fruits – Merry Midlifer

Going Meatless? Help Abounds!

First let me go to definitions:

There are different types of vegetarians.

Vegans not only omit all animal products from their diets, but they also eliminate them from the rest of their life. Vegans use nothing from animals, such as leather, wool, and silk.

Lacto-Vegetarians will include dairy products into their diet of plant food.

Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarians eat both eggs and dairy products.

Pesco-Vegetarians include fish into their diets.

Pollo-Vegetarians eat poultry, such as chicken, turkey, and duck.

Although the best way to turn vegetarian is by taking baby steps, my sister Sandi and friend Elay decided to jump right in and go meatless for one month. This was after watching the now famous Matt Cutts video, Try Something New for 30 days.

Sandi is now on her 3rd day (bless her) while Elay is already on her 14th (easier now, I’m sure).

In February 2011, Oprah and 378 of her meat-loving staff took a ONE WEEK challenge of eating an entirely vagan diet (no meat, dairy or animal byproducts).

Oprah's Vegan Challenge — With Food Authors Michael Pollan (Food Rules) and Kathy Freston (Veganist)

The result? They lost a collective 444 pounds.

This 1-minute recap video sums up the overall positive yet difficult experience.

Props to the guy who declared

I will, for the rest of my life, think about what I eat.

He’s right. Especially at this point in our lives, we have to be wise about what we put into our bodies.

I did the same challenge of going vegan two months ago. Now, I really try to be a pesco-lacto-ovo vegetarian (I eat fish, cheese and eggs). Sometimes though, I allow myself these great pleasures:

602622_202576949871312_792314542_n — A meat-lover’s breakfast: Italian Sausages for hubby. Bacon, sausages and eggs for me.

and

I’m not really going to punish myself for the occasional pork, chicken or beef. I think being very strict about food is counter-productive. But the main goal is still— make plant foods my main source of nutrition.

Compared to Sandi and Elay, turning vegetarian was easier for me as I only have hubby to feed. Those two have growing boys with hearty appetites.

Acknowledging their extra challenge, I found some useful links: A Three Week Meal Plan and Filipino Vegetarian dishes here and here.

It’s nice that all of us can get some help from experts. Thank God for Google! Really!

Go Sandi and Elay! I know you can do it!

Here’s to healthier lives for us and our families! Cheers!

The Simplest Food Rule

My friend Pinky wisely said, “At this point in my life, preparing healthy meals is not about wanting to be sexy or attractive anymore. It’s now about making informed decisions about what I put in my system.” She’s absolutely right.

Her breakfast that day: a slice of whole wheat bread slathered with peanut butter with chocolate, fresh fruit salad of dragonfruit, mango and fresh blueberries; and a quarter cup of brewed coffee.

Healthy Breakfast — Ready to face the day’s challenges!

These days, however, eating has become complicated. Many of us feel insecure about what we know and rely on experts to tell us how to eat — doctors, media, diet books, even health claims on food packages.

Last month, several of my friends consulted a doctor just to ask how they can eat healthy. Former President Arroyo also famously went to a Tagaytay clinic so that she can get some healthy food treatment.

How complicated can it really be?

In his book, Food Rules, Michael Pollan says the answer is not complicated at all. In fact, it can be boiled down to seven words:

Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

And when he says “eat food” he means food, not the “edible food-like substances “ we find in many groceries. They are highly processed, consisting mainly of ingredients none of us would put in our pantries.

That’s it. BRILLIANT!

Alright. I will really try to follow this. Thank you for putting it so simply, Mr. Pollan.

Going Meatless? Help Abounds!

Three New Ways I Enjoy Avocados

Here’s more from Michael Pollan:

In 2009, he requested readers to send in their food rules. In a span of a few days, more that 2500 responses were received. Click here for 20 of his favorites.

For more of his books and articles, click here.

Three New Ways I Enjoy Avocados

I like avocados and I’m grateful that they are in season now.

I’ve always eaten them blended with milk and sugar. These days, however, I have them this way:

1. Sprinkled with brown sugar. This is how my Ilocano relatives eat their avocados.

2. Blended with Yakult (Skim milk with Lactobacilli). This tastes like the Korean drinks popular these days. Many thanks to my friend, Pinky who recommended this.

3. As Tea. Briefly boil six leaves in 750ml water. Very soothing.

How do you eat yours?

These are also interesting:

Vegan Chocolate Avocado Cake

Avocado Pie

Yes, avocados are high in fat, but they are good fat. Read about its anti-aging qualities here.