My friend happens to be a vegan, mind you. And she also happens to have a smokin’ bod, which may have less to do with the fact that she doesn’t eat animal products, and more to do with the fact that when you don’t eat animal products there is really very little that you can eat. She’s also 25.
b---- .
And my raw foodie friends say that this type of diet—which also happens to fall into the vegan category—means that you have more energy throughout the day, because your body isn’t taxed by processing high density foods like meat. In fact, Ani Phyo, raw food chef extraordinaire and author of Ani’s Raw Food Desserts, swears that eating her chocolate ganache cake (which you can now buy boxed) is actually good for your body. Go figure.
There’s also the environmental factor: Livestock produce methane, which is a major greenhouse gas that some experts say contributes more to global warming than carbon dioxide. “You can’t be an environmentalist and eat meat,” is a PETA-popular phrase.
Here’s what you can eat if you’re a vegan: Vegetables. Fruit.
Rice or soy milk. Bread made from weird grains. Fake cheese made
from soy. Tofu made from soy. Meat made from soy. And lots and lots
of nuts.
Here’s what my family eats: Whole wheat pasta made with eggs, whole
wheat pizza made with cheese, bean-and-cheese burritos, grilled
fish (wild-caught), chicken and hamburgers (grass-fed and organic),
scrambled eggs. Give or take a few vegetables and fruit.
Fight, much? Soy barbecue “ribs” may taste like heaven to me, but to my kids they’re just plain weird.
So my body by vegan has to wait. In the mean time, I’ve gone pescatarian, and cut down my family’s meat and fish consumption. We’re still experimenting with tofu. And eating lots and lots of nuts.
Have you ever attacked the last five pounds? Gone vegan? Tell me about it!
*This photo is courtesy of 944 magazine’s April 2009 cover shoot, styled by the extraordinary Monica Schweiger, who contributes EcoStiletto.com’s fashion page. Stiletto-size me!
