Eliminating Animal Products From Our Diet

by Victoria
(Maine)

I'm a new listener and I just wanted to let you know how much I've enjoyed the two podcasts that I've listened to so far. I'm a passionate cook, and we've just made a switch to a primarily vegan/raw diet due to my husband's health. He was 25 pounds overweight, his blood pressure was steadily increasing, and at his annual physical a few weeks ago, we found out that his cholesterol was over 300.

I'm a runner and a triathlete, so our diet at home wasn't a fast food/junk diet by any means. Always lots of fruits and veggies, low fat, complex carbs, but also meat at dinner every night, and cheese was somehow in every meal. I suspect there was some junk/take out food during the day as well. Our family doctor wanted to put my husband on cholesterol medication immediately, but we decided to take three months to turn it around before resorting to medication.

Eliminating animal products from our diet was the most efficient and healthful way to get there, so here we are. I've worked really hard to prepare healthful meals that my husband will enjoy. I don't want him to feel deprived - who wants to eat like that for the rest of their life? That's what brought me to your podcast and website - I made the vegan cookies tonight.

My husband is a firefighter, and he has an all day class this weekend (underwater rescue - what fun!) and I wanted to make something to include in his lunch that would feel like a traditional treat and be healthful. He'll be surrounded by chip eating, burger buying, junk food junkies, so I need to pack a really inviting meal. He had a couple of the cookies after dinner tonight and I'm here to tell you that they were a HUGE success!!

I'm planning on making the faux tuna salad for our lunches on Saturday, too. I'm fascinated to use the nuts this way! I have an 18 mile run in Bar Harbor, Maine, planned for Saturday, and I'll need to pack a good meal to eat on the road on my way back home. I'll be making the carrot cake recipe you recommended.

My mother will be visiting on Sunday and we'll test it on her! I've been seriously training for a triathlon - the race was last Sunday and I was really concerned about our new lifestyle provide me with the kind of sustained energy I need to compete in endurance sports. The result it that I felt really strong through the last week of my training (the first we of the switch).

I was able to complete the tri with energy to spare. I felt good through the whole race! Now my training focus is a marathon in mid-October. I definitely need to eat more as the mileage increases and I also need to be conscientious that my body is getting everything it needs to compete and to recover well.

I'm so happy to find that I feel great and strong and have plenty of energy for long runs! Even though we made the switch because of my husband's health, we're both enjoying the benefits in so many ways! So THANK YOU for your help, inspiration, and support through this learning process. I've burned a few more shows onto a cd, and for the first time, I'm looking forward to my morning commute!

One quick question - I notice that you recommend not to eat nuts that are raw or roasted. Can you tell me more about that?

Peace - Victoria