Really didn't mean to lecture!!

August 22, 2008

I was trying to vent. Please, if my comments didn't apply to you,

don't take them personally!! I get that the vast majority of us want

to eat healthily. That was my point. If health and nutrition are

supposed to be the focus of a group like this, why do I see posts so

often about stuff with so little nutritive value? I guess maybe

because that is the stuff, as someone said, for festival type food,

and is exciting and new and different. I don't know.

I'm a little surprised at the nearly complete lack of tolerance of an

opposing viewpoint. Actually, I take that back. I'm surprised it was

an opposing viewpoint. I expected people to understand and agree that

it would be nice to have convenient, easy to fix food that both tastes

good and is nutritious. It seems to be difficult to achieve all of

those things, and I put in an inordinate amount of time and energy on

food. I realize that I put in way more work than is normal, even

among others who also eat unusual diets, so maybe my feelings just run

stronger because it's so much of my life.

M K: you asked for an example of my family's bizarre diet. Well, my

ds is allergic to 6 of the top 8 (wheat, eggs, soy, milk, peanuts,

treenuts. he can eat fish and shellfish), plus several fruits and

gluten-free. We tend to eat soups, stir-fries, odd sandwiches etc.

One day might look like this: Grits or hot buckwheat cereal with

sugar for breakfast, " toast pizza " with homemade sauce, veggies

(usually whatever I have frozen)and nut. yeast on safe bread for

lunch, " Caribbean style quinoa and black beans, asian-style

ginger/lime/cilantro salmon and a side of mixed veggies w/ mrs. dash

for dinner. Ds will usually eat a snack before bed, too. We usually

have stuff like Enjoy Life cereal bars, corn chips and homemade

guacamole or homemade cookies like the tollhouse recipe I posted

before for him to snack on.

Deborah: I am a meat eater now, for the first time in over 8 years.

For almost all of my adult life I've been a vegetarian (that would be

16 years with a hiatus 8 years ago). I started frequenting these

boards when I figured out that vegans really know how to cook egg free

after I found out my ds was allergic to eggs. When we found out this

summer he's allergic to milk, too, we tried for almost two months to

eat a vegan diet. Being as he is allergic to wheat, soy and nuts,

too, though, it wasn't working out. I couldn't find a way to get

enough calories in him, much less protein. So now we eat a portion of

meat once every other day or so. He seems far more comfortable now.

LaDonna: I think if you'll read my second post, you'll find I agree

with pretty much everything you said. I totally get reading labels.

My ds has life-threatening allergies. I have to excruciatingly read

the label of anything meant to go in his mouth, or he could die. Not

much room for mistakes.

Pam: I MEANT the vegan diet can be dangerous, but now that you

mention it, the typical American diet is, too! =D I think a lot of

people who put zero thought into their " typical American " diets die

from those diets all the time. But it goes both ways...I think it's

safe to say people just need to be careful with what they eat, whether

they eat animal products or not.

Amber: I'm sorry. I realize you have a difficult situation, and I'm

sorry if I made you feel worse about it. You obviously have to do

what you have to do!

Shannon: I'm just frustrated with the lack of availability of

products and the focus of groups--not just this one. This thread was

just one to many for me that seemed to be putting more focus on the

fun foods than the healthy ones. Please don't let my little tantrum

ruin the board for you. I really didn't mean to lecture. I just

needed to vent.

Holli

August 22, 2008

On Aug 21, 2008, at 10:20 PM, fierce_mink_2000 wrote:

> started frequenting these

> boards when I figured out that vegans really know how to cook egg free

> after I found out my ds was allergic to eggs. When we found out this

> summer he's allergic to milk, too, we tried for almost two months to

> eat a vegan diet. Being as he is allergic to wheat, soy and nuts,

> too, though, it wasn't working out. I couldn't find a way to get

> enough calories in him, much less protein.

==============

Holli

have you read a book called, " Disease Proof your Child " by Joel

Fuhrman MD? it is perfectly feasible to get sufficient protein

into a child who has those allergies. In his book he shows you which

vegetables are high in protein and gives you ideas on how to feed

your children.

my kids and I have celiac disease, and are allergic to dairy and soy.

