Vegetarian Beach - Veggies and Vegans let's meet here

[lorka150]

I am not exactly sure what you mean, but I'll interpret it how I can.

I think that the common misconception of this 'diet' is that it has be all, end all rules.

But in reality, it's just a healthy way of eating, designed to easily be adapted to YOUR lifestyle.

I live by the mantra of everything in moderation, including moderation.

Logically, the 'diet' is based on a whole foods approach, which is more in tune with veganism than processed stuff. Sure, they've sold out to Kraft (but why wouldn't they? We all need to make money). But in reality, the book does NOT promote the use of bottled this, and pre-made that.

So, basically, the diet I think is actively geared toward eating clean - and most of the cleanest eaters are among those who are EXTREMELY aware of what goes into their body. Those people, often, are either vegans or very familiar with a vegan diet.

Why? Because they are label nazis. They know every ingredient in their food. I am sure you (vegs) can say everything in every product you eat. I guarantee IF you have anything not homemade in your fridge or pantry, it has less than four ingredients, and nothing that you cannot pronounce.

That being said, I will re-sum up that the 'diet' is probably easier for someone already with the personal experience or mantra of clean eating.

(Let me add: some vegs who don't know anything about nutrition (ie pasta nightly because 'what else is there?') can benefit from this way of life. It will open their eyes).
-L

[auburnlocks]

Okay, one question before I go home. I want to see answers later tonight. How do you define the South Beach Diet for vegetarians/vegans?

Well I don't know how to define it for other vegetarians. For me it is just something that provides my decision to eat healthier (and lighter), with sorely needed structure.

I chose it after doing lots of research on nutrition on my own but deciding I needed a structured program with the support it provided to succeed at weight loss. I tried Weight Watchers years ago and hated it. Even though weight watchers is a plan you can adapt to any kind of eating and I know it works wonderfully for some people but I just didn't see how it could work for me because it didn't seem to give any guidance beyond counting calories (ur...I mean "points"). So I read a lot about nutrition and then decided that SB could provide my own program with structure. So I cut out overly processed carbs and starchy foods while including lots of veggies and healthy protein. I tended to neglect protein in general in my previous way of eating. It wasn't unusual for me to just have pasta with sauce or rice and veggies for dinner. I had never really learned how to eat a balanced vegetarian diet and had tended to just replace meat with side dishes, and in my house growing up side dishes were usually starchy foods like potatoes or pasta. I was, and I'm really not exaggerating, hungry ALL the time.

Now I focus on finding healthy protein sources (have really been trying to become a better more adventurous cook) and lots, and lots, and lots of veggies. I don't view south beach as sacrosanct by any means. I have made lots of accommodations and found a way of eating I think I can stick with (85% of the time) for life. The gimmicky, marketing stuff about the diet does bug me a little (I don't personally think phase one is necessary for most people and would never eat some of those fake south beach approved foods like Cool Whip and those nasty looking cookies) but overall it is a really sensible way to eat and easily adaptable to a vegetarian lifestyle. I wish the book had more veg specific stuff in it. The online option is very veg friendly but expensive.

[RedRox]

I don't know if redroxco or any of the other moderators can do this, but they should turn this into a separate section (you know how they have the Phase 1 and Phase 2 and the Recipe sections).

Actually this is beyond moderator capabilities. We cannot create new sub-forums. Only the system admin, sbdiet, has those capabilities. I liken this thread to the P3 thread stickied in the SBD Experiences, Results, etc. forum. It's an important sub-group, but likely not enough individuals to keep it active as it's own sub-forum. So the best we can do on our own is do what you have already done. Create a thread and keep it active. If you like I can discuss with the other mods whether they want to make it a sticky, perhaps in that same sub-forum as well. But you are also certainly welcome to PM her (?) to see if she would be willing to create a new forum for you if you like.

And in the spirit of the thread, I'll be eating vegetarian all this weekend while at a yoga retreat in the Rockies known for among other things, it's fabulous vegetarian food. The only "add-in" extra activity I chose was a cooking class and they asked if I had a specific area of interest and I didn't really other than tofu, cuz my lone previous experiment with it did not work out so well. (Think grilling tofu on a std. gas grill!)

I don't know if they'll send me back with any recipes. I have a feeling they would rather push their cookbook instead, but we'll see how it goes. FWIW, you can find their cookbook on amazon.com and probably elsewhere too. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/091399 ... e&n=283155

I remain happily a "flesh eater", but I do increasingly choose tofu as a protein option at salad joints or Noodle's when the basic dish does not include a protein and I want to add some to the dish. It's also usually the least expensive option which generally works for me too!

