What does your diet look like?

Just curious what your diet looks like and if you have this diet due to health reasons or ideological reasons as well (does your politics influence your diet)?

SouthernDemocrat said:

Just curious what your diet looks like and if you have this diet due to health reasons or ideological reasons as well (does your politics influence your diet)?

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I have I guess a standard diet. I eat mostly anything just in moderation.

i eat mostly hamburger and beef, but i also drink a lot of soda. soda is my one real vice. I eat some candy, but not a lot, and i also love vegetables, both raw and cooked. I also drink a lot of soda because te water in my neck of the woods is too heavy with the minerals and does not taste very good.

Right now i'm simply tired of pork and chicken and will probably not be eating that for a while. haven't eaten any this onth.

I guess "Standard American Diet" but that really is a wide range of diet paths.

SouthernDemocrat said:

Just curious what your diet looks like and if you have this diet due to health reasons or ideological reasons as well (does your politics influence your diet)?

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No meat. No meat ingredients (for instance, beef broth). I do eat eggs and cheese. I don't eat fish. Ideological choice. My husband and sons eat meat, and love it. When I cook, my husband handles cooking the meat products.

No politics in my decision making. It's merely due to a love for animals.

Whole foods Pesecetarian for me. I eat a plant based diet for health reasons, but since we love to fish, I throw fish in as well (sustainably caught or raised). If I am eating at someone's home and they are serving, meat, I will eat it as well to not be rude or difficult, but I don't eat meat at home or when going out to eat.

Aside from the health reasons, I have ethical and environmental reasons for avoiding meat consumption. I am not opposed to raising livestock in a free range manner, but am opposed to factory farming. For example, a hog kept in a small cage its whole life never gets to be a pig, same with a chicken. In my personal opinion, its more ethical to eat wild game than it is to eat a chicken that spent its entire existence in a tiny cage, in an industrial chicken house.

In terms of health reasons, the science behind processed meats and increased cancer risk is very strong, and even if you eat nothing but organic meats, heme iron still increases colon cancer risks no matter how the meat is raised.

Anyway, that is basically the health and ideological motivations behind my diet.

Standard Dutch Diet (SDD ) almost daily meat, about half the week veggie/potato and the rest of the week either french fries (once a week), pasta (macaroni/spaghetti), meal replacement soups (pea soup, minestrone) or stir fried food/Indian food/Chinese/Indonesian type foods.

Today or tomorrow we eat zuurkoolstamppot with pork and special Dutch "worst".

This is zuurkool



which is sauerkraut with potatoes and that is mashed together, add to that speklappen (pork):



and to top it off worst (special sausage from the hema).

We put in a bit of the "jus" (what the speklappen where baked in) and some mustard on it and we think it quite delicious. Some use apples in there and creme fraiche and all other kinds of things but the basic recipe is just sauerkraut and potato.

I eat mostly vegetables (usually fresh green salads with olive oil dressing along with tomatoes and black olives) with some fish and chicken as part of some spicy Korean stir fry or Indian curry. At least one day out of the week I break that diet with a pizza splurge. No sodas or sugar in my diet- I only drink water and an occasional glass of bourbon and wine on the weekends.

Of course with this being the Christmas season all that dieting has gone out of the window- I bought a huge ham, Edam cheese in wax, whole salami, canned eel and sardines in olive oil and planning to get a buche noel (French yuletide log made up of chocolate ganache) and a whole pecan pie for dessert. :mrgreen:

SouthernDemocrat said:

Just curious what your diet looks like and if you have this diet due to health reasons or ideological reasons as well (does your politics influence your diet)?

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It's maybe "standard American" in a way. My diet ha become mostly homemade (very limited eating out) and focusing on non-GMO, non-Monsanto, non-Animal Farm sorts of things. Free range, grain fed chickens, Free range, grass fed beef, free range, grain fed pigs (that corn fed meat is terrible), no hormones or massive dosages of antibiotics. Fish needs to be wild caught and sustainably fished. I tend to make my own breads, I'm getting into canning and jams and such as well so that I can pick local and seasonal and preserve for later. Raw milk when I can get it, which in the state of NJ means some other state, lol.

Local, seasonal, natural. It pays off big.

SouthernDemocrat said:

Just curious what your diet looks like and if you have this diet due to health reasons or ideological reasons as well (does your politics influence your diet)?

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Other. We go mostly whole foods, but it's mixed with some processed stuff. Meat, fish, poultry and dairy are also part of the diet. What we do though is eat as well as is practical.

