So, many of you may have heard that Oprah has decided to give up caffeine, alcohol, sugar, gluten and meat for 21 days in the hope of becoming a “conscious” eater. Good for her and honestly easier said than done.
Eating fewer animal products is a great choice if you care about the environment: It takes a huge amount of resources (energy, water etc) to produce meat, particularly beef and most of this country’s meat is produced in horrible CAFO’s (concentrated animal feeding operations) – these unpleasant factories would make you give up meat forever, were you to actually visit one.
The problem is that we have been told that eating grilled chicken breast or slices of turkey, is a healthy choice, it’s how we get our daily protein requirement met – so how does the Gorgeously Green girl get her daily protein without having to spend hours soaking beans overnight (something that has never appealed to me). It is controversial whether tofu and unfermented soy products are actually healthy or harmful, so that leaves us with a delicious raw vegetable salad sprinkled with nuts and seeds.
Come on – please weigh in on whether you think going vegan is healthy/doable and something you would even consider???
I think Vegan can possibly be healthy as long as the person is getting nutrients in another form. I have never been a huge fan of most meats although I do not consider myself a vegetarian or vegan. However, since reading Gorgeously Green and some other going green literature, I have really jumped on the band wagon in as many areas as possible, including the types of food that I put into my body. I don’t know if I would ever go completely vegan, but I feel that being aware is definitely the first step and with all that I have recently read, I will definitely think twice before eating just any piece of meet. While I do enjoy the occasional Tofu, I don’t think I could ultimately switch to it. I did however, buy my first veggie burgers the other day at the grocery store which I am very excited to try for tonight’s dinner!
I am so in love with eating a raw vegan diet right now. I am SO HAPPY to hear Oprah is using her star power (as usual) to spread the word about a very important health and environmental issue. I am thinking about eating mostly raw vegan for the summer, since it’s easiest to eat this way during warm months. I notice when I’m eating raw fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds combined in delicious ways not only do I feel healthier, I have more energy, I feel calm, and I think more clearly as well.
I have been a Vegan for about 2 months now and made the decision to do so for several reasons, the first one because of the 15,000 FDA approved additives that are in our food these days. All this junk is doing nothing to help keep my healthy and my weight in check.
The second reason is I read the book “slaughterhouse” and it discusted me.
I already feel better however, I have not quit my total caffein intake but I have added more hot green tea, no artificial sweetner, and have found some really great Organic wine.
It has been fun tryingnew recipes and foods that I thought I never would. IT has been easier than I thought it would be.
For every person that stops eating meat, 100 animals a year are saved. That is reason enough for me.
I love this idea. I have been a vegetarian for 3 years. I decided to do this after watching a peta video. it was the most logical choice, The only thing i COULD do. I mean after
seeing what they do UGH. so while doing this i lost 50 lbs that was a bonus. but now I have become a LAZY vegetarian which i didnt think was possible. I have 3 kids and a husband that wont get on the same wagan as i so i still have to pr pair meat for them. my goal is to still become a vegan. I am stuck in limbo right now with this with the cost of healthy food is horrible. on a one person income it is really hard. I have made a huge effort to buy one organic thing a week and stick with it. I am finding less in the cupboards now. I think what OPRAH is doing is great. I wish i had my own personal chief so i didnt have to perpair it. I will get there its a goal. it is so doable and I am considering it. it takes disapline for sure. anyone who has done it you ROCK