Your Eating Habits

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>Well, it is really healthy to be a vegetarian, but i'm definitely not opposed to eating animals, and there's a reason our kind has eaten animals forever. we're meant to be ominvores, we're part of the food chain, it's the circle of life...just my opinion. I have a friend vehemently opposed to eating meat though. </p>

<p>I only eat chicken, beef, tuna, sometimes salmon (I know some vegetarians eat fish because they don't have souls...that always makes me giggle). I think it would be easy for me to give up meat. I don't think I've eaten it for like 3 weeks, but that's really just cause I ran out of frozen chicken nuggets. Plus i'm on a halal/kosher diet, so it's harder for me to eat meat in restaurants. i hate tofu! I eat a lot of veggies/fruit though.</p>

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<p>Daniela, yup my mistake -- kefir is not yogurt smoothie (though it does taste like it).</p>

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<p>Omaplata, I'm just glad to find another college kid that likes kefir! No one I know in real life has even heard of it, when it's so good and easily found, haha. I think Lifeway actually markets their kefir as a "yogurt smoothie" by the way, because it seems more marketable to the average shopper than "cultured milk." I didn't mean to seem like I was jumping on you because of the smoothie comment.</p>

<p>Also, I agree that vegetarian diets can be wonderful and that it is a fantastic tip to get into it gradually. Some people can do it "cold turkey" (no meat pun intended), other people find it easier to do the week-by-week method. At college I keep up a vegetarian diet (could never go vegan, though) but when I go home on breaks and vacations, because my family eats meat I will eat some meat as well when we have meals together. But I have to say I feel healthier-- my skin looks better, I feel more energized, I'm more physically and mentally alert-- when I stay off meat.</p>

<p>molly4190: Awww, I love tofu! Sometimes you just need to prepare it correctly to make it more palatable-- use good sauces and spices, add small chunks of it in stews and stir-frys and you'll forget its even in there. It's totally a miracle food. Have you ever tried edamame or soy burgers? I think those are fantastic as well. (PS: your vegetarian friends that eat salmon/fish... they're cheating! there's no such thing as a "pescetarian" hee hee.)</p>

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<p>I think the reason you feel better not eating meat is not because of the meat itself being particularly unhealthy but the fact that in the US we put so many hormones and preservatives and all this really, just disgusting mess in our animals/meat which in turn messes with us. Like I said, I don't eat that much meat, basically just chicken and turkey (and occasionally bacon), and I totally agree that eating less meat makes me feel better.</p>

<p>ETA: I just got back from Wal-mart (ugh, I know but I'm so broke) and got lots of groceries!! So now I have healthier food to tote around with me and won't have to rely on those damn fattening almond croissants anymore for breakfast/lunch (although, I admit I will still probably be eating one like once a week, because they are really freakin tasty!)
This is what I got:
V8 fusion blueberry pomegranate and tropical orange flavors
whole grain waffles (plain, and blueberry)
skippy natural peanut butter
honey nut cheerios
wheat thins reduced fat garlic and herb flavor
two Pasta Sides (garlic pasta shells, and cajun rice)
100 calorie snack packs- Ritz snack mix
Au gratin potatoes mix
a small pint bottle of milk (for the pasta and potatoes)
5 lean cuisines (2 chicken fettucini, 2 macaroni and cheese, 1 baked chicken and potatoes)
Edy's fruit bars
Weight watchers low-fat string cheese
French bread (mmmmmmmm)
(I already had a container of sliced turkey for sandwich making, some turkey bacon, eggs, and a couple other lean cuisines in my fridge. I also have a brita pitcher)</p>

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<p>AUlostchick - if eating regular meat actually makes you feel sick, a kosher/halal diet might actually be good for you. the meat is raised separately, killed so as to be as quick and painless as possible, and the meat is less likely to be contaminated or have preservatives. and since you're not jewish, you don't have to observe the special rules about not mixing. you won't find kosher/halal bacon though since we don't eat anything from pigs. since you live in Alabama, kosher will be harder to find for you I guess (i'm from NY and see it everywhere).</p>

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<p>Likewise, it's great to see other health-conscious individuals on this thread. You know, I think that's where I got the impression that "kefir = yogurt smoothie" -- I see Lifeway all the time in the dairy aisle. In regards to feeling healthier, I'm absolutely the same way. I'm more upbeat and my muscles relax, my sleep is deeper and more fulfilling, and I feel more attuned to the world (though this last one may be more of a psychological thing).</p>

<p>On tofu, I think the key really is how you "disguise" the rather bland taste and foreign texture. Definitely don't try to attack a whole piece of it alone and uncooked. I would take daniela's suggestion and put it into stir-frys, soups, and salads. Who knows? Over time, you may come to enjoy it and its wonderful health benefits.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I don't know anywhere to find kosher stuff here. I have some Jewish friends here though so they might know. I'll try to think to ask them the next time we talk.
It's not that meat makes me feel particularly sick, but I have a theory that the hormones and stuff that they put in these meats screws with my feminine system. I'm sure it could mess with other people in different ways.
But like I said, I don't eat that much meat anyway so it's not a huge deal. (Notice above the only meat I bought was pasta with chicken in it, plus I have turkey sandwich meat)
BTW, mostly I eat bacon made from turkey at home, I only eat pig bacon when I go out and bacon is in the food. I actually like turkey bacon much better, it has less fat for one.</p>

