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Articles and Information
Funny, You Don't Look Like a Vegetarian
by Tammie Ortlieb
"But she can't be vegetarian; she's fat." I had just opened the latest issue of my favorite veggie magazine when this sprang from my friend's lips. My friend, the one who still insists I can eat the soup because it's only broth not real meat, was astounded to learn that, yes, some vegetarians have a few too many pounds. Not all of us look as if we might blow over should someone so much as poke us with an outstretched finger.
I guess Fritos are Fritos no matter how many plants one eats. Sure, I know that tofu, whole grains and legumes are part of a balanced healthy diet and that meals should be colorful and include different textures. I understand the importance of soy, the significance of omega-3, and the art of sprinkling nuts and seeds throughout. But sometimes, it's just me, a marathon afternoon of Full House, and the hugest bag of chips I can find.
This is a little difficult for me to admit. You see, my children came into the world of meatless eating by way of their love for animals. My niece joined the movement after being asked to dissect a cat. A good friend plays with the idea because of the environmental waste dilemma. It is, he claims, amazing the amount of energy, grain, water, and land that goes into the production of one Big Mac. My reasons for turning vegetarian? Health.
It's true, I feel better while steering clear of chicken nuggets and holiday ham. With a family history of high cholesterol and diabetes, it didn't take much for the literature to convince me that leaving out the meat group was not only ok, but bloody darn desirable. I mean, how many times does one have to be told that a plant-based diet helps prevent certain cancers before she orders the grilled veggie burrito?
And I never was very good at sniffing food to tell if I should cook it. That's an awful lot of pressure to put on someone who can't even tell the difference between a rump and a leg. I figured my family would be safest with foods that were either precooked or so stuffed with preservatives that there was no way I could make a wrong guess. But then, how safe is that?
Surfing the web the other day, I came across a site on vegan candies. A whole list of stuff parents can feel good about their kids eating - DumDums, Dots, Jolly Ranchers, Blow Pops. Hold me back. Who would imagine it would be so easy to adopt a kinder diet?
Truth be told, I'm not a junk food addict. I do have Fritos now and then with a sandwich. And I've been known to destroy even the healthiest foods with chocolate. My greatest vice? Brownies. But when it comes down to the wire, I make sure my family enjoys a variety of heart and body smart foods in the freshest forms possible. And I actually like tofu.
That doesn't change the fact that more and more of us tip the scales toward the heavy end. We eat at home less, take twice as much as we should and, given the choice between a big bowl of Tofutti ice cream and a shiny red apple, too often choose the former. I'd like to think, health-wise, that I'm a step ahead of the general population. But only the doctor and my bathroom mirror know the truth in that.
So what's a well-meaning veggie health nut to do the next time confronted with, "There's no possible way you're vegetarian. You're far too heavy!"? Smile, I guess. And run for the Fritos.
Tammie, an at-home mother of four and vegan-wannabe, has her Masters in the field of Developmental Psychology. Her essays have appeared in Positively Woman and BusyParentsOnline.
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