Gluten Free Vegan Living

I have been part of the Gluten Free Vegan community for over four years now.  My Seventh Day Adventist friends introduced me to the vegan side of the diet.  Once I realized that I was intolerant to gluten, eggs and dairy, I started taking the Gluten Free Vegan die very seriously.  Even though I was not Adventist, I really appreciated my friends introduction to so many different kinds of foods and tips on how to prepare them that I never knew was possible.

When I started this blog, nearly 18 months ago, I wanted to reach out to others like myself that wanted to embrace a Gluten Free Vegan lifestyle, but did not know where to start.  Seeing my Adventist friends gave me so much help when I needed it inspired me to give back the same help to others.

We all have our ideas on what is good and bad to eat — and you can find almost as many opinions as there are people!  The studies are not always conclusive; one doctor will swear by this diet while another will swear by another.  Heck, I live with a “protein type” meat eater — and I love him despite his choice of food — which is really his choice.  Our choices shouldn’t dictate what other people should think or eat.  I watched my husband, Malcolm, try the vegan diet for over 2 years and he did not thrive on it at all!  But that is okay as we are all different.

But I am saddened by the bickering back and forth between groups of people who think they have the corner on the truth.  Some discussions are worse than talking about religion!!  Since we are all different people, we could all have different food requirements.  That does not mean that one is right and one is wrong — we must all decide for ourselves.

I have been open, in the past, to letting readers know that I am not a purist!  Actually, I guess I am really a flexitarian:  one who is plant based but eats meat occasionally.  Does that make me wrong or bad?  I sure hope not!

And I am also not an animal activist!  That is not what my blog is about at all!  If that is your reason for being vegan, I applaud you — it is just not my reason.

I am thankful that I have never been judged or accosted by folks because of my stand (if this is a stand!).  Sharing some recipes and helping someone make a change that feels right for them is what I am here for.  If you are looking to find something more, there are plenty of other out there in your mind set.

Well, there, I said it.  Thanks for all of you who “play nicely” with me and lets continue to help each other on our Gluten Free Vegan path.

PS.  I decided to write this post after reading a note on one of my vegan friend’s Facebook timeline.  Although I love most of her posts, I don’t like the militant attitude nor the militant comments!

An interesting discussion with a dietitian:  Is a Vegetarian Diet Healthy?  She sites some interesting facts about Vegan & Vegetarian diets verse carnivore’s diets.  One of this points she makes that I hardily agree with is a Vegetarian or Vegan diet is useless if you eat high fatty foods, lots of processed foods, or other ‘foods’ that are unhealthy for you, even though they are Vegan or Vegetarian

Is A Vegetarian Diet Healthy?

I interviewed Toby Amidor,  a registered dietitian,  to share her thoughts on this way of life.

Are vegetarians  healthier than carnivores?

here’s her answer: : it depends. Becoming a vegetarian is a personal choice, but once you opt in you must know exactly what to eat to stay healthy and fit.

Basic Food Groups

Vegetarian food groups include:

Grains like rice, wheat, rye, oats, millet, barley, amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, spelt

Fruits

Vegetables

Nuts like almonds, cashews, pecans

Seeds like sunflower and sesame

Legumes like beans, peas, lentils

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Personally, I follow a Plant Based Diet because I believe — no, I KNOW it is healthier for me.  And, honestly, I am more of a flexitarian than I am a Vegan, but the food choices are so similar …. and it is just easier to say I am a Vegan (NOTE:  A flexitarian eats some occasional meat products).

Great to see more and more events surrounding the vegan/vegetarian/flexitarian lifestyles. New York is leading with the following festival:

The first weekend of March will see the second annual NYC Vegetarian Food Festival, the blowout event for foodies, locavores, vegetarians, vegans, flexitarians, and all those who want to find out more about living a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

Dr. Michael Greger, director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture at The Humane Society of the United States, will be one of the top speakers at the second annual NYC Vegetarian Food Festival, the event for foodies, locavores, vegetarians, vegans, flexitarians, and all those who want to find out more about living a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.

When: Saturday and Sunday, March 3-4, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where: The Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street, Manhattan

Wish I lived closer!! Please share your experiences should you attend this event!

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Vegan and Vegetarianism are not the same.  Although the terms have been around for a long time, there is a distinct difference between the two.  And now, there are Flexitarians.  What is this all about.  The following article explains  …

Where did the word “vegan” come from?

Why “vegan” though? Where did that short word that connotes radical vegetarians come from? Donald Watson, founder of the Vegan Society, coined the word “vegan” in 1944 as a statement against vegetarians who ate dairy products. He took the first and last letters of the word vegetarian to create his orthodox version of vegetarianism. Today, as many as 10% of American adults say they follow a vegetarian-inclined diet, but only 1% of them are strict vegans.

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Personally, I follow a flexitarian diet.  After striving to be a vegan, I discovered some genetic issues that made me become a flexitarian.  Still honor the vegan lifestyle though!

What are your thoughts?