Top 6 Excuses for Eating Meat

This entry was written on Jan 25, 2010 by our Vegetarian Guru Staci Marquez-Nichols

Today on the Animal Person Blog, Mary Martin passed on results from an informal survey she did of why people just can't go vegetarian. I recognized all of these "excuses," as Martin calls them. How about you?

1. Eating meat is the way it should be. It's what we're supposed to do. My response: I guess we should all be naked too...and dying off at 30 years of age.

2. Vegetarians "bug" God. My response: Thou shalt not kill??? Hmm...Re-read Gensis 1:29.

3. Our bodies are designed to eat meat. My response: Great, then eat it in the way your body was designed to intake it. (You hunt it, organic/free range animals native and local to your area only, consume only small quantities a few times a week, use EVERY part of the animal for something leaving nothing wasted...but most importantly have the blood on YOUR hands.)

4. It's not healthy. My response: Time for a basic nutrition lesson. I understand though because most people's understanding of nutrition comes from "milk does a body good" and "beef - it's what's for dinner" TV commercials. Do some research.

5. We as humans are at the top of the food chain--it's our duty to eat meat. My response: Then we better start acting like "leaders" and start eating a more sustainable diet...and, if we're not too busy being superior, maybe figure out a way to stop the innumerable human deaths caused by starvation everyday.

6. Last but not least...the guilty meat-eaters! They say a prayer for each piece of meat they eat. My response: Take the plunge, folks. Start making prayers of thanks, i.e. "God, thank you for allowing me the joyous opportunity to save animals by not eating them." Amen!

Being A Vegetarian Doesn't Have To Be Boring

When many people hear the word "vegetarian" they think of waif skinny people consuming a diet of celery and carrot sticks. People often think that surrendering meat will cause their diet to become bland and boring. All of these ideas are falacies. Rest assured that limiting yourself to a vegetarian diet won't force you to dine on boiled rice and flimsy lettuce leaves every day.

There are hundreds of different vegetables, grains, pulses, nuts, fruits and seeds out there. So many, in fact, that it would be impossible for you to exaust all of the possibilities. You could use ten new exciting and delicious vegetarian recipes to prepare every meal from now until your hundreth birthday and you still wouldn't have experienced all that the wonderful world of vegtarianism can offer your pallet.

November is Vegan Awareness Month

This entry was written on Nov 24, 2009 by our Vegetarian Guru Staci Marquez-Nichols

Looking for a not-in-your-face conversation starter for Thanksgiving? (You know try to get the nay-sayers on the defense rather than the offense...) Well, October 1 is World Vegetarian Day, which is followed by "Vegetarian Awareness Month" in October and "Vegan Awareness Month" in November. Each year the North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) sponsors a number of events, which you can learn about at WorldVegetarianDay.org.

As for November though, TechnicianOnline.com reports, "Veganism, which has its roots in the mid-twentieth century, is often attributed, at least in name, to Donald Watson -- the British founder of the Vegan Society." Veganism has its roots in the 1700s, with vegans constituting less than 1% of society--with slightly higher numbers in the UK than in the US.

There's no opportunity like the present to consider transitioning to a completely animal-free diet. If you think about it, many of your apprehensions about giving up eggs and dairy are no doubt the same apprehensions you roll your eyes over when others express them to you about your current meat-free diet. Are you thinking, "If I was vegan, what would I eat?" Well, isn't that what you hear omnivores saying about going vegetarian that just grinds your gears? According to CrazySexyLife.com, veganism is one of the fastest growing movements on the planet.

Watson, the creator of the term "vegan," wrote in his first-ever edition of "Vegan News:"

“The unquestionable cruelty associated with the production of dairy produce has made it clear that lacto-vegetarianism is but a half-way house between flesh-eating and a truly humane, civilised diet, and we think, therefore, that during our life on earth we should try to evolve sufficiently to make the ‘full journey’.”

Becoming Vegetarian Gradually

So, the thought of becoming a vegetarian seems appealing to you but you're a bit overwhelmed. Are you trying to figure out exactly how to become a vegetarian? If you want to convert but are not ready to quit meat cold turkey, try gradually switching over.

Start by eliminating only one type of meat from your diet (like beef). Then, after some time, drop another. And, throughout this process, begin incorporating vegetarian meals into your schedule. Start off slowly, have a couple vegetarian meals a week. Over time, increase the number of vegetarian meals until all meat is eliminated from your diet.

Most people have favorite dishes that can be easily converted to meatless versions. These can be homemade meals or menu items at a restaurant such as spaghett with marinara sauce, vegetable lo mein, and bean burrito. Also, if you enjoy vegetable lasagne, stir-fried vegetables, or pasta primavera, you can begin your transition by making these meals more often. In addition, pick up some great vegetarian cookbooks to play with so you can keep mealtime interesting with some exciting meatless dishes.

