Carb counting

[Leadinglights]

My grandfather born in 1876 and father born in 1908 were lifelong vegetarian, not easy for people to understand what it meant in those days and they were regarded as being very odd. Their criteria was not to have anything where the animal had been killed so had dairy and eggs but of course ingredients did not have to be declared so I'm sure they ate things containing animal products, the things that come to mind was Worcester sauce which has anchovies in and cheese which would have had rennet from animals (not so now as most cheeses have a non animal rennet). They even avoided wearing things made of leather, a bit tricky before all this plastic came into our lives.
My daughter is vegetarian not for ethical reasons but she doesn't like the texture or flavour of meat so finds the 'meat substitutes' just as unpleasant as they try to mimic those things.

 

[Ditto]

I draw the line at eating humans though.

We're not supposed to eat humans, nature gives us dementia if we do. That'll teach us. A very interesting thread. I luvs meat. I think we do eat too much though.

Re carb counting. I have no idea as I can't count hardly. I think if I can stay away from the junk food then I'll be okay.

 

[pm133]

@pm133
Would you eat your dog or cat? Would you eat someone else’s dog or cat? Would you drink milk from a dog? Gross? Then why is cows’ milk ok? See, there are lots of questions, both ethical and to do with a matter of taste/revulsion.

No I wouldn't eat a dog or cat. Maybe a horse though. With some animals, we bring them into our houses and form close bonds with them to the extent that we anthropomorphise them - treating them as one of the family.

I've never tried milking my dog. I'm not convinced she'd let me. For me, cows milk is delicious but goat's milk is awful. For others it's the other way round. All down to taste.

We're not going to agree on the issue of the ethics of this.
I will add this thought though. Firstly, there is a difference between eating animals and the welfare of animals. Secondly, if people stop eating meat, there would have to be a mass cull of animals on a scale never seen before (it would make the Foot and Mouth epidemic look like nothing). Almost all farm animals are bred purely for food and/or milk. They would serve no other purpose to us and would be slaughtered overnight in their billions. It's worth bearing this in mind.

 

[Inka]

I didn’t say we should agree @pm133 only that it was an ethical question. You said there was “nothing inherently unethical” about eating meat, with the implication that anyone who thought there was must be wrong, and that eating a lamb, chicken or cow was no different to eating a potato. But there is an ethical question. We might all have different views, different limits, but ethics are involved.

No-one is suggesting slaughtering all the farm animals on Earth nor that everyone should become vegan. But reducing the use/consumption of animals is something that would be of benefit long-term. There is lot to think about. Some of it you might discount or be ok with, but there are ethics involved, as well as other factors.

If you’d like a thought-provoking watch try Earthlings. You won’t agree with some of it - I didn’t either - but it does make you think, and that’s good. I couldn’t get through the whole film because it’s very upsetting, but that in and of itself made me think and made me re-examine my limits.

 

[PattiEvans]

Here's an article I wrote a long time ago about how you can enjoy vegetables. It starts with some ideas for carb substitutes and goes on to lots of suggestions about how to make the best of veggies. Probably needs a bit of a re-write to update lots of new veg recipes. No way will my hubby go without meat, but at least we have lots of interesting accompaniments to the meat.

For what it's worth, I blame the nation's obesity on the government and it's so called "Eatwell plate" with it's emphasis on basing meals around starchy carbs. It first came out in the 70s, prior to that few people were obese. However, it all started with one Ancel Keys but that's a whole story in itself.

 

[SB2015]

Here's an article I wrote a long time ago about how you can enjoy vegetables. It starts with some ideas for carb substitutes and goes on to lots of suggestions about how to make the best of veggies. Probably needs a bit of a re-write to update lots of new veg recipes. No way will my hubby go without meat, but at least we have lots of interesting accompaniments to the meat.

For what it's worth, I blame the nation's obesity on the government and it's so called "Eatwell plate" with it's emphasis on basing meals around starchy carbs. It first came out in the 70s, prior to that few people were obese. However, it all started with one Ancel Keys but that's a whole story in itself.

Thanks for this Patti
an excellent resource. It is my week to cook from Sunday, and usually use one cookbook for the week when planning. I think I shall use your A to Z this week.

 

[pm133]

I didn’t say we should agree @pm133 only that it was an ethical question.

We are disagreeing about whether or not this is an established fact.
We've both expressed our opinions on it and I'm happy to leave it at that and move on.

 

[pm133]

Here's an article I wrote a long time ago about how you can enjoy vegetables. It starts with some ideas for carb substitutes and goes on to lots of suggestions about how to make the best of veggies. Probably needs a bit of a re-write to update lots of new veg recipes. No way will my hubby go without meat, but at least we have lots of interesting accompaniments to the meat.

For what it's worth, I blame the nation's obesity on the government and it's so called "Eatwell plate" with it's emphasis on basing meals around starchy carbs. It first came out in the 70s, prior to that few people were obese. However, it all started with one Ancel Keys but that's a whole story in itself.

I can only speak for myself here but when I ended up overweight it was because I was using food to comfort and compensate for other problems in my life. Once I started to get a taste for cheeseburgers and chocolate and also got into a routine of abusing food on a regular basis, it was very hard to break that cycle. I ate to feel better and then I put on weight which made me feel rubbish and so I ate some more. Within a short space of time I was struggling to bend over to tie my own shoelaces. The big difference I've noticed over the last 40 years is the explosion in availability of fast food and the increase in available spending power. Someone else cooks it for you, you can be eating it within minutes and it tastes good (because it's full of sugar and fat etc).

