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Strollerderby
Does eating meat during pregnancy really prevent colic?
Want to have a calm baby? According to a study published in the journal Early Human Development that involved nearly 3,000 pregnant women, moms-to-be who eat more meat are eight times more likely to give birth to babies who cry less, and it’s especially important during the first three months of pregnancy.
Specifically, the study says that the increase of vitamin B12 is exactly what is responsible for the less fussy baby, not necessarily the meat. It’s just that red meat contains a lot of the vitamin, so some media outlets are capitalizing on linking the meat intake to calmer babies.
Would you savor a Gordita Simba Supreme? A 7-Layer Lion Burrito?
Call me a hypocrite, but I eat meat and yet wouldn’t ever hunt. I wear leather but don’t support the abuse of animals (although let’s be honest, who supports the abuse of animals?). As it turns out, my 2-year-old daughter is a self-imposed vegetarian, but loves bacon. We thrive on contradictions in our house, apparently.
And yet, lion meat will never pass our lips. It was never really an issue, but seeing that the meat of Mustafa is making its way onto menus (or a menu) has given me pause. After all, if I’ve eaten rabbit (Bugs Bunny?), venison (Bambi?), duck (Donald?) and pig (Wilbur?), why am I stopping at lion (Simba?).
Ever stop to think about where your meat comes from?
I recently became a vegetarian almost two months ago. My daughters, who are big animal lovers, joined me. It was a little more difficult than I expected in the beginning for me to find meat-free meals for the whole week. Sometimes, I wondered if we could withstand the lifestyle change long-term, but then there was always something that would remind me why I wanted to do it, like even last night’s question on Chopped about a deckle of beef. I had no idea what it was but just the word sounded sickening. In fact, a deckle of beef is the part of a cow that is often overlooked by diners and chefs alike because the cut contains a thick strip of fat and some connective tissue. The only thing worse than the thought of eating connective tissue would be serving it to my kids.
The decision to become a vegetarian started with my daughter. She became a vegetarian a full month before I did. In the end, my decision to do it was two-fold: I firmly believe in the protection of animals, and eating meat is just not something I could consciously continue to do. I also believe eating a meat-free diet is a healthier way to live. With all the recent talk about Taco Bell and their fake meat substitute blend, it only reaffirms my decision. Does anyone really think they are getting real meat at any of these fast food places?
Are child vegetarians on the rise?
There is debate over a study earlier this year put out by the Vegetarian Resource Group that claims that more kids are opting for a vegetarian lifestyle.
According to the group’s nutrition advisor, Reed Mangels, children are increasingly saying no to eating meat. Mangels says that vegetarianism “is definitely a more mainstream choice than ever before.”
The organization’s nationwide survey found that 3 percent 8- to 18-year-olds never eat meat, poultry or seafood, which would account for an estimated 1.4 million young vegetarians. Out of that number, Mangels claims that two-thirds of those kids are vegans, who never consume dairy or eggs.
Not so fast, says Greg Henderson, Editor of Drovers/Cattlenetwork who believes that the statistics are skewed.
Chelsea Clinton served meat at her wedding last month. Most people do, but in Clinton’s case that meant serving food she wouldn’t eat herself. Chelsea is a vegetarian. Her decision to serve meat at the wedding sparked a debate about whether the wedding menu is about the bride or her guests.
Simply put: should Chelsea’s ethics rule over the food she serves, or are her vegetable-loving ways a private preference she shouldn’t impose on her wedding guests?
The New York Times ably explores the issue of vegetarian brides and the meals they serve at their receptions.
What I really want to know is: what will Chelsea feed her kids, assuming she and her new husband have any?
Think you’ve been steering clear of mercury by avoiding tuna? Think again. The EPA released study last week showing mercury and PCBs in all the fish they studied.
The National Lake Fish Tissue Study, conducted over five years and compassing fish from all regions of the United States, found toxins accumulating in all the fish they tested. Just under half of lakes had levels of mercury above the 0.3 ppm the EPA deems safe for humans. Continue reading »
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