Originally posted 7/27/10
I talk to all of my patients about their diets. We review their typical meals, their favorite snacks, their beverages, the foods that they can’t live without. We figure out a program that they can follow that will move them in the direction of a healthier lifestyle. I can promise you that a plant-based, whole food, low fat diet is the healthiest. Some patients just need help choosing a healthier snack. But some of my patients are eating terrifically unhealthy diets, and a complete overnight turnaround is not reasonable. For those patients, I recommend being vegan before dinner.
We’ve talked about this on a previous blog, where people choose to avoid anything with a face until after 6 pm. This YouTube video, sent by a faithful blog reader, talks about being a weekday vegan. I won’t tell you that eating animals two days a week is going to make you as healthy as not ever eating animals. Research does confirm that obtaining 95% of your calories from plants is as good as obtaining 100%. So if a little bit of animal protein sneaks into your diet on occasion, there is probably not much harm in that.
I don’t think being a weekday vegan is good enough, but adding animal-free days on a regular schedule to your diet will probably lead to reductions in animal consumption on your regular days, as Mark Bittman found when he adopted the vegan before dinner diet plan. Try eating less animals, on your way to eating little or no animals. Just don’t dawdle around for too long.
Eating vegan is different than eating a plant based diet and tends towards motivation. As a vegan I would never let a little meat “slip” into my diet and am appalled when during the course of life on the road, through one ingredient or another, it does.
Vegans choose to make a commitment not to participate in the exploitation of others for reasons of conscience. Simply, I don’t want to kill animals when it’s completely unnecessary.
You look at the world from a nutrition standpoint when you say there is, “… probably not much harm in that.” I look at it from the animal’s and there certainly is.
I don’t have the books handy but I believe Esselstyn or Campbell said that as soon as a fatty animal based meal was consumed there were elevated blood fats. I’m not so sure that’s harmless.
Marty
Marty’s Flying Vegan Review
http://www.martysflyingveganreview.com
@veganpilotmarty
VeganPilotMarty,
You are absolutely correct! That is exactly what Drs. Esselstyn and Campbell would say. I just completed the Plant-Based Nutrition Course from Cornell University with both of those fine doctors. I think Dr. Mary would say the same thing, but there are people who are not there yet, and these are the people she is addressing. It is amazing the numbers of people who resist eating a plant-based diet, even if they “know” it would save their lives. Change is very difficult for some people and a gradual approach is better than no change at all. Once they feel better, they keep going. I have been passing out copies of a wonderful DVD called “Eating” by Mike Anderson. I am giving it away and “planting seeds” so to speak. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it, especially for the wonderful way he addresses the global ramifications of a plant-based diet. It is awesome!
Hi Doc,
I was thinking I should clarify as I am not opposed to people transitioning slowly and in any way they choose to incorporate more plant based foods in their diets.
Every day I wear a green wristband that says, “Live Vegan.” I often wear a shirt or button that has some message just to initiate a conversation about food, nutrition, (I’m not a nutritionist or Doctor but I do often sleep in Holiday Inns), veganism, animal rights and anything else that might spark a question. I don’t think my conversations “make vegans” but I do think of people eating the Standard American Diet as ships run aground, and I hope that my conversations merely move that first grain of sand under their keels. I encourage an animal free meal, animal free lunches, animal free days and any other iteration that people can use to start down the road to eating a plant based diet.
I want to be clear that I never ever say that’s “good enough.” It might be good enough for NOW but the goal is 100% plant based eating and am sure to emphasize that.
I did just want to remind us all that although eating 100% plant based seems to be borne out as the most healthful way of eating, ultimately it’s the animals we’re taking care of.
I have seen “Eating” and it’s an amazing story of one man’s journey. It seems obvious to us vegans. He thinks about 20 million people have seen it. 250 million to go.
Marty
Hi Marty,
Thank you for the nice response! I think it is wonderful what you are doing! Educating people is key to behavior change! I am impressed with your zeal! That is awesome! We are all planting seeds and trying to protect the animals, ourselves, AND the planet! I think we are making progress!
Cheers to a Healthy Happy Life,
Marianne
Both of you are on the right track, and I think we are all headed in the same direction. I think different people have different motivations. I’m impressed with everything you both are doing!
Dr. Mary,
Thank you so much! I am very impressed with what you are doing! It is so great to have a physician who knows about nutrition and plant-based nutrition at that! AWESOME! Your work is very inspiring!