Vegetarians/Vegans NEW Topic

D

dogs2birds

Cathlete
Okay, since I've beat the other thread to death :p, I thought I'd start a new one because I have another question.

Can some of you give me "a day in the life" of your eating? I'm a Body for Life type eater (6 small meals combining protein/carbs/veggies) and I sure would HATE to gain weight switching my ways to be "more healthy". I'm used to eating cottage cheese with yogurt almost every morning, egg whites and fruit or oatmeal, apple and string cheese. You get it. I'd love to hear your ideas. I do like that Tofu Scrambler, so that's a good thing. According to Dean Ornish, I can eat when I'm hungry if I eat his healthy way and not worry about my weight. But I know my body has changed since my 20's. ;-)

Thanks again!

Suz

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
Hi Suz..
Did you decide whether you will be going vegan...semi vegetarian or somewhere in between. I eat fish and dairy...so this may not help you at all....
I should go back and check your other thread again.
But, I usually eat 6 small meals a day too. Egg beaters to start usually mixed with some cheese and peppers or tomatoes. Snack is usually fruit in AM. Lunch is usually a veggie burger or tuna with a small salad (balsamic and olive oil dressing). Snack...yogurt with flaxseed or pinenuts or some whole fiber. Dinner is usually a salad or salmon or other fish with steamed veggies (no carbs with this meal). My other snacks vary....usually lettuce rolls...hummus celery etc. I just recently decided to start increasing my fruit intake because I never ate it...felt it was calories laden. But the fiber content is great, so I'm trying something new.

One hidden benefit to the vegetarian lifestyle...excellent gastrointestinal health and I rarely get sick.

HOpe this helps,
Amber
 
Hi Amber,

Well, I'm thinking right now of doing no meat (red, turkey, chicken, pork) but doing fish. I'm not planning to go vegan right away, but I haven't been eating much dairy at all b/c I thought it might be what was messing up my stomach. I do drink Lactaid FF milk though but I've been drinking more soy than Lactaid the past couple of weeks. I also eat eggs, but if I don't eat chicken I probably won't eat the eggs. I do have a friend who has chickens and has offered to give me eggs since her chickens are treated quite well. :) But I'm not sure I want to eat eggs.

Suz

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
Hi Suz

That is probably a wise choice with no meats first. For fish, Tilapia is a favorite light whitefish I eat about once a week. Salmon is my favorite though. But with all the mercury warnings, I truly only eat those types of fish about 3 times a week. Shrimp are great too for a salad or pasta dish.

If you choose no eggs....you have to think about all the foods that contain eggs. (breads...baked goods pasta etc) Usually that is too much work for me. Besides I truly love dairy, except milk. Eggs...yikes what my life would be like without em???? It's like a daily ritual...7 frozen boxes of egg beaters are usually in my freezer (and at the office).

I saw in your old post about how to deal with people who nay say. Well, I fortunately don't have to deal with that anymore (except for the Sicilian in-laws)....I've actually converted two of my assistants into health nuts that take walks on their lunches. Both are 30# lighter since they day they started working for me.

But, I remember a long time ago being questioned extensively about the animal protection aspects of eating vegan. Do I stop wearing leather...?? Can I give up my Coach purse???? My car...the leather? My lipstick??? Ya know...it just never ends. I tell them I just don't like MEAT!!! Luckily It stops there.

I'm hoping to find someday an excellent veggie burger recipe...(hint to Kathryn!!)

Take care suz...and gizmo.
Amber
 
Hi there Suz,

Sure...I'm a new vegan and still finding my way and loving it! I should probably preface this by saying that I get up at 2:30 a.m. lately so my eating starts pretty early and pretty simply with fruit.

Here goes:

2:30a.m. workout...post workout fruit e.g. frozen mango w/frozen blueberries, or bananna w/bluberries, large apple w/blueberries. 1-2 cups total and 36 oz. water.

