vegetarian – Cyd Notter

Which Veggie Burgers are considered C.R.A.P. (Calorie Rich and Processed)

July 19, 2018 by Cyd Notter Leave a Comment

I read an interesting post today by Jeff Novick (Jeff is an expert dietitian affiliated in part with the McDougall program).

In the post, he describes an on-line debate that occurred over the “Beyond Meat” veggie burgers, and he gives reasons why the “Beyond Meat” burger is not a healthy choice. If we’re going to purchase processed products once in a while, label reading is important! We usually don’t have to go any further than the ingredient list.

Another interesting tip: Now that food manufacturers are no longer required to reveal the percentage of fat in a product, Jeff explains how we can tell the percentage of fat by doing just a bit of math. He mentions The Impossible Burger (I’m not familiar with that one) and shows how that product is 53% fat (with 41% of that being saturated fat).

Here’s the link to Jeff’s post.

Making your own plant-based burgers at home is easy and delicious! Here are just a few of the hundreds out there.

Fat Free Baked Mexican Black Bean Burgers (the Vegan 8)

Sweet Potato Curry Burgers (Jeff Novick)

McVeggie Burgers (Dr. McDougall)

White Bean, Wild Rice and Almond Burgers (Dr. Fuhrman)

Savory Lentil Mushroom Burgers (FatFree Vegan)

I’d love to hear about your favorites too!

Addressing Biblical Objections to a Plant-Based Diet

February 20, 2018 by Cyd Notter Leave a Comment

Diet is a Touchy Subject.

I discovered long ago that diet beliefs can be very divisive indeed. Together with the hot topics of politics and religion, our food choices can rank quite high as a personal issue to be handled with care.

I realize that most of you have preconceived beliefs about what constitutes a healthy diet, and I’ve heard some doozies in my day. But because The ‘Plan A’ Diet combines the two tenets of “diet and religion” into one conversation, many of you will write to me about passages that seem to promote or endorse meat eating.

Here I address some of the passages I hear most often, along with my response.

See how good and pleasant it is when brothers,
and sisters live together in harmony! (Psalm 133:1, GW)

Two Quick Fruit-Based Desserts

November 21, 2017 by Cyd Notter Leave a Comment

If you have a few extra pears or apples in your fruit basket, these quick desserts will be right up your alley. I’ve made both of them this week!

Raw Apple Crumble – a recipe by Cathy Fisher with the McDougall Program – is so delicious and has just the right combo of “tart and sweet.” It’s one of my hubby’s favorites! There are no questionable ingredients and the only sweetener used is whole dates. Do yourself a favor and give this one a try. Then let me know how you like it!

Baked Pears were an easy experiment and very tasty indeed. Simply cut two pears in half, scoop out the center seeds, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. I topped with a drizzle of honey (you could use maple syrup), walnuts, currants (or raisins) and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes. The riper the bears, the better. After these cooled, they were easy to just pick up and devour! (Note: slice a little off the bottoms to make them sit upright if they’re wobbly). Do you have any other suggestions for the topping?

Good news, our monthly newsletter will be reinstated in 2018! The newsletter is a deeper form of communication with our friends who want to keep apprised of articles, classes and sneak peeks at my book in progress tentatively titled The ‘Plan A’ Diet: Enjoy the Starches You Were Designed to Eat. Giving you updates not only encourages me to make progress, but it’s a great way for our group to engage in conversation as well. I truly welcome your feedback! Please sign up here, but take note there are two separate sign-ups, one for the blog and one for the newsletter (we would love to have you sign up for both!)

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Earthly fruit promotes health in our bodies, but Jesus told his followers
in John 15 about fruit with far greater benefits!

You did not choose Me. I chose you, and I orchestrated all of this so that you would be sent out and bear great and perpetual fruit. As you do this, anything you ask the Father in My name will be done. (John 15:16, VOICE)

The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You won’t find any law opposed to fruit like this. (Gal. 5:22-23, VOICE)

Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy, and other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy. (James 3:17, VOICE)

Time to Make Your Game Plan

November 14, 2017 by Cyd Notter Leave a Comment

The sixty-three days from Halloween to New Year’s Day marks the season of dread for those trying to watch their weight. Studies vary on the amount of weight gained during this period of time – anywhere from five to ten pounds seems to be the average.

That may not seem like much until considering the fact that the weight gained over the holidays is generally never taken off. Even if someone gained just one pound a year, by the time they attend their 40^th class reunion they’ve easily put on 40 pounds or more.

If you’d like to enjoy the holidays without compromising your health, the answer is to make your game plan right now.

Here are some helpful tips to get the ball rolling.

Ask the Lord to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out.

(Proverbs 16:3, GNT)

Breast Cancer PREVENTION Awareness

October 25, 2017 by Cyd Notter 2 Comments

October is commonly known as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month”, a campaign that was founded 30 years ago as a team effort between the American Cancer Society and a pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca. The campaign has since evolved to include major charities who strive to increase breast cancer awareness and raise funds for research. Here are some important questions to ponder:

How much progress is the campaign making? Has the risk of developing breast cancer decreased over the years?

Why has the campaign come under some heat?

And where does the money from the “Think Pink” Campaigns actually go?

Read the article here.

We are already aware of breast cancer – after all, cancer is the second leading killer of women following heart disease. Where more awareness is needed in the area of prevention, since breast cancer is largely a lifestyle-related disease. Rather than raising funds which are primarily geared toward medical equipment, treatments and drugs, why not spend more of those funds educating women and young girls how their diets are impacting their risk factors?

Our lifestyle choices matter more than genetics, toxins, or environmental chemicals. Oh that more funding would be dedicated to preventing disease by informing people about the powerful benefits of a whole food, plant-based diet.

Ladies, please, please look at the independent research regarding dairy, meats and high fat foods. Do all you can to prevent not only breast cancer, but the dozens of other conditions associated with the Standard American Diet (SAD). I’m at your service if you need more information on how to get started!

Whatever you do—whether you eat or drink or not—

do it all to the glory of God!

(1 Cor. 10:31, VOICE)

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