Clean eating - how do dairy products fit in?

SRP

SRP

Cathlete
If you really want to eat clean, as in keeping foods in their natural state, are dairy products allowed? I'd think that organic milk would be the only acceptable thing, since it's obviously in its natural form.

What about yogurt - it's just milk with the right kind of bateria.

And more importantly, what about cheese???? Same thing, but different bacteria, plus a little rennet, right? I dearly love cheese.
 
Hi Shannon,

I think there are a lot of different opinions on this topic. I personally don't care for dairy. I don't drink milk ever but do use it in whole grain cereals and some recipes. I eat a few cheeses but cheese is not my dietary weakness. I eat yogurt on occasion but I don't love that either.

I think clean eating can include these items if you really want to eat them, just choose low fat options and limit the amount you eat. I also think that if you want to rid them from your diet you can get the same nutritional value from non dairy choices. I really believe it's a matter of personal preference.

Michele :)
 
I think you will get a lot of conflicting opinions on the subject. I personally think milk is for babies, and cow's milk is for baby cows. It is not "natural" for human adult consumption.

Also, you might want to consider that cheese is the largest contributor of saturated fat in the American diet. It also contains a substance that makes it act much like an opiate in the body, which is why people may have a hard time giving it up.
 
Kathryn -
I mostly follow an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet, although I also eat fish maybe once a week (sometimes less). I don't mind soy, and when other people prepare meals with it, I like it. But I have a hard time cooking with it, especially with tofu. If I was to give up cheese, could you recommend some tasty substitutes or alternatives?

I really don't want to reintroduce meat into my diet. Fish was a hard enough decision, but I was having nutrient issues and that seemed to help.
 
I try to eat as "clean" as possible. For me that means limiting dairy to some degree only for this reason. I tried the "vegetarian" lifestyle for a while and found it wasn't for me BUT, I also found that without a lot of wheat, red meat or dairy my stomache wasn't as bloated. Lactose intolerant? Maybe, but whatever the case I just know I feel better and not as bloated when I stick mainly to soy milk.
Paula
 
If I
>was to give up cheese, could you recommend some tasty
>substitutes or alternatives?

Are you looking for a taste/texture substitute? There are some non-dairy cheeses that are supposed to be good from "Follow Your Heart." Also, the " Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook" has good recipes for non-dairy " cheeses." Most stuff in the stores is pretty wretched!

>I really don't want to reintroduce meat into my diet. Fish was
>a hard enough decision, but I was having nutrient issues and
>that seemed to help.

What nutrients do you think you were missing?
Some high nutrient non-animal foods are hemp (protein powder, seeds, butter, etc.), chlorella (I'm thinking of taking some, but have to find a good pill form, because I can't take the " green" flavor) and maca.

I just read " Thrive" by Brendan Brazier (vegan Canadian triathlete) and he highly recommends hemp, chlorella and maca. He even came up with a meal replacement with the three in (though it tastes a bit too much like dirt for my tastes! LOL! I'ts highly nutritious, so I might try to get used to it!)
 
Kathryn -
No - taste and texture aren't really the issue, I don't think. Not because I want something that duplicates cheese, I mean. But something that does have a satisfying taste, and also something that is filling and will "stick" with me. And of course, something that is good in its own right, so I don't constantly think about what I'm missing without my cheese! Quite a list, huh?

Nutrients I was missing - most likely iron, and maybe some of the B vitamins, but I was and still am taking a multivitamin supplement, so maybe not. But I'm not really sure - I never went to a doctor for it. I just had the inner feeling that things weren't right, and maybe my body wasn't absorbing all it could from the food I ate.

I've never heard of eating hemp, nor have I heard of chlorella or maca! thanks for the book suggestions. I know I need to do research before I make any major diet changes.
 
>Nutrients I was missing - most likely iron, and maybe some of
>the B vitamins, but I was and still am taking a multivitamin
>supplement, so maybe not.

Fish won't help with b vitamins. They are plentiful in beans and whole grains, though.

>I've never heard of eating hemp, nor have I heard of chlorella
>or maca!

