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Post by Amarynth on Mar 28, 2012 18:28:41 GMT -8
I've been exploring the world of Vegan/Vegetarianism/Raw Foods...and have been having a great time lately taking pictures of what I eat. I thought maybe I'd share, post some pics and/or recipes. My interest began with a desire for better health (last years cancer fright really made an impact on me). However lately I've been soul searching the ethical parts of becoming a vegan as well...been watching lots of videos concerning animal cruelty, slaughter houses etc... What I've seen has really turned me off to animal products lately. As a Wiccan and an animal lover, yes...this really makes sense to me. I should have taken this step years ago, actually. Anyway, that's a little background and I'm happy to share my journey with you all. Are there any other Vegan/Vegetarian's out there? ? Here is this morning's breakfast: Raw cereal: Strawberries, banana, raisins and some coconut with a nice splash of home made almond milk. Simply delicious! Very filling too.
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Post by Maximillian Thorton on Mar 28, 2012 18:57:46 GMT -8
I personally have no problem with people who become vegetarian for health reasons or because they simply don't like the taste of some meat. I get frustrated at those who do it for a "cause" or for animal "rights." As a Christian, I believe in man's dominion over creatures, a dominion given to us by God, for our purposes. (Granted, we have to care for them and not completely abuse them.) But for other non-Christian faiths, I look at it this way. Even the Native Americans, those who held animals in high regards, ate them, because they understood the circle of life and natural order. I'd imagine, Ama, that even witches would have this same viewpoint. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that if you are one with nature, then you understand nature's order of life. Human beings are natural predators; we eat meat. Plus you get into the whole economic thing. Meat, generally, is cheaper than a vegetarian life style. A family of 7 can be fed with meat cheaper than non-meat. You also have the market and industry of meat, providing numerous jobs for a struggling economy. I was raised in a rural town where beef was life. It's a living. So, eh. I love this picture.
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Post by Amarynth on Mar 28, 2012 19:27:36 GMT -8
Nice pic! I think that perhaps I've not expressed myself as coherently as I had intended. I'm not exploring the Vegan lifestyle for a cause, and I truly understand where you are coming from. Some of those people who do this for their 'cause' tend to take things a bit too far. I'm not that type of person. I would never look down at another person for the choice they make, whether it be to eat a nice fat steak or not. Everyone is entitled to their choices in life, and I will always respect that. Always. I've eaten meat all my life actually. The only meat I have always tried to stay away from, is red meat...as it makes me ill. Physically ill. Rand can attest to that. lol At the moment, I have been exploring this mainly for health reasons. Don't worry, I am definitely not turning into some PETA fanatic hell bent on breaking the law to make a point. (A Peeta fanatic perhaps!) Anyhow, I was merely trying to express how I have been discouraged by the means in which our food is processed. There is simply no need to abuse these animals, and by the way they are housed, the lack of care to the point of pigs and chickens having multiple injuries, open wounds etc...really makes me question what I have been putting in my mouth and the mouths of my children. I mean, this is our food, one should expect better care is taken in raising/slaughtering our meat. Not to mention the amount of hormones these animals are given.... There has to be a more humane way of doing this and what I've seen from the major companies is simply appalling. I will NEVER purchase anything from Butterball, for instance. I imagine the Native Americans killed their food respectfully, with the least amount of stress as can be managed. I understand where you are coming from Max, I really do...and I hadn't meant to frustrate you at all. If I have, I am truly sorry. For me, right now...it's all about cutting out processed crap, increasing my fruits and veggies, trying new things and perhaps eating an occasional bit of chicken or fish. My mom is currently not well at all (diabetes, heart problems, high bp, cholesterol); and as much as I love her, I just don't want to follow in her footsteps in this regard; and I definitely don't want to discover that this cancer has popped up elsewhere in my body. My love and respect to you always. <3
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Post by Maximillian Thorton on Mar 28, 2012 19:46:04 GMT -8
Oh, Ama, don't worry. I understand your position. You just brought up memories of arguments I've had with some psycho liberals. Got me going on a rant!
