This weekend was our first barbecue since I decided to swear off meat. Of course, us being in cow country, my in-laws had T-bone steaks the size of Utah. I brought my little Boca burgers and was completely happy.
The only problem? Apparently I missed the memo that said when you don't eat meat, everyone and their mother decides to give you unwarranted opinions. "Yeah, well all I'm going to say is I don't agree with it, but do what you want." Um, and you agree with eating steaks the size of your plate? Gross. "What kind of vegetarian are you, you don't like asparagus?" Just because I don't like ONE vegetable doesn't mean that I don't meet the qualifications to not eat meat. "Don't you think it's selfish that you won't eat meat and people in Uganda can't even get food?" And eating steaks bigger than your head isn't selfish? Give me a break. "So what do you eat? Like, lettuce?" DUDE, I just don't eat meat! It's not like I swear off all normal eating!
Through all of this though, I found out one thing. It's not eating meat that I have a problem with. I have a problem with the way the animals were treated prior to being on my plate. It's the way they were slaughtered. So, because of morons giving opinions and asking 5-year-old questions, I've made a decision. I wanted to swear off meat simply because of the mass production of it. Sunday morning, I called Central Market and they have free-range/antibiotic free/hormone free meat. I don't think I will be eating it much, but I will every now and again. This still means pretty much being a veg head at get togethers and whatnot. I would never make people pay the amount of money I am paying just to feed me.
I still feel good about this decision. It's still something I can be proud of, and not feel like a selfish human while eating.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
That first shopping trip.
After last night's decision, I just knew that I had to get out and get a little shopping done to motivate myself. Instead of leaving the house blind, and just grabbing things at the store, I wrote a list.
It's funny how you can normally go into the store and feel comfortable that you know exactly what you are getting. However, you change a few items, and you feel like you are in a foreign country shopping!
At first, I was completely overwhelmed. I didn't know where to get the tofu, I didn't know exactly what ginger looked like, NO CLUE what tahini looks like!, and I've never actually looked for garbanzo beans!
Instead of trying to rush myself to find the items, I started at one end of the store and worked my way around. By doing things that way, I not only gave myself time and stopped the possibility of a panic attack, I learned where the items were placed for next go around.
So, after almost a two-hour grocery shopping trip, I think it's safe to say, "First time = success!"
It's funny how you can normally go into the store and feel comfortable that you know exactly what you are getting. However, you change a few items, and you feel like you are in a foreign country shopping!
At first, I was completely overwhelmed. I didn't know where to get the tofu, I didn't know exactly what ginger looked like, NO CLUE what tahini looks like!, and I've never actually looked for garbanzo beans!
Instead of trying to rush myself to find the items, I started at one end of the store and worked my way around. By doing things that way, I not only gave myself time and stopped the possibility of a panic attack, I learned where the items were placed for next go around.
So, after almost a two-hour grocery shopping trip, I think it's safe to say, "First time = success!"
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The epiphany.
Tonight, as I was discussing how I think that vegetarians are kind of doing themselves a disservice by being a vegetarian, I had an epiphany.
Over the past couple of years, there are times that I am eating meat when I start to almost mentally gag. Sometimes it's the consistency, sometimes it's knowing how that food got on my plate (and inevitably in my mouth). I have often thought about becoming a vegetarian, but the idea of a whole diet change has always scared me away.
Tonight, however, the idea of becoming a vegetarian doesn't scare me. It makes me want to go to the grocery store, and purchase all the items that I'm definitely going to need to make this work. Because of the amount of veggies I already eat, the switch won't be too hard for me. I will need to switch milks and such, but nothing too scary.
I have decided, that for now, I will become a lacto-ovo vegetarian. Maybe sometime in the future I will switch to simply being a lacto vegetarian. I'm a big fan of dairy, so cutting that out of my diet would be pure torture. However, cutting out the meats won't be detrimental in the least. Replacing meats for legumes seems reasonable enough.
So, cheers to new things, and happy animals!
Over the past couple of years, there are times that I am eating meat when I start to almost mentally gag. Sometimes it's the consistency, sometimes it's knowing how that food got on my plate (and inevitably in my mouth). I have often thought about becoming a vegetarian, but the idea of a whole diet change has always scared me away.
Tonight, however, the idea of becoming a vegetarian doesn't scare me. It makes me want to go to the grocery store, and purchase all the items that I'm definitely going to need to make this work. Because of the amount of veggies I already eat, the switch won't be too hard for me. I will need to switch milks and such, but nothing too scary.
I have decided, that for now, I will become a lacto-ovo vegetarian. Maybe sometime in the future I will switch to simply being a lacto vegetarian. I'm a big fan of dairy, so cutting that out of my diet would be pure torture. However, cutting out the meats won't be detrimental in the least. Replacing meats for legumes seems reasonable enough.
So, cheers to new things, and happy animals!
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