Here are some new photos of Emily Deschanel and her lovely bump at yesterday’s screening of A Perfect Family at the Outfest Festival in LA. I think pregnancy agrees with her – I’ve always found her so beautiful, and the added weight fills out her face in a really gorgeous way. Judging her simply from these photos, I think she looks healthy and happy. But Emily is in the midst of a controversy because of her eating choices while pregnant. You see, Emily switched from vegetarianism to veganism several years ago, and she’s maintaining her veganism throughout her pregnancy. That means no meat, no eggs, no dairy for the baby. Emily discussed her veganism in the August issue of Ladies’ Home Journal:
Cravings aside, when it comes to pregnancy essentials, Emily Deschanel has a solid go-to.
“I have a friend from junior high who’s expecting a baby right before I am,” the Bones actress, who will welcome her first child with husband David Hornsby this fall, tells Ladies’ Home Journal‘s August issue.
“Now we’re sharing stories about our cravings and how our bodies are changing. We compare notes.”
She adds: “Having someone like this is so reassuring. It connects me to an essential part of myself.”
But when it comes to cravings, Deschanel’s go-to fixes all have one thing in common: She’s vegan, so she doesn’t consume any animal products, including dairy and eggs.
“I feel aligned with my morals and ethics. Saying no to meat makes me feel stronger inside; I feel aligned with my morals and ethics. I still have to defend myself because people don’t understand it. As a pregnant woman especially, people will say to me, ‘You must eat meat and dairy.’ You really have to tap into your self-esteem whenever people try to convince you you’re making the wrong choice.”
Ready to raise a child, Deschanel, 34, reflected on her own upbringing. Born in Los Angeles, she wasn’t always in-tune with the more shallow demands of the industry.
“In Hollywood there’s so much pressure to appear a certain way — to be skinny and to look young,” she says. “When I was growing up, I never cared about whether I was pretty or not. But when I was 12, a friend’s mom told me I was flat-chested and had fat thighs.”
She continues: “That really hurt my feelings and it kind of scarred me. I started becoming aware of how other people judged me.”
[From People]
Emily’s dietician Ashley Koff did an interview with People Magazine just a few days after the LHJ interview came out. Koff defended Emily’s pregnancy diet, saying in part: “What we want to do is give the body just enough energy so that it performs well. Energy is a really significant issue for her… What has probably been a challenge for her is making sure that she has nutrient-dense food that she’s able to have every three hours.” The solution seems to be lots of nuts, pita and hummus, which… I love all of that, but I couldn’t it eat every day for nine months. It’s Emily’s body, her choice, etc, but I do tend to think pregnant women especially should listen to what their bodies are craving. I mean, even Natalie Portman went back to dairy during her pregnancy.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
If she’s being assisted by a doctor and/or a nutritionist and her body is getting proper nourishment, I don’t see a problem with that.
Her baby will be fine. She, however, could end up with osteoporosis when she’s older. It is annoying when people offer their unsolicited advice (“you must do this or that”) when you’re pregnant. That’s probably causing her to feel defensive and come off as a bit sanctimonious.
I couldn’t do that. I’m not a big red meat eater but I love fish/ seafood and chicken. But I think it would be easier to be a vegetarian than a vegan. No cheese, or eggs, honey. No thanks. As long as she and her baby are healthy then who’s to tell her what to eat.
Oh come on. I seriously doubt anyone gives a shit that shes pregnant and vegan… as if she was the first.
There are ample nutrients in fruits, veggies, legumes, etc. I’m sure with a careful diet and supplements, she’ll be fine and so will her baby.
Ok, what kind of horrible person tells a 12 year old that she had a flat chest and fat thighs?!
Everyone’s pregnancy is different. I’ve had so much trouble eating that it would definitely be unhealthy for me to refuse to eat something on ethical grounds. She certainly looks fine – filled out and lovely, as you say.
As long as she works with her doctor and nutritionist, there is no reason she has to give up her veganism. I have been a vegetarian for 10 years. The only complication I had when I was pregnant was I became slightly anemic. My doctor told me to eat a bowl of iron-fortified breakfast cereal every day and that did the trick.
No critiques re: Emily’s pregnancy.
Tangentially, saw Zooey on Craig Ferguson-was it Thursday? She is a sweetie, and so much fun. She’ll be a wonderful auntie!
From what I’ve read, B12 deficiency can be a very serious side effect of maintaining a vegan diet while pregnant – I’m glad to see that she’s working with a dietician.
As long as she’s under a Dr’s care no biggie especially when you consider how many pregnant women eat absolute crap when pregnant and no one bats an eyelash.
@ Mln76:
As long as she’s under a Dr’s care no biggie especially when you consider how many pregnant women eat absolute crap when pregnant and no one bats an eyelash.
Exactly! For whatever reason, vegans are demonized by people (I plan to be one someday — as soon as i can live somewhere else where mantaining a vegan diet can be physically possible) because of some extreme examples. Most vegans I know (actually, all vegans I know) are very responsible and eat properly. A lot healthier than those who bash them for being vegans and “not getting adequate/enough nutrition”.
As long as she’s working with a dietician, I’ve got no problems with it. Some people thrive on repetition in their diet(cough,Jennifer Aniston,cough).
Her sis Zooey is a vegan with wheat and soy intolerances to boot, and she doesn’t look like she’s starving to death.
I think even retrictive diets can be fine as long as the person handling them is willing to put in the time effort to educate themselves.
Wow! I’m inspired 😀
Being a vegan myself (approaching child-bearing time 😉 ) I hear criticisms alot from my friends, including one who told me ‘any woman who tries to maintain her veganism without supplements during pregnancy should have her child taken away from her at birth’ Like it’s some sort of abusive depravation to be a vegan/raise your children that way (!!!!!!!!)
I’m glad to see someone in the public eye openly sticking to their guns…
I thought Portman was such a hypocrite when she went back to eating animial byproducts…
Osteoporosis is not an issue for vegans–collard greens, leafy greens, fortified milks, etc provide ample amounts of calcium for vegans 😀
B12 can be an issue, but you only need a very small amount and your body can actually store it up! Fortified milks or a supplement easily provides what you need 😀
I tend to think back to the days of the caveman (or, before we had ready access to meat and dairy and processed foods). Back in the “grow, harvest and hunt your own food” days, pregnant women wouldn’t always necessarily have access to animal products, period. So they’d eat what they DID have access to.