I am also allergic to eggs. We eat a vegan diet at home. My kids

aren't allergic to nuts but they make up a small portion of their

diet. it is very easy to substitute nuts for raw seeds. In fact, raw

seeds are healthier and contain more protein than nuts.

This morning my kids are going to eat a smoothie that contains 11.5g

of protein and no animal products are to be seen,.

I blend 8oz spinach (this is the major protein source)

4oz mango

1 banana

1 tablespoon flax seeds (good source of omega 3's)

1.5 tablespoons sunflower seeds (good protein and mineral source)

water to get things moving.

It comes out like a thick, green pudding and tastes primarily of

mango. you can't taste the spinach. I've tacked on the nutritional

profile of this smoothie so that you can see how healthy it is.

At the risk of sounding patronizing, I don't find it difficult to

ensure that my children get enough nutrients, even with their

allergies. Do yourself a favor and read Joel Furhman's books

(www.drfuhrman.com). he does a superb job of explaining how to

structure a vegan diet for children that provides them with a perfect

balance of phytonutrients.

HTH

Shez

Amount Per Serving

Calories

306.3

Calories from Fat

124.1

Fat 14.5g 22 %

Saturated Fat 2.2g 11%

Polyunsaturated Fat 5.3g

Monounsaturated Fat 5.6g

Sodium 119.1mg 5%

Potassium 942.6mg 27%

Carbohydrate 40.2g 13%

Dietary Fiber11.7g 47%

Protein 11.4 g 23 %

Vitamin A 243%

Calcium 21 %

Vitamin D 0%

Thiamin 26%

Niacin 10%

Vitamin B6 32%

Phosphorus 27%

Selenium 15%

Vitamin C 88%

Iron 30%

Vitamin E 17%

Riboflavin 20%

Vitamin B12 0%

Manganese 26%

Copper 41%

Magnesium 52%

Zinc 16%

--http://homeschooledtwins.blogspot.com

August 22, 2008

Holli

Have you had a chance to look at the group archives for all the

recipes Kim has made sure are kept there. There is lots of good stuff

that may go more along with what you had in mind. You have a

difficult situation with your family having allergies to 6 of the top

8, but been there done that and fortunately had eldest son grow out of

3 of the 6 so now we just have to watch gluten, dairy and soy along

with some odd ones like kiwi.

Kim often posts very practical down to earth recipes for us with good

nutrition. I struggle daily just to find something to eat because my

own allergies include soy, gluten, dairy, some but not all nuts and

many legumes. I can't afford empty calories and eat alot of greens.

I am also trying to alkalinize as much as possible and that just

throws another wrench in but thankful encourages me to eat more

greens.

I think you will find the list goes in cycles. With things like back

to school for many people, we also have to deal with kids wanting or

needing something sort of like what other kids are having and that

puts added pressure on people.

BL

On Thu, Aug 21, 2008 at 7:20 PM, fierce_mink_2000

<fierce_mink_2000 wrote:

> I was trying to vent. Please, if my comments didn't apply to you,

> don't take them personally!! I get that the vast majority of us want

> to eat healthily. That was my point.

August 22, 2008

Holli, thanks for your report on your family's daily diet. That clarifies a

great deal. Clearly, your criticisms aimed at us are misplaced concern about

your family apparently eating flesh, sugar, toast AND bread, corn chips,

chocolate AND cookies on a daily, or near-daily basis.

Have you and your husband had your cholesterol levels checked lately?

Are you aware of the excessive levels of neuro-toxins in fish?

FYI, many of us also avoid wheat, nuts, soy, milk and eggs, as do my husband and

I, while still eating a vegan diet. It's do-able.

When you ate vegetarian, did you take a regular supplement of B12? That is

essential for anyone who doesn't eat meat, and even for many who do.

Since you have now also criticised our tolerance, I feel moved to compliment

list members on the impressive tolerance being extended to you, and from our big

hearted moderator who is permitting you to continue on the list, despite your

self-confessed tantrum, venting, complaining, lectures and generalised

criticisms. For myself, I'm amused by your attempt to elevate them to the

status of an " opposing viewpoint " . We might take a lesson from your

extra-ordinary self-confidence! :-)

Deborah

I was trying to vent. <snip>

I'm a little surprised at the nearly complete lack of tolerance of an

opposing viewpoint. Actually, I take that back. I'm surprised it was

an opposing viewpoint.