The Coffee House

[waday]

My vices are basically cheese and carbs. Any combination of these two things and I have a hard time limiting myself. The good news is that I'm moderately lactose-intolerant, so that puts a natural limit on my cheese consumption. Lately, I've been cutting more of it out and I find that I do feel better in general, so even if the effects aren't always immediate, eating too much cheese can affect me in a more chronic way.

Carbs, though? Popcorn, pasta, bread, crackers...I could eat them all until the cows come home. I've been trying to at least pair carbs with proteins or good fats like avocado or nut butters, so they can help me feel full and therefore limit my intake.

Stupid meatsacks. Being alive is exhausting.

Agree, we are stupid, exhausting meatsacks.

Cheese, yes. Carbs, yes. Cheese and carbs together, double yes.

As a vegetarian, I'm somewhat conflicted with cheese. I mean, I love it (especially on pizza), but when I think about it too much--like what it actually is and how it's made... and then think about the consistency of hard cheese and soft cheeses--it makes me nauseous.

Just like eggs. I can usually eat them when prepared correctly, but every now and then... ehhhhh...

 

[smoke665]

Yeah, fried food has to be done properly

I will agree with you on that. It has to be done properly. Frying to long is almost as bad as not enough.

As a vegetarian,

Tried it, not by choice. Over the last 6 months have had to have extensive dental work, implants and bridges. There was a time when it seemed like mashed potatoes was the only thing I could eat unless it went through a blender. Don't get me wrong, I can be extremely happy with a vegetable plate, but but there's a lot of satisfaction in good steak. Finally completed all the dental work, so steak has been on the menu a lot lately

 

[terri35 6]

I could easily go completely vegetarian. Menus are easy! I genuinely like salads, pasta, and make killer soups in the winter. If the hubby didn't suggest menus involving meat, I'd likely leave it behind.

I've probably already eaten my last steak. Over a year ago, we went out to dinner with friends at a very nice steakhouse. But it was odd. Since I consume it so rarely, I guess, I felt like I carried it in my gut for a few days afterwards. Not likely to want to do that again.

 

[limr30 3]

I could easily go completely vegetarian. Menus are easy! I genuinely like salads, pasta, and make killer soups in the winter. If the hubby didn't suggest menus involving meat, I'd likely leave it behind.

I've probably already eaten my last steak. Over a year ago, we went out to dinner with friends at a very nice steakhouse. But it was odd. Since I consume it so rarely, I guess, I felt like I carried it in my gut for a few days afterwards. Not likely to want to do that again.

That reminds me of my last hamburger. It was in college when I first decided to cut out red meat (but was still eating chicken and turkey.) After a month or so, I had an intense craving for a burger, so I figured the vegetarian diet was not for me. So I went to Skeeters and ordered a big ole burger. Halfway through, I was thoroughly disgusted. Haven't had a beef burger since then, probably 25 years ago. I really don't think my body could handle a steak at this point.

It was a few years later in grad school when I cut out the rest of the land animals. Because I do still eat some seafood, I'm not technically a 'vegetarian' and I eat dairy so I'm obviously not a vegan. But I really don't miss meat. And I'm eating fish even less often than I used to.

 

[jcdeboever]

And, @jcdeboever , they have other options, as well:


Wildwood-52 by Wade, on Flickr

No more slaps, now a kick in the onion sack....

 

[waday]

Since I'm often on the receiving end of such comments, I have a few responses. Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad. Just having some fun with some low-hanging fruit.

Tried it, not by choice. Over the last 6 months have had to have extensive dental work, implants and bridges. There was a time when it seemed like mashed potatoes was the only thing I could eat unless it went through a blender.

You didn't try it, you were apparently only able to eat soft or pureed food. So, you could have chosen to eat pureed steak, no? In this case, you can't say that it wasn't for you, because you didn't actually try a vegetarian diet.

Pureed food, no matter the diet, is pretty disgusting when it's not supposed to be pureed. Both vegetarians and omnivores can agree that pureed vegetables are not exactly delicious (with a few exceptions). And a diet only in soft foods is, again, pretty horrible. Something we can both agree on.

Don't get me wrong, I can be extremely happy with a vegetable plate, but but there's a lot of satisfaction in good steak.

It is often assumed that vegetarians only eat vegetables. I guess it's easy to confuse "vegetarian" with "vegetable" given the first six characters are the same, but believe me, they are not the same. If your diet only consists of steak, vegetables, and mashed potatoes, I can also easily see why you'd be confused. However, I have a diet rich in a multitude of delicious, satisfying foods. These foods also range from typical American fare to Arabic food to Japanese cuisine.

Fortunately, restaurants that used to think "vegetable only plates for vegetarians" are starting to realize that they'll get more business if they provide various vegetarian options. They get my business, and good reviews. If they don't provide these options, they don't get my money, and they get poor reviews.

Finally completed all the dental work, so steak has been on the menu a lot lately

Glad to hear the dental work is finished, but sorry to hear your wallet will be hurting again with steak on the menu.