The processing may or may not be bad. I know a family that process cattle like normal processors, and they say the more than 90% of the time the animals are treated as well as you can treat them. They'll be shot and eaten, there's no use for excessive care. One bullet, it's done. The videos seen are the rare cases of abuse and are typically instances where the scene isn't normal for the plant.
You can't make the processing too much more caring, otherwise, you lose the point of meat in America, which is inexpensive food source.
I've always wanted to get my cowboy friends and ride on horses down a PETA protest and wrangle up a few and shave their hippy heads. My great uncle did that once to Vietnam protesters (the ugly protesters who shouted vile things about our troops).
I've got so many good stories on PETA encounters....being a rural kid can be fun.
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Post by Randalla on Mar 28, 2012 22:14:11 GMT -8
LMAO cute how that bottle says "mommy's almond milk".
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Post by Amarynth on Mar 31, 2012 18:11:09 GMT -8
Oh, Ama, don't worry. I understand your position. You just brought up memories of arguments I've had with some psycho liberals. Got me going on a rant! The processing may or may not be bad. I know a family that process cattle like normal processors, and they say the more than 90% of the time the animals are treated as well as you can treat them. They'll be shot and eaten, there's no use for excessive care. One bullet, it's done. The videos seen are the rare cases of abuse and are typically instances where the scene isn't normal for the plant. You can't make the processing too much more caring, otherwise, you lose the point of meat in America, which is inexpensive food source. I've always wanted to get my cowboy friends and ride on horses down a PETA protest and wrangle up a few and shave their hippy heads. My great uncle did that once to Vietnam protesters (the ugly protesters who shouted vile things about our troops). I've got so many good stories on PETA encounters....being a rural kid can be fun. It's okay, I was just a little...taken aback. You're very passionate about what you believe in; and there isn't anything wrong with that at all. I would like to hear some of those stories about the PETA encounters.
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Post by Amarynth on Mar 31, 2012 18:13:33 GMT -8
LMAO cute how that bottle says "mommy's almond milk". lmao Yeah, I tend to label my nut milks, though no one but my mom would really even try it. They don't know what they're missing. I made a great strawberry milk with the almond milk and some fresh strawberries. Mmmmmm...I'll have more pictures, links and stuff to share...
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Post by Randalla on Mar 31, 2012 18:39:32 GMT -8
I'll be your guinea pig!
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Post by Maximillian Thorton on Mar 31, 2012 19:19:48 GMT -8
There was a time this animal rights group, can't remember which nuts this time, were trying to nail an beef farm for some violation. This was in my rural county on a family owned farm, who typically will...bypass excessive regulations. Nothing extreme: it may be the number of people operating the machines. What the group was after this time was to see if the cows were fed enough. Before slaughter, they have to be a certain weight. Now, what happens a lot is a cow will get sick and lose weight.
Well, the group was flying this little helicopter with a camera on it to see if any cows were underweight. Well, these farm boys/cowboys don't take well to invasion. So, the owner grabbed his shotgun (rifle? don't remember) from behind the door, aimed, and shot the mini-copter down. Thing flew out a control and landed across the street. And the boys went over, flipped off the camera, and used it as further target practice.
Truly awesome.
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Post by Randalla on Mar 31, 2012 19:42:03 GMT -8
LOL Using a little RC helicopter to spy. Sounds like something my mother would do.
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Post by Randalla on Mar 31, 2012 21:36:33 GMT -8
Also, moar pics and recipes pls...
