What do you guys classify as healthy proteins? Is meat completely to abandon?
I've always contemplated going vegetarian because both heart disease and cancer are on my dad's side of the family (and they're all big time meat eaters)... but at the same time I also don't want to look like a wimp and want to keep some muscle and strength.
Do you think taking a protein/berry smoothie every day healthier/better than eating a lean piece of organic chicken/fish?
Better? Not from a purely nutrient outlook. Personally? If I can meet my dietary requirements without supporting the bastardized farming industry machine I will. You would be surprised at the amount of protein that chia seeds, hemp hearts, chic peas, quinoa (keen-wa) have. 4 tablespoons of hemp hearts has 15g of protein and a 3-1 ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 (link). I sprinkle that shit on whatever I'm eating and don't even notice it. Because I am a vegan (sort of, I'm a salmon fisherman and eat what I catch) I use nutritional yeast to get my B vitamins which usually only come from animals.
I choose organic, non genetically modified produce because A) I don't want to consume mass amounts of pesticides (especially when making juice or anything that concentrates), and B) who the fuck knows what chain reactions occur when you mess with the genetic sequence of a plant/animal. If I can taste the difference between GMO and non GMO, there is a difference structurally.
Diet for me is a mix of personal beliefs, and knowledge of proper nutrition. I tried to go veggie when I was younger but didn't have the knowledge and felt weak and tired all the time.