Athletes can go veg, but they need to do it right

by Kristen Seymour (Subscribe to Kristen Seymour's posts)
Mar 6th 2008 10:00AM

Categories: Organic, Sustainable Community, Vegetarian, Diet & Weight Loss, Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements

Print Email More

I'm amazed at how many people, upon learning that I don't eat meat or poultry, tell me that they tried to be a vegetarian, but it made them so tired, or gave them headaches, or they got sick of eating pasta, blah, blah, blah.

I can tell you why it didn't work for those people -- they did it wrong. I'm sure they had great intentions (whether it was for ethical or health reasons), but they didn't consume the nutrition their bodies desperately needed. As Fitz recently pointed out with a post on Tony Gonzalez, meat and dairy aren't necessary for peak athletic performance, but I will say from experience that it sometimes is a little tougher to get the right nutrition when you've restricted your diet. With a bit of research, though, athletes can be successful in their sport and at the dinner table.
Being a vegetarian (or any variation) doesn't mean that you can get away with less protein -- it simply means that you need to find it elsewhere, like in beans, soy, nuts, and seeds. The same thing goes for minerals and vitamins -- I find that even my iron gets low at times, and I'm pretty careful about what I put in my mouth. For more information on how to go vegetarian in a healthful way, check out these sites:

Go Veg
The Vegetarian Resource Group
U.S. Soyfoods Directory
American Dietetic Association

Bon apetit!

Source

Comments (3)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Judy 3-06-2008 @ 11:27AM

I'm not officially vegetarian (and definitely not vegan - I can't give up cheese), but rarely eat meat. *Maybe* once a week, on average, although sometimes not that often. (I do eat fish and seafood 1-2x a week.)

I was thrilled to see the post about Tony Gonzalez. When I changed my diet, my whole family thought I was crazy and would be unhealthy, but they are all huge fans of Gonzalez and the Chiefs, so I'll be using this example for them!

I know I am much more careful about what I eat now, and cutting down on meat made me have to think about things a lot more, so I make healthier choices. I certainly have *more* energy and feel *much* healthier than I did when I ate lots of meat, dairy and other processed foods.

Of course, a veg diet could consist of nothing but pasta, chips, and soda, and that wouldn't be healthy or give you energy!

Vishaal 3-06-2008 @ 5:38PM

THAT is a SEXY picture. =P

Kristina 3-08-2008 @ 1:21PM

Hi. I've been veg for 22 years. I am 41 and started when I was 18. I am female, walk my dogs 2x a day, take 6 hours of dance a week and do yoga.
I don't think it's that hard...I would say maybe more a focus on vegetable protein like beans, lentils, meat analogs and greens. Pasta, especially refined, and other white foods like refined bread will make you tired. But I rarely eat these foods...if you eat whole grains and iron rich plant foods it's not hard. I hardly think about my diet really...it's just a new habit.