Eating meat can be a topic of great debate these days.
I mean, the arguments for paleo vs vegetarianism are both seemingly strong, so … what should you do?
Let me be honest with you – I’m not giving you an answer today, but I will give you some stellar information.
Why? Because every body is different, and without knowing your body and health I can’t tell you which is better for you. But, I can give you some good ol’ information to help you see what works best for your own body.
A little disclaimer though: When you’re trying to find what works best for your body, don’t spend too much time listening to your head knowledge when you should be listening to your body!
Alright, read on …
PALEO
The premise of paleo is based on our “hunter-gatherer ancestors” eating habits – meat, seafood, and … did I say meat?
Okay, in fairness it also includes vegetables, nuts, seeds, oils, eggs, and some fresh fruit too.
What it does not include are grains, legumes, sugar, processed and refined foods, and potatoes.
The idea is that our ancestors lived off of those foods, so we should also. I mean, it does include healthy foods and limits some unhealthy foods, but our ancestors weren’t of perfect health either.
They suffered from diseases, infections, parasites, and more. They were not the picture of perfect health.
So – should you drop everything and go paleo?
It’s worth considering that giving up processed and refined foods is really beneficial to your health – but whole grains and legumes still have many health benefits and nutrients that your body needs too.
So, think it through and listen to your body.
VEGETARIANISM
There are many reasons why people choose vegetarianism – health, preference, budget … the list goes on.
One area people are always raising concerns about are that vegetarians can’t get enough protein, but that’s not true. It just involves some more planning and forethought. It’s also worth noting that 1 in 4 Canadian males, aged 14-70 years, consumes more than 300 grams of protein daily … that’s too much!
So really, a reduction in protein isn’t necessarily a problem in our protein-obsessed world these days.
Reducing your meat intake isn’t such a bad idea either. When you use your calories up on protein, you don’t leave as much room for carbohydrates – which are important for energy, fiber, and let’s face it – mood. Everyone is happier with carbohydrates.
The argument for eating more plant-based foods is strong, but balance is always important.
A vegetarian diet is high in vitamins and minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and so much more – but can be lower in protein, or filled with highly processed foods to keep calories up.
If you go vegetarian – plan it out well!
CONCLUSION
The point remains, you need to find out what works best for your body and your family dynamic.
Going to either one extreme or the other is not necessarily wise with kids, unless it’s well thought through and planned out … preferably supervised by a nutritionist or naturopath!
However, going more vegetarian is definitely easier on the budget and increases your nutrient intake. I’d consider adding in at least 2-3 meals a week that are vegetarian.
In order to help you try it out – I’ve got some great plant-based recipes in my recipe section, like a delicious Thai Quinoa Salad that you have to try!
