I could not love Mark Bittman more. I love this concept, and I want to try it. Go and read this article right now, then rush right back here and tell me if you’re as excited about it as I am.
I would take it one step farther and say that meat once or twice a week is plenty, but I think for a lot of people, just going down to meat once per day would be a good first step. Anyone want to try this with me?
By the way, this hits a LOT of my categories.
Stacking Functions Garden 
November 24, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I thought that was an amazing idea. I have been looking for a diet that makes sense. Mark Bittman’s VB6 looks incredible.
I plan on starting today. I’m going to the store to get his book. I’ve never been a vegetarian before let alone a vegan. But I think I can do this.
How has it worked for you?
November 25, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Hi Bernardo,
It’s ironic that you ask, because a comment on that very article that I linked to about Vegan Before 6 led me to read about the Weston A Price Foundation, which led me to read Nourishing Traditions, which led me to realize some serious problems with being a full-time vegan.
We do eat vegetarian pretty frequently; I’d say we have meat for dinner 3-4 times per week and that’s about it. But we’re really into some decidedly non-vegan things like bone broth, butter, and eggs.
One of the main problems with being a vegan is that many people resort to eating “vegan junk food” — and believe me there is a lot of that — because actually preparing balanced vegan meals 3 times a day is a LOT of work, unless you have a personal chef.
I was a vegetarian for 8 years and I ended up eating a lot more carbs than I should have. I lost weight, but mostly through major exercise efforts (running marathons) and portion control.
Now that I get more animal protein in my diet, I am having a much easier time maintaining the weight that I’ve lost, and I don’t keep up even near the exercise schedule that I used to before having kids.
I can’t really rip on Bittman’s plan though, as long as it’s done consciously and well. If it means you’re eating tons of vegetables and fruit all day, then having a sensible animal protein-based dinner, that sounds reasonable to me. It if means you’re filling up all day on chips and fake meat, not so much.
It’s all about moderation, right?