Vegan, Vegetarain, and Healthy Diets

This subject is interesting, confusing, and enlightening. I had never heard of a Vegan until recently. I am sure they have been around for years but this old country boy had never heard of vegan. To me it sounded like something out of Star Trek.

I had heard of a vegetarians, everyone in California is a vegetarian, at least I thought they were. The conception of a Californian to this Mississippi boy was they didn’t eat meat, had tattoos, dodged bullets from the gangs, and smoked dope while the earth shook from an earthquake. Yes, that is stretching it a little but the idea of not eating meat seemed down right sinful.

Today I still eat meat but not as much as I use to eat. I do eat a lot more vegetables but it took getting used to eating green. My idea of vegetables consisted of green beans from a can, an occasional salad (lettuce only with Thousand Island dressing) and a baked potato. Today I eat a wide variety of vegetables including spinach, peppers, (all colors), tomatoes, and a bundle of other great tasting veggies. Oh, I never used the word veggie. I thought only people from the north used the word veggie.

I have learned to like eating various vegetables in numerous ways, including stir-fry. Now hear me, I still like my hamburgers, steak, and chicken but after researching the facts about red meat I am changing to more veggies less meat.

WHAT IS A VEGAN? Would you like the information from the horses mouth. I have a friend who will give you all the information you need on the subject plus a lot more. Find out everything you need to know about thevegan diet."

What is a Vegan?

I am not sure I could ever live up to the standard of a vegan. However, if you choose a lifestyle of a vegan my hat is off to you.

One important factor, if a vegan does not plan their diet in accordance to the body’s need for nutrition they can suffer from various vitamin deficiencies. Vegan

Animal Cruelty – Chicken Farms

There were several long metal building packed with chickens. I mean, there must have been a million chickens all crammed into these torture cambers. Now, remember I am a country boy and I even raised chickens at one point in my life but I actually felt sorry for the chickens. The couldn’t walk or do anything like a chicken is supposed to do. All they did was eat, get big and fat then butchered and sold to major food processors.

I talked to the owner in to giving me about 20 of the sick chickens. I took them to my little farm and tried to bring them back to life. It was so odd. They were giant chickens, mutants, and even after months care they still couldn’t walk. My chickens would roost and night. They would fly up to the top of the coop and go to sleep. The mutated chickens from the chicken factory couldn’t do anything. They all finally died. Again, I felt sorry for those chickens and I didn’t really want to eat any more chickens. In addition, these chickens were feed all sorts of chemicals. It was animal cruelty. I know we have to eat and I think eating chickens is ok but we must be aware these animals do feel pain.

Remember I am not a vegan but I do think we need laws about animal cruelty in the food industry.

What is a Vegetarian?

I have met a few vegetarians and they look like ordinary people. In fact, some even eat potatoes chips and junk food. I guess they would fall into the category of a semi-vegetarian.

A pescetarian diet, for example, includes fish but no meat yet they are considered vegetarians. It seems sort of complicated to me. Opps I ate a fish or opps I ate an egg. What happens if you slip and eat a chicken? I am not being critical I just don’t understand.

I know our bodies need nutrition from animal products, fruit, vegetable and dairy products. Remember the four basic food groups.

For more information click on this link vegetarian

A Healthy Diet

Eating healthy means using good common sense in choosing what foods you eat. Of course eating a ton of fried food isn’t good for you and everyone should realize that by now. Variety is the key to healthy eating.

I am going to give you a few tips on eating healthy. You might not agree and you don’t have to agree. If you are a strict vegan then stay a vegan. If you are a vegetarian then stay a vegetarian. Research supports the following rules for healthy eating habits.

1. Chow down on fruits, veggies, beans (beano works) whole grains any food that is high in fiber. Now this makes since. Eat cleaner foods, foods which clean out our system. Organic is the best but if you can’t find organic eat what you can but go high fiber.

2. Eat those things you hated as a child: broccoli, carrots, cantaloupe, and citrus fruits. The antioxidants and other nutrients in these foods may help protect against developing certain types of cancer and other diseases. Eat five or more servings a day.

3. Don’t eat foods with a high sugar content. Some bread is high in sugar so read the label. Soda pop is a no no. Stay away from diet soda’s they can be addictive.

4. Eating animal fat is not good for you so keep clear of fatty foods. If you eat chicken, (God bless the poor critters) pull the skin off. Eat lean meat when possible. I know meat is expensive but eat only lean meat.

5 Cut way down on trans fats, supplied by hydrogenated vegetable oils used in most processed foods in the supermarket and in many fast foods.

6 Today, we only cook with olive oil. Eat more fish and nuts, which contain healthy unsaturated fats. Substitute olive or canola oil for butter or stick margarine.

7. Know when to stop eating. I love to eat but knowing when to stop is the key to good health.

8. Variety is the spice of life and variety in foods is another key to eating healthy. My stepson’s diet consisted of mac and cheese for years. Today he does eat a few salads, I think.

10. Calcium is important so drink milk and eat some cheese. I know they say eat only low fat. OK, but I think if you limit your intake of dairy products the regular whole milk is ok. But do what you think is best...

11. For years, I depended on supplements. Supplements cannot substitute for a healthy diet, which supplies nutrients and other compounds besides vitamins and minerals. Now I depend on eating the right food and I don’t take supplements.

12. Exercise, move, get up and do something, which will burn off the calories. Gosh, the world is fat because it doesn’t move around. Move, get up off your butt and exercise if you can. Ok, check with your doctor if you have health problems but be sure to exercise. If you are over weight, do your best to lose the weight or get help. Maintain a desirable weight. Balance energy (calorie) intake with energy output. Exercise and other physical activity are essential.

13. If you drink, do so in moderation if you can. I hate to say that because I am anti-alcohol. However, some people can drink the stuff and suffer no serious health consequences but if you can’t stop drinking maybe you should consider going to AA or some other support service in order to stop drinking. Alcohol will destroy every organ of your body. Yeah, I am not a supporter of alcohol.

That completes my list of things to do to stay healthy. In the future, many more ideas will be listed concerning healthy foods and healthy living. Stay tuned.For more information on a healthy diet visit this site

Vegetarian Recipes

Check these out recipes out - You will love them.

If you would like some great vegetarian recipes please visit our friends at Not-Just-Recipes.And for more information about becoming a vegetarian see their section sub-titled "Vegetarian 101".

Lifestyle Solutions for the Busy Vegan