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darkchocolatepeanutbutter 8yr Yes absolutely @purplebatman! Also I love your handle :) -
annefood 8yr Awesome tip @purplebatman ! -
Kingofkatz 8yr Just curious, how is meat bad anyway? -
purplebatman 8yr @Kingofkatz That is a great question! I was also wondering that at first. People who eat less meat tend to weigh less and have a smaller chance of getting diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Also they tend to have a lower blood pressure. -
annefood 8yr Hey @Kingofkatz ! Great question. A diet high in meat can have negative effects on both your health and the environment. First let's talk health—as @purplebatman said, a diet lower in meat and higher in vegetables and whole grains helps lower your risk of both heart disease and type 2 diabetes. And red meat and processed meats have recently been linked to cancer. That being said, small quantities of lean meats like chicken and turkey can play a nutritious role in our diets (which is why the Challenge is eat less meat as opposed to avoid meat). I eat both chicken and turkey—they provide great protein. But I don't eat them every day. As for the environment, because as a nation we eat so much meat, the meat industry tends to raise cattle in a very unsustainable way to maximize production. In fact, the global livestock industry produces more greenhouse gas emissions than all cars, planes, trains and ships combined. Crazy right? Most of our beef (but not all) is raised in feed lots or in a manner that degrades farmland. And chickens are often raised in inhumane conditions. However, many smaller farmers do raise meats in very sustainable ways. 100% grass fed beef, for example, can actually help maintain farmland. It comes down to this—when you choose to eat beef, choose 100% grass-fed/organic, and eat it sparingly. And when you eat chicken, choose free range organic. You'll be doing wonders for your body and the planet. I hope that was helpful! If this interests you and you'd like to learn more, check out the Eat Less Meat Guidebook https://www.thefoodstand.com/challenge-groups/8-eat-less-meat/guide . There are a bunch of links at the bottom to various articles that more fully explore meat consumption.
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Suri 8yr thanks @annefood! Couldn't have said it better myself. -
annefood 8yr Thanks @Suri !
A good way to stop drinking soda is to find a healthier alternative like carbonated water. For extra flavor add some lemon or lime slices.
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annefood Awesome @purplebatman ! So true.
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Brianne I second this tip!
A great low calorie breakfast food is a smoothie. All you do is put a banana, strawberries, ice and milk in a blender. Yogurt is optional.
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JoanneG I love smoothies. I just got a new blender so I've been experimenting with a lot of ingredients. My new favorite is almond butter, dates, banana, and chia seeds - it's like dessert!
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LaurenDiebolt Smoothies have a lot of sugar in them, even if it's natural sugar. Your body also digests it much faster than if you just ate the ingredients you would put into a smoothie, so you are full for a...
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tenniscourt18 That's exactly what I put in my smoothies! They're a perfect way to eat your fruits. They're quick and easy if you're on the go too!
Drink out of a straw when drinking water, as you do not have to think about it and it is easy to distract yourself while drinking.
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Mauneumann This may be true, but the straw produces much more waste because of the plastic. We should also think about eating sustainably!!!
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Brianne Yes! I actually have reusable straws at home for this reason, but I agree, the straw makes it easier =)
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NehaNBB I have one of those camelback water bottles that have a straw. It's awesome.