Letter to the Editor
Change of diet
Published Monday, March 24, 2008
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To the editor:
The past three months have brought us bad news about rising rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and global warming — all linked conclusively to consumption of meat and dairy products. This was topped by last month’s announcement that USDA was recalling 143 million pounds of beef from potentially sick animals.
This week brings good news about the advent of spring (March 20), sunshine, flowers and the Great American Meatout (www.meatout.org). Fashioned after The Great American Smokeout, Meatout provides a superb excuse to turn over a new leaf, kick the meat habit, and get a fresh start with a wholesome, nonviolent diet of vegetables, fruits and grains.
It’s a diet touted by major health advocacy organization and leading health authorities. A diet facilitated by the rich selection of delicious meat and dairy alternatives in our local supermarkets. A diet supported by free information from www.goveg.org, www.tryveg.org and www.chooseveg.org.
Community Discussion
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Oh, lord. This guy is writing to the wrong paper.
Ian-
Your previous posts lead me to believe that your comment is entirely tongue in cheek. You do seem like someone who respects the personal choices of others and would support people in their decisions to make healthier decisions.
I look forward to what others have to say. I'm anticipating a lot of, "If you don't eat meat, you don't belong in Alaska!"s We'll see. Sometimes Fairbanks surprises you.
I have nothing against vegetarians...in fact I find them quite tasty. I can't remember who said that, but I chuckle everytime I repeat it. Seriously though, it isn't just contaminated meat that gets recalled. Don't forget the spinach or lettuce thing from California. I also hear broccoli is planning an attack soon.
There are a lot of tasty & high protein alternatives to meat. For some incredibly delicious recipes see http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/.
I used to think it was worn-out clothing, poor hygiene, and the lack of social skills that allowed me to identify people from Fairbanks while sitting in the Seattle airport. Then I realized it was the fact that an overwhelming majority of this population were also obese....and travel to Seattle for healthcare. (Which is sad on many levels)
So, yes, the intent of what Ian meant is true: This type of comment won't be well received. But it is a comment that _should_ be directed at the demographic that lives in Fairbanks.
That's evident by looking around at the fat, out-of-shape, and generally unhealthy people that are pandemic in this town.
It's gross really.
sdoownek, sometimes the truth hurts...
sucks when its hard to find cheap, fast, healthy food. lately i just havent been eating much, rather than going to one of the fast food places which is actually pretty cheap for the amount of food you get.
sdoownek - Why do you live here? If we are all unhygienic, rude, fat and wear less-than-stylish clothing, why do you bother with us? You have a very negative view on Fairbanks and it's populace, so why on Earth do you subject yourself to being a part of it?
As for the letter, one can be healthy and eat meat, but more power to him for seeking to improve his health as he sees fit. Personal choice is a wonderful thing. Good luck to anyone who goes this route; I won't be joining you though.
Way to go, Nathan. I am in complete agreement with you on this. Eliminating/vastly reducing meat in our diet is the way to go--for our health, the animals, the planet. I've thought for some time about forming a local group for people interested in vegetarian and vegan living. Maybe your letter will spark some interest in getting this going.
Dana: Interesting that you responded with a defensive statement.
The reasons that I live here are not dependent upon the lifestyle and habits of the people that live here. It's also interesting that you responded to me _exactly_ as predicted.
Oh well.
I hardly think that with national obesity rates at almost 33% (according to the cdc) that you can identify a resident of Fairbanks by their obesity. I imagine you are the type to pick out any obese person and get all self righteous. Spare me.
Our inactive lifestyles contribute to obesity. So do the overwhelming availability of cheap, prepared, and prepackaged foods. There is no need to eliminate meat from your diet. There is a need to avoid overly processed, salted, sugared, boxed junk from our diets.
We don't need the religion of vegetarianism to solve this problem, we just need to be more careful of what we put in our bodies, and what we feed our children. In this world, that is easier said than done.
The self righteous disgust eminanting from some of your letters is what keeps people from being interested in any wisdom you migbt have to share. If you are interested in helping, quit patting yourself on the back for your discipline and be more willing to share how it was developed.