I eat just about anything, but I just try to eat more good than bad. I usually buy a couple pounds of Salmon per week. I usually juice 3 or 4 times a week, getting about 25 oz. of spinach, a med. sized bag of carrots, and a couple of oranges in total. I often do protein shakes with the powder, milk, banana, pb, and flax seeds. Other than that it depends on my mood. Lately, a decent amount of junk food since we're putting on layers and it's the holiday season, basically a Michigan tradition. Had 4 cupcakes and a bag of Muddy Buddies yesterday, but Sunday is usually my big splurge day with sweets. I did buy a half ham because it was on sale. Btw, Krogers half ham cost me $13 and it is almost as good as a honey baked...they may still have some!

Ikari said:

It's maybe "standard American" in a way. My diet ha become mostly homemade (very limited eating out) and focusing on non-GMO, non-Monsanto, non-Animal Farm sorts of things. Free range, grain fed chickens, Free range, grass fed beef, free range, grain fed pigs (that corn fed meat is terrible), no hormones or massive dosages of antibiotics. Fish needs to be wild caught and sustainably fished. I tend to make my own breads, I'm getting into canning and jams and such as well so that I can pick local and seasonal and preserve for later. Raw milk when I can get it, which in the state of NJ means some other state, lol.

Local, seasonal, natural. It pays off big.

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How exactly does it pay off?

JC Callender said:

How exactly does it pay off?

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Food is healthier for you, it tastes better, you support the local economy, etc.

SouthernDemocrat said:

Just curious what your diet looks like and if you have this diet due to health reasons or ideological reasons as well (does your politics influence your diet)?

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We need more choices.

In college Health 101 which was a core requirement for all freshmen they taught us about the food groups --

- meat/protein
- carbs
- vegies
- fruits
- dairy
- lipid
- sugars

You need about 4 oz of meat daily. So that would be like a quarter pounder at McDonalds but for the fats in it.

This is also about the amount of tuna in a drained can. It makes 2 or 3 sandwiches when mixed with mayo.

It takes more eggs however -- about 10 per day.

To the meat you need to add vegies and fruits for vitamins and other minerals (vitamin = vital minerals).

You will still be hungry though if you don't also add about a cup of cooked carbs like rice, noodles, potatoes etc.

Drinking a glass or 2 of milk with it for lunch rounds out the dairy. Or add cheese to your food.

Wine helps digest fats and lipids which naturally occur in most meats and are used for frying.

Sugars give you quick energy as from a piece of cake with frosting.

I plan meals like that, minimizing the daily meats and including all the others.

Fruit pies for breakfast with a glass of milk.

Chinese stir fry for lunch with rice.

Soup or salad for dinner.

I did not see a choice for that.

Definitely not paleo which I presume you think means meat only.

Meat only is a very bad diet.

Meat and vegies is ok while you are under 50 but over 50 this will give you excess protein gout.

Vegies only is dangerous because you risk not getting all the daily proteins you need to live.

Carbs only will make you really fat. But carbs and sugars only before an athletic event is great for maximum energy. Just not all day.

americanwoman said:

I have I guess a standard diet. I eat mostly anything just in moderation.

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The whole purpose of Health 101 in college is to get people to start thinking about the components of their foods and meals and make sure they are getting all the proteins and vitamins that they need, and sufficient energy for what they are going to do with their day.

It takes less energy to sit at a desk than it does to run a mile.

Ancient Herald said:

i eat mostly hamburger and beef, but i also drink a lot of soda. soda is my one real vice. I eat some candy, but not a lot, and i also love vegetables, both raw and cooked. I also drink a lot of soda because te water in my neck of the woods is too heavy with the minerals and does not taste very good.

Right now i'm simply tired of pork and chicken and will probably not be eating that for a while. haven't eaten any this onth.

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AH, try substituting home made iced tea for the soda. Iced tea does not need as much sugar in it to taste good.

I make a pitcher of iced tea every morning and it tastes pretty good chilled in the fridge all day long.

It is an ideal beverage with just a hint of caffeine to stimulate you enough to keep you awake and productive.

Try moving to veal instead of steer beef.

Add some fish. There is white, pink, and red. It all tastes pretty good.

Good job on the raw and cooked vegies. But don't forget fruits as well. Different vitamins from each.

Full of red meat, alcohol and cake.

tres borrachos said:

No meat. No meat ingredients (for instance, beef broth). I do eat eggs and cheese. I don't eat fish. Ideological choice. My husband and sons eat meat, and love it. When I cook, my husband handles cooking the meat products.

No politics in my decision making. It's merely due to a love for animals.

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I am starting to feel bad about the animals too.

But there are some animals that I don't care much about.

Pigs, calves, chickens, fish, and shellfish are all animals that I don't mind eating.

Lambs and rabbits I would feel really bad about.

Dogs or cats I would never eat.

