Veg(etcetera)

I applaud you, but I could never give up meat! That’s the first reaction I get when people find out that I don’t eat meat. The second reaction is: so, are you vegan? “No, i’m not”. Vegetarian? “Neither”.

“A vegetarian diet is commonly understood to forbid meat and fish, but to allow both eggs and dairy. Nowadays you have different types of vegetarians. The word vegan takes this concept to the next level, cutting out every item of animal origin. Vegan refers to anything that’s free of animal products: no meat, milk, eggs, wool, leather, honey and so forth. Your sandwich, your shampoo, clothes, shoes, make-up and your car seats are examples of items that could be vegan”. Click here for the source.

 

I consider myself a conscious eater and as I’ve mentioned before, my diet is 80% plantbased.
I have done, and am still doing a lot of research on nutrition and the human body in general.

So far I’ve concluded that the best way to live a longlasting healthy lifestyle is to listen to your body. Your body will give you different signals about your health status. Your skin, hair, nails, urine and natural body odor are a few indicators of what’s going on on the inside. Pay attention to the way you feel after a certain meal or drink. Your food combinations are also very important. Do you feel bloated, tired or  nauseous? Is your hair very dry or falling out? Do you have ashy skin or brittle nails? These are ways your body communicates with you. Keep track of all this, do your research and start changing your diet.

 

Our body and environment change constantly, that’s why in my opinion, there is no such thing as a long lasting mealplan or diet. You’ll have to experiment and adjust along the way.

I am not the one to tell people that they should or shouldn’t eat meat. But the third question I usually get is: how did you stop eating meat?

Well, I didn’t stop eating meat overnight. I still eat (organic) chicken or fish from time to time.
I stopped eating red meat and pork in 2012 because of the lack of nutritional benefits and the way the bio-industry operates nowadays. Your mindset is the most important thing when changing habits. What’s your intention? The answer to that question has to be one that will convince you to stand by your decision.

Here are a few tips to help you lower your meat intake.

• When you eat a plate full of chicken wings or legs try to think of the amount of chickens that had to die in order for you to consume that meal; 8 chicken wings equals 4 chickens. It may sound ridiculous, but just think about this: if you had your own little organic chicken farm at home, how many chickens would you kill in order to survive and keep your farm going? Exactly! You would probably eat 1 chicken at the time and it would last you up to 2 days. So next time you go to the supermarket you could make a more conscious choice and buy 1 entire chicken instead of a box of chicken wings or legs.
• If you are not capable of slaughtering the animal yourself, you probably should not eat it (that’s my rule of thumb). Or at least be aware of the life that was offered to provide you with food. This is the way our ancestors dealt with their food.
• Nowadays a lot of people think that the meat in the grocery store had no face or life. That it just magically appeared in the store. Well, it didn’t just appear, it used to be a living animal. I am convinced that if we become more conscious about this fact, we would not be wasting so much food.

Five years ago I decided that I would only eat what I think is best for my body to function properly. Yes, I do eat foods that are not considered healthy (churros and potato chips are my guilty pleasures) but still very consciously. I am aware of every bite and sip I take; i know what I put into my body and I hold myself responsible for everything I consume. 

 

I hope this information will bring you a step closer to living a balanced lifestyle. Don’t hestitate to contact me.

 

Love,

 

 

Curafoodie.