West/Cent Nebraskan's eating habits and diet? (Lincoln, North Platte: home, to buy)

[SCGranny]

Yup - and the Nollettes are tied in with him and sold a really AWESOME red last year...

[weems]

Ah, I'm glad this topic somehow made it up to the front. My wife and I are moving to Ainsworth in September, from Nashville, TN (Anyone out here living in Ainsworth?). I am a vegetarian, and I recognize the humor in that since we are moving to the Sandhills.

I am not opposed to eating meat for any ethical reasons. I am eating this way due to a family history of obesity and heart disease, and I have found that this diet and exercise have allowed me to lose weight and live more healthy life. I am somewhat resigned to the fact that I will need to adapt my diet to include meat of some sort while we are living there, however, I am curious to know what the attitudes are towards vegetarians in that region, and if it would be possible to continue my current diet.

My sister-in-law and her husband have a cattle ranch near Bassett, and I know that she is able to grow a pretty amazing vegetable garden, so I feel at the least I can pursue that option, as well as what is available at the local grocery store.

I am more interested in how residents will react to my diet. Having visited that area before, I know that beef is a major part of the diet. The Sandhills are clearly proud of their cattle ranching, I don't want it to seem like I'm spitting in the face of their livelihood. Any thoughts on this are welcome. Thanks!

[SCGranny]

Weems, welcome to the state!
The funny thing about Nebraskans is that they pretty much mind their own biznez - and expect you to mind yours. As long as you aren't grabbing folks in restaurants or on street corners, telling them why they "should" go vegan or vegetarian, you might be the source of curiosity or comment, nothing more.
But as I've stated before, the difference in beef that has gone through feedlots, butchers, and other 'enhancements', and grass-fed real beef, is huge. My chickens and their eggs are lower in fat and cholesterol simply because they are not hemmed in, 150,000 to a quonset hut, unable to move or do anything but produce. They use their legs and wings and exercise - so like any other animal, humans included, they develop muscle and good veins and arteries, strong bodies - which makes for healthy muscle tissue and even healthier eggs and babies. My cows are not lined up at a feed trough in a corral or feed lot that doesn't permit them to run or even walk about; they scurry about our 60 acres (and the dog keeps them running to and fro when necessary! LOL) and sometimes even the horse gets in a mood and gathers them up and runs them - all of which makes for well-developed muscles, better meat, less fat.

Finding a strictly vegan or vegetarian diet plate in a restaurant might be difficult - but not impossible; several of my favorite restaurants in Valentine offer salad plates, salad bars, etc, where things like radishes and beets, macaroni and potato salads, as well as regular salad bar foods are presented.

Bottom line - as long as YOU don't make a big deal out of it, no one else will either.

[itsMeFred]

I agree with Granny on all points.
Vegetarians really aren't that rare. (I know quite a few, even here in ranching country, though they tend to be for ethical/religious reasons)

However, I also agree with Granny that a vegetarian diet isn't by default healthier. In fact, I haven't lost much weight, so that's not the deciding factor, but my blood profiles have improved immensely since I've gone low-carb...

~Erin

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by itsMeFred

I agree with Granny on all points.
Vegetarians really aren't that rare. (I know quite a few, even here in ranching country, though they tend to be for ethical/religious reasons)

However, I also agree with Granny that a vegetarian diet isn't by default healthier. In fact, I haven't lost much weight, so that's not the deciding factor, but my blood profiles have improved immensely since I've gone low-carb...

~Erin

I have been on a gluten and casein free diet for nearly two years now and have never felt better. This has enhanced my overall functioning by elmininating wheat and dairy as I am on the Autism Spectrum.

[TTWW55]

Yep, lots of fat people everywhere! My hubby and I just got back from a week at Reno and Lake Tahoe. OMG.....we couldn't believe the huge fatties everywhere!!!! Americans......stop eating like oinkers!!!!

Central Nebraska has healthy foods offered in all their groceries and farmer's markets. You'll be fine!

[weems]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! I had hoped it would be a live and let live kind of place when it came to a person's diet, and your responses are reassuring.

I'm not sure if this is solely a Nebraska thing (it's the only place I've had it), but when I was out there last summer, people were raving about "Snicker's Salad" and said I had to have it. It turns out it was a bunch of snickers bars, cool whip and apples mixed together! I had a good laugh when I saw it, but I have to admit, it was pretty tasty

[JustMe_T3K]

You gotta try "better than sex chocolate cake"

[Gunluvver2]

Originally Posted by JustMe_T3K

You gotta try "better than sex chocolate cake"

Where can I get a piece?
GL2

[pheaton]

What is "fresh" salmon anyways? You haven't eaten fresh salmon until you've had one off a boat in Norway.