In my last post, I wrote about switching to a vegetarian diet to help reduce my cholesterol levels.
How am I doing?
It’s going well. I was a semi-vegetarian for years, eating eggs and fish plus fruits and vegetables.
I’d done research for an article on the lowering of meat processing regulations during the Reagan administration. I was appalled at what I saw when I visited two slaughter houses. I told friends I wasn’t going to ask animals to step up to the execution block to provide me with meat.
However, I changed my diet about five years ago. I worked with a health care provider who said I needed to eat more protein. Since diabetes runs in my family, he thought I needed to select food using the Glycemic Index. The index ranks carbohydrates according to their effect on blood glucose levels.
His recommendation was to eat protein the size of a deck of cards for each meal.
Now I’m back to fruits and vegetables. It’s fortunate that I love them. I also like split peas, lentils, beans of all kinds, and quinoa, the seeds of a leafy plant that substitute for grain in cooking.
When I go to a restaurant, I ask what they have for vegetarians. At an Italian restaurant, I was able to get a nice vegetarian pasta. I’ve had about six veggie burgers when eating out in the month I’ve been on the vegetarian diet – only a couple were really tasty. At Johnny Rocket’s in Tukwila, Washington, my first veggie burger on the new diet plan was excellent.
I thought, “This isn’t going to be too bad at all.” However, the veggie burger I had at Johnny Rocket’s at Aventura Mall in Miami was terrible.
I’m look forward, now that I’m home from my vacation, to trying some new salads, pasta, rice, and quiona dishes.
Dr. Dean Ornish has suggestions in his book “Dr. Dean Ornish’s Program for Reversing Heart Disease.”
These Web sites also provide vegetarian information:
Veggie Meal Plans
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine
This is fantastic! We were recently at the AARP Life @50+ Expo and several people were taking our Vegetarian Starter Kits because they wanted to lower their cholesterol. Also thought you might want to know about our brand new blog for boomers, http://www.PETAPrime.org. We created a whole health section, http://prime.peta.org/category/health, because so many people have been rightfully looking to a vegetarian diet for health reasons. In the coming weeks I can also promise you more great veg cooking ideas.
Thanks for the great post. I am adding your blog to my list of personal favorites.
Thank you for leaving a comment.
I’ll do an article about PETA Prime. Are you the contact person?
What’s a Vegetarian Starter Kit?
Rita