And yep, mln76 and Eve are right – hummus and nuts are better options than the ice cream and bacon cravings of many pregnant moms.
Eat close to the ground and you’ll be fine – work with a nutritionist to keep vitamins and protein levels up and BOOM – healthy baby.
@min76, eve, Lila, heatheradair: Cosign enthusiastically!
Because a Dr is never wrong, correct ? Especially if they are expensive? You’ll always find someone to agree with you. As for her lovely face and form it is true she is. Her teeth are also lovely, notice her smile? The teeth top row third from center, slightly pointy? Canines. Those are to eat meat. Humans are omnivores. And her ” ethical choices” will give two people unnecessary health problems.
I’m so glad the comments here so far are mostly supportive. There are so many myths about vegetarianism and veganism, and when it comes right down to it, unfertilized chicken fetuses and the milk of other species don’t even logically sound like they should ever be a part of our diets. I’m only a vegetarian, not a vegan, but I shut down when it comes to defending my choices, because quite frankly it’s no one’s business but mine.
That said, she looks GORGEOUS now. Especially in that second-to-last photo. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a prettier pregnancy glow… apart, maybe, from Angie with the twins in THAT green dress.
I think when people aren’t vegans, they can’t imagine the variety we have. It’s not just nuts, pita and hummous, I assure you 🙂 Pretty much anything that omnies eat, we can replicate it in a vegan version.
As for osteoporosis, as long as you eat plenty of leafy greens, you can get more than enough calcium. The fact that vegans don’t eat meat also helps with the absorption of calcium from veggies.
The only vitamin that is not found naturally in vegan foods is B12. But a lot of vegan foods are fortified with B12 for that reason (cereal, non-dairy milks, marmite and other yeast extracts and many many others).
I have known a very great number of vegans who had healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Sure there will always be some with deficiencies and bad diet, but such people are to be found following any diet, vegan or omni or vegeterian
Her baby. Her body. Her choice…
I don’t agree with her decision to remain a vegan during pregnancy, but it’s her body, her baby, and her business. No one should be criticizing her as if she is endangering the life of her child. She looks healthy and has the money to eat all kinds of healthy vegan products. I’m more concerned with the millions of poor women out there who can’t afford any healthy food whether it is fresh meat or vegetables.
I also don’t believe most of these celebs when they say they are vegetarian or vegan because of ethical reasons. I’m pretty sure most of them do it because it is the best way to lose pounds. It just sounds better to say that they are doing it to protect animals rather than to say that they do it because eating meat and cheese makes them fatter.
Wow, giving Alicia Silverstone AND Natalie Portman a run for their money. Emily has always been my favorite Deschanel any way.
After living in a vegan household for about 2-3 years now (which was a VERY non-vegan household before) I can honestly say – you are what you eat. Technically a vegan could live off of oreos (ooooh yeah they’re vegan… think about that for a sec) and french fries. But people who eat meat could exist off of lard and bacon. Emily is a prominent actress in LA with access to some of the best nutritionists out there. It is entirely possible to get all of the nutrients you need AND stay healthy. And if research has shown anything… you might actually be healthier because you’re a vegan. How many vegan babies do we know of anyhow?
Not that I am putting down meat, I am practically a carnivore, but I have learned to appreciate veganism. It’s natural and sustainable. And I think our western mindset has engrained a certain type of diet into our culture – let’s just be open to alternatives!
I’m going to co-sign with those who took the words off my keyboard: as long as she’s healthy and under a physician’s care, so what?
Can someone please tell me if vegans can/do take calcium supplements and the like? I’m just curious.
@ blue – Hubs calls me a “chicketarian” – I don’t care for red meat (AT ALL) and only eat small amounts of seafood (mercury levels in the ones I like) and I H.A.T.E. milk with a fervent, undying passion. (Cheese is another story, however!)
let me be clear…I have NO issue with people not eating meat – it’s a personal choice. I also don’t really care WHY they choose to do it…whether health, ethics/morals, or both of those.
what I DO have an issue with is hypocrisy.
so, as much as I love this actress, I just hope that belt she has on is faux leather.
@Praise St. Angie: I have not known a vegan who wears leather. Not to say there aren’t any, but I’d be very surprised. She’s also used her show to put some digs in on factory farming and slaughter.
I’m vegetarian and I have leather shoes and bags. Yes, I said it. I try not to but it’s hard to find non leather things that don’t make you look like Mother Earth. And I’m apparently shallow enough that it matters. (There! I said it for you.)
Vegan is fine, and will grow a healthy baby as long as the right proportions of the right foods are consumed. Any deficiency can be supplemented with herbs & vitamins. Standard Process is the best for those types of supplements. Since she is consulting with a nutritionist she will be fine. Dairy products are for cows, the human body does not have the right machinery to process them-milk is for baby cows, and even they stop drinking it. Almond milk and hemp milk are wonderful substitutes.
If anyone has seen pictures of
Emily without makeup…. you would
not believe it is her. She looks
plain and average… Her beauty is
a result of a good makeup artist.
So, do not judge how healty she looks
pregnent. It is the makeup!!!!!!!!
For the sake of her baby…. have
some meat,milk, ice cream.
You are over doing it with this
nonsence of not even honey…
Yes she will not have honey…
Why, a bee may have been died giving
you the honey.
“I have not known a vegan who wears leather.”
yeah, see…I have. and the vegan-ism (for her) was all about “it’s cruel to kill animals to eat them”…never mind how cruel it is to kill them for their fur/skin. that’s the type of hypocrite I’m talking about.
I don’t want to hear how mean and cruel it is to eat animals from a person who’s WEARING one.
eat meat, don’t eat meat…like I said, it’s a personal choice and I will NEVER tell someone that their dietary choices are wrong. just don’t get all self-righteous about it while you’re wearing your sheepskin Uggs and carrying your leather Coach bag.
@BellaLuna
Can someone please tell me if vegans can/do take calcium supplements and the like? I’m just curious.
————————–
As long as they are from non animal sources, then yes.
