Living Without Meat

Statistics not only make things easier to understand, but are also just plain fun sometimes. Here are a few vegetable fun notes.

* Cartoons influence us! Post Popeye’s comic strip debut in 1931 spinach consumption in the U.S. went up nearly 33 percent.

* Baby carrots are primarily a new product found in the U.S. It may seem wasteful to buy them, knowing that they are only regular carrots trimmed down to finger food size. However, California farmer Mike Yurosek came up with the idea as a way to use the over 400 tons of crop he tossed each year because of slight rotting or imperfections.

* In order to make one glass of OJ, 50 glasses of water are needed. This includes water to grow the oranges.

* The potato was once considered a dessert. It came served on a napkin with a sprinkle of salt.

* In 1893, the Supreme Court ruled that a tomato was to be classified as a vegetable, even though its fruit-like botany. The issue hit courts because veggies and fruits were taxed differently.

* The most cultivated crop in America is corn. An ear of corn consists of 80 percent water.

Some of these points are from a new fave Web site of mine - Amusing Facts; others I hunted down through encyclopedias and such.

Here is an entertaining, recent conversation between myself and two men working at a local bar. I am friends with both, so my sass was not received and met with spit in my salad.

Me: I’m hungry.

Supervisor: I’m sure we could rustle you up something to eat.

Me: Hmm … do you cook your french fries in the same oil as the chicken fingers?

Supervisor: Yea.

Me: Okay, well, actually you know there are health codes against doing that, right?

Supervisor: Really?

Me: Yup. Not for me, per se, more so for allergies and whatnot.

Cook (walking in mid-way into convo): Oh, it’s vegetable oil that we fry the stuff in.

Me: But you put the fries in the same vegetable oil as the chicken?

Cook: Right, it’s vegetable oil.

Me (using my hands): Okay … follow me. This is the oil. Chicken in; fries in. Yes? No longer vegetable oil.

Cook: Yea, but the chicken is breaded so the meat doesn’t touch the oil.

Me: Nice try.

Cook: I suppose we could heat up some oil on the stove for you and make you a batch of french fries.

Supervisor: Yea, that sounds good!

Me: Thanks, but I’ll just go with a house salad. Hold the cheese, please. And I do appreciate your offer.

Cook: What kind of dressing - ranch, Caesar …? Are you sure you don’t want the fries?

Me (forehead hits bar): …

Next door to Chicago’s Funky Buddha Lounge, you can now find an eco-friendly, uber-organic nightclub run by the same owner, 32-year-old Mark Klemen (seen pouring a drink in pic). This trendy, health-conscious bar - dubbed Butterfly Social Club - was recently spotlighted in the New York Times, bringing the green movement into the media light with it.

You can find most everything that you would want in a nightclub at the Butterfly: a DJ, great dance music, a fun vibe, and random appearances by celebrities. But you can also find things that you would never expect: fresh-squeezed juice, superfood infusions, coconut juice and agave nectar in place of high fructose corn syrup, no smoking, and mostly non-alcoholic drink orders.

If you are in or near Chicago, definitely give Butterfly a visit at 722 West Grand Avenue, and order up the signature drink: the Jungle Cacao, $6 (organic chocolate, maca root, goji berries, Amazonian herbs and agave nectar, with or without alcohol).

I’m jealous; I want a place like this near me!

Here are a few brief headlining articles that work their magic as PR for animals, vegetarianism, and healthy goodness in general.

Enjoy! (Links are in the bold text)

* CNN Living provides a great look at both sides of the declawing debate, speaking to PETA, Humane Society, and a pet owner who recently declawed her cats.

* CNN Money was in on the game, too, with an announcement of a new soy milk product put out by Canada’s best-selling soy brand, So Good.

* Michigan , Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio faces a 2,000+-pound chicken recall, reports All Headline News. Meijer Inc. recalled their Discovery Cuisine Red Curry Chicken and Jasmine Rice after the U.S.D.A. reported suspecting listeria (a harmful bacteria) in the product.