It was only when I addressed the issues behind my food abuse in the first place that I started to change my habits.

 

[rebrascora]

Here's an article I wrote a long time ago about how you can enjoy vegetables. It starts with some ideas for carb substitutes and goes on to lots of suggestions about how to make the best of veggies. Probably needs a bit of a re-write to update lots of new veg recipes. No way will my hubby go without meat, but at least we have lots of interesting accompaniments to the meat.

For what it's worth, I blame the nation's obesity on the government and it's so called "Eatwell plate" with it's emphasis on basing meals around starchy carbs. It first came out in the 70s, prior to that few people were obese. However, it all started with one Ancel Keys but that's a whole story in itself.

I only just discovered that a-z article on veggies the other day when Jenny (@trophywench) referenced it and I thought it was absolutely brilliant and bookmarked it straight away. Respect to you for compiling it!

 

[Leadinglights]

I only just discovered that a-z article on veggies the other day when Jenny (@trophywench) referenced it and I thought it was absolutely brilliant and bookmarked it straight away. Respect to you for compiling it!

I have just looked at it as well, brilliant for veggie fan but some super suggestions for the yet to be converted.
I am growing two varieties of squash 'mashed potato' and 'baked potato' for the first time (seeds from Thompson and Morgan) so I will see what they are like. No potatoes planted for this year, first time in nearly 30 years of having an allotment.
Thanks @Pattidevans

 

[rebrascora]

I too haven't planted potatoes for the first time this year. Feels like a betrayal of my heritage as my Dad was a champion potato grower (in my eyes at least) and we all relished a plateful of new Arran Pilots swimming in butter.... didn't care if we didn't have anything else with them as they were heavenly just on their own!

 

[Jenny101]

My diabetic doctor once told me, almost 50 years ago, that there is one good, well-balanced healthy diet: 1/3 carbs, 1/3 protein and 1/3 vitamins and minerals (fruit & veg). I think he was right. My neice tried veganism, became tired, lethargic and her eyes were darkened - her doctor told her to change her diet as it was unhealthy. I guess if that's your thing then you should do a lot more research and perhaps take a lot of supplements? On the vegetarian note - do vegetarians understand that if they drink cows milk, a cow needs to calf every year in order to produce milk - I won't mention what happens to the calves! Is vegetarian milk as good as cows milk? I'm menopausal so in order to look after my bones I need calcium - another reason to drink cows milk. I'll stop ranting now - can you tell that my grandad was a farmer!

 

[Inka]

Yes, they do @Jenny101 Thats why some vegetarians won’t drink milk. Obviously vegans don’t either. Some vegetarians will drink milk but won’t eat eggs (due to the destruction of 50% of the chicks in commercial egg production). There are different kinds of vegetarians. The non-dairy milks have calcium added and some vitamins too

I completely agree that being vegan needs thought, and a vegan diet isn’t necessarily healthy per se. Someone could just eat chips and white bread and be vegan. We all need a healthy diet whatever our diet preferences. Vegans are recommended to take Vitamin b12 and omega 3.

There are, as always, loads of different studies about bone health and various diets, but this one specifically looks at vegans as compared to meat eaters. It’s from Osteoporosis International:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090416102302.htm

“A study comparing the bone health of 105 post-menopausal vegan Buddhist nuns and 105 non-vegetarian women, matched in every other physical respect, has produced a surprising result. Their bone density was identical.”

 

[PattiEvans]

I have just looked at it as well, brilliant for veggie fan but some super suggestions for the yet to be converted.
I am growing two varieties of squash 'mashed potato' and 'baked potato' for the first time (seeds from Thompson and Morgan) so I will see what they are like. No potatoes planted for this year, first time in nearly 30 years of having an allotment.
Thanks @Pattidevans

Ah thanks everyone🙂. I am going to re-write it in the very near future as some of the links are broken + I have more suggestions to add.

 

[trophywench]

Ah thanks everyone🙂. I am going to re-write it in the very near future as some of the links are broken + I have more suggestions to add.

What - you've found a veg beginning with Q ?

 

[PattiEvans]

What - you've found a veg beginning with Q ?

LOL! Jen. No... but some of the links in the article are broken and I have found some new ways of cooking some veg.

 

[pm133]

What - you've found a veg beginning with Q ?

Quinoa.
Apparently the leaves can be eaten as a vegetable as well as using the seeds.

 

[Leadinglights]

Quinoa.
Apparently the leaves can be eaten as a vegetable as well as using the seeds.

I thought that but then wondered did it count as a vegetable. I didn't know you could eat the leaves but there again you can eat nettles.

 

[pm133]

I thought that but then wondered did it count as a vegetable. I didn't know you could eat the leaves but there again you can eat nettles.

In fairness, as much as I'd like to portray an image of all-knowing sage, I did Google it. 🙂

I have to say that I'm, a simple boy. If I can't pronounce it, I'm not putting it in my mouth so I won't be trying either version of this food. 🙂

 

[EllsBells]

I thought that but then wondered did it count as a vegetable. I didn't know you could eat the leaves but there again you can eat nettles.

Nettle soup is really lovely