 

[waday]

I could totally eat some pizza right about now...


Wildwood-224 by Wade, on Flickr

 

[waday]

Or some ice cream.


Wildwood-346 by Wade, on Flickr

 

[smoke665]

If your diet only consists of steak, vegetables, and mashed potatoes,

Not all, mashed potatoes was the only thing that required little chewing! Love nuts and berries, but of course the nuts were off the list for awhile. Never been big on fruit (unless it was fermented LOL). Pretty much a fan of any vegetable as a part of the diet (but not the only ingredient). We did have a large garden, until it became more feasible to go to the farmers market. We eat a lot of fresh steamed vegetables. Raw anything is off the menu because the wife's low immune system (including tomatoes) which I also loved sliced.

 

[SquarePeg37 8]

Damn you people are killing my diet!!!

95% sugar

Did you say sugar?


Wildwood-104 by Wade, on Flickr

At least they are honest and upfront. Actually I surprised they haven't changed their name. It can't help business these days.

There is a chain of candy stores in New England (not sure if national) that are called just "Sugar".

Here in our part of the world we have Krispy Kreme.
Krispy Kreme - Doughnuts, Coffee, Sundaes, Shakes & Drinks

Curse them, they're running another special - buy a dozen get a dozen for 80 cents on Friday. They're like potato chips, you can't just eat one, and having only a dozen helped limit me. Oh well, at least I've got two days of not eating to prepare!!!!

Living in a country where there is a donut shop, or two, on almost every corner, you Americans can find a way to make an already unhealthy food even more unhealthy. Krispy Kreme has got to be made with 95% sugar. Even by donut standards it is sickly sweet. I don't know how you can eat those. They tried coming into Canada and did not do well, not sure if there are any shops left here.

This is generally why doughnuts tempt me in theory but not in reality.

I usually feel sick to my stomach by the end of ONE. The idea of eating an entire box is horrifying.

While I like Krispy Kreme every now and then, I dislike them for a different reason (somewhat alluded to by smoke): I don't feel like I'm eating anything. I definitely enjoy a doughnut every now and then, but I want a good, substantial doughnut. The ones from Krispy Kreme are too soft for me, and I don't feel satisfied with just one.

There is a locally famous donut shop here called Kanes that is unreal. You don't get the empty feeling when eating them. I think each donut weighs about 8-10 ounces!

Thoughts on caramel popcorn?


Wildwood-136 by Wade, on Flickr

Thoughts on caramel popcorn?

 

[SquarePeg37 8]

Alright you all win, I'm going to make some dinner. TTYL.

 

[terri35 6]

Alright you all win, I'm going to make some dinner. TTYL.

Make me some, too, Mom!!! Pleeeeeeeze!!!!

 

[jcdeboever]

Alright you all win, I'm going to make some dinner. TTYL.

I reckon you could fix me up some of them bisquits and musturd.

 

[table1349]

If your diet only consists of steak, vegetables, and mashed potatoes,

Not all, mashed potatoes was the only thing that required little chewing! Love nuts and berries, but of course the nuts were off the list for awhile. Never been big on fruit (unless it was fermented LOL). Pretty much a fan of any vegetable as a part of the diet (but not the only ingredient). We did have a large garden, until it became more feasible to go to the farmers market. We eat a lot of fresh steamed vegetables. Raw anything is off the menu because the wife's low immune system (including tomatoes) which I also loved sliced.

You should have had some boiled okra. No chewing to it. It just slides right on down.

 

[table1349]

I could easily go completely vegetarian. Menus are easy! I genuinely like salads, pasta, and make killer soups in the winter. If the hubby didn't suggest menus involving meat, I'd likely leave it behind.

I've probably already eaten my last steak. Over a year ago, we went out to dinner with friends at a very nice steakhouse. But it was odd. Since I consume it so rarely, I guess, I felt like I carried it in my gut for a few days afterwards. Not likely to want to do that again.

Well I'll gladly take care of your share of the meat then.

I could never be a vegetarian, just as I could never be pure a carnivore. I am a through and through omnivore. I want and eat some of everything. I personally do not like lentil, peanut butter and corn sandwiches. Just not my taste, and it is hard to get complete proteins with vegetables alone and the very few that do get a bit boring quickly. I have always eaten just about anything, and everything, but other than water and yogurt, there is nothing I consume on a constant day to day basis. The most constant is usually a whole oat grain of some kind for breakfast. My diet is constantly and purposefully varied in makeup.

One of the reasons I don't worry about it is we eat very few processed foods these days. I scratch make almost everything I possibly can these days. The lasagna I made was made with scratch made pasta, home made marinara, fresh carrots, egg plant and fresh mozzarella, The Italian sausage, lean beef and Ricotta were all store bought. I made a large lasagna so I could freeze some since the wife will be gone the next two weeks. I hate to cook meals for one so I will freeze part of this and reheat it in the oven for some of my evening meals. Breakfasts will consist of a whole grain cereal and yogurt, lunches of either a sandwich and fruit or fruit, cheese and home made bread.