* redOrbit takes from a BBC News report and studies at University of Minnesota to conclude that eating breakfast every day gives you a slimming edge over your peers. But my mom already knew this.

* Yahoo! News covers medical studies about, and one mother’s direct experience with, the ability for diet to impact - both positively and negatively - hyperactivity and ADHD.

More important than listening to the advice of Dr. Atkins, is listening to what your own body is telling you. If you know what to pay attention to, you can act as your own nutritionist.

* If you crave something healthy (e.g. orange), you likely need what it has to offer (e.g. vitamin C).

* Sometimes, a headache is brought on by migraines, sinus issues, tiredness, or sometimes your recent meals have not included enough protein. Learn to tell what each headache feels like, and then you can know when it’s because you have not been eating enough protein. (Read more on protein: Waht Are They and How Much Do I Need)

* Feeling week and tired even though you are getting plenty of rest? Up the amount of iron-rich foods in your diet.

* Hammer out many of your nutrient and vitamin levels by checking your fingernails. Flaky, dry, brittle, easily broken, discolored, or upward curved nails could be lacking vitamin B12, calcium, vitamin C, or folic acid.

* If you begin noticing more hair woes - split ends, dryness, breakage, loss - turn to you zinc, amino acids, and essential fatty acids intake. Healthy hair foods include beans, whole grains, raw nuts, flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, berries, and dark greens.

* Your skin reflects your diet whole-heartedly. As mom always said: “Garbage in = garbage out.” Now she was talking about inappropriate music and TV, but it works here, too. If you eat mass quantities of processed, sugary, refined foods, everyone will know it. Likewise, if you eat only carrot juice - you’ll be orange! So, a balanced, healthy diet = balanced, healthy skin. (Unless your dad happens to have given you adult acne genes. Thanks, dad.)

Seeing a doctor for serious concerns and regular checkups is, of course, important. But when you walk in and tell them that you are a vegetarian, they may focus on that as a major health concern. If you go in educated about your own body, diet, and nutritional needs, they will take a step back and respect your meatless lifestyle a lot more.

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Becoming vegetarian did not cause me to become super thin. It did, however, help my body readjust and shape-up to carry the same amount of weight in a more flattering way.

I find it hard to condone people going vegetarian simply to lose weight, as this is the wrong motivation to do anything. Plus, vegetarianism tends to have a negative affiliation with eating disorders which I fully intend to delve into later.

When I became vegetarian my belly flattened; but more importantly, I began to look and feel healthier.

That being said, I am not suggesting that you diet (you look fabulous just as you are, my darling!). What I am pointing out is that a step forward has been made for vegetarians in our quest to be recognized.

NutriSystem Nourish weight loss program has added an All-Vegetarian option. This is the first and “only prepackaged all-vegetarian weight loss plan available,” according to the NutriSystem Web site.

This is great news for vegetarians everywhere - regardless of whether you have interest in a weight loss program. Whenever I’ve seen an ad for such a company, bragging about how you can eat the same thing that you always do as they show plate after plate of animal meat, I’ve scoffed: “Really? I can eat what I still eat? Then why are you only offering chicken and fish?”

NutriSystem has thoroughly impressed me with their open-minded attempt to suit all customers. Many of the meals may not fulfill a vegan (i.e. scrambled eggs with veggie sausage crumble), but there are more than enough options if this is the route you decide to go.

Hmm … actually, having a delivery of apple cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast, black beans and rice for lunch, vegetable fajita (shown) for dinner, and almond biscotti for dessert … that might be worth the money, especially with 2 weeks of free food to begin!

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Last night I had a total “gag me with a spoon” moment. My face got hot; I got mad; and I wanted to throw up.

What am I talking about? Cheese, of course. Not just any cheese though, vegan-fronting cheese that actually contains hidden animal products!

I was making what I thought was a vegan grilled cheese - whole wheat bread, spread with a touch of Smart Balance, a little mustard, and layers of cheddar-flavored Veggie Slices.