101 Vegetarian Eating & Living Tips Book

This entry was written on Oct 02, 2009 by our Vegetarian Guru Staci Marquez-Nichols

I'm Staci Marquez-Nichols, the new LifeTips.com vegetarian guru. Last month, my book of vegetarian tips was published. The book contains great information for new, seasoned, and aspiring vegetarians--including:

~ how to form complete proteins with what you eat

~ nutrients that may be more crucial to your diet than protein

~ recipe ideas

Please feel free to check out my new book's website for a complete table of contents:

http://www.vegetariantips.net

I have been a strict vegetarian for over 15 years and have written a number of vegetarian blogs, ebooks, and articles. I'm pleased and excited to be your new online guru as well! Please leave some comments about what kind of information you'd like to see explored on the blog. Let's start a thought-provoking dialogue on many of the complex issues surrounding vegetarian eating, the meat industry, health, and the environment!

-Staci

Vegetarians Beware

Although it is relatively simple to spot animal products in a listing of ingredients, such as gelatin, lard, rennet, and animal fat, the real trick is to read every single label of every single bit of food you are thinking about buying. You should realize that animal products show up in some of the most unlikely places: fruit pies, vegetable soups, Easter candy...the list is endless. If your goal is to avoid all animal products, make it a habit to search ingredient lists before taking a bite.

Vegan or Vegetarian - What's the Difference?

This entry was written on Oct 14, 2008 by our Vegetarian Guru Staci Marquez-Nichols

If you are not sure what category you fall under for the above, well, let's clear up the confusion here.

Supposedly the difference between the two is that Vegetarians are those individuals that do not eat any meat products, however they do eat dairy products and eggs. Vegans on the other hand, do not consume any animal products so that eliminates all dairy products and eggs from their diet because these are derived from animal sources such as chickens and cows. The Vegan diet consists of lots and lots of grains, fruits, vegetables and beans.

Now that you have a better idea of the difference between the two you should know where you fit in. I will continue to categorize all Vegans and Vegetarians as the same to avoid confusion. So, you will find that all tips and recipes apply to either one however you might find a little notation in the entries if they do apply to Vegans. For example, if a recipe calls for no eggs or dairy as well as no meat then I will indicate on there that this is appropriate for Vegan diets.

I hope this will clarify any confusion.

Winning Athletes are Vegetarians

Many people are deterred from becoming vegetarians for reasons of athleticism. It is a common misconception that becoming a vegetarian will decrease athletic capabilities. Much to the contrary, every time you consume a vegetarian meal you are doing wonders for a body. Proper nutrition can and will affect athletic performance so, if an athlete chooses to go the vegetarian route, it is essential that adequate amounts of energy and protein are consumed so that he or she can still perform.

Being a vegetarian athlete can take a little more planning than someone on a meat-based diet, but it also offers far more benefits. Vegetarian athletes need to ensure an intake of nutrient-dense plant-based foods. Try not to exist primarily on highly processed and refined carbohydrates like pasta, bread and pretzels. Instead, include beans, tofu, nuts and vegetables to meet an athlete´s nutrient requirements. In other words, eat a well-balanced, high protein diet, and make every bite count. The less-processed the food, the better.

There are many vegetarian options that are nutritious. Here are some options:

• Whole grains


• Fruits


• Vegetables


• Nuts


• Seeds


• Legumes


• Dairy


• Soy products


• Tofu

Countless successful athletes are vegetarians including Olympic runners, karate national champions, swimming world-record-holders, and Mr. America bodybuilding champions.

Not All Vegetables Are Superior

This entry was written on Oct 04, 2008 by our Vegetarian Guru Staci Marquez-Nichols

To make it easier to to keep track of which vegetables are more superior than others I will list them in three separate category. All the vegetables in the first category are the cream of the crop. They are high in vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients thus they are the most beneficial to your health. According to research findings increasing your daily intake from this category can help reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and many other chronic illnesses. The second category of vegetables are good, but not considered the best of the bunch. When compared with the nutritional values of the vegetables in the above two categories the ones in the third list are considered less beneficial to your health. Look for more details about this in my next blogs.

Understand Your Reason For Becoming Vegetarian

Clearly understand the reason(s) that you desire to change. With well defined goals and objectives, the extra effort that is sometimes required to transitions diet lifestyles will not seem difficult. Reasons to change can range from concerns about the environment, concerns about how animals raised for slaughter are raised, religious beliefs, or the desire to lead a longer, happier, disease free life. Define your own reasons to insure your success.

Vegetables 101

This entry was written on Oct 03, 2008 by our Vegetarian Guru Staci Marquez-Nichols

How many of you can list all vegetables from A - Z without skipping a beat? Bet you didn't know that there are some so-called vegetables such as tomatos, avocados, and squash that are in reality fruits. Did you know that corn is not really a vegetable instead it is a grain? Also we have legumes(beans) which are actually vegetables, but are usually not considered as such. Going back to the fruits that are considered vegetables, if you are wondering how can you tell what other vegetables are really fruits, well, just ask yourself this, does the vegetable have seeds? If the answer is yes, then technically, you have a fruit, if it does not have seeds then you are looking at a vegetable. Just visualize tomatoes which have seeds and lettuce which do not. Regardless, I will still include those so called vegetables on this site since we've always known them to be as such and will treat them accordingly.

