like, and don't care in the slightest what kind of nutrition/calories

etc. they are getting, much less how what they eat impacts others or

the ecology. I guess I just hoped from a vegan board a higher

standard of healthy choices. I thought vegans in general put more

thought into what they ate than average americans. It's a dangerous

diet to adhere to without much thought and work.

Holli

.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Do you mean a vegan diet is dangerous without much thought and work?

Or Standard American Diet is dangerous? I'm a bit confused.

 

Pam

 

 

> I know that the majority of americans eat based purely on what they

> like, and don't care in the slightest what kind of nutrition/calories

> etc. they are getting, much less how what they eat impacts others or

> the ecology. I guess I just hoped from a vegan board a higher

> standard of healthy choices. I thought vegans in general put more

> thought into what they ate than average americans. It's a dangerous

> diet to adhere to without much thought and work.

> Holli

> .

[Guest guest]

>>>I guess I just hoped from a vegan board a higher

> standard of healthy choices. I thought vegans in general put more

> thought into what they ate than average americans. It's a dangerous

> diet to adhere to without much thought and work.

 

Hi Holli,

 

I am the moderator of this group and would like to respond to your

comments. Although I cannot speak for every single person here, I

believe I can respond for the majority of us. Most of the vegan and

gluten-free individuals here adhere to this diet with MUCH thought and

effort. It's not an easy lifestyle. In order to live well and feel

good and to be healthy --- adhering to this approach takes much care.

Most prepared foods are not an option, and if they are, every label is

carefully read EACH TIME when shopping (company change their

ingredients lists at will). The easiest and most common way to live

vegan and gluten-free is to eat the bulk of one's diet using 'foods as

grown'. Sometimes. . .as with most individuals. . .even those who use

much care in dietary choices. . .there are times when an occasion or

event happens and an alternative to what everyone else is eating comes

up. It's during those times that it is nice to have a 'recipe' for

something like vegan and gluten free baklava or brownies or a cinnamon

roll. But for most of us, this is not the norm. At our house, a

daily diet consists of whole, fresh foods. For example: oatmeal with

soymilk and fruit for breakfast; beans served with corn tortillas and

fresh, chopped vegetables for lunch; brown rice and steamed veggies

for dinner; a baked potato with potato toppings; whole brown rice

pasta with sauce, several vegetables (cooked and/or raw), and fruit

for dessert. Most of our family shopping is 'around the edges' of the

supermarket --- bulk whole grains; soymilk; fruits; vegetables; and a

trip down the bean aisle! Bread is a 'treat' but actually much

trouble to create on a daily basis --- so we've chosen to do without

most of the time. I agree that some replacement food recipes (to

substitute for bread; cookies; cakes; pies; etc.) are filled, many

times, with refined and empty calorie ingredients. Sometimes recipes

for those foods are posted and placed in our recipe files, but if you

will take some time to look through the files, I think you will find

many, many recipes using whole grains and healthy ingredients. We

have many recipes using ingredients like amaranth, teff, quinoa,

millet, brown rice, and more. Yes, there are some 'not so healthy'

recipes listed too. Maybe I will try one or two of them sometimes (as

others here might as well), but on the whole --- healthy living is

important! After all, that is WHY we are eating vegan and gluten-free

--- to change something in our health that needs changed or because

our bodies cannot tolerate gluten, dairy, meat, etc. Dr. McDougall, a

promoter of a healthy vegan diet, speaks of " feast days " and " regular

days " . A feast day comes occasionally (Thanksgiving and Christmas)

and regular days are the norm. Sometimes people NEED recipes for

feast days that celebrate along with everyone else. . .a special

treat, but not a lifestyle event.

 

I hope this helps give an idea where most of the list members are

coming from here. On the whole, I have found everyone to be very

concerned about good nutrition and what's best for their body.

 

~ LaDonna ~

[Guest guest]

Well said LaDonna. You spoke for me, perfectly.

 

Deborah

 

 

 

Hi Holli,

 

I am the moderator of this group and would like to respond to your

comments. Although I cannot speak for every single person here, I

believe I can respond for the majority of us. Most of the vegan and

gluten-free individuals here adhere to this diet with MUCH thought and

effort. It's not an easy lifestyle. In order to live well and feel

good and to be healthy --- adhering to this approach takes much care.

