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Victoria Pearson

Alicia Silverstone's got a thing for animals. She tried going vegetarian for the first time at age 8, subsisting on a month-long diet of ice cream and eggs. It was touch and go, however, she "stopped and started a lot or 'forgot,'" she explains in her new book "The Kind Diet: A Simple Guide to Feeling Great, Losing Weight and Saving the Planet" which is part weight-loss advice, part holistic living wisdom. Not being able to rescue all of the world's abandoned or endangered animals (once she adopted 11 dogs who were slated to be euthanized the next day) and learning more about the meat industry helped her become a committed vegetarian as an adult. Even so, she "doesn't expect that to move everyone. What would move me now as a 33-year-old woman," Silverstone says, "is if someone said, 'Hey, do you want to look your best, or feel your best?' Your skin is going to be amazing when you eat well. There's a grayness when people eat a lot of unhealthy foods, specifically meat."

Since going veg 11 years ago, Silverstone says she's experienced "amazing, amazing" results, while still indulging in her favorites like dairy-free chocolate peanut butter cups and a waffle, sausage and cheese panini, which she "loves." She also never feels deprived, unlike her past diet attempts, including Weight Watchers. "What those diets offer you is weight-loss period," she says. "And yeah, weight loss is good. But you're not learning how to eat, you're learning how to eat less. I haven't had to think about calories in 11 years. That's what I want to offer people -- a plan that is going to nourish your soul and make you healthy on all levels."

Silverstone's plan includes three levels of commitment: "Flirting" (going meatless and dairy-free when you can), veganism and becoming a "superhero" (based on the macrobiotic diet, it focuses on eating locally grown, seasonal foods, which she's been doing for six years). Making these changes in eating, Silverstone says, has anecdotally helped people with everything from diabetes and losing weight, to acne and even her friend's "poo" problem.

That's Fit: What do you do when you crave non-vegan foods?

Alicia Silverstone.: Well, I never crave non-vegan foods, because vegan foods are so delicious. When I'm out and there are no vegetarian foods available, then I just make the best choices I can. Sometimes, it's to eat nothing at all, or I'll have the least offensive thing. Maybe there's a salad with goat cheese, or potato salad with a little mayo. That's what it's about -- making the best choices under all circumstances.

Photo: Quron.us

Whether you're a full-fledged vegetarian or just choose to observe Meatless Mondays, chances are good you've indulged in some sort of meat substitute before. Well, some frightening news has arisen regarding one brand-name meat substitute: Quorn. A class action lawsuit has been brought against the brand because it makes a significant portion of consumers ill; some, violently ill.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, studies as early as 1977 showed adverse reactions, including nausea and vomiting, in about 10 percent of subjects who ate Quorn. A control group then, and another study in more recent years, found that number to be closer to 5 percent, but, CSPI says that's "still a higher percentage of people than that of those who reported allergies to shellfish, milk, peanuts or other common food allergens."

The product, which Quorn Foods markets as being related to mushrooms, is based on a fungus called Fusarium venenatum (venenatum is Latin for venomous). However, while the mushroom relation is true because they are both fungi, according to CSPI, the association is "as misleading as claiming that humans are related to jellyfish since they're both animals."

CSPI launched a website in 2002 called quorncomplaints.org, and over 1,400 British and American consumers have left criticisms.

The issue isn't so much that the product has been shown to cause allergic reactions -- it's that no warning is given on the package despite that knowledge that has CSPI up in arms. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is aware of the frequency of reactions, it still says the main Quorn ingredient is "generally recognized as safe." Well, if you're "generally" OK with a 5 percent chance of nausea or vomiting, that sounds about right.

Photo: PinkMoose, Flickr

Kids sliding their trays through school cafeterias are seeing more vegetarian options, and it's not just grilled cheese. According to a survey by the School Nutrition Association, two out of three U.S. schools offer veggie lunch options regularly, a 40-percent increase since veggie meals were measured by the nonprofit, which represents school food providers, in 2007.