Haha, you guys still stuck on the 1980s diet plan eh? There is plenty of research out there that shows eating meat (not the 16oz prime rib necessarily) is an important part of our diet. Meat is the best way to get protein, and protein is a vital part of everyone's diet. Protein is made out of amino acids (the same stuff you and me are made out of) which allow our bodies to grow (think muscles not bellys) and also aids our immune system. We all know that protein helps our muscles grow, but this also helps dieters by improving metabolism as well. The better one's metabolism, the faster he or she will digest food, not allowing it to sit in the stomach where the body absorbs the extra fat.
What we do need to do is educate people on the right way to eat meat. Red meats are pretty bad for you, but there are pleanty of other types that are really low in fat and high in protein. Chicken, Fish, Turkey, Canadian Bacon, and deli meats are all healthy meat options. Vegetarian diets may sound healthy, but they aren't as nice as some people think. A good diet should be well rounded with dairy, meat, fruits & vegetables, and grains.
Starman,
The reason vegetarians are so tasty is that they are grain fed. This reduces their chances of acquiring Mad Human Disease as well. For cannibals, this is an important dietary consideration.
Maybe I'm in the wrong part of town, but I see a lot more healthy, active, sensible eaters than not. But then again, I hang out at the U. Geez! What does that imply?
sdoownek - I am not the only predictable one who posts here, but thanks for noticing that I am consistent. I appreciate it.
"I used to think it was worn-out clothing, poor hygiene, and the lack of social skills that allowed me to identify people from Fairbanks while sitting in the Seattle airport. Then I realized it was the fact that an overwhelming majority of this population were also obese...." - I responded to you defensively because your comment was blatantly and intentionally offensive. If you don't want defensiveness, then you _should_ try to approach life with less superiority. I get the feeling that you rather enjoy feeling superior to the rest of us. My lifestyle choices make me no better, but certainly no worse than you.
It is impressive that from your viewpoint sitting in the Seattle Airport that you can claim that the "overwhelming" majority of Fairbanksans are fat and unhealthy. Perhaps you are right; perhaps we are fat, and unhygienic, but you certainly match us with the lack of social skills.
> "Your previous posts lead me to believe that your comment is entirely tongue in cheek."
Yeah, I was just thinking that this could get ugly. I was a vegetarian for ten years, but I'm not now, and I really don't care what anybody else does or does not eat. (Unless it's people. I don't think we should eat people except in very special adrift-at-sea type circumstances.) That said, one can have an incredibly unhealthy vegetarian diet or an incredibly unhealthy non-vegetarian diet. I'm speaking from experience.
I agree with Diana's 'social skills' comment. Sdoownek generally does try to daily out do him(her)self.
I have to agree with Ian (being acquainted with him personally, trust me this does NOT happen often. I know of many so-called vegetarians who eat awfully, but since it isn't meat, they think it is better. I have a soy allergy so I personally will be sticking with my organic meat. People should be eating healthfully regardless of how they get their protein. Just cutting out meat won't cut it. Eat well with or without meat.
Yes Sdoownek, I may be heavier than you (who knows), but I am losing weight & you will likely be rude, callous & tacky forever.
Personal rant section, beware:
Fred Meyers was selling some really great lower fat, organic ground beef that was actually being ground at the local stores. It was awesome & sold out before close of business every day. Thanks to cost cutting they now offer a pre-packaged organic ground beef that looks awful (looks like bad sausage & it isn't even selling). Freds, bring back the good beef! Does anyone have any more ideas of where to get good organic beef?
Dana: OK.
I think my lunch of a bag of Jack Link's beef jerky, whole wheat crackers, and carrot sticks or an apple is healthier than most lunches of most vegetarians.
With the large military population I doubt that Fairbanks’ obesity levels are higher than Seattle’s.
As a P.E.T.A member, that is, People for the Eating of Tasty Animals, I say if people want to veg out, let'em. That would lead to less demand for meat and therefore lower prices on the beef and chicken I eat when I don't have moose and caribu of my own.