Btw – a spoonful of sesame seeds has 3x the calcium (and more bio available to the body) than diary. And a cup of almonds also has more bio available calcium due to the calcium/magnesium ratio naturally present in the food. As someone mentioned, collard greens etc etc
There are LOTS of ways to efficiently and effectively get nutrients into the body rather than the common standards of the standard American diet (also known as the SAD diet).
B12 is an issue, not just for vegans, but for vegetarians as the main source of B12 naturally occurs in red meat.
As long as she is in tune with her bodies wants (and as a vegan, you need to be) there is no issue with maintaining her diet as is. Of course, there is also nothing wrong with grabbing a big ole slice of cheese either if the body is “needing” that during her pregnancy.
Signed,
Your friendly Holistic Nutritionist!
I like that people here are not automatically jumping all over Emily shouting that she’s depriving her baby etc without educating themselves. I’m mostly vegan but eat animal protein rarely.
Contrary to popular belief it’s not difficult to get adequate calcium and iron from a vegan diet (in fact the average westerner gets far too much iron rather than too little. Most anemia and osteoporosis cases are NOT caused by lack of iron or calcium but lack of other trace minerals that have become deficient in our soils for example molybdenum). What you more have to be careful of with veganism is getting enough B-12. B-12 *is* found in plant sources such as spirulina but 70% of this may be non-bioavailiable and an extra supplement may be needed. However I’m sure Emily has been working with a nutritionist during her pregnancy.
There are entire populations of people who cannot digest dairy. Historically, humans could not digest dairy. No other mammal consumes another mammal’s milk. The whole dairy thing is totally overblown.
Like, wow.
Start placing your flame war bets now, because somebody should benefit from the half-witted aggression and impossibly delusional condecension that so frequently accompanies topics like this. Smell that martyr complex brewing–that’s organic bullshit. Leafers and Breeders, can’t say there isn’t great potential. Let’s play! ‘I’ve never met another person who lives as I do judge the hatemongers, but all the mongers can do is hate–even in the pacifying glow of my gently radiating hybrid halo. What we do talk about constantly, is how they contribute to Our Struggle, because we all know that hasty judgemements are one-sided.’ After that will come a round of ‘You hate kale and breastfeeding and likely your baby’. Testimonials will ensue and in coming to the aid of a postpartum sufferer or quiche and B12 denial we’ll be reminded that this was why Vlad was able to get away with it for so long and The Sisterhood should show more respect, you Femalien bitchy twat. ‘Get the sand out of my vulva? Shows how much you know about self-cleaning membrane, you swamp donkey, slagged-up whore ho.’
I’m not a malcontent or soothsayer, I just have eyes and a memory goes back longer than my point necessitates. So, ad hominem slapdowns: are we better than ‘well, if you had even bothered to read my comment properly’, ‘ur jelous h8trs for having unsanctioned by me opinions’, ‘Jennifer Aniston stole my cardboard cut out of Micheal Damian circa 1985 and Huvane made rings out of the rat tail, she’s so desperate she keeps playing the same character: ‘The One Where Rachel gets bad advice from a local rat king and scabies ensues’ and if you don’t finish your voodoo doll in ten minutes I will end you…how are Brad and Angie taking/destroying it?’ Also, does anyone here know anything about gambling, seems like that knowledge would be good for this new venture.
I also have a friend who has been vegan for abotu a year now… she was vegetarian for the past 8 or so.
She currently STILL wears leather …. She is slowly phasing out the leather products in her life and does not buy anything new with leather (or otehr animal products) and will soon be leather free.
People need to remember that veganism is a huge lifestyle change – as opposed to vegetarianism which is more simply a dietary change.
It’s hard to believe that anyone would attack someone for being vegan during pregnancy, but then again – people are stupid and nosy (us included, I guess!). I too have known some vegans who lived on Cap’n Crunch, Nutter Butters (both vegan), and Mountain Dew. However, Emily is probably eating more vegetables and whole foods than 95% of all Americans, let alone pregnant women. I remember reading an article in the NYT about the wretched state of prenatal health and infant mortality in Mississippi, and it described a 21-year-old pregnant mother of 2 (she’d lost another baby at 17), eating “breakfast” – a Mountain Dew and a bag of chips.
That said, I find it incredibly tedious when people go on and on about what they eat. I was a vegetarian (and then vegan) myself for a while, and I’m sure I was sanctimonious and intolerable. Then again, aren’t all college students? Anyway, I finally decided that I was going to roast a chicken and shut the hell up, once and for all, about what I eat. My vow of silence is not absolute, though; I eventually cut way back on dairy only to discover that my asthma and allergies completely disappeared, so I talk about it only when people ask me about it, because it was really quite remarkable.
@Kelly.
Diary is the #1 cause of most food intolerance reactions (followed by gluten and soy!) – and yes, asthma and allergies are two of the many, many symptoms of these food intolerances.
Glad you were able to naturally get a handle of those conditions! 🙂
I’d just like to add – is wearing leather and being vegan hypocritical? Depends on the reason behind the diet. Some people might be vegan because their bodies just feel healthier that way (I fall into this category and I do wear leather. I’m very unsanctemonious about my diet unless people specifically ask about it.), and I’ve known some vegetarians who just don’t like the taste of meat, simple as that. However a person who is vegan because of animal cruelty and then wears leather/fur…very hypocritical.
Allright, guess I won’t be ripping out leaves from a “diary” then, since it can cause me asthma and shit. Dairy, however…
People work in different ways, what works for one might not work for others. I barely, barely consume dairy mostly because I don’t like it (perhaps smoked cheese I do). My allergies are still abound, and whenever I do force dairy products down my throat I can see how my health improves, despite the fact that I despise dairy (not meat though) and seek to replace it with same nutriments from vegetarian food.
Kelly, I had the same epiphany with gluten! I had been reading so much about the ‘evils’ of gluten that I decided to go gluten-free for a few days to see if I noticed any changes. By day two my asthma was noticably better, and within a week it was virtually gone – amazing. It’s always interesting when I mention this to doctors – I’ve gotten rxns ranging from ‘wow, that’s really cool’ to ‘huh…that’s interesting…’ (said with barely concealed scepticism).