Lunch ladies are serving up more meatless entrees such as vegetable burritos, lentil sauce with pasta, egg salad, vegetable cacciatore and stir fry. Even black bean brownies. Hmm, now there's a dessert with a potentially high yuck response, but commenters rave over these sugary squares of black beans at Eco Child's Play and this recipe variation, too.

Hip, hip, hooray -- there are more meatless entrees. But before you start cheering, the National School Lunch Program remains seriously at-risk in the wholesome foods department. Ann Cooper, aka renegade lunch lady, says the paltry $2.68 federal subsidy per free school meal served under the NSLP must be raised to $4 or $5 to properly equip school cafeterias to truly go healthy -- just one of her 10 guidelines to bring wholesome into schools. Dietitian Kathryn Strong's editorial in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette points out the federal government's own School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study found 80 percent of schools don't comply with federal guidelines -- there's too much fatty food served up in cafeterias. Nutritionist Clare Miller noted not one school met recommended sodium limitations and few met recommendations for fiber.

Photo: jupiterimages

Welcome to Twitter Fit Tips. Keep track of the latest diet and fitness Twitter trends and opinions with this weekly post. Each week AOL Health's Twitter alias Healthpop and That's_Fit will post fitness-related questions and the best tweet responses will get posted here. Start following Healthpop and That's_Fit today.

This week we asked, "Would you go/why have you gone vegetarian/vegan?" And these fit Twitters had these tweet replies:

dmtweets@Thats_Fit Started because I was allergic to meat and milk. Cut everything else because I believe it's right.

ColletteAM@Thats_Fit became vegetarian @ 11yo for animals, vegan @ 20yo when I had my 1st child so we could have a long healthy life together.

jend420@Thats_Fit Wouldn't go Vegetarian. Love vegs. Love animals. But no issues eating said animals. The body needs animal proteins, iron, etc.

thenewswineflu@Thats_Fit I could never, ever give up sushi. And I am aware of the Califauxrnia roll. Still, no way in hell :)

priorfatgirl@HealthPop I think I'm pretty close to being a Flexitarian

Get_Lean_Fast@HealthPop Would be hard...Chicken and fish have so much nutritional value

Jonny Bowden, author, nutritionist and weight loss coach cuts through all the misconceptions about diet and fitness to help you transform your body, your health and your life.

For years I've argued that the Atkins Diet is nowhere near as "dangerous" as critics claim, and dozens of studies have since backed me up. Yet many people continue to worry about the effect of the strict Atkins diet on cholesterol. And many who have noticed how effective an Atkins-like diet can be for weight loss have been reluctant to try it because they associate the diet with a high meat intake (incorrectly, but that's another column).

Worry no more, because a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine received a flurry of media attention, and the subject? A variation of low-carbohydrate dieting which the researchers dubbed "Eco-Atkins."

The researchers start by stating that the Atkins plan has been shown to be effective not only for weight loss, but for reducing insulin resistance, lowering triglyceride concentrations and raising HDL (so-called "good" cholesterol). (They cite numerous published studies which have demonstrated every one of those effects.) That's a pretty impressive resume, and one might be forgiven for asking, "and the problem is?"

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Photo: Pink Sherbet Photography, Flickr

Ever thought about going vegetarian, or maybe just cutting some of the meat out of your diet? There's no time like the present, especially now that the American Dietetic Association has changed its stance on going veg from tentative (good for adults, maybe not for kids) to full-fledged!

According to a recent article in the ADA Journal, the ADA's current position is that, as long as appropriate planning is involved, vegetarian and vegan diets "are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases." It goes on to endorse a plant-based diet for those in all stages of life, including infants, children, pregnant and lactating women and athletes.

That doesn't mean that vegetarianism doesn't present some challenges. While you certainly can get the appropriate nutrients from a vegetarian or vegan diet, it can be difficult to get as much Vitamin D and B12 as necessary. Whether you get it through food, like leafy greens and tofu, or supplements is up to you.

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Photo: sxc.hu

What's hiding in your veggie burger? Chances are that if it tastes a lot like a real burger, what's not hiding in your burger is veggies.

Everyone wants their veggie burgers to taste good -- after all, what's the point in eating something if it doesn't? But when it comes to processed food -- and let's be clear, veggie burgers and hot dogs are processed foods -- sometimes making a food taste "good" means taking out the good stuff.