5:45 a.m- Bowl of oatmeal made with water or soymilk, handful of walnuts, dried fruit and sweetend a bit w/1 tab. molasses.

9:a.m. Bowl of lentils and some brocolli or arugala ( love bitter greens with lentils ) or a sandwich made w/ avacado ( I use 1/2 of a large avacado ) cucumber, microgreens/brocollit sprouts, a bit of Tofutti ( cream cheese sub) tomatos...on Ezikeil bread or other chewy dense whole grain bread.

Snack on nuts raw only and maybe a few figs or small piece fresh fruit.

1p.m. Bowl of vegan chili w/ flax chips, roasted brussel sprouts or humus w/flax chips and large salad with lots of beans,greens, olives, avacado and flaxseed dressing I make at home.

5-6p.m. ( last meal) More lentils,dark green veggie or a bowl of organic soup from Trader Joes ( Butternut squash is yummy )a piece of toast w/ tofutti and a bit of low sugar fruit spread.

Hope this helps. I am really trying to get more GREENS into my diet. I am big on legumes/beans and whole grains, often switching my oatmeal with barley or Quinoa. I will also use some brown rice or whole wheat pasta in my salads or homade soups.

I am also a big fan of eating non breakfast foods for breakfast and oatmeal for dinner!

Hang in there and good luck. I love talking veggie foods:9 deb
 
Amber, good point on the eggs. I have actually thought that if I were to go vegan, it wouldn't proabaly be totally vegan (so then not really vegan) because I wouldn't go so far as to check every ingredient in everything I eat - like bread. So I'd only be half vegan. :) Mostly right now I want to cut out all meat and then take it from there. I do feel awful for the dairy cows and the chickens, but this time I'm doing it for health first with the animal side of it as a nice benefit. So even if I cut out almost all dairy, I would think that would be better for the animals than if I were to drink 3 or 4 glasses of skim milk a day like I used to. Thanks for the eating ideas.

Wow Deb, you sure get up early! What time do you go to bed? It sounds like I better get some legumes! I'm embarrassed to say I never ate them when I was a vegan. I was probably an unhealthy vegan. :) As for people and what they have to say (about wearing leather, etc.) I guess my response now will be that I'm doing my small part and what are they doing? Of course they won't care b/c it's not their issue. They just want to find fault with what we're doing. People are crazy!!! Thanks for your rundown.

Suz

"Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened." - Anatole France

http://www.picturetrail.com/dogs2birds
 
Hi Suz~

Yep, 2:30 is early...my college age daughter is a Theatre Arts student and due to her academic shcedule and play rehearsals a "real" job with sufficient hours is not available. SO, she has a paper route ( I should say WE have a paper route). The fun thing is we work together (2-3 hrs. max every morning) and she is up early to do Cathe/P90x with me! We are usually in bed by 7:00. If she has a late play practice then I run the route for her...call me mother of the year:) .

Oh girl, you got to eat your beans! Really, if I could extol the virtue of the almighty bean I would!! I make bean spreads, bean burgers, stews or stoups, add them to salads and even wraps and casseroles. Find a few beans you love and add them or create favorite recipes with them.

I am a vegan because I simply could not digest meat very well and am lactose intolerant. I know that eating this way is very good for my health, my budget, my planet and shoot I guess I'll save an animal or two. I'm not a zealot but, have made my peace with those that don't understand with a good dose of respect. If I don't receive their respect in return it's okay...I know it's not personal. deb
 
I just have to jump in and say with that schedule, your daughter won't have much time to get into trouble!;-) Marnie

p.s. I'm interested in hearing your meals, too!:)
 
Marnie,

Boy is that true! This morning as we delivered the paper I asked if she wanted to perhaps get a job at Trader joes as a stock girl ( 4 hrs. in the a.m.) and she said, "Heck no! I can earn more $$ and tips in less hours throwing the paper...AND I am getting paid to excersise!!). I have to agree with her here...we both have dropped a few pounds walking those papers to the porch;-) . deb
 
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