I just discovered these fairly recently myself. Hemp is a marvelous food that, unfortunately, is illegal to grow in the U.S. (supposedly, because of the fear that farmers will hid other tpes of cannibis in the fields, though it was originally made illegal due to the concerted efforst of some businessmen--one fabrc manufacturere, and one paper manufacturer--who didn't want the competitioin. Interestingly enough, in the time of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, farmers were obligated to grow hemp because of its usefulness: paper--the Declaration of Independance was written on hemp paper, fiber for clothing, oil for food and skin care, seeds for consumption). It has an excellent balance of Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids (more 6 than 3, which is a good ratio, unless you eat a lot of sunflower, corn, safflower and some other oils that are high in omega 6's, then more omega 3's should be supplemented). And the protein in hemp is supposedly extremely assimilable, it contains both albumin and some other protein that is only found in hemp.

I've really grown to love it. I add the protein powder (just ground hemp---I like the idea of a protein powder that is a whole food and not an "isolate" or "concentrate") to my morning smoothies, and like the "nuts" ( "Nutiva" brand or "Hempnut" brand are very good, and I assume "Manitoba Harvest" is as well, because their protein powder is good) sprinkled on salads.

As a general adaptogen (something that strengthens the body overall rather than just in one area), Maca is excellent. I've been incorporating it in my morning smoothies for a while.

Chlorella hasn't quite made it into my diet regularly (as I said, very GREEN tasting!), but from what Brazier says about it, including it being a natural source of B12), I think I'll give it more of a try. I have something called "Perfect food" that is a green supplement that I've been encorporating into my smoothies the last couple of days, but I'm wondering if it might be best just to go with chlorella, and use a small amount.
 
Thanks so much for this info, Kathryn. I only know of one store in my area that might carry this sort of thing, so at least it'll be easy to check out.
 
I think nuts and nut butters are a great substitute for the "stick to the ribs" nature of cheese. Very satisfying. Peanut butter on a banana or apple is great. Just like cheese and fruit to me. A small handful of walnuts and some raisins or grapes. Stuff like that.
 
I think organic dairy is fine as part of a clean diet. I prefer fat free milk which I use only on cereal. I use cheese as well but in small amounts. It's one of the few sources of saturated fat in my diet and I prefer strong tasting cheese since they add more flavor with less cheese. Keeping your saturated fat intake at 10% or less of your total caloric intake is key. Variety is the spice of life, after all. Avoid trans fats but eat small amounts of saturated fat in an otherwise lean diet to add flavor and feel satiated. I love nuts and avacados also but cheese is hard to replace and it has it's place if consumed in moderataion. Choosing lean sources of protein is helpful. I don't eat red meat or pork but a little cheese or butter a few times a week, that I am not giving up ;)
Bobbi



Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? -Mary Oliver
 
Goat's milk cheese made from unpastuerized goat's milk on occasion is generally accepted by most purists, even "raw" advocates. Unfortunately it is almost impossible to find young soft chevre-like cheeses made from unpastuerized goat's milk, but the regulations concerning the sale of those varies from state to state.
The aged, hard goat's milk cheeses from Europe made from raw (unpastuerized) milk are wonderful and it only takes a small bite to satisfy. I think these are pretty healthful.
 
>I just read " Thrive" by Brendan Brazier (vegan Canadian
>triathlete) and he highly recommends hemp, chlorella and maca.
> He even came up with a meal replacement with the three in
>(though it tastes a bit too much like dirt for my tastes! LOL!
>I'ts highly nutritious, so I might try to get used to it!)

Sorry for off the topic....just a thought..

Kathryn,
Have you tried using 1 scoop Vega Berry (2 scoops being one meal) and 1/2 scoop Vegan Complete with all your berries and Pomegranate juice? This way you can get all your nutrition and your shake will still be tasty (best of all worlds). I like the Vega berry (hate the Chocolate unless it is in pudding) and sometimes mix it with the Vegan Complete for variety and a different flavor. I also like to throw in 1/2 a banana in addition to all the berries and freeze the other half for the next day's smoothie. The banana gives it a little nutrional boost (potassium, Vit C, B6 and A) and, even better, a slightly thicker consistency and better flavor:).

Robin:9
 
>Kathryn,
>Have you tried using 1 scoop Vega Berry (2 scoops being one
>meal) and 1/2 scoop Vegan Complete with all your berries and
>Pomegranate juice? This way you can get all your nutrition and
>your shake will still be tasty (best of all worlds).

I've tried 1 scoop Vegan Complete with about 1/2 scoop Vega, and that passes, LOL! Maybe it's just something I have to get used to the taste of, and it sounds like it's worth it (otherwise I wouldn't even try!)
 
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