Vegan options beat meat—in health and cleanliness

Since dairy products are now and forever crossed off your grocery list, it is time to reveal the next step. This probably should have been the first step, however, I feel in order to take baby steps it should come second.

By this point, I think you know what I'm talking about, so I'm just going to put it out there: Meat. It has become a staple in a majority of the worldwide population's diet. As I said before, certain groups of people need to hunt for food. However, I explained that we do not. Slaughterhouse workers are guilty of the most tragic crimes against animals. Hogs have been beaten to death with metal pipes and stabbed in the face with butcher knives.

According to Gail Eisnitz's book, Slaughterhouse, a former Perdue worker announced in a Congressional testimony that the poultry plants are filthy. Flies, rats and cockroaches were said to be covering the walls and floors. Believe it or not, insects are the least of my worries when it comes to meat.

The former Perdue worker said, "After they are hung, sometimes the chickens fall off into the drain that runs down the middle of the line. This is where roaches, intestines, diseased parts, fecal contamination, and blood are washed down. Workers vomit into the drain… employees are constantly chewing and spitting out snuff and tobacco on the floor… sometimes they have to relieve themselves on the floor… The Perdue supervisors told us to take the fallen chickens out of the drain and send them down the line."

Even though these chickens should be thrown away, they are sent down the line to be processed. It is nauseating. This excerpt is just a small taste of what goes on. If you feel that you are interested, research the book on the Internet and see what else you can find. I was basically scared away from eating meat. I know this may seem like a slap in the face, we all have the right to make our own life choices, but I'm just trying to save you from making a bad one.

Before I stopped eating meat, I knew what went on at slaughterhouses probably wasn't the most acceptable way of producing meat. But now I know just because I can't see what's happening, does not mean it doesn't exist.

According to Skinny Bitch authors Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman, about 99 percent of the meat in our country comes from factory farms, where animals are raised in confined, cramped quarters. In order to prevent disease and promote growth, the animals are given hormones, steroids, pesticides, and antibiotics. We, in turn, are ingesting hormones, steroids, pesticides and antibiotics every time we eat meat.

Finally, on a lighter note, there are alternatives! Visit your local Publix and Whole Foods for a variety of meat alternatives. In the frozen food section you'll be able to find Boca Vegan burgers along with a wide selection of vegetarian burgers as well. Alongside the burgers, Boca has Chik'n patties, nuggets, breakfast "meats" and so on.

You may be questioning about protein. Think you won't get enough eating this way? Think again. Americans eat twice as much protein than we are supposed to. It's not our fault, the USDA brainwashed us into thinking we do. That's because they put business first. It has been hammered into our heads that we have to eat meat to get adequate protein and iron. The truth is all the protein and iron that we need comes from the natural foods that we eat. The only thing missing is the fat and cholesterol. Oh wait, that's a good thing. By eating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes you will avoid health risks like mad cow disease, trichinosis and the bird flu.

Don't think of it as giving up foods, think of it as replacing food with even better food. For instance, you don't have to give up turkey sandwiches. Publix sells products such as Tofurky deli slices found in the produce section. On the same shelf you will find so many other meatless options.

Yes, eating like this can and will help you lose weight if need be. However, that is not the main goal. The main goal of taking on this way of life is to be the healthiest person you can possibly be.

OK, let's get real, I know you're probably thinking for the most part that you can do without the meat and dairy and that's a good thing. But what about the junk food? Oh boy, I can't wait to get into the junk food. Being a vegan does not mean that your pigging out days are over. Actually, it is far from it. The tasty desserts and other treats are practically endless. Anyway, there is a whole other day for that lesson, just know it is coming and you should keep up because you may find it quite satisfying.

    

You've already come so far! Super Bowl Sunday is creeping up on us and I couldn't be any more excited. I know the big game is all about stuffing your face with nachos, pizza, chips and dip. There is absolutely no way I am going to be sitting in the corner munching on a carrot stick. That's just not cool and not in the spirit of football. If you want to learn about vegan/vegetarian Super Bowl snack alternatives and recipes make sure to read next week! Don't miss out on the traditional pigs in a blanket and pinwheels. Your guests won't be able to taste the difference, promise.

Check this post out in the Central Florida Future!

Five things I hate about dairy: More bodily harm than good

OK, pop quiz time. Question 1: When human babies are born, what do they eat/drink? Answer: Most of the time it is their mother's breast milk. Question 2: When baby cows are born, what do they eat/drink? Answer: Milk from their mother's utters.

The reason for this is that cows produce milk for the same reason humans do. Cow's milk is meant to raise calves. Calves are generally big, or at least larger than you and I were at birth. Do you see where I'm going with this? Breast milk is meant to nurse 8-pound babies into 24-pound toddlers. Cows' milk is meant to grow a 90-pound calf into a 2,000-pound cow in two years.

An uglier side to this tragedy is that some calves are not so lucky to even be breast fed. Some are sent off to become veal. VEAL! People actually eat poor baby cows, with a side of potatoes and a Coke. Sad face.

