Comments on 10K Monkeys & a Camera: Inspired Cooking!!

(Yes, bitter! And acid -- can I get enough vinegar...

2012-02-02T11:59:54.337-05:00

(Yes, bitter! And acid -- can I get enough vinegar and lemon juice? Noooo.)

(Definitely! I think this is why kids prefer sweet...

2012-02-02T11:40:56.637-05:00

(Definitely! I think this is why kids prefer sweet and older folks prefer bitter.)

(It also might be worth noting that our bodies and...

2012-02-01T15:48:44.852-05:00

(It also might be worth noting that our bodies and nutritional needs may change as we age, so what suits us at 25 might not feel good anymore at 50...)

Ah. Yes, that clarifies things. Thanks.

2012-02-01T15:42:46.102-05:00

Ah. Yes, that clarifies things. Thanks.

I was unclear: There's a difference between ea...

2012-02-01T15:31:13.939-05:00

I was unclear: There's a difference between eating all your veggies but developing a health problem due to a lack of B12 or omega-3 or somesuch, and indulging in donuts, cookies and popcorn.

As to what suits each of us, it is important, as you note, to pay attention to individual needs and likes. One size does not fit all, nor do we all react alike to carbs (or fats or protein). I'm still exploring what suits my particular stomach.

Well to me, malnourished = not eating well, so I t...

2012-02-01T15:23:18.803-05:00

Well to me, malnourished = not eating well, so I think we agree. Of course it's very easy to have a sucky vegetarian diet as a vegetarian. As I mentioned above, I've known a few people who call themselves vegetarian who don't actually eat any vegetables; one who basically subsisted -- I'm not kidding -- on Taco Bell food. But the same can be said for pretty much any dietary program. I have an acquaintance who seemed to interpret the Adkins diet as an excuse to eat a lot of bacon and butter (needless to say, he did not see the expected improvements in his health).

Whichever direction you go, you pretty much have to learn about nutrition. And you have to listen to what your own body is telling you (poor Emmie is currently being told that her body does not approve of her eating seafood). We vary. What works for one won't for another. I was vegetarian for a few years in the 90s, followed by a year or so of low-carbing. Neither worked for me. I guess I like to have a little bit of everything. ;-)

PS: It breaks my heart that my beloved vegetariani...

2012-02-01T14:57:19.536-05:00

PS: It breaks my heart that my beloved vegetarianism is not a healthy diet in the long-term. I miss it, but I don't miss the health problems and weight gain I was getting.

Er, no, it's not targeted at vegetarians who d...

2012-02-01T14:47:07.893-05:00

Er, no, it's not targeted at vegetarians who don't eat well. It's targeted at people who refuse to give up a vegetarian or vegan diet even though it makes them sick, i.e. they are malnourished. The author is herself one who had to leave pure veganism to save her health.

Many people don't realize you can have an incredibly sucky diet as a vegetarian. BTDT. You really need to know nutrition. And you need to know Man never evolved to be a herbivore (nor did any other primate); we are omnivores.

ps. I thought of you recently when I ran across
2012-02-01T14:41:09.411-05:00
ps. I thought of you recently when I ran across this person's story of going off carbs (which I ironically found while reading a recent post she made about making bread).

And while I was thinking of the Beyond Broccoli book, I was reminded of the Jenna Woginrich book that I have up there in my reading list, in which she mentions being a vegetarian. After reading the book, I found her blog and found out that she eventually went back to eating meat, for reasons she outlines here.

It's all good reading and good -- yes, I'm going to say it!! -- good food for thought. ;-)

I've heard of that book! It looks interesting,...

2012-02-01T14:33:03.218-05:00

I've heard of that book! It looks interesting, and I think the message is a good one -- especially as it applies to "vegetarians" who don't *ahem* actually eat vegetables (seriously, people... if all you eat is bread, cheese and potatoes, can you really call yourself a vegetarian?). The book appears to be not so much anti-vegetable or pro-meat as it is about achieving proper balance in the diet. But I guess defining "proper balance" is what all the authors and talking heads keeps arguing about, isn't it?

Me, I don't really have a horse in the race because I think I'll always be an omnivore. All these various theories and diets swirl around me as I plod along just trying to find some good, simple, real food. I end up eating a lot of vegetables, a good bit of beans and whole grains, a moderate amount of fruit, some dairy, a bit of meat and almost no simple carbs or sugars. And it's good food. I feel good. I gather you've gotten to a good place, too. Yay for us. ;)

Your name in print - in a book! Whoo! Congrats! (...

2012-02-01T13:13:41.914-05:00

Your name in print - in a book! Whoo! Congrats!

(My reading diet has led me away from vegetarianism. Current read is "Beyond Broccoli".)