Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 1996)
Vegetarianism blooms across college campuses Recycled trend makes comeback among students By Tasha E. Kelter StaffReporter Vegetarianism, like many other trends recycled from the 1960s, is mak ing a comeback among Americans. Health and ethics are the two main rea sons people turn to vegetarian diets. Loosely defined, a vegetarian diet is “one that excludes meat, fish and poultry,” according to Virginia Messina and Mark Messina, authors of “The Vegetarian Way.” The first vegetarian movement oc curred in the 19th century, largely the effect of reformers in America and the United Kingdom. In the 1960s and '70s, vegetarianism had a resurgence in popularity as a seemingly natural part of the “new health-conscious counterculture.” Today, vegetarianism is again increasing in popularity, pri marily among students. “Vegetarianism can be a very posi tive and healthy choice fa* teenagers,” according to the Messinas. Most vegetarians who follow the diet for religious reasons were raised in a vegetarian family and therefore are used to eating a meatless diet. How ever, when children of meat-eating families decide to make the transition into vegetarianism, are often con fronted with some taxing challenges in adapting their diets. A student who chooses a vegetar ian diet may enjoy health benefits such as a lowered ride of “obesity,... con stipation, lung cancer, and alcoholism,” according to registered dietitian Johanna Dwyer of Hifts University Medical School Hospital in Boston. However, the actual act of sustaining the diet may seem difficult, especially for someone living in the residence halls. Pam Edwards, coordinator of food services operations in the residence halls, said that a vegetarian diet is pos sible to maintain in the dorms. One vegetarian or vegan entree is provided each day for lunch and din ner in all the residence halls. Menus are posted weekly outside the dining halls informing whether meals are suit able for ovo-, lacto-, and lacto-ovo vegetarians a* vegans. Besides the entree, food service provides two cooked vegetables each day at lunch and dinner, as well as grains, rice, pasta, potatoes, breads, salad and fruit. “We have a really extensive range [of dishes] for vegetarians,” Edwards said. Kelly Diamond, a junior advertis ing and film studies major who lives in a residence hall, has been “trying to convert to vegetarianism.” She said that the impalatable entrees served in food service are not making the transi tion easy. “They’re really inedible,” she said. She tries to eat cheese pizza when it is saved. “If thae’s a dish where I can’t see the meat but it’s in thae, I’ll eat it,” she said. Diamond said she eats the broccoli and cheese casserole that is served, but that’s about it. “I would never, ever try their tofu.” Raised in a family where meat was served, Diamond experimented with a vegan diet for a month last summer. She had to give it up, however, because she was getting sick from inadequate amounts of protein. Edwards said if any vegetarian and vegan students would like to make sug gestions for dishes, they are encour aged to call her at 472-9045. “We’re really trying to expand that whole area,” she said. “If students feel like they need more [vegetarian dishes], we want to know.” For vegetarian students who enjoy snacks, some of the more appetizing options that can be easily obtained in clude fresh fruit, bagels, soft pretzels and baked fruit with cinnamon. “Most vegetarians eat milk prod ucts and eggs,” notes the U S. Depart ment of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services’ Dietary Guidelines for Americans, “and as a group, these lacto-ovo-vegetarians en joy excellent health.” Lacto-ovo-vegetarians are one of the 10 major varieties of vegetarians (listed at right). Ibis is the most popu lar type of vegetarian diet, according to the Messinas. For vegetarian meal-planning, the Messinas suggest Mowing a modified food pyramid consisting of six major food groups - grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, dry beans and nuts, and fats and oils. Grains should make up the major ity of the diet at eight or more servings a day, according to the model. Four servings a day of fruits and vegetables are recommended, proteins (dairy, beans, and nuts) are advised to be con sumed three time a day, and fats oils and sweets are to be used sparingly. Although the transition into veg etarianism can be a laborious process and the diet, once implemented, re quires a great deal of discipline, veg etarians are profoundly satisfied with