healthy

Vegetarian diets are in style like skinny-jeans. Just like skinny jeans, the diets may need a little tweaking (not twerking) for some people. I recently gave a talk about the benefits of a plant-based diet at a local health fair. After my presentation, a married couple came up to me, excited to share their experience with recently transitioning to a plant-based diet after watching Netflix’s documentary, What the Health. They did little research outside of the film. As an endorser of plant-based diets, I gave them both ‘hi-fives’ and asked about their favorite vegetables. As I asked the question, the woman engaged in a subtle, yet slightly judgmental eye roll. I’ve been married for a while now, so I recognized that look, and I knew the plot was about to thicken. It did. She mentioned her love of roasted veggies, while he remained conspicuously silent. She turned to me and said, “‘Conan the Carbarian’ here doesn’t eat veggies, he just eats carbs.” Dang…the truth is a dish best served with veggies. I gritted my teeth, desperately trying not laugh. He, as cool as any dude could be after being called a ‘Carbarian,’ retorted with his dislike of veggies. I must have looked perplexed, so he attempted to reassure me by saying he’s healthy because he avoids meat and drinks fruit/veggie juices. I’m too professional to give out an ‘eye roll of shame,’ but I did the physician version, the slow head-nod with one eyebrow raised in disbelief. His next question was, “Isn’t avoiding meat healthy enough?” The answer was blatantly NO. There’s nothing healthy about a vegetarian diet that doesn’t include vegetables. Let’s break down the types of vegetarian diets and highlight ways you can ruin them.
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Dr. Ed McDonald

I am a physician and trained chef. I specialize in gastroenterology and nutrition. Currently I work as the Associate Director of Adult Nutrition at the University of Chicago.