Most prepared foods are not an option, and if they are, every label is

carefully read EACH TIME when shopping (company change their

ingredients lists at will). The easiest and most common way to live

vegan and gluten-free is to eat the bulk of one's diet using 'foods as

grown'. Sometimes. . .as with most individuals. . .even those who use

much care in dietary choices. . .there are times when an occasion or

event happens and an alternative to what everyone else is eating comes

up. It's during those times that it is nice to have a 'recipe' for

something like vegan and gluten free baklava or brownies or a cinnamon

roll. But for most of us, this is not the norm. At our house, a

daily diet consists of whole, fresh foods. For example: oatmeal with

soymilk and fruit for breakfast; beans served with corn tortillas and

fresh, chopped vegetables for lunch; brown rice and steamed veggies

for dinner; a baked potato with potato toppings; whole brown rice

pasta with sauce, several vegetables (cooked and/or raw), and fruit

for dessert. Most of our family shopping is 'around the edges' of the

supermarket --- bulk whole grains; soymilk; fruits; vegetables; and a

trip down the bean aisle! Bread is a 'treat' but actually much

trouble to create on a daily basis --- so we've chosen to do without

most of the time. I agree that some replacement food recipes (to

substitute for bread; cookies; cakes; pies; etc.) are filled, many

times, with refined and empty calorie ingredients. Sometimes recipes

for those foods are posted and placed in our recipe files, but if you

will take some time to look through the files, I think you will find

many, many recipes using whole grains and healthy ingredients. We

have many recipes using ingredients like amaranth, teff, quinoa,

millet, brown rice, and more. Yes, there are some 'not so healthy'

recipes listed too. Maybe I will try one or two of them sometimes (as

others here might as well), but on the whole --- healthy living is

important! After all, that is WHY we are eating vegan and gluten-free

--- to change something in our health that needs changed or because

our bodies cannot tolerate gluten, dairy, meat, etc. Dr. McDougall, a

promoter of a healthy vegan diet, speaks of " feast days " and " regular

days " . A feast day comes occasionally (Thanksgiving and Christmas)

and regular days are the norm. Sometimes people NEED recipes for

feast days that celebrate along with everyone else. . .a special

treat, but not a lifestyle event.

 

I hope this helps give an idea where most of the list members are

coming from here. On the whole, I have found everyone to be very

concerned about good nutrition and what's best for their body.

 

~ LaDonna ~

.

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

For me personally, I try to balance the nutrition and the taste. If it tastes

blah, I am just not going to bother with it.

 

I don't like to replace what I cannot eat or what I don't want to eat with

substitutes. I don't do the tofu turkey or fake meats thing and I rarely eat

alternate breads.

 

I like to make new recipes with the ingredients I can find in a regular grocery

store. ie. fruit, vegetables, rice, etc. Sometimes I get reactions from the

replacements anyway, (ie. rice bread or rice milk).

 

It seems like the more complicated the recipe or ingredients, the greater the

chances I will have a reaction. The simpler the recipe (or list of ingredients

on a package) the best chance I have for not getting any reaction and having a

happy day.

 

This is not to say that I haven't had reactions from my own cooking. Some days

it's like " what on earth did I cook that upset my digestive system? " LOL

 

Oh I read somewhere that food that has the least packaging is the healthiest for

us. Makes sense!

 

~Melanie

 

 

________________

Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane with All new Mail:

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[Guest guest]

" In Defense of Food " has some good rules to eat by too, like " is it

something your grandmother would have recognized as food? " and " fewer

than 5 ingredients, and none that you can't pronounce " .

 

I would also avoid anything marketed towards children.

 

Also avoid anything with health claims on the label. If it says low

fat, it is probably high sugar, etc.

 

Pam

 

On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 2:31 PM, Melanie <mdixonauctions wrote:

>

> Oh I read somewhere that food that has the least packaging is the healthiest

> for us. Makes sense!

>

> ~Melanie

[Guest guest]

Any type of diet is dangerous without much thought. I particularly have

issues with the weight loss programs like weight watchers, L.A. Weightloss,

Jenny Craig, etc. The problem with a lot of diet programs is they bulk up

the fiber and reduce the calorie intake. The goal is weight loss, period!

