Nondairyvegiecarnivore?

Thanks, Emilie, for starting a discussion on diet.

Vegetarian and vegan diets are a wonderful way of life for many. But for some of us, it’s not sustainable.

Take, for example, me: after fifteen years of abstaining from animal products, I was dragging. To be fair, my diet wasn’t the only thing pulling me down. However, my acupuncturist made me start eating animal protein, and I continue to this day.

Does this mean that a big slab of steak and a potato soaked with butter are the way to go? Horrors, no!!! Here’s some rational guidance on how to include animal products in a healthy diet.

  • Stay away from dairy products, unless you’re sure you can digest them. Even then, be moderate. Goat milk and cheese are generally a bit easier to digest than cow products.
  • Eggs, on the other hand, are a wonderfully nutritious and digestible food. Don’t be afraid of having a boiled or poached egg for breakfast, instead of or along with some healthy carbs. It’s very healthy to start the day with some quality protein. See if it doesn’t help you maintain energy through the day.
  • Choose organically raised meat and free-range eggs. Better for you, the animals and the planet.
  • Avoid lots of fat. Choose lean meat. Ask the butcher about lean cuts. Try venison, or ground buffalo meat - they’re very lowfat.
  • Consume small portions of meat. Your body gains no additional benefit, only stress, from more than two or three ounces in a meal.
  • Don’t feel that you need to eat meat every day. Alternate red meat, poultry and fish a few times a week with vegetarian protein such as legumes, tofu or tempeh.
  • Don’t forget to balance your diet with quality carbs, such as fresh leafy greens and brown rice.
  • Plan your purchases carefully so that you never have to throw out any aging meat. Accept the fact that other beings are sacrificing their lives for your sustenance, and respect that sacrifice.

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Beef and kidney bean goulash

Do you ever find that the dishes you toss together from what’s at hand turn out amazingly delicious? That’s what happened to me this evening.

The measurements are only a guess, so use your own judgment.

Beef and kidney bean ghoulash

1/2 onion, sliced thinly
1/4 lb ground beef
2 c. cooked kidney beans with their cooking “liquor”
2 T. decent red wine
1/2 green bell pepper, sliced thinly
1 c. thinly sliced cabbage
1 T. paprika
1/2 t. thyme
1/2 t. tarragon
salt to taste

In a large pan, saute onion and ground beef until onions are translucent and beef is browned. Add beans, wine, green pepper, cabbage, and paprika; cover and simmer for 5-10 minutes, until cabbage is limp. Uncover, add thyme and tarragon, stir, and add salt to taste.

To accompany I had a couple of thin slices of french bread, brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and basil, and heated in a 300 degree toaster oven until just crispy. These were great for dipping in the ghoulash.

Oh my, one of my tastiest dishes of 2007.

Update: I misspelled “goulash” as “ghoulash.” Must have been Halloween on the brain!

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African chicken

I can’t guarantee that this is an authentic West African recipe but it captures the basic peanutty tomato-y garlicky flavor of similar dishes I savored in Mauritania. Super easy. Serve over rice and with a salad or your favorite cooked veggies.

African chicken

about 2 lbs skinless chicken
2 Tbsp oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
2-4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
15 oz canned tomato sauce
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp ground coriander seeds
1/2-1 tsp red pepper flakes
(optional) dash of salt
(optional) few dashes of black pepper

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a large skillet, heat oil. Saute onions and garlic until soft. Add peanut butter, tomato sauce, vinegar and seasonings and mix well. Turn off the heat.

Arrange chicken in baking dish and pour the sauce over the chicken. Bake uncovered for about 45 minutes.

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