I’m the manager of a Texas Hill Country Bed and Breakfast that caters to vegetarians, among other visitors.

One of the most interesting things about my time here has been observing people and their dietary habits. Of course, not everyone who comes here is vegetarian and not all vegetarians eat healthy. But most people interested in nutrition find this topic fascinating, so I thought I would contribute here, to Groovy Vegetarian, the top five unexpected dietary habits I have observed while working in a food service capacity.

1. Lachanophobia: Or fear of vegetables.  Some people are so afraid of vegetables that the mere mention of anything grown outside, like a carrot or tomato, gives them the shivers and causes their faces to crinkle in utter disgust.  I once had a man need to be fed by his wife with an airplane-like motion because the omelet he was eating contained fresh, garden-grown rosemary!
2. Super High Protein for Older Women: Some people who have had gastric bypass surgery or those on Atkins type diets must have higher amounts of protein, but these types of special restrictions are not what I am referring to.  There is a segment of 50 to 60 year-old women who demand huge amounts of animal protein for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  It does not matter what is served as long as the animal protein is there. The reasons they give tend to be either they are trying to maintain their strength or simply that they have always eaten that way.
3. Anti-“Healthy” People: Words like “healthy”, “organic”, and “nutritious” can be enough to make some people refuse to even taste the food.  For example, we serve Innocent Chocolate, which is some of the best tasting chocolate most people have ever tasted and it’s sugar-free and dairy-free.  I learned early on that many people would refuse to eat the chocolate if I told them it did not contain sugar or dairy before they ate it.  We once had a woman who had just complimented us on how good the food was, stop mid-chew and refuse to finish her meal.  Why?  We told her the vegetables were organic!
4. Vegetarians Who Won’t Eat Vegetables: Typically, the reason they call themselves vegetarian is because they don’t eat meat.  They still eat primarily processed foods like nachos, French fries and Twinkies.  Vegetables, however, turn them off just as much as meat.
5. Diet Soda Addiction: This is a huge problem.  There are a number of people who are addicted to diet soda and many of these people are vegetarians.  Almost every weekend we have people bring 12 or 24 packs of soda (usually diet) with them and they drink all of them during two-day stays. I’ve even seen vegetarians chug a diet soda, like it was water, everyday after a run.

The saddest part about most of these people is that they are usually somewhat overweight and when I speak with them, they complain about everything from diabetes and high cholesterol to cancer, but don’t make the connection between their health and their poor diet choices.

Editor Note: Thanxs for the interesting article, Jason.

image via culture feast

Top 5 Unexpected Dietary Habits is from groovy vegetarian

Prickly Pear Cactus is grown in the western United States and Mexico.  Long a staple of traditional Mexican cuisine, the benefits of this cool plant are just starting to be discovered.  Virtually every part of the plant — its flat plate, its flower, and its fruit — are edible and nutritious.

The cactus is packed with flavonoids, the compound also found in red wine which is known to improve the body’s response to allergens and viruses.  Flavenoids are also believed to fight cancer.

However the healthful journey doesn’t stop there — the cactus pads are packed with minerals like:

• potassium
• calcium
• iron
• and magnesium is found in the pads as well as beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A) and vitamin C, making them a rival to spinach in healthfulness
• The juice from the cactus can heal cuts like aloe vera

According to a recent University of Arizona study, the plant’s fruit contains a special pectin which decreases LDL cholesterol levels and may help the body stabilize its glucose response.  The aforementioned study also found its pads to be effective in warding off Type II Diabetes, the adult onset type.

The prickly pear cactus is a delicious addition to pasta salads, soups, and more.  Next time you’re in the market – give this super food a chance.

Have you ever tried Cactus? If so, how. If not, will you be trying it.

Weekly Super Food Spotlight – The Cactus is from groovy vegetarian