Turns out, this soy-based cheese that boasts about not “being found in the dairy section” is not vegan! Though you will always find it in supermarkets, natural food stores, and such amongst the vegan products, it - and many such cheese substitutes - are not animal product-free.

These products are actually targeting a market that is lactose-intolerant. Thus, the majority of the milk, curds, etc. are removed and replaced, but casein - a milk derivative - is still added.

I have some lactose intolerant symptoms since I have been avoiding milk products, but I also am looking to avoid all animal by-products. Not only that, apparently casein (dried protein) is the worst nutritional aspect of milk.

I made the mistake of assuming that since Veggie Slices: 1. had a name implying vegetarian status, and 2. were shelved with the vegan substitutes, that I could forgo that in-depth label reading and evaluating that I usually have to apply to food packaging.

Guess I was wrong. Back to the drawing board to find a new vegan cheese alternative. Any suggestions? My local stores don’t carry Galaxy Nutritional Foods’ casein-free products - Vegan or Rice slices. Besides, do I really want to support a company that knowingly (I have tracked complaints back to 2005) deceives vegans into buying their product?

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I am not a huge fan of soy milk.

I used to drink a gallon a week of cow’s milk before I decided to go utterly without one day. Since then, symptoms of lactose intolerance that I have shown in small scale since I was a babe, have increased. Now, I cannot consume milk products without suffering a few consequences.

I know that fortified soy milk is an excellent source of calcium and vitamins for vegans. But I am just not a fan of soy milk. If you fail to shake it each and every use, it gets a pasty after taste/texture.

However, I have found a few hints, tips, tricks, and specialty soy milk products that are very good!

* Silk Soymilk refrigerated specialty flavors are yummy. You can find chai, coffee, mocha, and seasonal specials like the current hit (that is in the coffee in front of me at this very moment) pumpkin spice. This would go great with dessert at your vegan Thanksgiving celebration!

* Here’s a good trick that my mom helped me figure out: If you read the ingredients for regular soy milk and the light version, you’ll find that all they do is add water to make it lighter. I do like regular soy milk in my cereal, so I will buy the regular flavor, then mix it with a bit of water over my flakes and - tada! - light soy milk! You can get more for your money this way because regular and light cost exactly the same.

* 8th Continent Soymilk - even my cats will drink this brand. Regular or vanilla; in a glass, in a smoothie, or on a bowl of cereal. It’s just good. Get a coupon online and try it.

* For the love of all that is soy, shake it! Shake it often, and shake it thoroughly.

* Previously I have mentioned that I have a deep love for Odwalla beverages. But they have so many flavors, an endless supply of goodness, that I feel I will forever be trying new ones. My latest amazing find from this brand is their Soy Smart Chocolate Mint Soymilk Drink. It makes a fabulous iced coffee addition, and is a great treat alone. Plus, it has 6g of protein without having whey added in - which is what most hide on the ingredient list.

Check some of these … and let me know your soy milk tips, trick, loves, gripes, and hints, too!

Shortly after putting together my dietary iron research for you last week, I noticed a link on my personalized Google home page (iGoogle … I’ve fallen in love with it and highly recommend that you check it out!) talking about vegetarian iron sources, specifically the common leafy green spinach.

The exact iron-related question that was brought up in knitting class, that I didn’t mention previously, was: “I eat spinach practically every day, so how can I possibly be anemic?”

Now, I know that a basic answer would be: you always, for any diet, need to vary what you eat in order to intake and absorb an ideal amount of nutrients and vitamins. And being the non-scientific person that I am, this was about all that I could offer on the spot.

However, the Vegetarian LifeTips link that I saw on on my iGoogle was titled Iron in Spinach.

*Click!* You’ve got my attention.

Here’s what the editors at LifeTips had to say:

Iron in Spinach
Don´t rely strictly on spinach to get your iron. Your body can´t absorb enough iron from spinach to justify its reputation as a major source of that mineral. The best way to get iron from vegetables is to make a meatless stew such as chili with beans. The vitamin C in the tomatoes and bell peppers helps release iron from the beans.