I was vegan throughout my pregnancy. The prenatal vitamins you take give you all the nutrients you need. You dont need meat for ANY type of iron or B12 – there are plenty of other ways to get those (beans, etc).
I let the choice of eating meat be decided by my kids and some do, some dont but they all LOVE vegetables & fruits.
Never once did they fight me on eating any type of fruit or veggie and they actually crave & ask for them when their friends are asking for chips or cookies.
People constantly comment on how many fruits & veggies they eat.
I think they crave them because its all they got in the womb =)
@Danziger, you’re totally right – everyone is different. Some might not do well on a vegan diet, some can’t eat wheat… it’s all about experimentation. However, any relatively healthy diet that helps people maintain a REASONABLE WEIGHT is ok with me. I think it absurd when people criticize veganism, or any other “weird” diet hygiene, and they are like 300 lbs. and stuffing their faces with Double Quarter Pounders or whatever.
The other, completely unanticipated effect of cutting down on dairy is that I used to have a wicked sweet tooth, and now I’m pretty much indifferent to sweets! It’s uncanny. My one big treat is Cool Whip.
I am glad to see that she is consulting a nutritionist/dietician. Doctors tradionally are not taught much about nutrition in medical school. But a dietician is all about the components of foods and how they interact. I have been vegetarian/vegan in the past but was never really into the nutritional side of things which was unfortunate. I wish her a health pregnancy and childbirth.
Weird that anyone would criticize her…I’m sure she’s fine with a flipping nutritionist!
@Danzinger –
Bwahahahaha! Whoops. At work and no time for proof reading 😉
Totally agree with you – everyone IS different and you need to find out what works for you and what doesn’t.
There is also a difference between allergies and the allergens they are triggered by. IgE vs IgG vs IgA etc. IgE allergies can be medically tested (standard allergy test by the doctor as it registers in your immuglobin) as opposed to food intolerance triggered IgG, or delayed reactions, that don’t register.
Allergies triggered by IgE allergens will not respond to changes in food (hay fever is a classic IgE response)so while cutting out dairy may reduce your mucous build up its not going to stop your reaction to pollen vs someone who has an IgG reaction to, say, strawberries where cutting the offending trigger out makes all the difference (obvious example there).
Anyway … back to the subject. Haha!
omg why is this a story?
i am not vegan, nor was i during my pregancy, but honestly, if this is the worst a woman is doing to her body while preggo, then we have other things to focus on….
What americans put in their bodies and call food, is insane and inane….
like i’m the ‘weird’ mom b/c i shop at whole foods, or we are the ‘healthy organic family’-
i tell my kids, um, no we are eating normal, real food.
unlike 99% of the other kids we know….it’s mindblowing really….
so whatever-if she and her baby are healthy, who are we to be the eat animal product police?
Meanwhile, we wouldn’t give two sh*ts about a woman shoving a hot dog or two in her pie whole while pregant, and we would utter the usual ‘europeans drinka nd smoke while pregnant in moderation’ b/c they are so much more evolved than us americans….
but let a woman decide she doesnt want cheese or chicken, and all he*l breaks loose….
It’s sooooo strange how vegans and vegetarians are made to ‘defend’ their decision-it really should be the other way around….
and like i said, i eat meat and am in no way vegan.
but yes, you can (with effort and knowledge) grow and raise a healthy baby w/o it. There are sooo many nutrient dense foods with good fats. And she obviously is putting effort in and has the knowledge.
Next.
Also for strawberry allergies-many times it’s the result of the pesticides-they are one of the top 10 where it’s best to do organic or spray free b/c it’s nearly impossible to ‘wash’ them off when it comes to strawberries.
Another reason why many are allergic, is b/c of the ‘pick unripe’ and ripen en route or in a greenhouse….
IF they are picked ripe off the vine, many people would not have an allergy. to them.
The sprays and molds (peanuts mold easily) are the main reason why people are allergic to peanuts, as well, while on the subject.
So buy fruit that was vine or bush ripened-and watch your allergies diminish(:
@ layla – Thank you so much! I know about the leafy greens (my mom used to pick wild collard greens and spinach when she took walks) and I love them. I was just curious about the “supplement” aspect. As in all things, knowledge and nutrition is key.
I do like my leather shoes and handbags, but hubs and I have come to an arrangement: He eats the cows, I wear them, and nothing goes to waste. I DO NOT, WILL NOT, E-V-E-R WEAR FUR. PERIOD. It’s cruel and gross, and a sign of extreme vanity, IMO. (It’s not like we live in the dark ages, need it to stay warm, and don’t have alternatives.)
(That sicko in the Hannibal Lector movie comes to mind, who imprisons & starves girls so he can wear their skin.)
As for the dairy thing: Yes! My oldest was a breast-fed baby, and after he turned one (when you’re “supposed” to introduce dairy – like a first-time parent, I did) he had chronic upper-respiratory infections. I ended up going back to nursing him and supplemented with soy formula. It was awful. He was S-O-O sick. And the process for determining what he was allergic to was tedious: Stop everything for a week; introduce ONE new food only for a couple of days; take away the new food; wait for the reaction; deny new foods for a week; and start the dance all over again. Eggs, cheese (which he loved), milk, flour, the whole shebang.
Raises hand as someone who does not necessarily see it as hypocritical to choose a vegan/vegetarian diet and still have a couple of pairs of leather shoes and stuff laying around the house.
For starters, unless you buy shoes the same way people buy chicken and steak, those things are long-term use items. Not as wasteful, imho. (I buy fabricated items as much as I can when it comes to shoes purses etc.)
Secondly, I look at it as harm reduction, which is the way I generally approach my own diet. I’m a vegetarian who a couple times a year eats a bit of seafood as a treat while traveling. I would get flack for that too from some people. But I look at it as overall-my diet is supporting the things I believe in.
And as for health, my own personal example. I went through 4+ months of chemo while eating a vegetarian diet. Didn’t get anemic, and my blood counts all stayed good.
I’d say as long as she is following a nutritionist’s advice, she’s all good.
And for the record, I could eat hummus all the live long day. I love that stuff.
