I have numerous food allergies. Soy, all other legumes (garbanzo beans, peas, beans,peanuts, etc) gluten (wheat, barley, etc), bell & chili peppers, eggplant, and all nuts except almonds and pecans (and I need to limit those lest they kick in an allergy too) are all off limits to me. In addition, I have a BMI of 28 (weight problem) and type 2 diabetes runs in my family, so I try to eat higher protein/fat and very low carbs -- it is one of the only ways I don't feel hungry all the time and then end up gaining weight. Using the Atkins program, I have been slowly losing some weight, which is essential for my health, but that and "Paleo" diets of course end up being animal product heavy.
I know that eating meat is not good for the planet and that most meat also means animal suffering, but I feel like I have so few other options for proteins (and I'm really sick of scrambled eggs) that I end up eating it, though I try to eat only organic free range meats.
Finally, budget is an issue, as I'm a Realtor and the Great Recession has been very hard on our family. I was eating a lot of farmed salmon, but then found out that it too is bad because of the many antibiotics used, plus the tanks are often cruel to the fish.
Right now, I'm existing mainly on organic, free range eggs (I don't like the idea of chickens being crammed into those little cages), some organic chicken, organic milk and cheese, and almonds, plus of course veggies especially mushrooms.
I know that many Kossacks are vegetarian or vegan, and I'd like to move more in that direction, but I need some good suggestions for recipes that I can make that have less negative impact on the planet.
Please, if you've got some great easy standby recipes, I would really, really appreciate it. I know that this is not the usual Kos diary, but I see from other diaries that many people are trying to be earth conscious in their eating habits, and I want to as well if I can figure out how to eat within my dietary restrictions.
Plus, this may be one of the few non-troll diaries that gets recipes!!!
Thanks in advance!