[auburnlocks]

some vegs who don't know anything about nutrition (ie pasta nightly because 'what else is there?') can benefit from this way of life. It will open their eyes
-L

yup, that was me! I actually knew a lot about nutrition...I just ignored it for convenience sake. I became a vegetarian at 13 at a time when it really wasn't nearly as easy as it is now to find healthy vegetarian options. And old habits die hard. In 1989, outside of a major city it was really hard to find veggie burgers, never mind tempeh. It is much, much easier now. I just had to catch up with the times.

[auburnlocks]

Veg friendly "flesh eaters" are always welcome here Redrox. Have fun at the retreat. Sounds wonderful. I have always wanted to take a vegetarian cooking class. I have gotten better with tofu but don't think I have quite mastered it yet.

[RedRox]

Thanks. We also have a 14 yr old pesce-ovo-lacto-vegetarian at home, so we are always looking for things to add to her diet that she will eat. Tofu is not high on her list at the moment and she does tend to be far more of a pasta-tarian and cheese-atarian than anything else.

[BudtkaBoy2000]

Okay, so before I go back to my question, I thought everybody would be interested in what I had for dinner tonight. Of course you are.

I had tempeh and sweet peppers with barbecue sauce and a side of pierogies and caramelized onions with spring mix salad, carrots, and raw zucchini. It was very good.

Now. I don't know many vegetarians/vegans/whatever who eat a lot of white flour and all that other junk. In fact, on the other forums I belong to, the people already use unrefined sweeteners, stick to whole grains and healthy fats, and the like. So my question was, what makes South Beach any different from that?

[lorka150]

Okay, so before I go back to my question, I thought everybody would be interested in what I had for dinner tonight. Of course you are.

aren't we a little egotistical?


i think, then, i answered accordingly above.

[BudtkaBoy2000]

Okay, so before I go back to my question, I thought everybody would be interested in what I had for dinner tonight. Of course you are.

aren't we a little egotistical?


i think, then, i answered accordingly above.

Me?

You did, I was just clarifying.

[lorka150]

i was kidding, hence the cool cat emoticon i placed aside.



in addition to your previous thought, i think that most vegans are knowledgable about their new food sources than vegetarians are.

vegans tend to research, more, i think.


what are your thoughts (everyone) on 'pseudo' meats and whatnot?

[BudtkaBoy2000]

Oh and I just re-read auburnlocks' post and I really, really agree with the part about that processed junk Agatston encourages (based on past posts, I think Lorka agrees too). I'm sorry, but a couple of cookies or a little vegan flan is much better than Cool Whip over Jell-O. Although if you like the Cool Whip over Jell-O you can do tofu whipped cream (or Soyatoo) over kanten.

[lakegran]

OHHH Goody, I am so happy to see this thread.
Tofu on the grill , I want to try that. I mostly do squares in a roasting pan and keep them on hand to use in anything I might be making, salads, stirfry, roasted veggies etc.
I do eat meat, I've just cut back drastically

Bud-boy, Do you make your own pierogi, or have you found whole wheat somewhere? Pierogi on the menu is impossible for me to pass up.

[vegGirl]

what are your thoughts (everyone) on 'pseudo' meats and whatnot?

I think fake meats are a huge staple in my diet. I do enjoy tofu a lot, heck i eat it raw somedays, but the meat substitutes help me. Whenever my family is having burgers its great to eat a 'burger' with them. For example, my family had steak last night so i made a 'steak pita' with morningstar steak strips and a flax seed ph 1 pita. The substitutes in my opinion help me fit in more and not feel... different than omnivores. With this all said, I could not live without my Boca!

[BudtkaBoy2000]

I sometimes buy the burgers or sausages for emergencies but not the fake cheese or chicken or whatever. You can find organic burgers and sausages with no artificial junk. That's just soy, or vegetables, beans and grains in a patty. Not fake meat, like the fake chicken. But also, if you choose not to eat animal products, why would you eat fake animal?

And I know you were kidding, Lorka.

[BudtkaBoy2000]

OHHH Goody, I am so happy to see this thread.
Tofu on the grill , I want to try that. I mostly do squares in a roasting pan and keep them on hand to use in anything I might be making, salads, stirfry, roasted veggies etc.
I do eat meat, I've just cut back drastically

Bud-boy, Do you make your own pierogi, or have you found whole wheat somewhere? Pierogi on the menu is impossible for me to pass up.

I don't make my own, and I'm not so uptight as to look for a whole wheat version. That's just ridiculous. They're a nice treat, and I enjoy them as such.