Healthiness

As a (conscience) vegetarian of 30+ years I, like many others, often find myself apologising for any inconvenience to the cook.

As a life long omnivore I have always had meals and days when I consume no meat or animal, not be design, just by choice, Catering for a vegetarian is no different to catering for an omnivore or person who dislikes, for example, tomatoes.

A darn sight easier than coping with the medically attested and 'approved' allergies DGD and DDil unfortunately have. When they are with us all nuts, soya, sesame, mustard and salmon and, for one, fresh fruit, are forbidden. It makes menu planning quite complicated.

Reason for my surprise gillybob was that she was the last person that I would have expected it of. They live far away and (unlike her much older brother who has often shown an interest in my reasons) she had never shown the slightest inclination. Good on her though, she's stuck with it for many months now. It did amuse us all at the beginning when she asked her mother 'is pork vegetarian' - oh the innocence of young teenagers.

Again, it is not vegan against comparable meat eaters and talks of predominantly plant based diets without giving a definition of what that means.

The researchers point out several caveats to their findings, including the small sample sizes of the studies they reviewed and the reliance of the data on participant recall.

I was most surprised to hear that one of my grand-daughters has also become vegetarian

I could see it coming with my 12 year old granddaughter Direne3 as she gradually cut out the tiny bit of meat she ate . Started refusing mince and would only have chicken, then she stopped eating chicken too . Fortunately she does eat a very healthy vegetarian diet including lots of dairy .

Here's another report of research into a plant based diet:
www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/plant-based-or-vegan-diet-may-be-best-for-keeping-type-2-diabetes-in-check/

I eat less meat, but only organic or close-to-organic and high welfare meat. Apart from any health advantages it is better for the environment and for animal welfare.

I also do not eat chicken or pork when in restaurants, because those are the animals mostly likely to be from low welfare systems. Usually I choose vegetarian dishes.

I agree about the factory farmed meat, Florence – I don’t eat that either. (It’s just as well that Aldi sell good value free-range chickens.)

Typo alert! I intended to write ... ‘I’m NOT vegan but trying to eat less meat’, etc. ?

I read an article recently, which needless to say I now can’t find, about a community in the USA where everyone is vegan. They were all healthy and seemed long lived according to the article. I suspect that along with their diet, this community scores highly with people helping each other, being sociable, and having chosen to live there. It wasn’t quite a retirement community but it seemed that there were not many young people living there. I don’t know what supplements, if any, they were taking.

I’m now vegan but trying to eat less meat, and certainly trying not to eat the mass produced factory farmed meat, chickens, food. Apart from the terrible cruelty in these places, I can’t believe that our bodies have evolved to eat such chemically enhanced products.

Here’s a link to good vegan places in the States to eat. Veganism seems to be gaining popularity in some areas if the world!

livability.com/topics/things-to-do/the-8-most-vegan-friendly-cities-in-the-us

My grandson has Chrones disease and since becoming vegan, he has been much better in himself. He is sticking to it as he feels it is lessening the effects of Chrones. That’s all I know about it, whether he is right or not only he will know.

This article by a nutrition expert says:

‘I don’t think it’s possible to meet nutrient needs on a vegan diet without supplements—and quite a few of them. Vegan diets are low in:
* B12
* Bioavailable iron and zinc
* Choline
* Vitamins A and D
* Calcium
* EPA and DHA’

Also:

‘Vegetarian and vegan diets for children carry significant risks of nutrient deficiencies that can have dire health consequences. (75, 76, 77)’

chriskresser.com/why-you-should-think-twice-about-vegetarian-and-vegan-diets/

I was vegetarian for years but have changed my mind. I feel much better on an omnivorous diet.

All this evidence of vegan v omnivore is anecdotal. What is needed is a properly conducted study of the two groups with participants matched for everything but diet.

Direne3 I think aggression goes for many whose way of life is different !!

I was most surprised to hear that one of my grand-daughters has also become vegetarian, so perhaps it is a case of leading by example.

Just to add to my last post......I am not vegan or vegetarian but have always eaten in moderation...., enjoy wine and spirits, don't have a very 'sweet tooth', love fruit and vegetables and lead an active life and at 70-plus enjoy good health. So perhaps there is something in the genes!

Slightly off topic but has anyone else noticed how politically aggressive some vegans can be. As a (conscience) vegetarian of 30+ years I, like many others, often find myself apologising for any inconvenience to the cook. I would not dream of pressuring anyone else to follow my own lifestyle choice but sadly some vegans seem to think it quite ok to attempt to bully others into following their own choice. Do please note my emphasis of the word some. I'm off to hide under the table now.

Thanks Gabriella - no offence taken. .
My love of the fennel plant is as much to do with its beautiful foliage and flowers, as the food part.
I use it cut up with onions carrots and celery when starting a casserole dish.

I think Baggs statement that perhaps the vegan choice is less important than other influences is true.
My son and his girlfriend are vegans. They are positive and fun loving young people with a healthy attitude to life and lifestyle. Their vegan diet also means they eat no animal fat....butter, cream, cheese etc and also little alcohol which often has animal derived ingredients in the processing. I think these elements alongside their meatfree diet all contribute to their good health.

*for not fir

Ah...Fennel please don't be
I'm just not fond of aniseed although in my junior school-days I used to buy aniseed balls, 10 for 1d.
Truth to tell I haven't eaten it fir decades.
If you know of a way to cook it which lessens the anis taste please, if possible, put a link or reply and I will try it again.
I honestly felt sad that you felt sad, although I know you were joking.
Here are gifts to say sorry.

livestrong.com gives the lowdown on which foods pass through your digestive system and gut quickest and those which cleanse, sloughing off dead cells and mucus as they pass through (plant based)
Proteins take longest to digest as they need particular enzymes to break down the fibres. You are most likely to suffer bloating and gas after eating foods in this category.
Read for yourselves. It's quite interesting.

My son (47) has been a vegan for years. He eats to live, not lives to eat, in that he has a meal only when he is hungry, which is often only twice a day. He has quite a sedentary job, so doesn't take a great deal of exercise. His health is excellent. He rarely even catches a cold, and quickly shakes it off if he does.
He occasionally buys a bar of good quality dark chocolate, which would last him for a week or so. but never eats biscuits, cakes, puddings or sweets. Even as a child he wasn't fond of them. He prefers savoury food, and rarely eats fruit. He enjoys a few beers or glasses of wine.
He is slim, without being underweight. I used to worry that he might have vitamin deficiencies, but he has never shown any sign of these. He never preaches at anyone about his ethics, either.
As other people have stated it is difficult to compare different lifestyles and eating habits. I believe in moderation in all things, but my 'sweet tooth' often leads me astray.

Riverwalk I think stomach cancer is closely related to smoking habits which I think are high in Japan.

According to the list I looked at:

65g of beef, pork or lamb or 80g chicken = approximately 20-25g protein
30g nuts, seeds and nut/seed butters = approximately 10-15g protein

So60g nuts/seeds = approx 20-30g protein, not that dissimilar.

That report also suggests animal protein is more easily assimilated by humans than is plant protein.

Gabriella - why not fennel? [sad}.