Peer Pressure

If you are new to vegetarianism, you might begin to notice a bit of peer pressure from some longtime vegetarians who have become vegans and are pushing you along to do so also. You may get this feeling from books, or people you’ll meet. Ignore it, and compare yourself to no one but yourself. Adopting a vegetarian or partly vegetarian diet is a highly personal decision. Do what’s right for you, and move at a pace that’s comfortable for you.

Wecome Aboard The Vegetarian Train!

This entry was written on Oct 03, 2008 by our Vegetarian Guru Staci Marquez-Nichols

As your Guru for Vegetarian Tips I want you to hop onboard with me for a fascinating trip where you will learn everything there is to know about living a life as a vegetarian. Being a vegetarian does not have to be difficult as there are so many exciting options available to help you stay on the right track to a healthier lifestyle. So stay onboard and be sure to check in on a regular basis as I will continue to update the tips as well as provide new recipes that you will find interesting and fun to use. Enjoy the ride!

Eliminating Gas

When you first start out as a vegetarian, you may notice an increase in gas. Your body´s reaction to your change in diet is a very common and perfectly natural one. The gas is likely caused by the high fibre content in the foods you are now eating - which, by the way are great for your health. Bean-O, unfortunately, will not likely be effective, as is not designed to eliminate this type of gas, but is targeted towards the sugar that cannot be digested in some beans. Therefore, it only works after eating beans and some vegetables. Your body will adjust to the changes in your diet with time and you will be much more healthy because of it. However, if the gas is too much of a problem for you, you can try eating very slowly, chewing your food carefully and avoid swallowing any air. Activated charcoal tablets (available without a prescription) can also provide relief for you when taken before a meal.

Food Diary

Keeping a food diary can help you chart your progress as you adopt a vegetarian eating style. Keep a log of what you eat for several days as you start your transition. Six month later, do this again. Compare the two, and note any changes. Do this at regular intervals to evaluate your progress and to recognize if you get stuck in a rut.

Fat Risk

In going vegetarian, some people end up replacing one fatty protein source (red meat) with others, such as cheese and soy products. Instead, plan meals around legumes and low-fat or fat-free dairy products, adding just enough of the fattier cheeses to give them some body and flavor.

Anytime Of The Year Is A Good Time To Become Vegetarian

You can start changing your eating habits at any time of the year. In the summer, there is the advantage of a wealth of fresh fruit and vegetables, and the tendency to eat lighter, including salads or a lunch of cheese, fruit and bread. In winter, there´s the comfort of soups, stews and baked things.

Explaining Your Position to Others

If you find yourself in the awkward position of having to explain your decision to be a vegetarian simply answer in a sensitive, non-judgmental manner ,and remain very honest. Whether you made your transition for the sake of animals, the environment, or your own health, discuss your rationale with those who might inquire about your choice.

Also, to help ease tension among those close to you so they will understand and respect your choices, try to make yourself less of an "inconvenience" by bringing your own food to family get-togethers. Bring enough to share so they can taste what you eat and these foods will seem a little less intimidating. They might even agree on how exciting it can be to taste new foods.

Educate Yourself

If you have switched to a vegetarian diet but find yourself feeling hungry, tired, and irritable, you may not be eating enough. Some people who switch overnight haven´t had time to figure out what they can eat thus they end up eating only a few different types of foods which don't provide enough calories or nutrients.

You might want to spend some time in the public library and find books about vegetarian diets where you will learn the different ways that you can substitute other nutritous foods for meats and dairy products(if you are vegan) and still be able to maintain your daily calorie requirements.

Another good option is to go online where there are several sites such as http://www.goveg.com/books.asp that will help point you in the right direction.

Colleges are Vegetarian Friendly

If you are about to start college and are concerned how you will be able to stick to your vegetarian diet here are some great hints to help you:

• Always keep some healthy vegetarian snacks around to munch on during those all-nighters or after a night of partying.


• Talk with the school's dining hall directors (they can usually be found around mealtime, or are available upon appointment) and discuss ways to make your dining options more vegetarian-friendly.


• Request that they provide things like soymilk and veggie cheese, and veggie burgers and Portobello mushrooms by the grill. Also, ask them to clearly label all food selections as “vegetarian” or “non-vegetarian” (they can easily use a system where they put a “V” next to the label of each vegetarian option).


• Speak up! Often times, people will be happy to alter dishes for you. For example, if the stir fry has chicken in it, ask the chef to make you a special meatless batch, ask for pizza with no cheese.


• Mix and match! Mix some tofu and beans from the salad bar with some salsa from the taco bar and put it over some rice that is sure to be available.

Famous Vegetarians

Here are some well-known vegetarians:

Daryl Hannah, Prince, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Lisa Bonet, Albert Einstein, Fiona Apple James Cromwell, Lindsay Wagner, The B-52´s, Cassandra Peterson, Casey Kasem, John Harvey Kellogg