One for the Road – Diet as Political Commentary

“For those who want it to be, a plant-based diet is also a potent political comment on our broken food system. What’s so compelling about these personal stories — besides the inspirational message — is the fact that we’re looking at a diet for which the ultimate beneficiary is the individual. Healthy veganism explicitly serves no corporate or industrial gods. In fact, it counters these interests… [Executives’] fear is that people will stop eating animals altogether. It is veganism that keeps them up at night. As long as people keep eating meat, they’re happy. ”

–“The Evidence for a Vegan Diet” by James McWilliams (http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/01/the-evidence-for-a-vegan-diet/251498)

Thanks to Johnny Sized for the article recommendation (http://johnnysized.com/2012/02/05/evidence-for-a-vegan-diet/).

One for the Road

“You see, good health makes a lot of sense, but it doesn’t make a lot of dollars.” – Food Matters (available on Netflix Instant Stream)

One for the Road – Working Out

“What matters most is your overall way of living and eating.  If you indulge yourself one day, then eat healthier the next.  If you forget to exercise or meditate one day, do more the next.  You get the idea.  It’s a very compassionate approach.” (26) Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World by Kathy Freston

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Returning to college after a month of free time at home creates some challenges.  As I try to become more involved at school, my little pink agenda fills up very quickly.  And what gets cut?  Exercise.

Luckily, my conversion to a vegetarian coincided with my sudden decrease in exercise, so I did not gain any weight (as far as I can tell – I don’t keep a scale in my dorm room).  I definitely lost most of the tone and definition I had worked so hard on for months – how did it all vanish so quickly??  But I started exercising again these past few days, and I feel a lot better.  Now to just keep it up.

One for the Road

“Meat, dairy products, and eggs are completely devoid of fiber and complex carbohydrates, the nutrients that we’re supposed to be consuming more of, and are laden with saturated fat and cholesterol, which make us fat and lethargic in the short term and lead to logged arteries and heart attacks in the long term. ”

-p. 129 of PETA’s Vegan College Cookbook

One for the Road

“The thought that I can never have a certain food again is depressing, so I compromise and say I’m just not going to have that food today.  I can’t do forever, but I can do a day. ”

– p. 152 of Kathy Freston’s Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World

 

As a week-old vegetarian, I particularly appreciate this quote.  That chicken teriyaki looked good today at lunch; instead, I went for the tofu.

One for the Road

“It is a metamorphosis.  I think that’s why people resist it so much…I think people are afraid of change…being vegan is about exploring, and expanding, and evolving.”

–Vegetarian Food for Thought Podcast, episode “Transitioning to a Vegan Diet – or – Tips for Eating Healthfully” (links to mp3)