Comments on: The Calm Before the Feast: Rosh Hashanah with Joan Nathan http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/ Jews, Food, and Contemporary Issues Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:02:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: steve http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2906 steve Thu, 20 Sep 2007 23:00:29 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2906 Never thought Ms. Nathan was being malicious, just uninformed. There are plenty of non-Western diets that are extremely healthy and not meat-based. Never thought Ms. Nathan was being malicious, just uninformed. There are plenty of non-Western diets that are extremely healthy and not meat-based.

]]> By: lagatta http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2894 lagatta Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:54:17 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2894 I'm really looking forward to her Cuisine juive en France! Please keep us posted. I’m really looking forward to her Cuisine juive en France! Please keep us posted.

]]> By: Rabbi Shmuel http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2769 Rabbi Shmuel Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:41:37 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2769 hey - as they say we live in interesting times:) hey - as they say we live in interesting times:)

]]> By: Leah Koenig http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2763 Leah Koenig Tue, 11 Sep 2007 13:58:40 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2763 Steve, David - thanks for your comments. I think Ms. Nathan was coming at her words out of love and concern as a parent - and also as a chef who approaches meat eating with a certain respect that many people in our society don't have. So although (as a vegetarian for 8 years) I don't agree that vegetarianism necessarily leads to an unhealthy diet, I don't think she meant anything malicious. Shmuel - I would have loved to have been at that breakfast! Steve, David - thanks for your comments. I think Ms. Nathan was coming at her words out of love and concern as a parent - and also as a chef who approaches meat eating with a certain respect that many people in our society don’t have. So although (as a vegetarian for 8 years) I don’t agree that vegetarianism necessarily leads to an unhealthy diet, I don’t think she meant anything malicious.

Shmuel - I would have loved to have been at that breakfast!

]]> By: David Cherelin http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2761 David Cherelin Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:46:29 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2761 I realize that her comment on vegetarian diets was kind of a throw out line, and was not the point of the article, but it bothers me how these myths persist. Humans are indeed omnivores, but do much better on a plant based diet. Protein is the least concern of a vegetarian. As long as you are eating a good variety, and getting enough calories you are getting enough protein and all the amino acids you need. There is no doubt a number of vegetarians that are junk food vegetarians. This is the nature of our society. Since kids don't learn how to like and prepare vegetables and legumes, when they cut out meat they fill those calories with junk. Though become vegan can force the issue as it cuts out a lot of the junk. There are so many mock meats nowadays even a veggie trying to eat the foods they were used to, can do just fine (though I would highly recommend getting away from the typical Western diet, even in veggie form it's not the healthiest). Which actually leads me to the fact that it is funny for someone pushing traditional Jewish fair to be talking about nutrition (coming from an Ashkenazi background in any case). It's clear that a Western diet is far more dangerous to ones health than a vegetarian one, and it is far more difficult to get all the vitamins and minerals one needs without getting too many calories when you include meat as a regular part of the diet. Though humans are omnivores, they were never intended to eat meat on any kind of a regular bases. I realize that her comment on vegetarian diets was kind of a throw out line, and was not the point of the article, but it bothers me how these myths persist.

Humans are indeed omnivores, but do much better on a plant based diet. Protein is the least concern of a vegetarian. As long as you are eating a good variety, and getting enough calories you are getting enough protein and all the amino acids you need.

There is no doubt a number of vegetarians that are junk food vegetarians. This is the nature of our society. Since kids don’t learn how to like and prepare vegetables and legumes, when they cut out meat they fill those calories with junk. Though become vegan can force the issue as it cuts out a lot of the junk. There are so many mock meats nowadays even a veggie trying to eat the foods they were used to, can do just fine (though I would highly recommend getting away from the typical Western diet, even in veggie form it’s not the healthiest).

Which actually leads me to the fact that it is funny for someone pushing traditional Jewish fair to be talking about nutrition (coming from an Ashkenazi background in any case).

It’s clear that a Western diet is far more dangerous to ones health than a vegetarian one, and it is far more difficult to get all the vitamins and minerals one needs without getting too many calories when you include meat as a regular part of the diet. Though humans are omnivores, they were never intended to eat meat on any kind of a regular bases.

]]> By: steve http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2725 steve Mon, 10 Sep 2007 21:12:10 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2725 It's unfortunate that Ms. Nathan parrots the meat and dairy industry protein myth. It's actually very easy to obtain all your protein needs from a balanced diet. And it's not just tofu or other soybean products--there's plenty of protein in legumes, grains, vegetables and fruits. It’s unfortunate that Ms. Nathan parrots the meat and dairy industry protein myth. It’s actually very easy to obtain all your protein needs from a balanced diet. And it’s not just tofu or other soybean products–there’s plenty of protein in legumes, grains, vegetables and fruits.

]]> By: Rabbi Shmuel http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2721 Rabbi Shmuel Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:11:53 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/the-calm-before-the-feast-rosh-hashanah-with-joan-nathan/#comment-2721 I had the privilege of hosting Joan on Sweet Whisper Farms when she came to speak to one of the groups staying with us. Her knowledge of food history is encyclopedic and she has a sense of humor to match. It was also my treat to make breakfast for her (as in "go to the coop and get a couple of eggs, go to the garden and snip some herbs for the omelet!") - she remains on the cutting edge of the Jewish Food discussion! - I like the "date" thing for Rosh Hashana - very biblical -I'm a maple syrup kinda guy though! I had the privilege of hosting Joan on Sweet Whisper Farms when she came to speak to one of the groups staying with us. Her knowledge of food history is encyclopedic and she has a sense of humor to match. It was also my treat to make breakfast for her (as in “go to the coop and get a couple of eggs, go to the garden and snip some herbs for the omelet!”) - she remains on the cutting edge of the Jewish Food discussion! - I like the “date” thing for Rosh Hashana - very biblical -I’m a maple syrup kinda guy though!

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