Thinking, specifically, about vegetarianism.
"It has no meat on it?" I asked the lady behind the counter.
She responded with something akin to sheepishness. "No. No meat."
But it had sauteed mushrooms. So I bought one. It was my consolation prize for staying late at work to run the recording studio.
As I took my first bite, my impression was sauteed mushrooms.
As I took my second bite, I thought, I could totally get used to this.
The thing about having a sister who's an adamant vegan is that every time you do anything vegetarian, you seek her approval. I do, anyway. So I emailed her and told her she should use the Ebbet's Field sandwich to convert people.
Oh, but it's not vegan.
Anyway, vegans of principle--like my sister--have some rhetorical bases that I just simply don't agree with, and most likely never will. However, my month of vegetarianism helped me form a fair amount of empathy for these folks.
When I was a vegetarian, I was told on almost a daily basis that I wasn't getting enough protein. I don't know whether this is true, but I doubt it. I ate a heck of a lot of beans and eggs that month. In fact, since I was watching what I ate so carefully, I think I was eating more healthily than I typically did. (That's not saying much.) And before the haters start hating, I'd like to point out that veganism is also potentially healthy. If you have a problem with that, take it up with Kim Painter of USA Today.
Anyway, I love steak and sushi too much to become a vegetable, and frankly, my time spent shopping and cooking during Vegetarian Month was excessive. Nonetheless, I do not mind the idea of fewer animals dying on behalf of my ability to snack on their tasty flesh, and I am certainly amenable to the idea of not supporting businesses that effectively torture animals.
The latter point I will ignore for now. The first point, however, is something that can easily be addressed.
I think I'm going to start doing vegetarian day. It will be one day a week--probably Friday. On this day, I just won't eat any meat. BAM. Nothing to it. I figure that Friday is a good candidate, because that's the day I'm most likely to go out to eat, and if I cut my meat consumption then, it's most likely to have the best overall effect.
I was going to reinstate Vegetarian Month, but honestly it was just a form of self-torture. I didn't enjoy it, and it just made me miss meat all the more. That's not the point. The point is to cut down on my overall meat consumption and be a healthier person.
Any thoughts on this? Better suggestions? Also, feel free to flame me about my inevitable lack of protein. I swear some rancher somewhere is laughing all the way to the bank over the idea that meat has a monopoly on protein content.
5 snappy comebacks:
Many people who don't want to be complete vegetarians or vegans do what you do -- a meatless day. I've also heard of people who are vegan before dinner (so only dinner is a non-vegan meal). All of these are great ways to contribute to animal welfare. I'm impressed you're having meatless Fridays!
BTW, my response to the scriptural argument is I'm positive God does not approve of the horrors of factory farms. If people are buying their meat and animal products from places that treat animals well, then I have less to argue. It may take some research, but I've found that people who care enough to think about where their food comes from are usually willing to a do a bit of research.
Thanks for telling me about the sandwich.
dude. We had a vegetarian day yesterday without even realizing it (waffles for dinner). So if you ever want to combine forces for your vegetarian Fridays, I am game. Except for this Friday, since we have that party to go to. I love me some vegetarian pizza (with cucumber and real veggies, not those awful things they put on in frozen pizzas).
I have kind of been trying something similar. I was eating lunch with a friend of mine that I had known for quite some time (at BlizzCon last year actually), and he ordered a vegetarian burrito, upon asking him about it, he said that he tries to follow the council of "Eat meat sparingly." Since then, I have kinda tried to do that, like when I'm eating out, vegetarian options I consider, they're usually cheaper too. Having said that, I forget all the time
I fully support this measure. I've been "non-annoying" vegetarian all year. Basically, if I cook it/buy it, it's vegetarian, but if someone else cooks it/buys it/wants to eat at a specific place, I don't make a stink about it. It's worked great for me. I also just got done with 40 days of strict vegan and found it more than doable. But then, I've always been crazy.
I heartily applaud your efforts, Cav. "The point is to cut down on my overall meat consumption and be a healthier person." Also liked what that crazy Evie said about non-annoying vegetarianism. I have seen enough fried chicken here on the island to make me nauseated. And the mysterious freezer at the back of a particular store here that is full to the brim with uncovered chicken parts helps keep my resolve.
I also heartily recommend The Omnivore's Dilemma, if you haven't already read it. The subsequent documentary about it ("Food, Inc.") was fascinating as well.
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