Hello, lovelies! Just as an FYI: I’ve added an Upper Body Supersets sub-section to the strength section of my workouts page. These are the supersets I’m completing for the first six weeks of my new strength training routine. Check it out if you’d like!
Workout
Speaking of supersets, I completed the biceps/triceps one this morning. I was really feeling the burn this morning. Concentration curls can, joyfully, kiss my behind. 
I love it, though, because I know that I’m really working! I was going to do a quick abs circuit afterwards but my muscles were spent and I had to get ready for work.
Snack
Mid-morning, I took a break and had a new-to-me snack: a cranberry-almond Good ‘n Natural Bar. I saw them at the grocery store for $1.00 the other day and, after looking at the ingredients and stats, decided to try them.
The bar’s creator is an RD, which is why I really wanted to like this flavor but I just didn’t enjoy it very much. I think it was the cranberry-to-almond ratio. I couldn’t really taste the almonds (and there were many slivers in there) and the cranberries were a bit overpowering and too tart for my liking. However, it was very satisfying and held me over for three hours. Brownie points for that! I also picked up the peanut butter variety, so I have high hopes for that one.
Lunch
My boss called and asked me to come in from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. today (I usually have Tuesdays off). When 1:00 p.m. rolled around, he asked me to stick around until 3:00 p.m. I told him “Of course – but not without lunch!” He told me to go pick something up and bring it back to the office, which worked out perfectly because I had a monster-sized craving for a whole grain baguette from Panera.
To be honest, I’m not really a bread person (sue me!). Eating gluten typically makes me feel weighed down, tired, and irritable. I don’t have celiac but I know that I am a bit sensitive to it, as fatigue and subsequent irritability are two common factors associated with gluten intolerance. This is because your body is working so hard to digest the gluten. That being said, PMS is in full swing and this gal wanted a darn baguette. I ordered a classic cafe salad with balsamic vinaigrette and cilantro hummus on the side, along with a whole grain baguette.
It was delicious and satisfied my craving but I certainly got the aforementioned fatigue and irritability after my meal. See ya at the next craving, my dearest baguette.
USDA Says No to Meatless Mondays
Just one week after suggesting its employees participate in Meatless Mondays in order to “green up” their headquarters, the USDA has retracted that statement, according to a recent New York Times article.
Meatless Mondays has been a fairly popular movement in the nutrition world, though there isn’t much proof that meat-eaters are participating in it on a regular basis. After publishing the aforementioned newsletter, called “Greening Headquarter Updates,” a U.S.D.A. spokesperson said, “U.S.D.A. does not endorse Meatless Monday” and went on to say the news letter “was posted without proper clearance,” the statement said.
The article goes on to quote State Rep. Steve King of Iowa and a spokesperson for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, both of whom slam the newsletter’s suggestion of going meatless. The NCBA released their own statement to the U.S.D.A, slamming them for suggesting their empolyees enjoy a Meatless Monday.
So, what do I think about all of this? Well, I’m obviously disheartened and sad at how cold the above organizations are towards plant-based living, but I”m also not the least bit surprised. I could step on my soap box like the NCBA did in the above statement but I’m not going to do that. In their original newsletter, the U.S.D.A. suggested their employees try going meatless for one day – that’s 1/7 of the week, or 14 percent of the week. While it’s a great proposition, it’s highly unlikely that people will make the change to eating a completely meatless Monday unless they feel personally compelled to do so. At the end of the day, we (plant-based eaters) are the minority and the NCBA is the majority. Their industry is not going anywhere anytime soon. They are so power-hungry that they feel the need to denounce and slam the U.S.D.A. for suggesting their employees adopt a plant-based diet one day out of the week. It also makes the U.S.D.A. look weak and susceptible to the NCBA’s rule; inside, direct financial ties to the meat and dairy industries (as outlined in Forks Over Knives) are all the more evident here.
Further, in their statement, the NCBA states that they use more meat and less cattle (i.e. using as much of the animal as possible instead of “wasting” it). And they’re right about that. This has been accomplished by using extra animal parts as filler, which also happen to be most susceptible to bacterial contamination. Yum.
In an effort to avoid preaching, which we know isn’t my style, I’m going to open up the floor to you all. What do you make of all this?
Stay lovely,
Heather
This is Sad…Meatless Mondays is a grand idea!
I’ve been following the Meatless Monday controversy over the past few days and, to be completely honest, it really upsets me. I don’t think it’s right for the meat industry to hold so much control and have such an influence over society. It’s all about money to them and, therefore, anyone that even mentions the thought of cutting back on meat is immediately taken down. It’s something that documentaries like “Food Inc.” talk a LOT about.
I’m never, ever one to preach my beliefs. Even though I’m a huge advocate for a vegan lifestyle, I know that it’s not right for everyone and it’s not my place to tell people what they should or shouldn’t eat. That being said, I do think that meatless mondays are a great idea. Not only for the health of our country, but for the economy and our planet. The USDA should be confident enough to stand up to the meat industry on this one!
Okay, rant over…haha
Yay for Panera Bread! I randomly have cravings for their whole-grain baguettes too. They’re amazing!