So instead of vegetables, what you might be eating in that burger is a mix of soy, eggs and wheat gluten. An improvement over a Big Mac, sure -- veggie burgers are inherently lower in calories and fat than meat burgers. But if you're a health-conscious veggie burger and hot dog lover, you should take a moment to make sure your favorite barbecue staple is as nutritious as you think.

Forbes has some tips when looking over the label:

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Photo: Andyrob, Flickr

A healthy diet has long been considered a good measure for cancer prevention. The American Cancer Society recommends increasing your servings of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, incorporating more whole grains into your diet and limiting your consumption of processed and red meats.

Recent research suggests that going one step further and following a vegetarian diet can reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Researchers followed more than 60,000 men and women; some ate meat, others ate fish but not meat, and a third group went vegetarian. The vegetarians were found to have a reduced risk of developing stomach cancer, cancer of the bladder, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

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The world went a bit crazy when the Atkin's diet was introduced a few years back, but as people realized that there's just no way a diet that allows you to eat as much butter, bacon and steak as you want could be good for you, the search for an alternative was on. Enter the Eco-Atkins Diet, a low-carb vegetarian way of eating that has been proven to be both effective and healthy for weight loss while reducing your cholesterol at the same time.

Going vegetarian without carbs? Getting lots of protein without meat? That sounds like crazy talk to most of us, but in reality, there are plenty of delicious ways to get your nutrients without resorting to meat or simple carbs.

Like what? Here are some quick Eco-Atkin's-friendly snack ideas:

• A handful of nuts, like almonds or walnuts. Be careful though -- nuts are high in fat, so don't overdo it.
• Celery and peanut butter -- seriously, seriously delicious.
• Plain yogurt with some fresh fruit -- or soy yogurt if you're vegan. Between you and me, I usually add a touch of honey.
• Hummus and fresh veggies give you lots of fiber and nutrients all in one go.
• An apple with a bit of cinnamon sprinkled on top will hit the spot, or with some low-fat cheese if you're OK with dairy.

Need more inspiration? Click here for some great resources.

"Vegetarian" is a big and scary word for people who can't imagine their lives without turkey burgers. But you don't have to give up meat for good to reap the rewards of the vegetarian lifestyle.

Cutting back on meat is an easy way to reduce saturated fats and calories in your diet. Instead of saying "so long" to chopped sirloin or a juicy chicken breast for good, take a more moderate approach and nix the meat one to several meals a week.

Lunch is an easy place to go veg. Try one of these simple meat-free lunch ideas that utilize other sources of protein to keep you full all afternoon:

• Have some hummus: Hummus is rich in protein and usually a good source of healthy fats. Eat it with fresh, crunchy vegetables, like sliced cucumbers, baby carrots or red peppers. Spread it on a slice of pita bread, or even grill it on whole wheat bread with tomato (like a grilled cheese sandwich). Hummus recipes are famously forgiving, so you can even mix things up a little for some extra flavor.
• Play with proteins: A salad is an obvious choice for a vegetarian lunch, but lettuce alone won't keep you full for long. Replace your usual grilled chicken breast with one of these less common protein choices: Nuts -- think cashews, almonds or walnuts, canned garbanzo beans, edamame, low-fat cheese or even a hard boiled egg. (Not technically vegetarian, but a healthy source of protein.)
• Fake your burger: Veggie burgers have come a long way over the years, and they're simple to pop in the microwave for a quick and healthy lunch. Top yours with a fiber-rich avocado, lettuce and tomato, and serve it up on a whole wheat roll.

What's your favorite vegetarian lunch or meal?

Vegetarian diets can be mighty healthy, but if you're not careful, they can lack protein, which is not very healthy and can be a real bummer if you're trying to lose weight. You see, protein keeps hunger at bay better than carbs and fat, and so it's essential for a good diet to contain the right amount of protein -- check out this chart to see exactly how much you need.

FitSugar shares some meatless ways to keep the protein flowing -- beans, tofu and cottage cheese are three.

