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Show TPr iil-m1 S: 1 f Continued from Page 1 t X( X v v. v'w . A A v-.- i v i .. Adrianna MonteroThe Forum ;T. Theres a weird stereotype that vegans dont really like food or that theyre living on beans sprouts Im not living on bean sprouts. Brings is really good at ordering at restaurants and asking for what she wants. t ' i t Im kind of a picky order-e-r, 1 Sophomore and theater j major Annie Brings has been xf a vegan for about a year. -- ' J i i s ; V, 1 Brings thinks, however, Sodexo has made a lot of improvements this year, but it would be helpful if they would list ingredients. They offer more organic food in their processed section now, which Brings thinks is kind of cool. They have snacks like granola and rare and awesome kale 4 t chips. I think it would be vase for Sodexo to know that this j becoming a large movement and veganism and vegetarianism is not as rare as it was 20, even three, years ago. is I think people will warm up to that eventually. I just wish that it didnt have to be so eventual, Brings said. So, in charge of her own dietary needs Brings has to make sure to get the main nutrients that meat provides i s f namely, protein, iron and vitamin B12. Shes allergic to nuts, so people assume shes not getting any protein, but she sap it isnt hard to get. I dont feel like Im protein deficient, and Im obviously not anemic, she said. Some of her protein sources include sunflower butter an alternative to peanut butter that tastes just like it, sunflower which Brings loves and calls the lifesaver seeds, beans, and quinoa. I do a really awesome quinoa dish that Im really i proud of, Brings said. Pronounced keen-w- a, quinoa is a grain thats similar to rice, but its higher in protein than any other whole grain. I felt vegan cooking was really intriguing because its really easy to assume that all of our flavors come from these animal products, so how do you make an appealing meal without those? Brings said. Brings really enjoys cooking meals for herself. Along with the quinoa, shes good at making tomato basil rice soup and baking with potatoes and yams. She also makes a stellar chocolate cake. Meals are more varied and colorful, as a rule, so potentially higher in vitamins and most minerals, said Carol Jeffers, nursing professor. Plants are generally not significant sources of vitamin B12 but luckily, The Vegetarian Resource Group states, that the recommended intake of this vitamin is very low. For vegans, vitamin B12 can be found in Brewers yeast and some fortified foods, but not many other sources, said Jeffers. Vitamin B12 is found in soy products and some brands of cereal. Brings doesnt feel the need to seek out protein and B12 because the meals shes used to are crafted around all the dietary guidelines. There really arent any downfalls if you are careful to combine proteins for all essential amino acids and eat foods high in calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12, said Jeffers. Unlike many vegetarians, Brings doesnt have a problem with going to restaurants with friends. Ive perfected the art of being a vegan among nonvegans, she said. Because none of her friends are vegan shes figured out how to eat when shes with them and how to cook so its good for everybody. but Im really nice and I tip well, so thats ok. I dont really have a hard time, but Im not frequenting the Rodizio Grill much, she said. Brings advises people considering vegetarianism to think about why they re making that choice. I feel like a lot of people get into it because its trendy, Brings said. What a lot of people dont realize is how much youre changing when youre changing what you eat. She said there are a lot of things to take into consideration if youre going to change, so she encourages people to research. Brings said food choices depend on so many different things like family, culture, the society around you, where youre getting your food and whether you know how to cook. I know this is cheesy, but if youre thinking about personal journey thats what youre going to have to do to change your food choices, she said. i ' i t 4 ' X t I r, ; $ , o V Left: Sarah Vanderberg Similar to Brings, nursing junior Sarah Vanderberg became a vegan because of health concerns. Shes lactose intolerant and has bad digestive problems, and thought changing her eating habits would help. I have noticed a huge difference since I have made changes to my diet, and I feel much better, said Vanderberg as she perked up and smiled excitedly. Vanderberg works at a preschool where the kids often get sick, but she has yet to get sick. I have never been as healthy as I am today. Im in the best shape Ive ever been in, she said. She thanks her new diet, which consists of an assortment of beans and nuts as well as many leafy greens. She adds nutritional yeast to her food to make sure she gets a combination of all the B vitamins. These foods are available at many stores but Vanderberg mainly shops at Whole Foods and Sunflower Farmers Market. She said the selection is great and they are always willing to help out if anyone has questions. The selection at restaurants, though, is more limited. Oh restaurants, said Vanderberg with a sigh, I try to eat all organic and it is a little more expensive but totally worth it. Her new favorite places to dine out are Vasuvios Organic Gourmet Cafe, Rawtopia, Oasis, and Mazza, all of which are located in the Salt Lake area. Vanderberg was able to cut meat out easily. I never really cared for it much so it wasnt that hard, she said. The choice to become vegan, however, was more difficult. I sometimes crack and have certain foods that are just too good to pass up, Vanderberg smiled sheepishly as she paused and said, like baked goods that people make or if my mom bakes her famous salmon. Vanderberg knows its a hard life change to make but you are what you eat, and in the long run your body will at Whole Foods. Whole Foods has launched a program called Health Starts Here. Whole Foods Corinne Piazza, marketing specialist at Whole Foods and vegan for 8 years, had a very different vegan experience. She initially chose to become vegan for ethical reasons. She laughed as she said she loved her cat and she realized she was eating animals that were just like it, if not smarter. She -- ( The vegetable aisle didnt cut meat out right away; it was a process. Piazza suggests others take steps. Find your least favorite meat and cut that out first and then continue. You must be patient and take your time to enjoy the transition, Piazza said. Whole Foods provides many vegetarian grocery options. There are various types of milk and meat substitutes as well as a wall full of nuts and grains. Piazza explained Whole Foods recently launched program called Health Starts Here. The program outlines four health guidelines: plant strong, whole foods, healthy fats, and nutrient dense. These pillars are for all diets, vegetarian and vegan diets included. Plant strong means simply eating more plants. Though heme iron from meats is more absorbable than non-heiron from plant foods. This can be combated by taking iron with vitamin C, which boosts its absorption, said Jeffers. Foods with high levels of vitamin C are milk, broccoli and orange juice. Iron is found in tomato juice, spinach, kidney beans, oatmeal and raisins. Iron deficiency is commonly heard in conjunction with nt tends to be lower in vegetarianism. Though The American Dietetic vegetarians than Association states that iron deficiency is no more common in vegetarians than iron deficiency is rare no matter the diet. The second guideline is Whole foods, which is about choosing foods that are whole, fresh, natural, organic, ' local, seasonal, and unprocessed, according to the Whole Foods website. Healthy fats means trying to get fats from plant sources like nuts and avocados. should choose leaner meats and seafood as well as low-f- at dairy products. Nutrient dense suggests people pick foods rich in nutrients. The website states choose foods with a wide spectrum of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients and antioxidants to help keep a very nutritious diet. These pillars provide steps to eating healthier and eventually becoming vegetarian. Being vegetarian or vegan is about moderation, everything in moderation, said Piazza. Piazza said Whole Foods employees are knowledgeable about the stores extensive vegetarian and vegan options. They are all willing to help give tips and ideas to those who want to be conscious of their food decisions. me iron-amou- non-vegetaria- ns, non-vegetaria- ns; Non-vegetaria- ns thank you. i I |