The nutritionist in me loves when you post these nutrition news related posts! I haven’t heard this story yet but can’t wait to read more about it! It is so sad how much control government and the “politics” of our food industry have over what we are lead to believe is healthy! I was just reading an article about how much the dairy business supports the USDA, hence the consistent spot for dairy on the food pyramid/plate! I think we need to be more focused on encouraging the individual to experiment with different diets and find out what works for them! Why not try out meatless Mondays for a month and see how you feel on the days you don’t eat meat? Thanks for this post!
Wow, that’s crazy! I haven’t heard about this story other than from what you posted, but now I’m intrigued. It sucks that health always seems to take a backseat to money and politics. I also think that, by changing its opinion on the subject, it makes the USDA look really weak and very susceptible to being swayed by other organizations. I’m hopeful that one day, most people in the US will have positive opinions about plant-based lifestyles. Look at how far we’ve come already! But, unfortunately. we’re just not totally there yet.
I LIVE for Panera’s bread. So good.
The USDA irritate me to no end. They know nothing and clearly have their eyes shut. There’s my soapbox for ya!
Hahaha, oh Kris. I knew this would aggravate you!
have not heard about this, but even though I am no longer vegan. I still believe in plants! And meatless mondays is great, well encouraging others to enjoy one or two nights with out meat is great. Tonight I was happy to make my family a veggie filled no meat pizza!
Love that, Michelle! Yay for veggie pizza!
Why cant people just eat what they want? It goes both ways. I mean if you want to be a vegan be a vegan if you want to eat meat eat meat! You cant suggest people not to eat what they want for one day? Thats like telling a vegan to have a meat monday. Everyone has differant beliefs about food and we should all be accepting no matter what it is. Just my opinion!
I see your post, Sarah. I think Meatless Monday is a wonderful idea. It’s not necessarily saying you have to eat all plant-based foods for a day. It can be one meal or one snack. Just the idea of being mindful, really, is more important. Being aware of your options and being open to trying new foods!
I read about this a few days ago. It still makes me mad. It’s all about the dollars. The USDA cannot and should not advocate for the beef industry while supposedly making diet recommendations. It is a clear conflict of interest. They certainly cannot be trusted to make objective recommendations.
That baguette looks delicious. Are you sure it was the bread and not the PMS that made you irritable and tired?
At first, I was mad too. It’s hard to not get angry…but if we do that, we’re just giving into them. Let’s keep rockin’ our plants! I’m sure it’s the bread, as it happens every time I eat bread.
I had no idea you could order hummus with the salads at Panera Bread! I have to do that soon, hummus is so much better than salad dressing!
It makes me sad that the USDA doesn’t support Meatless Mondays. Even if you don’t advocate a plant-based diet, meatless meals are both more economical for families and more environmentally friendly. I really don’t see a negative side to them, unless of course you work in the livestock industry.
It’s all about politics and money! Obviously someone who is on the board or a spokesperson for the meat industry is not going to endorse a day without meat. No meat consumption=no money for them. I ultimately went vegetarian because I don’t trust the beef/meat industries (I just think they’re all sketchy). I wish people would form an opinion based on facts rather than on how much money they can potentially make off of a product.
This is a valid point, Candice. It’s sad that so many people out there are so powder-hungry. I know that not everyone affiliated with the U.S.D.A. is unjust but, unfortunately, they, like us, are in the minority!
I am not vegan/vegetarian at all but do eat high quality meats (pastured raised/grass fed) at all cost. I just read your post and laughed because a lot of the people who eat like I do think the USDA sucks too. It seems like the only people who think they have it right are people who are choosing poor foods for their body and are unhappy and overweight. Just my two cents though
I tweeted about this USDA thing when I read an NPR article about it the other day. It really bothers me and honestly reminds me of a form of taking away freedom of speach. I hate that lobbyists and big business come into play when government organizations to make an effort to share ALL the knowledge they have. If they possessed knowledge that red meat gives you iron (which it does) then I’m sure they’d be free to shout that from the rooftops, but it really pisses me off that folks aren’t even given the chance to learn about plant-based protein sources when Big Food gets involved. You know I love my meat but I also love my beans, edamame, etc, and too many people out there have no idea that those are protein options that are just as complete as a filet. My dad didn’t even know edamame had a drop of protein in it until I informed him of that fact this past Saturday night as I munched away on it at dinner! OK, I’ll chill out now, but yeah this really bothers me hahaha. I’m all for education and informing the public of ALL their options.
Also, Panera wheat baguettes are so good. Now I want one.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your outlook, Cait. You’re so accepting and loving of everyone and that really makes my heart so freakin’ happy.
[...] Discussion: For the Love of Kale, USDA Says No to Meatless Mondays. While I usually head over to Heather’s blog for delicious vegan recipes, I picked this post [...]
It’s all about politics, not nutrition. I saw an exhibit at the National Archives called “What’s Cooking Uncle Sam” and I came away with the impression that throughout its history there have been ulterior motives to national nutrition guidelines — whether it was nutrition (early on), saving the meat for our troops, or furthering the interests of the dairy industry.
Really great point, Coco. I’d love to read more about that exhibit.
[...] Heather at For the Love of Kale~The USDA says no to Meatless Mondays [...]