However, you are incorrect about our body’s need for them: we do, indeed, need complete sources of protein (for example, the ever popular “rice and beans” pairing). However, this only becomes a serious concern in countries that have pervasive food security issues.

Also, our “bones do not give up calcium to balance pH.” At least, not in a practical moment-to-moment sense. That, mercifully is done by our kidneys http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renal_compensation or via respiration (excrete CO2 via the lungs).

The misinformation is that protein needs to be “complete” which was published in a book by a sociologist (not a scientist) based on a theory she came up with from dietary studies of rats (which are quite different from humans).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diet_for_a_Small_Planet

Francis Moore Lappé herself even retracted the idea in the next edition of her book but nearly 40 years later it still persists that plant protein, which grows full sized cows, elephants, hippos, and many other of the largest earth beings, is somehow inferior (as evidenced by your own post on quinoa). Even medical doctors, who do not get nutritional training in medical school, believe the protein myths and are spreading it.

Not only is plant protein complete, and we get more than enough if we are meeting our caloric needs, but protein is not something we can store up and anything over what we need has to be processed through our bodies and excreted. Too much protein is acidic (especially from animal sources) and very hard on our organs, the kidneys in particular, and our bones which give up calcium to balance the PH.

Here are some well-written sources (with charts) on protein needs to clarify the whole idea:
http://coloradoveggies.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=37:qbut-how-do-you-get-enough-proteinq&catid=16:nutrition&Itemid=20

http://www.pcrm.org/health/veginfo/vsk/protein_myth.html

http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2007nl/apr/dairy.htm

http://michaelbluejay.com/veg/protein.html

http://www.diseaseproof.com/archives/diet-myths-complementary-protein-myth-wont-go-away.html

http://www.vegparadise.com/protein.html

http://www.soystache.com/plant.htm

http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Low-protein-diets-could-protect-against-cancer-says-new-study

And an article just this weekend in the New York Times on the importance of lower acid/protein diets for bone health.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/health/24brod.html

As for fish and seafood, they are both often quite contaminated with PCBs, dioxins, mercury and other environmental contaminants. Both the orca pods and Inuits are suffering from the chemical overload.

Now, on those notes, is this wonderful cart still open? Their website and twitter page seem to have been abandoned a month ago and it’s a long drive to find out if they are still around.

By the way, just stopped by Ruby Dragon over the weekend for the b-fast special and cannot stop raving about the quinoa pancakes. Do try them with blueberries, walnuts and dark chocolate!! <>

I love Wikipedia.

I will be working at the Mississippi Marketplace and last week I had a chance to try the Ruby Dragon’s Curry Tofu. Wow, I was not expecting the complexity of flavor. I think working next to the Ruby Dragon is going to be a wonderful perk of the job!

Let’s stop apologizing for being vegans.