Some people are prone to certain conditions and following a certain strict

diet can trigger disease. Nutrition has many components and when your

limited by allergies and or lifestyle choices, it makes it extremely

dangerous from a health perspective, to take dietary needs for granted. My

mother was on L.A. Weightloss program for approximately half a year. They

make you sign a contract so you still have to pay if you drop out! My mother

developed gallstones, which triggered acute pancreatitis, which led to

diabetes. She had a predisposition to these diseases, that if properly

evaluated by qualified medical professionals (which they don't have on

site!) would easily have been able to notice the risk factors and either

adjust the diet to meet her needs or advise against the program all

together. In general, most diet programs are not able to adjust the plan to

individualize it for each person who joins.

Family history, personal health issues and needs, the amount of essential

nutrients needed, blood type, and personal beliefs/issues about food sources

all need to be taken into consideration before I diet plan should be made

and adhered too. In this country we have super sized portions as we stress

weight loss! Diet is not about how much you weigh, it's about getting the

nutrients that your body needs in the way that best suits you!

 

Secondly, I'd like to say that peoples perspectives are different and you

shouldn't assume something. If someone says they use a product or recipe

that's not really healthy a lot, that doesn't necessarily mean they are

using it every day. Once a month may be a lot to them! I say I eat a lot of

hummus but in reality I probably only eat about 3 cups total throughout a

year! I know people who go through about that much hummus in a month and

they don't think they eat that much of it! We are all different in our

perspectives and our needs. Diet is a person choice, and although we like to

discuss ideas and share recipes, when we go to our kitchen, we do what we

like and what we know. I can't say that I have ever followed a recipe

exactly as it was written! I've probably wasted more food than not, but

that's just part of who I am. In the end, we are alone on our dietary

journey...some things work and some don't...but we keep learning and trying

to satisfy our hunger.

 

 

 

On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 12:57 PM, pdw <pdworkman wrote:

 

> Do you mean a vegan diet is dangerous without much thought and work?

> Or Standard American Diet is dangerous? I'm a bit confused.

>

> Pam

>

>

> > I know that the majority of americans eat based purely on what they

> > like, and don't care in the slightest what kind of nutrition/calories

> > etc. they are getting, much less how what they eat impacts others or

> > the ecology. I guess I just hoped from a vegan board a higher

> > standard of healthy choices. I thought vegans in general put more

> > thought into what they ate than average americans. It's a dangerous

> > diet to adhere to without much thought and work.

> > Holli

> > .

>

>

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Jae, good point! I'm particularly concerned about Atkins and other high

protein, low carb diets. Even with thought, the dangers to the kidneys are

intense.

 

Deborah

 

 

 

 

Any type of diet is dangerous without much thought. I particularly have

issues with the weight loss programs like weight watchers, L.A. Weightloss,

Jenny Craig, etc. The problem with a lot of diet programs is they bulk up

the fiber and reduce the calorie intake. The goal is weight loss, period!

Some people are prone to certain conditions and following a certain strict

diet can trigger disease. Nutrition has many components and when your

limited by allergies and or lifestyle choices, it makes it extremely

dangerous from a health perspective, to take dietary needs for granted. My

mother was on L.A. Weightloss program for approximately half a year. They

make you sign a contract so you still have to pay if you drop out! My mother

developed gallstones, which triggered acute pancreatitis, which led to

diabetes. She had a predisposition to these diseases, that if properly

evaluated by qualified medical professionals (which they don't have on

site!) would easily have been able to notice the risk factors and either

adjust the diet to meet her needs or advise against the program all

together. In general, most diet programs are not able to adjust the plan to

individualize it for each person who joins.

Family history, personal health issues and needs, the amount of essential

nutrients needed, blood type, and personal beliefs/issues about food sources

all need to be taken into consideration before I diet plan should be made

and adhered too. In this country we have super sized portions as we stress

weight loss! Diet is not about how much you weigh, it's about getting the

nutrients that your body needs in the way that best suits you!

 

Secondly, I'd like to say that peoples perspectives are different and you

shouldn't assume something. If someone says they use a product or recipe

that's not really healthy a lot, that doesn't necessarily mean they are

using it every day. Once a month may be a lot to them! I say I eat a lot of

hummus but in reality I probably only eat about 3 cups total throughout a

year! I know people who go through about that much hummus in a month and

they don't think they eat that much of it! We are all different in our

perspectives and our needs. Diet is a person choice, and although we like to

discuss ideas and share recipes, when we go to our kitchen, we do what we

like and what we know. I can't say that I have ever followed a recipe

exactly as it was written! I've probably wasted more food than not, but

that's just part of who I am. In the end, we are alone on our dietary

journey...some things work and some don't...but we keep learning and trying

to satisfy our hunger.

.