Adventures in Eating: Is Vegetarianism for You?
(Hot air ballooning, which we witnessed in Reno, NV last month, is an adventuresome activity, so I thought I would include some balloon pictures in this column, since a meatless diet is also an adventure in eating.)
When World Vegetarian Day came around once again on October 1st, I thought I would attempt to eat vegan all day, that is, no animal products whatsoever. I almost succeeded, but late in the evening, I forgot and ate a dish of yogurt. But the awareness was there, which is important.
Since I have been a vegetarian for more than 30 years, with a few lapses, going vegan was not so difficult for me. But I recognize that changing one’s diet is not easy, so this essay is not intended to “convert you,” but rather “alert you” to choices you may not have considered.
Since there are all shades of vegetarianism, from “flexitarians” to “piscatarians” to vegans and fruitarians, I thought I would provide a little background information just in case you want to go veggie for a day.
I think the term “flexitarian” was coined to define someone experimenting with a meatless diet. S/he may eat vegetarian at home, but not in a restaurant, or may eat meatless two meals a day, or some flexible meal plan that works for now. That person may never become a full-fledged vegetarian, but may improve his/her diet along the way. Or maybe a vegetarian diet will be the choice. Either way, there is food awareness.
A lacto-ovo vegetarian eats no meat but does eat eggs and dairy. The sub-category is either a lacto-vegetarian (dairy but no eggs) or an ovo-vegetarian (eggs but no dairy). A “piscatarian” is another made-up word that defines a person who eats no meat, but does eat fish, and probably dairy and eggs, although I am not absolutely sure about the dairy and eggs.
A vegan eliminates all animal products and animal byproducts (ex. honey) from the diet, emphasizing Ahimsa (harmlessness) in all aspects of life, including no fur, wool, silk, or leather, no pets, rodeos, or fashion shows with fur, leather, or silk. Macrobiotic enthusiasts are often vegetarians, but not always, just as Seventh Day Adventists are sometimes vegetarians. Fruitarians eat only foods that can be picked without destroying the whole plants, so they will eat apples, but not cabbages. The most extreme vegetarians I ever read about are breatharians, who claim to live on breath. Right!
Whatever kind of food plan you want to employ, remember to eat as close to the whole food as possible. Thus, I prefer Edamame beans (green soybeans) over soy milk and a whole apple over applesauce, even if it is organic. The closer to Mother Nature, the more vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are left intact. I have known vegetarians who exist on meatless junk food. Where is the benefit to that? I have also known meat eaters who eat very consciously with respect for their bodies, the health of the animal, and the health of the planet. Better that than a junkfood veggie, I think.
So when you choose an eating plan, stay conscious of where your food comes from, whether or not you enjoy it, whether or not the produce is local and organic, and how you can enjoy it as unprocessed as possible. As Michael Pollan states in his book In Defense of Food (to be reviewed soon), “Eat food. Mostly plants. Not too Much.” These seven words are gems that you can count on to lead you to
real foods that support your body and the planet.
If you have any questions about experimenting with a meatless diet, feel free to contact me directly at menupause2006@yahoo.com. If I don’t have the answer you seek, I may be able to send you to the right place for an answer. Happy eating!!