My beef about the word protein on cooking shows

The pandemic—remember that? Had me buying Netflix and watching cooking and baking shows. Was I a home chef or baker? No. As a convert from vegetarian to vegan I needed inspiration and also needed to stop eating out.

I took a cooking workshop on Kripalu and took Forks over Knives basic cooking course through Rouxbe.com and life, from the culinary sense changed. And in a good way. Mom taught me basic items to make from an early age: chili in the pressure cooker in Maryland winter, cole slaw and potato salad on steamy summer days. The standards such as grilled cheese, hot dogs sliced open to lay flat in the cast iron skillet. We ate out or got carry out surprisingly often for a low middle class family in a working class, tiny rowhome in Dundalk Maryland.

I continued to eat out too often and I needed to reel it in—big time. So, cooking at home became a habit and I have not regretted it. I became obsessed with all the shows on Netflix and the Great British Baking Show, and all their spin-offs was quickly a favorite. From there I moved onto every cooking and baking show I could see and even watch the ones from other countries.

But, here’s my rant—my beef: the chefs’ keep asking the contestants what their protein is and are only referring to dairy, eggs and meat (red or white, poultry, fowl, shellfish, fish and alligator, bugs too). It is so disturbing. Yes, “meat”, dairy and eggs have a ton of protein, too much if all consumed in a day. That protein produces the bad cholesterol that will have you six feet under in an early grave and with multiple other medical issues. It also has no dietary fiber.

There is protein in all grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds and veggies. It produces the good cholesterol we need to survive. It also contains dietary fiber. In countries where diet is either vegan or low meat the folks have no colon cancer, polyps, colitis, diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. They also squat to eliminate so good idea to get a yoga block to place your feet on to put yourself in a natural squat on the toilet.

Let’s educate the food industry, grocery stores, culinary schools, dieticians, restaurants and chefs. Let’s help get America healthy.