A Balanced and Healthy Culinary Place

For health and religious reasons, I had to remove meat from my diet, but not completely.

For health reasons, and according to the WebMD, red and processed meat cause or increase the risks of Type-2diabetes, obesity, heart disease/stroke, certain cancers, eventual death/shorter lifespan, blood cholesterol, acne, Alzheimer's disease, and other diseases.

Whereas I am not cutting out meat from my diet entirely, I reduced its intake to no meat for several months. Dr. Christine Rosenbloom, nutrition professor, advises against giving up meat entirely.

For religious reasons: As a Catholic, I must avoid being in the crossfire of Good Friday obligation and the temptation of the flesh (not mine). I have resolved to abolish meat entirely on Fridays entirely. Not to face the danger of forgetting, I don't eat meat for weeks and months. When I do allow myself to eat meat, I make sure it is in the middle of the week between Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The minor sacrifice of no meat is nothing compared to Jesus dying on the cross.

In my effort to avoid meat, I eat salads more than I eat any other type of food, and my salads begin with green leaf lettuce. I love to prepare aromatic, healthy meals with my salad as my topping. I fight hereditary cholesterol, so I have to scale through months without meat.

--Frances Ohanenye maintains this visual "cookbook" that features processes and ingredients in pictures. The offerings have evolved into vegetarian and food-allergy recipes. Other cooks and chefs should calibrate according to their locale, availability, and preference. Click on "Open Source Cooking" (http://www.virgyskitchenandgarden.com/p/kitchen-sample.html) for additional information. Thanks for visiting.