Don't get me wrong, I believe in the food chain. I understand that we are the greatest species and blah, blah, blah. But we're not cavemen and women anymore. We don't need to hunt for our food.

Most of us, at least in this country, have everything readily available for us. For those who don't, go for it — hunt away.

Maybe that's what certain groups of people need to do for survival. But here, in America?

It is just time to adapt to the fact that we don't need to kill animals and eat meat to survive.

Once the calves are taken away to become dinner, the mommy cows are hooked up, multiple times a day, to heavy-duty milking machines. Wait, did you actually think Farmer Joe woke up at 6 a.m. every day, sat on a stool and milked each cow with his bare hands? Keep dreaming.

These machines force cows to produce about 10 times as much milk as they would naturally for a calf. So many unnatural hormones and chemicals go into this process as well.

Think that's painful for the cow? It is. Not to mention all the blood and pus that seeps out with the milk from the excruciating squeezing of each udder (which, at this point, is already inflamed from heavy hormone manipulation.)

Not only is the entire process unnatural, it is just plain unnatural for us to drink another mammal's milk. We are the only species that does this, and the only species that continues to drink milk once the breast, teat, udder — whatever you want to call it — dries up.

Luckily, there are alternatives! Now that we are all used to drinking milk with our cereal, chocolate milk, milk shakes, ice cream and so on, we don't have to give it up! What a relief, right? I can't imagine giving up ice cream. In fact, I eat ice cream several times a week and it tastes better and is less fattening than regular ice cream. Same goes for milk. I could not live without cereal, I could eat it for every meal.

Instead of dairy milk, I drink almond milk -- SO much better! Allergic to nuts? Try soy milk. Soy's not your thing? Try rice milk, coconut milk, the list is practically endless. I promised tasty alternatives and I don't plan on letting you down. Not only are all of these options healthier and better tasting, they also last much longer in the fridge than that gallon of milk you have sitting in there right now. Bonus!

Listed below are the top 5 reasons to ditch dairy according to The Plant-Based Dietitian, Julieanna Hever, MS, RD.

And of course, I took liberty upon myself to mix in some of my own commentary and ideas.

1. Dairy destroys your bones. Whoever made up the rumor that milk helps you grow your bones big and strong is a liar. And those "Got Milk?" ads are pretty cute, too. Countries around the world that drink the most dairy have the most osteoporosis and hip fractures. The more dairy you eat or drink, the more bone density you lose.

2. Allergies, ear infections, bronchial health problems, sinus issues, constipation, anemia, irritable bowel syndrome and many other conditions are worsened or even brought on to begin with by consuming dairy.

3. It smells! Seriously. I recall some ancient issue of Seventeen magazine suggesting to "just say no" to ice cream after dinner when on a date. Dairy is terrible for your breath! The reason for this is that once you're done eating something, the bacteria resides inside your mouth.

Bacteria breaks down the foods into their various components as part of the digestion process; milk, of course, is primarily made up of protein. In turn, the protein consists of various amino acids. As the bacteria are digesting these amino acids, bacteria activity gives rise to a volatile emission of sulfuric compounds. The more bacteria you have in your mouth, the more sulfuric compounds are released and the longer the stink will linger. Good luck getting that second kiss!

As for another unattractive characteristic, dairy is highly acidic and creates excess mucus.

4. Casein is a protein found in cow's milk. Dr. T. Colin Campbell, author of The China Study, found casein to be a powerful cancer promoter after decades of laboratory research. He was able to turn cancer on and off simply by increasing the amount of raw casein fed.

Plus, countless studies have proven that vegans are less likely to develop cancer. In fact, a vegan diet maximizes the intake of foods that help fight cancer. Up to 40 percent of all cancers are preventable.

5. Human beings are designed to drink human milk for a certain period of time while we still have the specific digestive enzymes in our stomachs. Otherwise, Mother Nature simply never intended for us to drink another species' milk throughout our adult years. Fathom that. We are the only species that drinks the lactation excretions of another species. Ew!

Additionally, the USDA declares what is and is not acceptable to put in our foods. However, what we as the public do not know is that those same chemicals that are deemed unfit for humans to eat are being fed to the cattle — the same cattle we get our milk and burgers from.

I know I mentioned baby steps last week. And that's completely acceptable. I know, it's hard. But trust me, you'll survive. And lucky for you you'll survive even longer!  Substitute your favorite cheeses, milks, yogurts, cream cheese and so on.

Check out Whole Food's dairy section. There you'll find endless flavors of cheese, even shredded cheese for tacos and homemade pizzas, along with other delicious vegan and vegetarian options. Go explore. And the best part is, you wont be able to taste the difference!

The Publix Greenwise section is also packed with a few non-dairy options such as dairy-free mayonnaise.

Try the milks I listed earlier. If you happen to live near a Whole Foods, check it out. They have yogurts made from soy and rice.

 Even if you just free yourself from dairy for a week you will feel a difference.

As seen in the Central Florida Future.