Any Vegetarians, Vegans & Raw foodists here?

[herecomesrob]

Hey guys!

About 4 or 5 years ago I went Vegetarian. In Summer 2011, I decided to stop eating other animal food products like milk and cheese; so I went Vegan.

Right now, I only eat plain fruits, vegetables and rolled oats... and I feel so amazing! I got enough energy throughout the day and feel happy and relaxed. I never thought that a healthy diet can change so much.

So... are there any Linux Mint users that are Vegetarians, Vegans or even Raw foodists? Do you guys (in general) care about what you eat? Do you think it's more healthy to stay away from meat or do you think that we humans absolutely need meat?

Let's discuss! ;D

Rob

[lexon]

I am not a Vegan. I am an Earthling from the Planet Earth.
I do mostly eat veggies, fruit, Soy based products, whole wheat bread during the week. I drink egg whites for protein. No taste, no problem.
A little meat on weekends when staying with my girlfriend. She has a problem gaining weight. She does not eat much.
A couple years ago at age 68, I adopted a new lifestyle as diets always failed. Lost 50 lbs that are going to stay lost.
Went from large clothes to medium clothes.
Forty four inch waist to thirty six inch waist.
Bike about 50 Km a few times a month. Those on the other side of the pond, bike a lot more.
Lots of exercise and working out most every day.
No chemicals or diet fads either.
Feeling better than I have in many years.
We go out dancing with 40 to 50 year old kids a couple times a week.

L

[herecomesrob]

Hi lexon,

thanks for your reply. Your answer really inspired me. I like the fact that you and your girlfriend are really paying attention to what you eat. I guess there're not a lot of people who are so conscious about their eating habits; especially here in our western "civilized" society.

I think that conscious eating is very important, whether one is Vegetarian or not. I always feel happy when I meet people who care about what they eat, because it's so important.

Rob

[The-Wizard]

I was born an omnivor from a race of omnivores, I enjoy most food types including dairy, fish,fowl and meat, we however are not big into convenience/take away foods, we tend to cook at least 6 days a week using the best/freshest [in season] fruit/veg and farm butchered meat we can afford, [we even have the odd meat free day] there is too much delicious fresh foods out there to stick to fixed food groups.... But at the end of the day you pay your money and make your choice
you enjoy your food fads, i will enjoy my food fads and lets both let others enjoy their own food fads

wizard

[lexon]

My primary food during the week is made using a kitchen blender. Low fat yogurt, Almond flavored Soy milk, wheat germ, three different fresh fruit, three different fresh veggies.
Cup of egg whites each day.
Sometimes a ¼ cup almonds or walnuts for a snack. Couple Graham Crackers or Kettle corn for a snack. Calories figured out.
A lot of stuff I do not buy anymore so I know I am saving money even though Soy stuff cost a little more.
Tofu Pups a good sub for hot dogs with mustard and relish.
When out on my bike, I stop at a local hot dog stand sells the Tofu Pup also.
A bottle of diet coke will last me a month. No sugar or salt used either.
I am a coffee addict though, plus a fair amount of water each day.
I maintain around 1800 calories a day. Again, it is a life style but I do venture out for a Juicy Lucy maybe once every three or four months. Keeps me from becoming, holier than thou.

I was at a local Chinese place a couple months ago and had an excellent veggie meal. The Tofu based meal was to simulate chicken and I have had the same meal using real chicken in the past so I know it is a good substitute.
You have to watch out for places that sell veggie sandwiches/burgers because some cook the veggies with quite a lot of fat and the sauces can have a lot of fat and salt.

I have learned that fat goes to my body very easily and I need the exercise also to keep things in control.

Any commercial place goes heavy with fat and salt and processed foods are just as bad.

Yeah, a lot of blah, blah, blah but the question was asked.

L

[dagon]

*** spam message ***

Oh dear, a vegan spammer!
Where is this world heading?

[saavedra]

I don't eat meat, but I wouldn't say I'm a vegetarian. I eat fish, eggs, cereals, vegetables and fruits (everything cooked, I don't like raw food). I'm really careful about my diet because I have diabetes (how I miss a nice chocolate bar, but well... life is life )

[The-Wizard]

Oh dear, a vegan spammer!
Where is this world heading?

now thats what i call a contradiction in terms

wiz

[faolan]

Vegetarian here, since 2007. I went back to eating meat for a short spell while living with my family 2009 when I had to move back to Florida, but that only lasted a month and it didn't find it at all palatable or wholesome at either the level of taste or greater senses of consciousness.

My diet as of late has mostly been inspired by Indian (particularly, Hare Krishna) style cuisine which has become an interest of mine on and off since I was first exposed to it in 2005 or so working at a vegetarian restaurant in Tallahassee shortly after I dropped out of college (realizing it wasn't for me). Don't get me wrong, I like learning, but academia just felt stuffy and in many was I just felt confined in a weird culture of ego-stroking. Those are a couple years I really wish I could relive, and I didn't realize they were tuning points.

I also enjoy Italian, Middle-Eastern, and Mexican cuisine as well, the first and the last of which I learned mostly from my grandfather. Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean, is something I wasn't exposed to until fairly recently.

My own attitude towards food is that one should treat it with respect, as it every bite were a sacred sacrament. We should realize that there are those out there who are much less fortunate. To waste food is to insult it.

[3fRI]

No matter what kind of diet you follow, it's important to buy fresh, local produce and fruit when it's in season whenever possible. If you eat dairy products, meat, poultry, and pork. It's also best to buy what's raised locally from small farms that practice free range grazing, etc., and don't use unnatural feed full of chemicals. As for fish, commercially caught fish is frozen at sea right after it's caught. If you live near the ocean, try to buy locally caught fish and shellfish.

FWIW, we vegetarian meals, but also eat meat. poultry, and fish on one day each. Portion control and regular exercise is as important as what you eat or don't eat!

[Habitual]

Moderation in all things.