Max, open up a beef and bacon thread, no meat or milk allowed in this thread. ;D
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Post by Amarynth on Mar 31, 2012 21:52:48 GMT -8
LOL Awww...thanks for that dear! Actually a Raw/Vegan forum I frequent doesn't allow any talk about meat/dairy because it's not conducive to being very supportive to those trying to make the transition...serves no purpose and at times promotes bad feelings, heated discussions that have no place in a vegan forum.. It's all about the love. I think I'm going to try this tomorrow: Sundried Tomato dip 3/4c raw cashews, soaked overnight 1/3c sundried tomatoes, chopped 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (offers a cheesy flavor to recipes) 1/2 of a lemon, juiced pinch of celtic sea salt 1/2c H2O Blend it all in a food processor until nice and creamy...serve with vegetables or raw flax crackers as a dip. I'll post a pic...I didn't put any cashews to soak, but will in the morning and see how this turns out. Also, speaking of chips and crackers. These are SO good... www.bradsrawchips.com/
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Post by Randalla on Mar 31, 2012 22:05:02 GMT -8
<3 It's hard in this household, too. Mother and I wouldn't mind trying this sort of thing out. The paternal unit makes it difficult. LOL I love raw cashews. What's soaking them do besides make 'em mushy? Remember, you're talking to someone who can't scramble eggs, so............ Oh and have you tried those vegetable chips? They're at Trader Joes around here, but doubt you guys have that store over there. Or do you?
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Post by Amarynth on Mar 31, 2012 22:27:24 GMT -8
Well, for this recipe I would assume soaking the nuts lends a more creamy texture to the dip, although I've made a raw cashew cream (omg froth delish on fruit!!!!) and it came out rather creamy without soaking. However, we do soak nuts for a reason. Unlike grains, nuts contain smaller amounts of phytic acid. Their real issue for us is having high amounts of enzyme inhibitors. These enzymes are useful to seeds and nuts because it prevents them from sprouting prematurely. But they can really strain the human digestive system. Soaking your nuts in water will neutralize these enzyme inhibitors, and also help encourage the production of beneficial enzymes. These enzymes, in turn, increase many vitamins, especially B vitamins. It also makes these nuts much easier to digest and the nutrients more easily absorbed. Their protein content is broken down into amino acids, their starches are changed into simple sugars, and their fats are converted into soluble fatty acids; all of which makes them more digestible. And, yes, this is a traditional method of preparation. For example the Aztecs would soak pumpkin or squash seeds in salty water and then, sun dry them. I MUST get myself a dehydrator. There are so many things I can make, aside from soaking and dehydrating nuts for use in recipes, etc later...fruit leather (like fruit roll ups but healthier), raw/vegan cookies, crackers, bread...etc.... I would SO cook (or rather uncook) for you and mother. I also like making healthy vegetarian meals. I love lentils. And which veggie chips are you talking about? There's Terra chips that I find in our markets here (beets and several types of potatoes). They are SO good but kinda not good for you. Well, probably better than regular chips I guess. I don't get them much though. hehe There's no Trader Joe's out here...remember how happy I was in that TJ you took me to? There is a Whole Foods, but in NYC somewhere around Yonkers or something like that; and I SO don't drive in the city. Besides, Whole Foods is very expensive I hear. There are a few health stores out here, but I get my produce at the farmers market down the road. Well it's bigger than a farmers market. lol Both my older kids work there, so I get a 20% discount on my food !!!!!! For almond butter...I usually make my own. I make my own nut milks too. Cashew milk is out of this world dear. In a pinch though, I will use the Almond Breeze milk...which is really good. Max is right in that a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle can be expensive. It doesn't have to be...but it can be. There is one rule to remember in ensuring you don't spend a fortune....eat simply. Anyhoo...I went off on a tangent. hehe
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Post by Randalla on Mar 31, 2012 22:37:30 GMT -8
It was SO LONG ago I forgot about our Trader Joes spree. LOL Oh but I remember now, isn't that where we were looking for dates or figs or something? And the ones we got were so freaking sweet, I could only eat like one or two at a time before my teeth would start rattling out of my skull.... I'm gonna love your cooking.
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