Well, that didn’t take long. A couple vegan Instagram posts, a Facebook post, maybe a tweet. Two messages in the last 24 hours.
Have you gone vegetarian?
The answer? Maybe? For now? I’m not sure… I will say right now, today, and for the last two weeks the only animal protein I’ve knowingly consumed has been one pasture raised egg.
Over the holidays I was looking at the Netflix and the Amazon for food and cooking related programs. Truth be told I’ve seen most of them. Moving away from the preparation or food porn programs I started seeking information about farming practices, food providence, and to some extent health. I’ve already seen Forks over Knives, A Place at the Table, Food Inc..
I came across the documentary Food Sources and learned a couple new things. One was the name of the Dr. T. Colin Campbell and subsequently the name of his landmark 2012 book The China Study.
I read the book.
Taken as a whole, the evidence seems clear to me.
- A “modern diet” based on animal protein is directly linked to heart disease, cancers, diabetes.
- Commercial meat operations including Poultry and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) are horrific and inhumane.
- The amount of air pollution created by live stock exceeds that of combined global transportation, planes, trains and automobiles.
- I don’t need to eat meat.
I also should mention, in the last few months for whatever reason, raw meat has been giving me the heebie jeebies. When grocery shopping and seeing the hunks of meat, I’ve felt queasy. That’s never happened before.
So a couple weeks ago, I stopped eating meat, and frankly haven’t missed it. Vegetarian or even vegan cooking is not entirely unknown to me. Having tasty healthy meals is not an issue.
Is this sustainable? (no pun intended) Again, I don’t know.
This crisis of identity must seem strange. After all, I’ve shown you in these pages, how to make sausages, cure and smoke your own bacon. I built a cold smoker! I know the cheek meat on a spit cooked pig is the best part. For goodness sake I’ve finally mastered steaks with the reverse sear method. And now I decide to go meat free? Am I crazy?
Speaking of meat, I have some what I would have normally considered gorgeous 20 oz bone-in ribeyes in the freezer.
What do I do with them?
Give them away? “Here is this poison I no longer want.”
Save them for a special occasion? “I’m happy so let me poison myself!”
Or, just not eat them. And don’t buy any more.
Perhaps the answer is to only eat animals in very small amounts, wasting as little as possible from animals who have led as natural a life as possible, outside, safe, without terror inducing transport to the abattoir. Without being eviscerated whether they are conscious or not.
Maybe the answer is to not eat meat at all?
I will say this, in addition to eschewing meet, the Accountant and I have embraced dry January, forgoing our beloved tipple for a month. Which incidentally ends tomorrow. Oh, and I’ve also given up caffeine.
How do I feel?
First, in four weeks I have lost eight lbs without trying. In the first two weeks I lost two pounds, since going meat free its been six.
Second, my sleep has improved. I fall asleep faster, wake fewer times and awake more refreshed.
Third, my re-flux is almost gone.
Part of my lifestyle goals is to be frugal. Lower health care costs by merely changing lifestyle choices? Who knew?
What does this mean for the website? Nothing new really, I’ll keep trying to bring you delicious homemade meals. They just won’t be based on animal protein.
Back to the original question, “Have you gone vegetarian?”
I am today.
February 1, 2017
I respect your decision! Mass-produced food of all descriptions seems to be fraught with problems these days, so cutting out meat is only part of the remedy. We have taken to eating less meat, but better-quality meat (same with wine). We buy lots of our meat from a small butchery business, because it is much tastier and more tender, and has probably been better reared and butchered. With your emphasis on vegetables, your own garden will be more important than ever.
February 12, 2017
Thanks Mark, we’ve already eschewed most processed foods. Knowing where meat comes from presents it’s own difficulties unless you know the farm(er) where it comes from, their practices and treatment of animals, it seems a tricky path to navigate. The vegetable part is important, though clearly with such a small garden for the most part we can only hope for seasonal vegetables.
February 3, 2017
Congrats!! I felt as though this was a post I have been attempting to write for over a year now. I have now been vegan for two years and this January pushed myself a bit further to eating raw. Actually I prefer to call it Living Food and from vegan to raw, I am amazed at the changes I have experienced in just one month. I too look at my blog, which I haven’t been able to post but love my history too much to delete. I felt the same way the first year, serve meat to others while knowing in my deepest conviction is not healthy? So at holidays, I’ve let my guests bring their preferred “meat” entre and I made all the vegan sides. Will I continue? is this sustainable? Feeling as great as I do, I definitely think so!
February 12, 2017
Hi Linda, So good to hear from you! It’s no surprise to learn my questions are shared by others, and that the thoughts I am having at least in the beginning of the change in food choices are common. Of course I am still learning, feeling my way. Traveling creates some challenges, not having control of the food prep. I’m learning vegetarian often means cheese smothered. 🙁
Perhaps you can start posting again? You certainly have skills and others might benefit from your journey.