Something I've come to realize as I'm growing up is that it all boils down to what YOU believe - to be true/the right way/healthy, whatever. Because in any field, like food, there are studies showing many sides to things - studies show that meat is healthy and beneficial to your health, studies showing it's not and that plants are the way to go, (or on this, most appropriate of days, politics - how one candidate has or has not created more jobs or improved such and such, yadayadayada). Obviously, common sense you think would play into a part of your decision making - but I've come to realize not everyone seems to have common sense, or rather - they don't have MY idea of common sense. They make the choices they deem fit for their lifestyle. And money, I know, can (and often does) play a huge factor, which is frustrating. Fresh produce and veggies can be expensive, and doubly so if they're organic (which, another thing I found out, doesn't necessarily mean a damn thing about it being healthier for you) and whatnot, bought from your local farmer's market.
I guess the best we can do is figure out what we believe to be true and do the best for the lifestyle we entertain. While I would like to try the Engine 2 Diet, I know I could never give up meat. My body tells me it needs meat, and I've gotten much better at telling what my body needs and wants. Yeah, I may be craving that chocolate cake donut from Dunkins, but it's not what my body needs. If I eat some fruit then my sugar craving will probably be satisfied. But I have a deep-burning need to have meat. Maybe that comes, somewhat, in part from my active lifestyle. But according to E2D, I could burn vegetables better than meat.
I also saw a documentary called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead, about an Australian guy who took hold of his crappy eating habits and started drinking only fresh juices he made. It was pretty amazing how well it worked. And while, again, I could never give up meat and go on a strictly liquid diet, it made me think. If I'm this active and eat relatively well now, how much better/healthier would I be if I even took it a bit further - increased my vegetables, did juicing (which I've been interested in trying for quite some time), read labels (and actually care about what they say :P), and cut back on things I'd thought I'd already cut back on? Of course, then I went through my Pinterest Good Lookin' Recipes and a LOT of those recipes look pretty unhealthy...But it just struck me how you need to know (or in my case, figure out), what you believe, your stand on life matters, and who you trust.
I've known this for some time, but I am not by nature a very trusting person. I'm in fact, incredibly wary. If I experience evidence in my own life, then I will begin trusting a person - for example, my voice teacher. I was young (funny how fast you seem to grow up in NYC) and had only rudimentary training when I found her, so I wasn't sure what to look for in this, most important of teachers. But after working together for nearly 2years, because of the things she has helped me to achieve and the steady growth I've seen in myself under her tutelage, if she tells me to do something and explains it to me in terms I can understand, even if I'm skeptical, I'll give it a shot, because of the rapport we're built - and I usually find out I can now do something I never would've thought I could. I know my lack of trust is a huge reason I'm not in a relationship. I don't know from where these trust issues first sprang, but I've built them into a kind of armor.
It is a fascinating (and oft times frustrating) thing growing up - finding out who you are, what you believe, how you want to live, and if you're all talk or actually a person of action.
I highly suggest taking a look at the above mentioned shows - which I watched on Netflix, but I'm sure you can find them else-where on the internet. Also, I think trying the Engine 2 Diet and/or the juicing would be a great idea for vegetarians/vegans (well, for everyone, but especially for them, since, you know, they already eat plants all the time - it wouldn't be such a drastic switch). I know a lot of vegetarians who think they don't have a lot of delicious options, so they consume a ton of mega-unhealthy processed "foods" - these new ways of looking at food would be right up your alley. I know many people in my family have stomach/food issues (as I'm sure many other people do as well) and these might be a good idea to try even for a week to see if any symptoms go away and you're feeling better, more energetic, etc. Below are the links to corresponding sites for the movies I've mentioned.
Engine 2 Diet
Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead
Forks Over Knives