Nicely said Skagdog! I agree completely.
[for the record, this is the 3rd POSITIVE post that I've made today ;-) ]
As a diabetic I've learned that diabeties is not caused from eating meat. And meat doesn't cause my blood sugars to raise. It's caused from sugar and not natural sugar but from the foods the turn to sugar in your body. These are the high carb foods. Actually the protein you get from meat is better for you than the carbs. The protein stablizes the sugars. The biggest thing is make sure it's lean meat and low in cholesterol. Game meat is the lowest. It's all common sense, too much of anything isn't a good idea. Measure your portions by the palm of your hand. You don't need a slab of meat or do you need enough potatos to build the devils tower. The worse thing for your body is all the preservatives in processed foods. A good place to learn what is good for you is go to www.diabetes.org.
Laughter is the best thing for your health. So here's one for you the reason they call it PMS is that Mad Cow was already taken.
sdoownek...I would like you to only point out the smart attractive and well reasoned people you see from now on. I am told these people are the ones who walk with an air of authority and they carry themselves as people in charge. They probably only eat wheat and sprouts, leading to clear complexions and youthful looks. Once you find these people tell us where they are and let’s make fun of them! They are too good and need to be ridiculed!
When you make fun of people make sure it is this group. You will find that you won’t be attacked for these observations and may even be applauded. Lousy, no good do gooders! We dont need those types around here!! Tongue firmly in cheek. YouMustBConfused
I dont have a problem with vegetarians, I do take issue with being told how to live. The whole protien thing, yeh a while back that meat helped our brains grow and evolve. Now, besides thumbs and our use of napkins, thats what separates us from the animals that we eat. So yes, maybe now we have evolved to a point where we dont have to eat animals any more. But I want to. So leave me alone.
Besides, I dont know with all this "global warming" if in 20 years agriculture alone will support the worlds growing population. hahaha.
Reader1: I will gently point out that the author of the letter did not tell you what to eat...just brought attention to vegetarianism. If you would like to eat dryer lint, go ahead. You may get some flak from your mom, but otherwise, I don't think many people would tell you not to.
I apologize, I mistook the writer for one of those vegi-facists.
And I did not mean to sound as though I was suggesting you eat dryer lint. (Unless you want to.)
Soylent Green is people!
Just figured that out, huh?
swoodnek---
Now I'm truly baffled by your brilliance. A couple of week ago, you said that all Americans are fat, lazy, stupid, and ignorant. I recall asking you to take "me" out of your definition of "we". But now you say you can pick the Alaskans out at SeaTac by how fat we are.
I think that you, like most of the radical left, suffer from a fat, lazy, stupid, and ignorant intellect. It's a free country, so I guess that you're legal. We'll just have to put up with you.
I'm a strict vegetarian, only eat swamp grass and willow processed into Moose. I agree with most of the comments seen here. Only I have really never met a healthy vegetarian they are usually pale and sickly or kinda chubby. Also up here your most expensive meals are veg heavy….My wife is a recovering veg so we eat lots of rabbit food usually organic on top of that. My food bills are frankly crazy.
Where is the radical left? Is it a place of mind or a place? Those darn Lefties...Im shaking my fist right now...you just cant see it!! Im so mad!!
...and I'll have to put up with you.
In fact, I do put up with you and your kind.
The guy that screams up the road on a snowmachine.
The guy that burns garbage in his front yard.
The guy that has a truck on blocks in the driveway.
The guy with the recliner on his front porch.
The guy that thinks four 4x4's and plywood is a garage.
The guy that dumps used motor oil on the ground to dispose of it.
The guy in line every day at McDonalds.
The guy that idles his 1 ton diesel truck when it's -10*f.
The guy that drinks Budweiser and thinks it's good.
The guy that thinks it OK to drive after drinking.
The guy that thinks showers are optional.
The guy that thinks your "life experience" is an adequate substitute for education.
The gu