need everyone's help with nutrition PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cookiebaby]

Hi everyone! Happy New Year. I have decided to change my health for the better and my nutrition. I was a vegan but I felt awful and results weren't as good as I thought. I became vegan because I read MArilu Henner's book on how dairy, red meat, chicken, etc were terrible but now I'm not so sure. I am ssooo confused! I like cottage cheese, egg whites, boneless skinless chicken breast, tuna, soymilk and lean red meats. I love fruit, whole grain pasta and bread, yogurt, potatoes, and Special K cereal. Is that bad? What about cholestrol and cancer? I also like EAS shakes, are they ok? I know that all of you on this post are very educated about this stuff and I need desperate help. Is dairy ok and is meats?? Should I eat six small meals with a protein and carb or three large ones? I like the body for life eating system, what do you guys do? Please help poor little me!!!!!! Thank you so much

Cookiebaby, I'm dumb but cute so you gotta love me!!! :-hmmm

 

[kathryn]

You'll get a lot of differing opinions on this subject. I recommend you read Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guide. She is a registered dietician and sports specialist. Her book is very thorough, and will help you understand a lot of this nutrition information yourself. The book is available through amazon.com for around $14.

No food in itself is "bad" from a health standpoint, as long as you have a balance. [Though as an ethical vegan, I think some "foods" are not really foods for humans). 60% carbohydrates is a good goal to aim for(preferring unrefined foods to those that are processed --ie: apples as opposed to apple sauce or apple juice), make sure you get enough protein, but not excessive amounts (about 15-20% makes sense to me, though there are probably posters here who are "high protein" and recommend more). 20-30% fat (avoiding saturated fats--those that are solid at room temperature and many meats-- and transfatty acids, and making sure to get good sources of omega 3 fatty acids and other good fats, like in flax, walnuts, [fish if you're not vegetarian], avocado).

 

[susanz]

I agree! I bought this book about a year ago and find myself flipping through it time and again. I've kept a food journal for about 13 years and every evening(or at breakfast) I write out a menu for the day. I eat about 5 small meals with a good balance of protein and carbs.As I eat what I've written I check it off. This helps keep me focused. If I see I've gained a pound or 2 looking back through the journal will help me get back on track.
IMO any diet that eliminates a whole food group is not a healthy diet. Good luck to you!! Susan

 

[mogambo]

I don't think you can make an argument for being vegan on purely health grounds. Most vegans choose to avoid animal products of all kinds for the sake of the animals and the environment. If you choose free-range and organic meat and dairy you will ameliorate this to a substantial degree, and of course if you eat only small amounts of meat and dairy. But that's what's healthiest anyway.

 

[kathryn]

I forgot another good source of (free!) info: the American Dietetic Association website. I know they have guidelines and food suggestions for vegetarian and vegan diets (which is what I looked for when I visited), and imagine they may have guidelines for other types of diets as well.