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<p>sometimes when i'm at the dining hall, i'll add some tofu to my salad but I hate the taste. I honestly could give up all meat except chicken nuggets, which I could never give up, I love them too much. you know how some vegetarians shun all meat but fish and call themselves pescetarians? well i'd be just like that only a nuggetarian. I <3 chicken nuggets. they come in such a delightful shape and you can pop them into your mouth like chips and dip them in ketchup or sauce.</p>

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<p>When are we finally going to get beef nuggets? Do such a thing exist? I guess it wouldn't work so well for a dark meat... Nobel Prize to whoever figures it out though, probably.</p>

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<p>molly4190, here's a way to cheat and make tofu taste better: lightly fry it. It will be a satisfyingly understated and delicious party in your mouth, guaranteed.</p>

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<p>lol, I do love me some Wendy's nuggets, molly! They are quite tasty.
(I don't like the nuggets at McD's or BK though, at least not in the US. French McDonald's nuggets weren't too bad)
LOL at nuggetarian!</p>

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<p>BK nuggets aren't great but the chicken fries are pretty good.</p>

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<p>I eat cereal all the time</p>

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<p>no breakfast. Maybe fruit on my way out like an apple, banana. sometimes cereal.
Lunch: eat out, frozen food, left overs, sandwiches, fried rice, etc.
usually something simple and fast.
Dinner: eat out, frozen food, cooked food like pasta, soup, sandwich, rice with meat, etc.
snacks: carrots, animal crackers, fruits, cookies, etc.</p>

<p>I did have a horrible eating habit last sem from dieting. I'm trying to eat alot better this sem and eating alot... like now.</p>

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<p>Today I just ate a whole box of tropical-flavored Gushers and two forties.</p>

<p>I have my off days.</p>

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<p>
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Yeah, I don't know anywhere to find kosher stuff here. I have some Jewish friends here though so they might know. I'll try to think to ask them the next time we talk.

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<p>Mountain Brook is probably your best bet.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
I'm a guy so my eating needs are different (and too complicated to type out), but I am a (partial) vegetarian and get my protein through fish, egg whites, soy, beans, quinoa, and dairy (cheese, yogurt, and milk).

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<p>If anyone (male especially) saw your eating habits, they'd laugh in your face. That has to be the most laughable, least masculine eating habit possible. Seriously, egg whites? Soy beans? Quinoa? LMAO</p>

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<p>
[quote]
If anyone (male especially) saw your eating habits, they'd laugh in your face. That has to be the most laughable, least masculine eating habit possible. Seriously, egg whites? Soy beans? Quinoa? LMAO

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<p>Most vegetarians and vegans (and there are plenty of male ones) would immediately recognize stuff like soy beans and quinoa, which are both food staples in East Asia and Latin America, respectively (and I indeed believe there are males in both continents, but you might want to check that yourself). A lot of males, especially those who are working out, indeed up their intake of egg whites while controlling their intake of egg yolks to get more protein but less fat than eating whole eggs. </p>

<p>I better not mention awesome stuff like tempeh, nutritional yeast, skyr and goat milk to you either, it might blow your mind.</p>

<p>
[quote]
It's not that meat makes me feel particularly sick, but I have a theory that the hormones and stuff that they put in these meats screws with my feminine system. I'm sure it could mess with other people in different ways.

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<p>AUlostchick, have you read Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma"? It's a really interesting, really informative read about the way we get our food. He doesn't necessarily advocate veganism or vegetarianism, but he does emphasize the healthfulness of getting meat and dairy from local farms. A lot of people are becoming more concerned with WHERE their food is coming from and HOW its grown than exactly WHAT it is, be it meat or milk or eggs.</p>

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<p>@Daniela_Sunday: Goat milk - how does it taste? I love goat cheese, but I haven't seen goat milk. Yet. </p>

<p>@diontechristmas:
Well, I'm male, too. And food intake has little to do with masculinity, it's a matter of choice, education, and partly self discipline.</p>

<p>I love soy (especially tofu - yum, slightly fried in salad, or in asian food), I enjoy different kinds of grains (pearl barley, polenta, whole oats, bran, quinoa, buckwheat .. - too lazy to look up the English words :-), but I love about anything like that..),..
I often eat pasta, though, but made with durum, which I like better, and which my best mate (diabetic) can eat more easily. </p>

<p>Egg whites are awesome - they are the best source of protein, and many bodybuilders eat them. Also, they taste nice with a lot of things, and I often mix them into sauces, etc, so we get a bit more protein.</p>

<p>I don't enjoy meat - I eat some white meat like poultry, or fish, but less than once a week. Not everyone has to like it, just as not everyone has to like brokkoli and tomatoes (which are my favs), or spinach or kefir, or tofu, or those crazy fruity thingies from my chinese food store...</p>

<p>I don't judge anyone for eating meat, or eating less healthy than I do (not everyone can be a nerd and try to "hack" food intake), because I believe that people like what's good for their bodies (my friends and I protocolled our food intakes for some time. We noticed that the girls ate more magnesium and iron during their menstruation,..) - but the body gets confused when there are too many artificial ingredients.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
If anyone (male especially) saw your eating habits, they'd laugh in your face. That has to be the most laughable, least masculine eating habit possible. Seriously, egg whites? Soy beans? Quinoa? LMAO

[/quote]
Get a life, idiot. As Daniela said, body builders eat that type of food all the time. And there is no such thing as a masculine or feminine eating habit.</p>