@layla, actually I used to have hay fever – the month of August was absolutely wretched, sneezing 20-30 times in a row, eyes tearing, clear liquid snot flowing (how’s that for a visual), and I popped benadryl like mad. But when I cut down on dairy (and mind you, I still have a tiny bit – half and half in coffee, a pat of butter), all environmental allergies completely disappeared as well. So I have no idea about the IgE, that’s just hwo it worked for me, and it doesn’t seem coincidental. And I don’t care much WHY it works, either; I’m now coming up on my third August with nary a sneeze. In fact, I almost never sneeze at all.
And now I have officially bored myself to death!
Good for her! As long as her B12 intake is adequate, a well-balanced vegan diet is the most healthy diet there is.
A growing number of medical doctors, such as Dr. Dean Ornish (reversing heart disease) and Dr. Neal Barnard (reversing Type II diabetes), advocate a vegan diet for reversing common medical issues. Emily is not only living in line with her values — which is awesome for the animals and the environment — but is going to avoid a lot of the ailments that strike non-vegans in their later years.
Two more key points: Roughly half of the antibiotics produced are fed to livestock, because they’re treated so poorly that their living conditions often make otherwise healthy animals sick. This misuse of antibiotics is a major factor in drug-resistant bacteria becoming more common. Plus livestock are often fed growth hormones. If pregnant women eat meat and dairy, they should limit themselves to organic so they avoid the secondhand antibiotics and growth hormones.
Good for her! People love to tell other people how to live and what to eat. As an ethical vegetarian, I can completely understand how one’s food choices are often based in deeply, centrally rooted belief systems, much like keeping kosher would be for an orthodox Jew. You just don’t drop that because you get pregnant! My vegetarian children have taken a lot of crap from other kids over the years for our beliefs, too. There are reasonable protein sources in the vegetable world; just because the meat industry has a great lobby doesn’t make them the only protein show in town.
Where I live we have lots of access to cows that are on local farms. I guess it’s considered “organic” because they don’t give them the antibiotics and stuff..but omg…they taste so much better. It’s a world of difference. And BISON?! Ohhh ohhh! What a wonderful red meat. So lean and tender (as long as you don’t cook it above medium for a steak or something…it’s game so it’ll get tough).
But whatever. If you can be a pure carnivore, or vegetarian (which ever type), or vegan and be pregnant and stay healthy then good for you!! If you can’t, well, you should rethink what you’re doing and fix it so you are healthy.
I also don’t really harp on people who eat shitty food either haha. I mean it honestly comes down to: Are mom and baby healthy? Yes? Good.
Vegans always say that their diet is healthy and there are “studies” that say they’re healthier and live longer. In my experience, they age incredibly faster and are always sickly and run down, and depressed. A lot of H’woods young people that died young were vegan. I have a 16yo niece that has been vegan for a year. She is down to a size 00. Her once thick, shiny hair looks like dead thin straw, her once beautiful Audrey Hepburn eyes have dark circles under them and she is sleeping about 13 hours a day now, and her blood sugar is high. Wasting away in only a years time. There is a book called The Vegetarian Myth by Lierre Keith, a woman who was a vegan for 20 years (age 15 – 35) and completely destroyed her health (esp her bones) in the process. Check out her book if you’re really interested in this issue, and don’t be turned off by the reviews on Amazon. Peta has been steadily running a campaign against her and her book, so there is a lot of garbage that has been put out about it.
@jane16
Your niece’s poor health isn’t due to being vegan; if she’s shrunk down to a size 0 this past year, she’s either anorexic/bulemic or has some sort of undiagnosed medical condition. You need to get her checked out by a doctor ASAP.
She’s down to a double zero. And it IS due to her being a vegan, she was a formidable bundle of pure crazy energy before she started her “soy & sugar” diet. btw, it isn’t my place to tell my bro & his wife what to do, although they have taken her to a Dr. and the Dr advised that she get off the vegan diet, which she has refused to do at this point. She says she will get off it at some future point & keeps putting the date back. My brother is hoping that it is merely teen weirdness, which may be the case, but unfortunately, this is the time when her body needs protein and fats the most for her hormone development and growth, so who even knows if this experiment of hers will cause lasting damage or not.
I knew I would get hammered for making a comment on this issue becuz I have before, there are a lot of vegans on this site & I think highly of you all and honor you for your concern for animals. But my experience in life as a former nutritionist and mother, and as someone who knows a boatload of vegans (I’m smack in the middle of where most of the entertainment industry lives) tells me that it is not a healthful diet for most people. For an adult that has a lot of time to prepare and cook the appropriate beans & leathery dark greens and stuff, it may be fine. All of the vegans I know however eat vegan fast food (soy) and too much wheat and sugar. But I don’t think its appropriate for kids. Vegetarianism maybe, cuz at least you can get protein and calcium. But its very hard to get Vit D, iron, essential fatty acids, carnitine & B12, just to name a few in a typical vegan diet. My niece is now anemic and short of Vit D, which causes a whole host of health problems. Please don’t tell me about supplements either. I worked for a high end European supplement and herb co. for years, and am somewhat of an expert on the subject (our Drs. ask me about them). Taking a supplement doesn’t mean it will be absorbed.
btw, there are a few vegan kids in our homeschool group. They are all tiny for their age and my son tells me they are always asking the other kids to sneak them ice cream bars and even hot dogs! The parents (who look like skeletons) provide them with strips of dried seaweed for snacks. One of the parents has cancer of the thyroid (interesting, for someone who eats so much seaweed) and another has lost her eyesight. I could go on and on.
One more story & then I’ll stop hogging the thread…I have another niece (from hubbies side of the family, the one that has always had weight problems). She was up to a size 8 last Dec & freaking out (she was visiting us from Italy). She decided to go vegan right after Christmas. Well by April she had ballooned up to a size 14! She is only about 5’3″ and looks very puffy. She went off the vegan diet last month and is eating protein and veges only now and has dropped four lbs this month. She has always excercised like a mad dog, runs in marathons even, so exercise wasn’t the issue here at all. I brought this up to show that veganism can have completely different results on people. Fascinating, actually.
btw, I too am against factory farming/big agra & buy organic, naturally produced food and local whenever possible.
@jane16
Over a year ago, I was diagnosed as Type II diabetic. My GP was just going to put me on meds but I took my endocrinologist’s advice and switched to a vegan diet as per the guidelines laid out in Neal Barnard’s book. It was a huge adjustment in the beginning — I still miss bacon and cheddar cheese and lemon meringue pie! — but I now feel a bzillion times better.