Great info, LifeTips! Thanks!

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At the knitting class that I teach, the topic of dietary iron intake came up - clearly my students are advanced if we are already progressing to the part of “bitch” in our weekly lessons of stitchery. One newbie knitter is a vegetarian (a second one is too, but she eats chicken … yea) and was recently diagnosed by her doctor as being anemic. Thus, she thought to ask me where I get my iron. Since I wasn’t at once immediately able to rattle off enough sources to feel that I had satisfactorily answered her question, I promised a post once I further researched the matter. So, Miss Krissy, this one’s for you.

Anemia is when the iron levels in your blood system are low which causes your blood to have difficulty moving oxygen. It tends to be associated with vegetarianism because the most absorbable sources of dietary iron are red meats and fish. However, I was anemic when I was a meat-eater, and now am not.

Iron intake is important because our bodies simply use it as it comes - we can’t get rid of excess or store it for later (this is also why you can get sick from too much iron). Thus, our body keeps tight regulations on how much is taken in from what we eat.

Signs and symptoms of anemia include pale skin, weak nails, fatigue, weakness … gee, is this where people get all of their stereotypes about vegetarians?

But never fear! Aside from the animal-based or supplement-form (which should be kept far out of children’s reach as ingesting it is a leading cause of toxic death among kids!), here is how our bodies can get the iron that we need:

lentils
beans, seeds, nuts, chickpeas
leafy vegetables
tofu, soy products, tempeh
olives
black-eyed peas
potatoes with skin
whole-grain/wheat bread
tomato
seaweed
parsley, garlic
leeks
dried figs, raisins
mushrooms
rice

If you have a question that you would rather have me spend the time researching for you, and don’t attend my knitting class, e-mail it to me at livingwithoutmeat at gmail dot com! I love to help!

Track and field superstar athlete Carl Lewis - who now lives in L.A. and is pursuing an acting career - often credits his outstanding performance in 1991 with his decision to follow a healthy vegan diet, including fresh juicing. Read here an excerpt from the introduction that he wrote for Very Vegetarian, a cookbook by chef Jannequin Bennett:

I remember vividly making the decision in July of 1990 to become a vegan. I was competing in Europe and ate a meal of Spanish sausage on a Saturday and on the following Monday started eating vegan. The hardest thing for me was changing my eating habits from skipping meals to eating throughout the day–which is much healthier. I also missed salt and so substituted lemon juice for flavor.

In the spring of 1991 – eight months after beginning to eat vegan – I was feeling listless and thought I might need to add protein from meat to my diet. Dr. McDougall, however, explained that my listlessness was due to my needing more calories because I was training so many hours each day, not because I needed more animal-based protein. When I increased my calorie intake, I regained my energy. I was drinking 24 to 32 ounces of juice a day. I ate no dairy products. And I had my best year as an athlete ever!

If Carl Lewis can get enough protein, surely I can, and so can you. Lewis’s story just goes to show that regardless of your lifestyle, and the amount of energy (i.e. calories) that you excerpt throughout the day, you too can thrive - and even excel - on a vegan diet.

So if you feel weak or tired in your daily doings, take it from Lewis, and don’t jump to the conclusion that you need more meat-based protein. And if you are an athlete, you may need to do a bit more research than the rest of us when it comes to your diet, but wouldn’t this hold true even if you ate meat? So here, my endorphin-chasing friends (and really everyone interested in optimum health and nutrition), is an excellent place to start reading.

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Joost Elffers (yes, this is someone’s name) spends a lot of time playing with his food: he turns carrots into ice cream cones and tops them off with a scoop of cauliflower. He sees a dog when he looks at a banana, but an octopus when it’s just the peel.

In his numerous books - such as How Are You Peeling and Play with Your Food - Elffers works alone or with other authors and photographers to create an imaginary world that both children and adults will fall in love with - in fact, you likely already have seen a picture or two of his somewhere.

