Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Oprah checks out the vegan diet: Will America follow?

By Susan Levin
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

"One of the best things to ever happen to public health happened this month when Oprah Winfrey announced she was starting a 21-day vegan makeover. If anyone can inspire positive change in America, it's someone as influential as Oprah.

The healthy vegan diet, which is free of meat, chicken, eggs, dairy and other animal products - but rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans - is finally coming into its own.
Two irreverent vegan advice books, Skinny Bitch and Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, have both scored big on the best-seller lists. And they're hardly the only meat-free books flying off the shelves. Quantum Health, which promotes the three-week diet makeover that Oprah is following, recently hit No. 2 on Amazon.

Every few months, we hear of a new celebrity or sports star who's ditching meat. (Last month, it was Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers.) Vegan story lines have worked their way into episodes of "Boston Legal" and other top TV shows. The most conservative newspapers in the country offer columns on how to work more vegetarian foods into one's diet. Even Dunkin Donuts is offering soymilk at some locations.

What's going on? Have we reached a critical mass - where the average American might consider trying a vegan or vegetarian diet? As a dietitian, I certainly hope so..." (more)

I hope that this takes off with the Oprah-audience (more meat for me!)

Photo by Fr. Z

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mmmmm...meat! My daughter is vegetarian--not vegan--but she still eats fish, eggs and milk. I suppose in a third world county they eat very little meat--because their poor--and they still survive--by why just survive when you can thrive on MEAT!

Vincenzo said...

That's good that she's eating eggs and fish. A friend told me that her hair stylist said that many of her vegan clients have very thin (or falling out) hair. I know a vegan woman who had the same problem.

gemoftheocean said...

What's that asparagus doing taking up room on that plate that could hold another steak!? :-D

swissmiss said...

I've had vegan friends and vegetarian friends (many religious orders are vegetarian), but was raised by farmers who consider that it's not really a meal if there's no meat on the plate :) Although my Irish grandfather detested eggs and ate oatmeal instead.

Vincenzo said...

"Although my Irish grandfather detested eggs and ate oatmeal instead."

I wonder if he would have liked them in oatmeal cookies.

I'm suddenly craving crepes w/ maple syrup.

swissmiss said...

For a time, my grandparents raised chickens in a small pen the kitchen! They'd incubate the eggs in the basement. I think my grandfather was just too close to eggs to eat them as is, but never shied away from baked goods :)

I don't think I've had crepes with maple syrup, either with some sort of fruit or cheese.

Vincenzo said...

"I don't think I've had crepes with maple syrup

That's how my grandma made them for me. Sometimes I roll them up w/ fruit or preserves too.