In fact, I no longer test diabetic. I’ve lost weight (I’m still on the voluptuous side and will never be skinny), my skin is clear, my hair is glossy and my nails are strong. My GP is amazed, my endocrinologist is smug, and I’m healthy.
You described your niece’s diet as “soy and sugar” — the second part of that description is a huge red flag. Plus she should be eating fruits and vegetables! She’s definitely not eating a well-balanced diet.
From your description, I honestly believe your niece is anorexic and/or bulemic. She must be skeletal to fit a size double zero, so there’s a very real risk that she’s starving herself to the point where she causes lasting harm to her body, maybe even death.
Veganism always brings out the close-minded, uneducated, aggressive types who take it personal if one doesn’t eat animal products. Waste of breath even engaging in conversation with these idiots. BTW, one tablespoon of walnuts gives you 10 grams of protein and vitamin D – ever heard of THE SUN?
Emily seems to be responsible about this. She’s consulting a dietician, she seems to be following a program so I don’t see the controversy. She is getting in protein and having protein dense foods so I think she will be fine. She doesn’t sound like she’s being irresponsible. Besides, I’ve heard that going back and forth on the vegan diet can be really hard on your body as well which seems like it would be worse for the baby if the mother’s body is stressed from changes in eating habits. I think as long as she’s okay and the baby is okay then there is nothing to worry about.
I myself am on the Feingold diet for ADHD. I do not eat or consume anything processed, with dyes or any sort of unnatural preservatives in it (essentially I eat organic). I respect those who are on vegan diets but I personally like the varieties and benefits I get from meat. I’m fine with anyone who chooses to be on a vegan diet and the conversation here is friendly so I respect the healthy debate here about the benefits of veganism. I do have a problem with the “PETA types” as I like to call them who prefer to shove their choices down everyone else’s throat. That I cannot respect.
@lrm It’s funny you mention that. I used to have a strawberry allergy but since I began consuming organic foods, I began eating strawberries again and I have had no issues at all.
@Jane16 it sounds to me like your niece may have an eating disorder and that she needs to address her emotional issues concerning her body image more than the vegan lifestyle.
@Violet Do you have to eat more often as a vegan? I have hypoglycemia and part of the reason I prefer meat is my doctor and dietician told me I need to eat a lot of protein in order to keep my blood sugar up. I know you have the opposite problem but I am curious if you have experienced a blood sugar crash or what you eat as a vegan to prevent that from happening?
I know Emily, I have friends on Bones and visited the set many times over the years. She is intelligent, and usually very polite except she is pushy when it comes to veganism. She is also one of the few actresses that is truly naturally beautiful when you see her in person. I’m sure she will do her best for her kid.
Stella, your comment was over the top rude, so let me tell you I could give a monkeys ass what you eat. btw, a l o t of people are allergic to walnuts (I am) and my vegan niece lives in Washington State on the Puget Sound. Rarely any sunlight up there. If you don’t like my comments don’t read them.
@ Owl. I am very interested in the Feingold diet. I know several autistic kids who are on it and doing much better. I am probably going to try it with my son that has seizure disorder. He also has blood sugar issues to be taken in account.
Thanks for the advice about my niece, but we have already been into that. The only eating issues she has is that she really doesn’t like the soy “meat” & soy “cheese” she buys. If its something she likes, like vegan bread or pancakes, she’ll gorge on it. She eats too many carbs, which is why her blood sugar is high. There is an emotional issue here, but its that the Nazis at Peta got to her and brainwashed her (and some of her friends, who have since abandoned the veganism) got them to do a pledge to be vegan. They have convinced her (an honor student) that she is saving 100 animals a year. Even though we have proved to her that this is bs, she is afraid to eat eggs or dairy. She is always telling everyone that she wishes she could have a shake or some scrambled eggs. As a side note, the parents are raising hell about the Peta Nazis infiltrating their kids schools and their school dist & the police are trying to find them.
@Gossip Owl
I no longer test diabetic, but I’ll always have to be more careful than most about making sure my blood sugar levels stay stable.
Even before I became vegan, I used to snack a lot and that hasn’t changed. I eat three meals a day, with a snack in between meals plus one shortly before bedtime.
I pick snacks with a low glycemic index. Some people might not be familiar with GI values, but basically they measure how quickly the body converts food to glucose. The lower the GI, the longer it takes, which is good because foods with a high GI can cause blood sugar levels to spike.
Here are some examples of some of my snacks: Celery sticks dipped into hummus or peanut butter, a piece of fresh fruit, dairyfree yogurt (soy, rice or coconut), toasted spicy chickpeas, vegan “beef” jerky.
An overview of my food plan can be found at http://www.pcrm.org/magazine/gm06autumn/vegan.html
I have to admit that once in a blue moon, I still have meat or dairy. But that’s rare — just when it’s someone’s birthday or some other special occasion, and even then only in moderation — because I feel so much better when I eat vegan. It also helps that I really enjoy cooking, so it’s fun exploring all sorts of ethnic dishes as well as all the vegan substitutes out there.
Violet, super kudos to you! Sounds like a great diet for diabetics. I’m glad to hear you’re doing so well & am saving your link. I eat similarly myself. I’m trying to get my niece to switch to coconut yogurt and ice cream instead of soy, but she lives in a small town (No Whole Foods there) and doesn’t have much selection.
@jane16
Thank you for the kind words, I really appreciate that!
In a town without much selection, the best thing to do is make yogurt and ice cream from scratch. For example, you can order yogurt starter online from Amazon and then use a slow cooker to make all sorts of yogurt. The instructions are here: http://funkyfoodallergies.blogspot.com/2009/02/allergen-free-yogurt-recipe.html
It’s super easy and quite yummy. I personally like yogurt on the creamy side, so I add tapioca starch (also available from Amazon).
It’s incredibly simple and quick to make healthy ice cream, and you don’t even need a machine! All you need is some frozen bananas: http://cleangreensimple.com/2011/03/vegan-ice-cream-without-a-machine/
If you don’t like bananas, just pop a handful of frozen fruit, some nondairy milk, a splash of vanilla and little sweetener (I like agave nectar, which has a much lower GI than sugar) in a blender. Mix that up and you have fruit ice cream. So fast and so good, especially in summer.
