Strictly Cheese Sandwiches

Could someone explain to me the difference between 'vegan' food and food which happens to not include any animal products.

Anyone eating a mixed and varied diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables is bound to have dishes, meals even whole days when they happen not to eat any animal products. That is what a mixed diet means.

I often eat plant based meals, I have never knowingly eaten a 'vegan' food. I have no idea what one is.

Or standing in a glass of water.

Some of you mentioned keeping veg fresh. Sometimes a recipe will include 2 or 3 sticks of celery. So I don't buy because I haven't been able to keep it fresh. Bit I found a method that works very well. You need to separate the stalks and cut to fit a food box, which you then fill with water. They will keep like this for a long time - over a week sometimes.

MaizieD My point was that they are supplied in the supermarkets for your fruit and veg.

This seems to have become all about your dietary requirements growstuff. You know how to manage your diet I’m sure. My husband is in remission from T2 diabetes and has not had to eat such a limited diet as you. Norah makes sensible suggestions which would benefit many.

growstuff

Incidentally, diabetics are advised to limit pulses, lentils and fruit.

I've just checked on the Diabetes UK website and they include beans and pulses as food that form part of a diabetic diet. They give a link to a stew containing red lentils and borlotti beans.

Here's examples of the fruit that can be eaten:

sliced melon or grapefruit topped with unsweetened yogurt, or a handful of berries, or fresh dates, apricots or prunes for breakfast

try avocados, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, plums, peaches and watermelon for lower carb fruit options.

Admittedly most of the above are expensive.

MaizieD

Dinahmo

MaizieD

Where do all the paper bags come from? They're not exactly common these days..

We get them in the veg departments of supermarkets here in France.

I doubt if the very poor could afford a paper bag buying trip to France

Point taken!

Amazon will continue as my source.

growstuff

Norah How many times does this need saying? Chick peas, pulses and lentils are not an efficient way of getting enough protein if people are limiting carbs.

It's because so much processed food has "fillers" made from grain that so many people in the UK, USA and other countries are overweight/obese.

You may say it as often as you wish - regarding your health status.

We, however, are very slim and healthy. We eat vegan, we exercise often, we push back from the table and avoid sweets.

We do get enough daily protein - I keep count.

The thread is not just about me or you - wider world eats as well.

Ann Widdecombe comment, people have opinions. Mine is different to yours. Easy to see that Indian food is not likely your choice.

So what else would you recommend besides chick peas (not grains)?

I watch everything I eat and they're an inefficient way of getting the nutrition I need.

Dinahmo

MaizieD

Where do all the paper bags come from? They're not exactly common these days..

We get them in the veg departments of supermarkets here in France.

I doubt if the very poor could afford a paper bag buying trip to France

Dinahmo

Growstuff I didn't say that they were used to provide the required amount of protein for one day.

Funny about porridge. I have a friend who is diabetic and makes her own muesli using oats.

Ask Tim Spector! Or look at my own blood glucose monitor if I ever eat porridge or muesli!

Good for your friend - but not for me or all the other T2 diabetics who avoid grains of any sort.

Norah How many times does this need saying? Chick peas, pulses and lentils are not an efficient way of getting enough protein if people are limiting carbs.

It's because so much processed food has "fillers" made from grain that so many people in the UK, USA and other countries are overweight/obese.

Growstuff I didn't say that they were used to provide the required amount of protein for one day.

Funny about porridge. I have a friend who is diabetic and makes her own muesli using oats.

Incidentally, diabetics are advised to limit pulses, lentils and fruit.

Dinahmo

Oreo

Do they?
Thanks for explaining foodstuffs but really think you have no idea what most people eat who are on budgets ( or off them)😂

I am rather surprised at your lack of knowledge. Maybe you're not a foodie?

Perhaps you don't read the Guardian either? For some while they have running articles with recipes for cooking meals costing £1 per head. Tom Kerridge has given 2 recipes using chicken.

Have you heard of Jack Monroe? She has been in and out of the media for the last few years talking about cooking on a low budget, aimed at those people with low incomes.

Chick peas are a source of protein and often used in diets for diabetics. They are also used in a lot of Italian dishes and they are cheap to buy. As Norah said they are used to make hummus and nearly everybody will have eaten that at least once in their lives.

This ^^

The world's replete with "cook a meal for £1 or less" articles.

Anne Widdecombe was wrong. So, what do people eat?

Chick peas, pulses, lentils are not new or weird - mum cooked with all sort of protein. She added lentils in meat dishes decades ago.

Maybe that's why there's a high prevalence of diabetes in India and those with Indian ethnic origin.

Riverwalk Why the reference to guacamole or Linda McCartney sausages? No one earlier in this thread has mentioned those items.

If you cook Indian food you would be using pulses and lentils. Not all lentils need to be soaked and the red ones make delicious soup.

The ingredients mentioned do not need a lot of preparation. They need to be soaked, perhaps whilst out at work. Cooking could be done in evening and, because they take some to cook they could be left until the next day for a variety of recipes.

PPS. Lentils and bread are carb-heavy too - and fruit's main macro-ingredient is carbohydrate.

Norah I can't eat porridge. Even Zoe's Tim Spector has now confirmed that it spikes blood sugar levels for non-diabetics.

An 80g portion of chick peas contains 13g of carbs and 6g of protein.

An 80g portion of roast chicken contains 0g of carbs and 24g of protein.

(Source: Carb and calorie counter - Diabetes UK)

In other words, the carb/protein ratio of chick peas is high.

An average human needs about 60g of protein a day, so to get that from chick peas would also require eating 130g of carbs, which is twice what I eat in a day. For diabetics who need to limit carbs, they're not an efficient way of consuming protein.

I remember when I was discussing with my parents about leaving I gave a list of meals that could during 1 week, for a total of £1. I can't remember what was on it apart from liver. That was nearly 70 years ago!

Riverwalk

IMO, to eat a decent nutritious vegan diet you need to be a bit of a foodie and have the dedication and time to plan and make meals. I know of only two life-long vegans and they are of Indian origin so they have the knowledge and skills that comes with that background.

For poor people buying pots of hummus, guacamole or Linda McCartney sausages isn't an option and the average poor working person wouldn't have the time or inclination to be preparing pulses, lentils, tofu etc, into tasty nutritious meals that the whole family would eat.

Don't ALL people "make and plan meals"?

Sorry to be dim, don't people decide what they're going to eat?

Get up, eat porridge and fruits, drink coffee. Go about day, eat lunch (today was lentil soup, bread, fruit). More of the day, make dinner (curry, bread, salad, fruit). Bake tomorrow bread.

MaizieD

Where do all the paper bags come from? They're not exactly common these days..

We get them in the veg departments of supermarkets here in France.

Oreo

Do they?
Thanks for explaining foodstuffs but really think you have no idea what most people eat who are on budgets ( or off them)😂

I am rather surprised at your lack of knowledge. Maybe you're not a foodie?

Perhaps you don't read the Guardian either? For some while they have running articles with recipes for cooking meals costing £1 per head. Tom Kerridge has given 2 recipes using chicken.

Have you heard of Jack Monroe? She has been in and out of the media for the last few years talking about cooking on a low budget, aimed at those people with low incomes.

Chick peas are a source of protein and often used in diets for diabetics. They are also used in a lot of Italian dishes and they are cheap to buy. As Norah said they are used to make hummus and nearly everybody will have eaten that at least once in their lives.

I agree with you Riverwalk. Vegans need an understanding of protein sources which meat/fish/dairy eaters don't need.