Beef Recall

[glassd18]

I don't know if any of you have been following the story about the beef recall:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080218/ap_on_bi_ge/slaughterhouse_abuse

but I am so overly sick to my stomach about the abuse of animals. I used to be a vegetarian before I got sick with IC, but didn't know how to eat vegetarian without soy in my diet because it's on the no no IC list so I went back to eating meat again, and now with what I'm reading I just can't stomach the thought of what is happening out there in the meat processing industries.

Can anybody help me figure out a way to eat a healthy vegetarian diet with IC?

[Claredale]

I know what you mean. I am not a vegetarian, but I can do without beef. It is horrible to think what that place did, and I am sure they aren't the only place. When I was a claims adjuster, I had to go to Springdale, AR to look at some wind-damaged chicken barns. That made me sick as well, just seeing how many chickens were all together, but It took me a while to eat chicken again. I also saw on CNN.com about how the Japanese "harvest" dolphins...not that I would even consider eating dolphin, it just made me so sad and sick for those poor animals. I watched an interview with the teenage girl that is on Heroes. She tried to protest the harvesting of dolphins and they showed a film clip. I just cried for her when she was trying so hard to stop the people from killing the dolphins. It is considered sacred ritual for them. Now to see the footage with the cows. Definitely makes me understand why people become vegetarians!

T83

[ICNDonna]

I much prefer to buy locally produced meats. I'm extremely leery of the huge packing companies.

Donna

[glassd18]

I fortunately did not see the broadcast. My husband forwarned me so I stayed away. He said you could see the fear in the eyes of the animals. I have 3 cats and 1 dog, and yes they know fear, and yes they have feelings. I feel like I'm participating when I buy the food they put out there that's why I was a vegetarian. Don't even get me started about whale, seal, and dolphins hunts!!!

[Want2BPainFree]

I don't know how you'd eat a really good vegetarian diet. Would you consume milk and eggs?

I buy my beef from a company called Meyer beef. They are certified humane. I buy most of my meats locally, fresh, and from humane and/or organic farms. It costs more, but I don't care.

Do you eat lentils and beans? Would you be able to get enough protein this way?

[glassd18]

We have Laura's Beef here, and that is a private company without antibiotics etc... I would do eggs, and milk, and probably fish. I think I would need a dietician to help me out.

[curlycue]

glassd18......... I live about 7 miles from this slaughter house. I have lived here about 30 yrs I am 37. I have seen it for many years. I used to cry when I would see it. My dad would take me and my brother to buy calfs back in 1980 so we could raise it and then kill it to eat it. I used to come home and run to the back coral and come back crying MoM what happend to Betsy or what ever name my brother and I decided to name it, my mom would just look at me and state Ruth why do you get attached to these animals if you know that is what we are going to eat? I hated at that time for telling me that. Its funny cuz we were just talking about that today.

[Claredale]

A friend of my husband raises cattle as well for a living. I learned a long time ago to not get attached when I would see those sweet calves. I even saw some of them being born back when I was younger and trying to help our friend and helped get them out of the low lying areas when their mamas gave birth to them in to keep the calves from drowning and freezing and believe me, I am very much an animal lover, but I know that our friend takes care of his cattle and it is how he makes a living.

My dad and generations before him all grew up on a farm that raised beef and other animals and they lived off the land. Of course, once my great grandfather passed away, the family sold off the farm, but when we go see my dad's boyhood home, and I hear about what it was like to grow up on a farm like that. I was blessed to have my great-grandmother around until I was in high school and I grew up listening to many of the "named" animals stories through the years. She always would get attached to the hens and would cry when she would realize that her favorite was Sunday dinner. They also raised pigs, and and other livestock. A regular "Pennsylvania Dutch" farm, but it was a part of my family's heritage. I ache to hear stories like what is being reported recently, but I also know that many families make their living raising cattle. They aren't all abusive and heartless. I pray that stories like that will bring better conditions and regulations for companies. It is a fact that most people are not going to become vegetarians. I have thought about this most of the day. There are so many cruel and inhumane treatment to animals all over the world caused by uncaring humans and while I never thought I would say this when I was a kid, because it wasn't ever in my mind how people could be so cruel. There are so many people that don't even care about their fellow man, which is so extremely sad! We just need to do what we can do to support each other as well as support local farmers that are doing what they have to do to support their families. Like an earlier poster said, she buys her meat from a company that treats their animals humanely.

T83

[Want2BPainFree]

A dietician sounds like a wonderful idea, but it sounds like to me if you ate fish, eggs, and dairy, you'd be well on your way to having a balanced diet without meat.

[ICNDonna]

Ruth, Even though we live in the country and could raise a cow or two for our beef, we could never do it because our kids made pets of every animal we ever brought home. We have several sheep and they still won't eat lamb chops!

Donna

[jjt001]

I've been able to maintain a successful vegetarian diet with IC, so I know it can be done. Soy is a no-no for me, though now that my IC is under much better control I can tolerate a little. I did really notice when I was at my worst that it was one of my worst triggers. So, basically, that means you can't eat all of the great meat-substitute products that are out there. However, hopefully you can eat lots of vegetables and many fruits. I don't know if you're familiar with the "Eat to Live" book by Dr. Joel Furhman, but you might want to check it out. He doesn't think soy products are necessary for a healthy diet. Basically the diet is about eating lots of fruits and veggies and staying away from processed foods, which fits my IC needs fine.

Can you tolerate beans and most vegetables? I can, which is really helpful. I can make soups using vegetable soup stocks (Woflgang Puck's is yummy and all natural, other organic varieties are also good) and add beans and veggies. I'm lucky in that I can eat a pretty good variety of fruits, such as apples, pears, bananas and melons. I can't do citrus, grapes, plums or pineapples, but I find I do pretty well with the others.

Salad dressing has been a big issue, as most of Dr. Furhman's recipes center around vinegars and/or fruit. I have found some commercial salad dressings that I can eat that have very low vinegar contents, but you have to watch out for too many chemicals. Some have suggested using cottage cheese as a dressing which works for me -- Dr. Furhman isn't a fan of any kind of cheese, but I can't eat a salad dry!

There are also some good things like quinoa, which I find is fine for my bladder and includes a protein component. I can also eat some raw nuts -- particularly cashews. I always hated cashews because I had only eaten them processed and salted, but they are very good raw and don't bother my bladder.

So, there is hope! If you'd like I can share some of the recipes that have worked for me. Also, I've seen quite a few meat-less recipes on the diet board and tried some -- you might want to do a search. Good luck!