their choice in diets. “You just... evolve into a food conscious individual,” Diamond said. Life weighs in heavier than image By Anne Hjersman Opinion Editor When it comes to health and fitness, I speak not from expertise but from experience. In the past nine years, I have gone from a size 16 to a 6. Making such a claim doesn’t get a girl many dates, but as I have aged, ray health and fitness have become evermore important to me. And libel there is something to be learned from my experiences. I’m not writing this as a testimo nial to any miracle diet plan. I mean, over the years, I tried them all. I bought every Slim Fast, quick fix pill ami powder on the market. I even went to Weight Watchers. They all worked... for a while. But as soon as anyone noticed, I quit Maybe it was fee pressure of people monitoring my success (or fail ure). Maybe I felt that because they noticed, I had achieved ny goal: I had “lost weight” and it was time to get on wife my life—a life of unhealthy eat ing and inactivity. Then one day I noticed feat one of my friends had begun to fede away. She was literally fading away. She had grown frail, though the muscles she had developed during her obsessive run ning hid it well. Her life was spiraling She thought she was in control ol her situation. I thought I was in con trol of mine. We were both consumed. We were bath confused. We were both afraid. I was afraid of spending my whole life miserably overweight. I was afraid of losing my friend to a disease I still don’t understand. I was afraid I would never gain control. I began to wonder what land of permanent damage my friend and I had done to our bodies. I found out at age 16 when I had to have emergency surgery to have my gall bladder removed. Every one said gall bladder disease was for people “fet and 40.” The feet that I wasn’t even out of high school yet was not a point of pride for me. That same year, my friend spent Christmas vacation in treatment. After that, weight was no longer important to me. I wanted only my health—and my happiness. I stopped looking at exercise as a burden and learned to enjoy the exhila ration of a good workout. I stopped counting calories and started focusing on nutrition. I now seek satisfaction m achieving well-toned muscles and a healthy heart. I won't kid you. I’m no fitness queen. In fact, I've let things slide a . little since I returned to school, but I’ll get back on top of things. I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t I’m sure I’ll always struggle with my body image. Most people do. But now my focus has turned inward. I’ve learned to listen to my body and to re spond to what it tells me. When I am tired, I try to sleep. When I am hungry, I eat When lam thirsty, I drink. When I am stressed out, Iwarkoui. I often wander why it took extreme circumstances for me to start taking my health seriously. I thought because I was young I didn’t have to worry about things like nutrition and exorcise. Now I realize youth does not make a woman invincible, ft makes her vul nerable. Quite vulnerable indeed. Hjersmaa is a senior news-edito rial and English major and the Daily Nebraskan opinion editor. Lacto-vegetarian grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, daily (no eggs or animm flesh) Source: The seasim _Nalatc LmarouVDN Attention Deficit Disorder in Children Monday, September 23 7-8:30 pan. Focuses on diagnosis, treatment and Implementation of successful home or school, based programs. Call 483-8886 to register. ■ Smoking Cessation Thursday, September 26-March 26, 1997 7:30-9:30 pan Demonstrates new coping strategies and supports participants through physical and psychological withdrawal. Call 483-8340 to register. ■ RACE FOR THE CURE ® Sunday, October 6 8 a.m. - 5K Run/Walk 8: IS a.m. -1 mile famOjr fan walk Fund raiser for Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Call 483-8674 for details. Is there Meaning in My Suffering? A family's struggle with mental illness. Wednesday, October 9 7-9 p.m. Covers issues surrounding families as they cope with a loved one suffering from mental illness. Call 483-8886 to register. ■ 6th Annual National Depression Screening Day Thursday, October 10 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. 11:30 son. - 1:30 p.m. 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Screening and special displays. Call 483-8816 to schedule a private screening appointment. CPR Heart Saver Course lluaraday, October 17 7 - 9 p.m For lay public or child care providers. Covers adult, infent, child CPR, foreign body airway obstruction. Call 483-8093 to register.