wikivh's Profile

Forget exercise--focus instead on eating fewer calories in the first place:

1. Eat a low-calorie soup and salad everyday (don't use creamy dressings or soups). They will fill you up.
2. Make sure you meet the daily fiber recommendation (25g for women). Most people don't.
3. Don't drink juice or pop except on special occasions (once a week or less).

Rooibos is great, but be careful if you're allergic to peanuts, since the plants are related.

My boyfriend has a peanut allergy, and when he had a sip or two of rooibos tea he had a mild to moderate reaction.

@Katy Did.

I'm sorry, but I think you've been misinformed. A vegetarian (or better yet, vegan) diet is actually much better for the environment, even when it includes non-local foods. For one thing, food miles aren't the only thing that count--there are many inputs into food. Livestock farming requires way more resources (like water and fuel) than growing crops, and it's more polluting (methane, run-off, etc.). Livestock farming also comes with much higher risks of illnesses that can spread to humans, like H1N1 or salmonella.

For another thing, there's no reason a vegan diet needs to include any more non-local foods than a non-vegan diet. If you choose to buy exotic foods like bananas or quinoa, that's your choice, but that's not a "must" on a vegan diet. And soy is one of North America's top crops--not something you'd necessarily need to import. If you're a total vegan you need a B12 supplement, but those are readily available and produced in many places.

Eat meat if you want, but don't believe that it's "more" ethical to do so than to be a vegan, because that contradicts the facts. The less suffering, the better--human AND animal. Eating meat impacts not just your health, but everyone through increased climate change, pollution, and zoonotic diseases. So even if you don't give a lick about animal welfare, there are selfish reasons to be vegan.

I should add that I've been looking into this because my partner just suffered through a very painful stone. The doctors said not to worry about reducing oxalate in our diet (we eat spinach and chard daily--foods high in oxalates). He said to focus on drinking enough water.

Too much salt (and sometimes too much calcium) is also a major cause:
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/kidneystonediet/index.aspx

If you hate cooked spinach, there's a good chance you're either using the wrong kind or eating it over-cooked. Try starting with fresh (not canned or frozen) spinach and cooking it very lightly. The leaves should be slightly softened (not mushy or clumping), bright green and pleasant-tasting. If it develops off-flavors, the leaves break down, or the color darkens then it's overdone.

If this sounds unappealing, you don't even want to know what's in REAL cheese.

Lentils are delicious--but some people can be allergic. My partner has peanut allergies (peanuts are also a legume) and lentils cause an allergic reaction for him. Soybeans, black beans, and adzuki beans are all fine, though (and probably others we haven't tried--it's just lentils, chickpeas, and navy beans that seem to cause a reaction).

Most people definitely need more fiber (average intake is around 15g, and adult men are supposed to get 38g), but it's probably best to get it from food. Less meat, more beans!

Traditions are great, but old traditions can be modified or replaced by new traditions, as circumstances change. Traditions are mainly about bonding, sharing and memories, and not the details of the food itself (although certain smells/tastes become associated with certain memories, over time, which is partly why people get so attached to particular foods).

Eating a separate meal from the rest of the group can be lame and isolating. There's no reason you can't cook an animal-free dish that everyone can eat. Involve your family in creating a new cruelty-free tradition that everyone can participate in and feel good about.

Nuts, seeds, and butters made from them are easy to add to dishes. Sliced almonds, sesame seeds, or toasted sunflower seeds can be sprinkled on top, or try adding tahini or peanut butter to sauces or smoothies. You can buy these pre-salted for more sodium.

If he's having lots of fat from animal sources, be careful not to have too much saturated fat or cholesterol as those can cause serious heart problems. A dietitian can give you specific recommendations and recipes.