Post Punk Kitchen Forum

Why do I let shiitake like this comment get to me? The guy who tried the diet for 9 days and then ends it by saying "I understand his point, but never eating any of those foods is unrealistic. Bill Clinton was reportedly seen eating a steak while traveling abroad four months ago." and justifying why he is not going vegan. Ugh. Here is the link if you wish to check it out.

http://www.thatsfit.com/2010/10/29/we-tried-it-bill-clintons-heart-healthy-diet/?ncid=webmail

This sort of reminds me of Dr.Oz's 28-day vegan challenge that he did last year, that ended with, "but no one can keep this up all the time." Really? I'd beg to differ.

I read the article. That diet is not a vegan diet, it is a restricted vegan diet designed for heart patients. I also would not stay on that diet happily or for very long.

No oil.
No nuts.
No peanut butter.
No avocado.
Low fruits/sugar.

I'm going to go eat another sandwich with EB, avocado, and tempeh bacon that I fried in oil: a totally "forbidden" meal according to this diet plan.

Eta: also no Lara bars as a mid afternoon pick me up. Also, no chocolate, no vegan cheese, no vegan convenience foods. No vegan cupcakes, no bagel with tofutti cream cheese.

I could go on, but the idea depresses me.

Real vegans eat nothing but organic, grass-fed grass.

Grass-fed grass rules my world.

Haha! I would like to sig this. May I?

love this. but I have trouble with grass-fed-grass, because I'm grass intolerant.

Beat me to it.

You never need permission. It's yours.

Grass-fed grass would give me such bad gas.

He could never give up eggs. Maybe a little dose of Fowl Play, among other things would help.

i could never give up avocado.

Finally somebody else recognizes the real horror of that article.

It's okay. Don't start eating total crepe in the first place, and you won't have to go on a torturous "heart healthy" diet later.

It just frustrated me on a few levels.

Both my MIL and my dad are suffering from diet related illnesses. They both spend huge amounts of money on prescriptions and doctors bills thinking nothing of the extreme measures they take to maintain, not even be healthy. They both could benefit from such a diet, but they both think that eating different food is horrible (it would be very tough, granted) and say that it is "way too extreme, I want to enjoy life". Let me mention quickly that because of medication interactions, my MIL has landed in the emergency room at least 4 time this year.

It also frustrated me because now everyone I know thinks that this is how all vegans eat and use it as proof of how crazy the vegan diet is.

Sorry - I've been grumpy the past few days. Maybe I should just lurk for a while.... :)

That's why the first few comments in this thread frustrated me, because I think that following this particular diet would be very difficult for many of us on this board. Also, I think that the emphasis was on the health aspect, not vegan diets, so I've read articles much more misleading on veganism.

I share your frustration with sick relatives. My dad eats so badly, but even my mom gave up when he was told to follow a strict low potassium diet. The list of stuff he can't eat is pretty much the lift of stuff that I live on. It is depressing. He will eat any revolting food item from the back of some sketchy bbq truck, but won't even taste anything I cook.

I know it's probably a shot in the dark, but if you could get them to read some of these stories, it might make them think about trying. http://www.drmcdougall.com/star.html It's hard because I think most parents won't listen to their children.

Thanks Von M - but they have both said that it is now "quality of life vs quantity of life". My MIL thinks that a change of diet is crazy talk. She has taken a few nutrition courses and is just as confused as before and is now more focused on protein - and totally carb-phobic - "I can't eat brown rice, it has CARBS!! I'll have the beef and broccoli with white rice instead - it is healthy and good for me."

My dad did at least ask his doctor about a radical change in diet, but the doctor assured him that modern medicine was far superior to change of lifestyle. So fear not Mr. B, keep on eating bacon and eggs - but not too much and try to eat a few whole grains this week. And don't forget to take your meds! <grumble>

It seriously sucks that we live in a culture where a triple-bypass is routine, but eating a low-fat vegan diet is crazy and extreme.

I try not to read any mainstream articles about people trying out vegan diets because they all tend to end on the the same note. "Yeah, veganism but healthy and more ethically sound, but steak is so delicious I can't give it up. Imma eat this grass-fed beef and polish my halo."