Check out his cheery, appetite-enhancing, health-food-only, books at Amazon, or your local bookstore or library. It’s a great way to get your kids thinking about fruits and veggies!

Here’s a preview slideshow of a few of the pictures you’ll find within Joost’s pages:

What a perfect gift this would be for someone who loves fruit and veggies … just make sure you guys coordinate it with each other so that I, er umm…, I mean the recipient, doesn’t receive multiple copies of the same one.

In keeping with yesterday’s artistic theme, I insist you check out independent jewelry designer Karin Collins.

Karin’s beautiful, extremely unique creations are the epitome of recycled materials … and of gorgeous jewelry! Her designs, SpoonFed Art, turn the bowl part of regular kitchen spoons into canvases that capture and amaze as they adorn your neck. Some have a classic, elongated dinner spoon shape, others have a rounder, soup spoon feel, but they all feature mystical artwork that I would be honored to wear.

In addition to using real spoons, Karin incorporates and reuses bits and pieces of this and that including discarded jewelry and watches, broken guitar strings and picks, buttons, beads, pins, needles, broken glass and mirrors, and scraps of metals.

Says Kira Bloom of SpoonFed Art: “She’s recycling old materials one spoonful at a time!”

Another reason I love the company is the story behind it: Karin was working in business and finance, and battling with an eating disorder. Her artwork was her therapy; thus, her profits now help support the National Eating Disorder Association (this kind of therapy is actually what I went to graduate school for!).

Since it is one-of-a-kind, handmade, quality jewelry, expect to pay around $85 to $95 per necklace. However, if you order before the end of September, you can get free shipping … and it’s shipped in real popcorn!

Don’t worry about being wasteful and unfriendly to the earth with foam peanuts, just toss the popcorn to the birds, throw on your SpoonFed Art, and have a guilt-free fashionable day!

I have been having a love affair, and I think it only right that I share it with you. Odwalla makes the most amazing, delicious, protein-packed (each bottle has 18 grams!) beverages, and I just cannot get enough.

I first discovered the brand a few years back when the kids that I was watching at the time were allowed to buy the Blueberry Monster Smoothie as a special treat from Essene Market and Cafe - the local health food store.

But now that I am all grown up (and make my own really all-natural juices and smoothies), I have been drawn towards their soy blended drinks instead. Although they aren’t amazing on their own, the Super Protein drinks concocted of blends such as banana, almond, vanilla, and soy, are a great addition to iced coffee, fruit smoothies, cereal, baking, and more.

Now I don’t feel guilty about my morning (and afternoon, and later afternoon) cup of coffee because it’s filled with protein, essential amino acids, and plenty of vitamins and nutrients!

I believe that I am healthier today than I was last year, and even more so than when I was a meat-eater. My basis for stating this is personal experience as I can tell you that I am on fewer medications; have healthier test results in cholesterol, blood work, and blood pressure; weigh less; and feel better in general.

But that’s just me. There could have been other factors (I have removed alcohol from my diet in the past year), and certainly there are unhealthy veg*n diets just as there are healthy non-veg ones.

However, today I ran across a study that is seemingly the only one of its kind: the Adventist Health Study on the general health and mortality of vegetarians, as compared to omnivores, in the United States. Many members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church are vegetarian and thus results from this study were able to provide health information that is of interest to veg*ns.

From 1976 to 1988, data was collected from 34,192 participants who were all church members. Of these, 29 percent were vegetarian, and an additional 7-10 percent of the vegetarians were vegan.

Results detailed that vegetarians had lower body mass index (veggie participants averaged a healthy BMI, while non-veggie eaters ranked overweight) and lived longer on average. When compared to their non-vegetarian peers, the vegetarian percentage had half as much high blood pressure, diabetes, and colon cancer, and two-thirds the rheumatoid arthritis and prostate cancer.

Other than eating a vegetarian diet, the study suggested that life expectancy could be increased by eating nuts regularly, not smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, staying physically active - probably not anything you haven’t heard before.

You can read more about this study, its results, and veg*n nutrition at Vegan Health.