Good grief – what kind of bitch tells a 12 year old she has fat thighs and a flat chest? On behalf of Emily Deschanel, I’d like to smack that (insert vulgar word here) right in her face. Repeatedly, and hard.
the biggest thing I learned about veganism is its all about quality. ALOT of youngsters think just eating french fries and not eating meat is ok. Theres so much more to it. When I’m eating vegan is when I feel the best sugar and meat make me feel like a total slug. To the poster that said we have pointy teeth for meat, so do vegan animals
The only risk of an unhealthy diet is to the mother. The baby gets everything it needs from her body.
@ jane16 – Is there a vegan or holistic nutritionist in your area? It sounds like you niece (number 1) isn’t getting proper nutrition. I think a nutritionist is in order, since you don’t think she has an eating disorder.
The problem with PETA (ONE of them, anyway) is that they focus on being militant, not educational.
Call me Pollyanna Bellaluna, but if an organisation “encourages” a lifestyle, they should offer ample education (i.e. nutritional support) to support said lifestyle.
Please, get her to a nutritionist. Tell her to be honest so they can help her achieve a balance, nutritious diet.
PS – I also do not like (at ALL) the vegan/vegetarian “meats and cheeses” – they do not taste like meat or cheese, nor are the the same in texture. That’s why I still eat chicken or turkey, and reduced fat or non-fat cheese (I don’t have a gall-bladder, so a lot of my choices are made for me).
PPS – My mom’s made home-made yogurt almost my whole life. It. is. AWESOME.
@mauibound, that’s the thing, you really do have to educate yourself a LOT when you make a transition, even to vegetarianism. I remember eating a lot of peanut butter sandwiches in the early days, and I was an adult. And even though my family are awesome about my diet, I’m pretty sure they would have known zip about how to help me out with it, if i’d been a teenager.
@stella, a tablespoon of walnuts does not have ten grams of protein, you might want to check your sources there. Try more like a half cup.
@ orion70 – Yeah, I loves me some hummus. I just wish it wasn’t so darn expensive here in the little podunk backwater we’ve relocated to. If you have some recipes, I would LOVE some links! 🙂
Wow, you militant meat eaters are too much. jane16 I have not followed your thread and do not know you or your problem and to be honest don’t care. If you are the person with the brainwashed teenager maybe check in with the parent’s and see what their parenting style is before you go blaming an outside source like PETA. It’s so much easier to blame someone else for one’s problems, isn’t it. BTW, I never mentioned anything about my diet and what I eat so you are off base.
orion70 perhaps you should check your facts. 1/2 oz = 2 tbs = 24 grams of protein. (i.e. 1/2 cup = 4 oz)
http://www.weightlossforall.com/protein-nuts.htm
Educate yourself.
@the original bellaluna
Alton Brown has a “turbo” hummus recipe that I really like. It uses peanut butter instead of tahini (which people often don’t usually have in the pantry): http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/turbo-hummus-recipe/index.html
Hummus is really flexible — you can use different types of beans, different nut butters in place of the sesame paste, and change up the spices — and it’s always cheap, healthy and good.
Umm, stella? Your reference there says *3* & 1/2 ounces of walnuts (or 100grams), not 1/2 ounce. If you’re going to throw a link out, at least read the chart on it. It clearly states there in the top left corner: Nut type-no salt (100g or 3 1/2 oz)
Also, your measure equivalents are off. 1/2 oz = 1 tbsp, not two.
@bellaluna, I think this is the most recent recipe I made (I switch them up a lot):
http://rainbowwarriorsfavoriterecipes.blogspot.com/2010/11/chick-peas-or-garbanzo-bean-recipes.html
It was super-creamy (likely due to the tahini quantity) So good. Made a huge batch too.
While I will never make a vegan (literally can’t – a genetic freak in my family means the last three times I tried, while under a doctor and nutritionists care I ended up in the ER. So, I’m ‘stuck’ with doing my best with smaller amount, local, humanely raised and grassfed) Emily D is one vegan I can respect. She isn’t screaming in people’s faces – simply lives her path with dignity and talks about it when asked. Long as she stays healthy and the baby is healthy… why should anyone on the planet give her grief about what she has chosen?
Can’t help but think that’s a scary path for folks to start down – demand someone give up their own beliefs because of majority rule… it’s not too long before EVERYONE loses the rights to make decisions for themselves.
And, if I’m honest – Emily D and Pink and 2 of the very very few celebs I care about and would be more than thrilled to make whatever vegan delights they wanted for a chance to have a talk with them and say thanks for a long time of entertainment.
It also stands to be mentioned that not all vegetarians and vegans abstain from meat, etc. for ethical reasons–it could be for health or environmental reasons as well (hi!).
It would be best if she thought about her child more than her diet. Great post Jane 16 – it will be interesting if the vegan kids go the opposite when they can choose what they want to eat.
@ Violet & orion70 – Thank you so much! I will try those recipes as soon as I’m able. Like I said, I’m in a little podunk town, but I’m not above ordering stuff online or driving for over an hour to get what I need.
Jeez – if she’s healthy and the baby’s healthy, it’s really not anyone’s business but her own. I’m glad she’s happy and I am glad she’s healthy. I wish her continued happiness!
What’s the problem if she’s seeing a nutritionist? I just hope she doesn’t raise her kid to be a vegan. I used to be vego so can understand not wanting to cook/handle meat, but I think kids need to have meat, dairy etc, and choose to become vego themselves later in life.
I agree with those that think it’s not a big deal as long as she’s eating properly and working with a nutritionist.
I heard that after so long you don’t really crave the old foods you used to eat. Any of you vegetarians/vegans have any insight on this?
She probably eats healthier than I do. A piece of cake with ice cream and then two limes. My daugther’s going to be three tomorrow! Wow.
With this pregnancy I have craved meat like crazy! I’m not a vegan/vegetarian though. I think that pregnant women shouldn’t beat themselves up if they give into their animal product cravings though. There’s enough stuff to worry about during pregnancy.