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Have fitness questions? Fitz has your answers. Our That's Fit fitness expert -- and now your own virtual personal trainer -- will help you get fit, increase your overall health and do it in a fun way. Drop your questions here in the Comments section below and we'll choose one per week to publish on That's Fit! Learn more about Fitz here.

Q. Miss Fitz, I've been trying to lose about 25 pounds for a very long time and wanted to run something past you. I'm of the opinion that vegetarians are pretty trim. Should I go that route to lose weight? Nathan

A. Hi Nathan. Interesting question. I'm feeling both the urge to say yes and no, so I'll talk about the subject and let you choose. Vegetarianism has great benefits, and one of them can be weight loss -- if you do it right. There can be drawbacks as well, so hopefully I can help you make a decision that's right for you.

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Tomorrow is Earth Day -- how will you celebrate? Taking care of the Earth and taking care of your body often go hand in hand, and I have a few suggestions for observing this special holiday while also celebrating your healthy lifestyle.

• Bike to work. Or the market, or school -- wherever you need to go. Not only will it show that you care about the environment, but you'll burn off your breakfast, too. Walking, of course, is just as good.
• Skip the gym (but not your workout). Take the opportunity to get in touch with Mother Nature. If you have a park nearby, run a few sprints, then use the jungle gym to do pull-ups (just be sure to bring along your own reusable water bottle!). Or, just take a long walk around your neighborhood or through the woods. By skipping the gym, you'll avoid using the power you would have consumed on the treadmill or in the sauna, plus, it'll feel great to be outside.
• Eat vegetarian. I'm not saying you should become a full-fledged veg (although, I'm not saying you shouldn't, either), but research has shown that a vegetarian diet is beneficial for the planet, and a plant-based diet is good for your body, too. And don't freak out -- vegetarian dining isn't hard, and it's not scary. You don't have to come up with anything exotic (unless you want to). Whole wheat pasta with sauce and some sauteed veggies will work, and steamed vegetables with couscous is one of my favorite quick and easy meals. Get inspired here -- you might even start making it a weekly thing! (Bonus points if your vegetarian meal is comprised of local foods!)
  
• Get involved. Forget sitting on the couch and watching all of the cool Earth Day events on the news -- find events near you! A quick search of my town and "earth day" revealed lots of things to do, including planting trees and cleaning up. And have you ever planted trees? You're in for a workout!
• Plant your own garden. Hey, if you're going to get your hands dirty and your brow sweaty, maybe you want to get something tangible out of it -- I don't blame you. Work with your roommates or family to create a vegetable garden. You'll burn calories getting it started, and you'll reap the benefits of homegrown, fresh, delicious vegetables in no time! Find out everything you need by entering your zip code on the National Gardening Association website.

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You might not be able to change your desk job, but you can change the way you sit. Find out why slouching is bad for your back and butt and how to fix this common problem.

A club sandwich just happens to be one of my favorite menu items, and here's why I rarely order it: Martha says a club contains a whopping 1,030 calories. Next time I want to indulge, I'm sharing it with someone else!

Put that two-piece bathing suit in your shopping cart. Fitz has two exercises to help you create some awesome abs.

Jonny reminds us that in the battle between high fructose corn syrup and sugar, there are no winners. Both should be avoided when possible and enjoyed only in moderation.

See a salad on a fast food menu? It might actually cause you to eat fries instead. Don't let the notion of healthy food make you let your guard down. Order it, eat it and be healthy instead.

So you want to make some healthy changes but aren't sure where to start? Try stocking up with one of these seven fridge superstars.

Ever sat in front of the TV munching on chips, only to realize you've polished off half the bag? Laura's got tips for being a more mindful eater.

A study links vegetarians to eating disorders, but could it really be the other way around? Maybe people with eating disorders are "hiding" behind vegetarianism.

Good on you, That's Fit readers! Forty six percent of you keep a diet diary. That's a great way to keep track of calories and not let mindless eating get away from you.

Do you have a fitness buddy? I tried it for a week, and it really is a great motivational tool. Try calling up one of your friends this weekend and commit to a shared workout.

Have a great weekend, everyone!