Urethra Franklin said:

Full of red meat, alcohol and cake.

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The red meat hurts when you get old. Need to cut back dramatically or else you get arthritic from the uric acid in the gout.

Riveroaks said:

Lambs and rabbits I would feel really bad about.

Dogs or cats I would never eat.

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Lamb is beautiful. Rabbit too - in a rich mustard sauce.

Everything in context. If I went to a country where eating dog or cat was customary, I'd give it a try. I don't see how we can differentiate if we eat meat at all. Similarly I don't fathom the no meat but fish is OK mentality. It's all OK to me. God I've tried ostrich, horse, crocodile, snails and kangaroo - all of which would have been unthinkable when I was young. And it's all good!

And I'm sure anybody who's eaten cheap burgers/ready meals/cheap suasages has eaten all sorts they're not aware of.

Animals are a commodity. I respect anybody's right to be vegetarian or vegan, but please leave me out of it.

Riveroaks said:

The red meat hurts when you get old. Need to cut back dramatically or else you get arthritic from the uric acid in the gout.

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I'm 52 and my routine blood tests are always spot on - never had a raised uric acid. And I don't want to be 90 in a care facility thank you.

SouthernDemocrat said:

Just curious what your diet looks like and if you have this diet due to health reasons or ideological reasons as well (does your politics influence your diet)?

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I have never heard of Flexitarian. Interesting.

Politics has no influence whatsoever on my diet. Unfortunately, I really like good food, and partake more than I should. To me, good food is one of life's simple pleasures that should be enjoyed whenever possible. I should choose healthier options more than I do.

Urethra Franklin said:

Lamb is beautiful. Rabbit too - in a rich mustard sauce.

Everything in context. If I went to a country where eating dog or cat was customary, I'd give it a try. I don't see how we can differentiate if we eat meat at all. Similarly I don't fathom the no meat but fish is OK mentality. It's all OK to me. God I've tried ostrich, horse, crocodile, snails and kangaroo - all of which would have been unthinkable when I was young. And it's all good!

And I'm sure anybody who's eaten cheap burgers/ready meals/cheap suasages has eaten all sorts they're not aware of.

Animals are a commodity. I respect anybody's right to be vegetarian or vegan, but please leave me out of it.

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I don't believe all animals are a commodity.

Dogs and cats and horses are definitely not.

Neither are elephants whales or bears.

They are highly intelligent animals.

As far as eating some animals, calves and pigs, among the mammals, just don't evoke any sympathy in me.

I would not want to be the one slaughtering them, although I have no problem with butchering once I am handed a quarter section.

Urethra Franklin said:

I'm 52 and my routine blood tests are always spot on - never had a raised uric acid. And I don't want to be 90 in a care facility thank you.

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You're lucky then, that the gout problem has not afflicted you, especially if you do actually eat a lot of meat and drink a lot of alcohol with it.

I have had to cut back on both dramatically.

SouthernDemocrat said:

Just curious what your diet looks like and if you have this diet due to health reasons or ideological reasons as well (does your politics influence your diet)?

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Something between pescetarian and flexitarian. So I just kinda picked one.

It's not really an overt choice I made. I eat what my body tells me it wants, and it rarely wants meat from land critters. Makes me feel sluggish and run down. Apart from a couple times in the dead of winter for some reason, and a little lamb curry binge I went on shortly after moving to London, I just don't particular want it.

Apart from a love of chocolate, I'd say my diet's reasonably healthy overall. I was fortunate enough to grow up eating mostly good food, so my body tends to be pretty dead-on with asking for what it needs, rather than something full of empty calories. I think upbringing counts for a lot, and has made it a lot easier for me to eat well without thinking about it than it is for a lot of people of my generation.

I think we don't give our bodies enough credit. When I look at what I tend to gravitate towards, it's things my particular body might be more likely to need a larger amount of than average. For example, I've always wanted basically anything with fatty oils in it. I'm also hypermobile, which tends to go with joint vulnerability which is helped by fatty oils. Similarly, my flatmate/friend who tends to shed iron a little too easily tends to unthinkingly go for anything with tons of iron in it. Bodies are smart, if you know how to listen to them.

But particularities aside, my accidental diet seems to be a solid way to go health-wise. Apparently vegetarians and pescetarians live longer and more healthfully than vegans and red meat eaters. So, cool, I guess.

I do try to source the seafood/meat I do eat from ethical sources, both for me and kitty. I don't have a problem with eating animals or animal products -- it's natural, and the most bio-available way for humans to get all of their nutritional needs met. And obviously kitty is an obligate carnivore. I just don't support factory farming techniques that basically torture animals. We have the ability to give them reasonably good lives and painless deaths, and we should. So I only support companies that do.