Don’t care what she eats. She is beautiful inside and out.
Loved story of how she kindly treated workers who were treated rudely by co-star. A lady.
Bet she checked w/doctor and wouldn’t harm baby for anything.
@ Isa – It’s true. I’m not speaking as a vegan or vegetarian, but as one who has given up fast-food. I used to crave french fries like crazy; now I can’t stand them. The one thing I haven’t been able to kick is the Charbroiled Chicken Club (no mayo – hate mayo) from Carl’s Jr. But honestly, it’s a boneless skinless chicken breast on a whole-grain bun with lettuce, tomato, and swiss cheese. (I choose to get it without the bacon.)
It was the same with simple carbs for me, when I tried South Beach. The first 3 or 4 days were MISERABLE, and then I just didn’t want them.
(Reminds me of Phoebe on Friends, when she was surrogate for her brother and craved meat. She gave in, but hated doing so. I agree with you about the cravings. Also, Mom always told me “There is a reason you’re craving that; your body needs something that’s in it.” LOVE my mom!)
Happy birthday to your little girl! 😀
@isa, I kind of went off meat towards the end anyway, it was one of the reasons I gave it up. The first thing people always seem to ask me when I tell them I don’t eat meat is “OMG don’t you ever crave a big steak” ummm no. Last thing on my mind. I still like the smell of bacon and roast chicken but have zero desire to cross the line and eat it. It think it is just the smokiness, because I also love things like smoked cheese, smoked salt etc etc. And I found a seitan bacon recipe that makes me a happy camper 🙂
@ Stella:
Veganism always brings out the close-minded, uneducated, aggressive types who take it personal if one doesn’t eat animal products. Waste of breath even engaging in conversation with these idiots. BTW, one tablespoon of walnuts gives you 10 grams of protein and vitamin D – ever heard of THE SUN?
I agree. And I knew some would eventually show up. The thread was a way too civilized to be true.
@ orion70 – Recipe for that bacon, please? 😀 *smiling most charming smile*
To all who believe that eating
meat with aggressive behavior types.
HITLER did not eat meat….
Emily… eat a steak. If not for
you. Do it for your baby.
@ Laura:
To all who believe that eating
meat with aggressive behavior types.
HITLER did not eat meat….
Are you f*cking serious? Really? Hittler was what he was because he was a vegetarian?
Get a f*cking grip and history lessons. You’re in serious need of both. Or go troll somewhere else.
LOL hitler also didn’t drink alcohol, so let’s booze it up! Lohan for Prez!
joking aside, i think it’s important to LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. everyone is different. i am vegan now, but i’ve been, lacto-ovo vegatarian, pescatarian but i haven’t eaten red meant since i was 10. i actually get quite ill now if i do eat it. it’s all about what makes you feel your best. to the woman who’s niece is 00 with her hair falling out, seriously needs an intervention. “soy and sugar” isn’t a diet. that’s starvation.
and if you are looking for good hummus recipes it’s all about proportions: 2 cans chick peas, 2 tablespoons tahini 1 fresh lemon (or more you choose) garlic and2-4 tablespoons of olive oil. you can add a bit of water to make it creamier or use blended up cauliflower and less chick peas to make it low fat. you really can’t go wrong with hummus 🙂
I hope her baby doesn’t have her same big square jaw. It’d be like trying to birth Oliver Reed. *Crossing my legs and wincing.*
I think Laura was being facetious. Everybody can spout off about how each ingredient in his own pantry makes you superior, more aware, selfless, sexy, etc., and everyone’s pantry bears the mark of the devil, this thing makes you aggro, that thing gives you phantom pregnancy, and so on. I feel like instead of it being an argument about ‘why do you care so much about I eat, it’s my body, read my food journal’, though that’s there, it also, ‘why do you insist on telling me about you eat and why that makes you better than me, when I’m not interested in your uninvited recitations?’ Either way, arguments start and belligerent rigidity that builds up with every traded insults really belies a lot of claims that any person could attribute to his own diet. But diet only goes so far and if you’re a person who enjoys all the amenities of the ‘developed world’, neither the peas nor the chicken in that pot pie in and of themselves can cure you of being a fundamentally terrible person. What do I know of any of you and the good and bad you perpetrate away from the screen? Oh, so now it’s breaking news that people don’t like being insulted? No, so expect the worst if you’re constantly defaulting to that, we’re not victims. Okay, so a woman got pregnant. The end, right?
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PROTEIN DEFICIENCY- have you EVER heard of anyone having a protein deficiency? Unless they are starving.
Go to cron-o-meter and you can see exactly how much nutrition you are getting from fruits and vegetables, you get more than enough protein when you eat enough calories.
PRODUCE HAS ALL THE AMINO ACIDS TO BUILD PROTEIN.
Seriously- look up some fruitarians like FreeLee and the fruitarian on youtube- they are fit and healthy and happy.
Funny that fat sick Americans have ANYTHING to say against someone eating healthy foods.
@the original bellaluna – You’re welcome! As for vegan bacon, there are lots of good vegan “meats” available and you can usually find them in the tofu section of your grocery store. I like frying Yves Veggie Bacon strips until they’re crispy in a cast iron skillet with a little bit of olive oil. In fact, I did that for lunch today and made myself a BLT!
@isa – Yes, after a while my tastes changed. Foods I used to love now taste too rich and I can no longer eat them in the same quantities I used to without feeling poorly.
Sure thing bellalluna!
http://pdxvegancookingclub.blogspot.com/2009/05/seitan-bacon.html
(btw, I used garbanzo, not soy flour)
YMMV, but I thought this stuff was crazy good.
I started making seitan after I was told no more soy (not an allergy, I can still have soy sauce and small quantities), and I am a complete seitan convert. Most of the stuff I make is incredibly easy, and so much cheaper than the soymeats.
This may not offer any prelude… but I find it a bit humourous that having played in a role marked with anthropology… She would understand the biological basis of human growth. When I was born I was not a vegetarian, but when I turned 6 I became one. And I believe that there are certain important factors involved in a young infants life and diet. We can’t evolve out of being omnivours without serious and sometimes detrimental medical repercussions. A child and infant needs sustenance that comes from meats and dairy. It’s how we evolved, like how we need oxygen to breathe.