I currently have no meat in my home except for some breakfast biscuits for the bf that I can't believe I condoned by buying, some hot dogs leftover from a party, some sandwich meat, and seafood for a lasagna I was going to make. I also only buy soymilk now and eggs that are from free-range, organically fed chickens. My dream (even though I've heard they're nasty) is to have chickens so I don't have to buy eggs. :o)I've always been pretty picky when it comes to eating meat. I have never liked grilled chicken very much, never liked eating meat off the bone, never liked steaks, etc. Typically, if it's breaded, small, and easy to eat, I like it.
New Year's of 2007 I decided my resolution, since I already ate little meat and I wanted to be more 'eco-friendly', would be to not eat meat (aka become vegetarian). I did well. I don't think I ate any meat except when we ate sushi. Sushi is my absolute favorite, so I permitted myself to have that little enjoyment. Funny, that's probably worse than eating a hamburger (when we're talking about the impact on the earth)! So technically, I never really was vegetarian...pescatarian, sure. Vegetarian, no.
New Year's of 2007 I decided my resolution, since I already ate little meat and I wanted to be more 'eco-friendly', would be to not eat meat (aka become vegetarian). I did well. I don't think I ate any meat except when we ate sushi. Sushi is my absolute favorite, so I permitted myself to have that little enjoyment. Funny, that's probably worse than eating a hamburger (when we're talking about the impact on the earth)! So technically, I never really was vegetarian...pescatarian, sure. Vegetarian, no.
And then my downfall: Zaxby's. :oP I started eating their chicken salad sandwich. Mmmmmm! And then I heard my friend, who was also vegetarian, started eating meat again. Another friend of mine who is quite a bit older than me, very intelligent, super cool, and whom I respect tremendously told me about how she used to be vegetarian and then realized it was overrated and dropped it. So it was a combination of all of those things, my bf (who's not vegetarian), the ease (or lack thereof) of vegetarian food preparation, and constantly wondering if I was getting all of the vitamins and minerals I needed that sent me back to being a 'meat-eater'.
I tried to compromise and said that I would only eat meat if it was organic, free-range stuff. I even went into town to buy organic meat to make for my bf and me. I second guessed this decision recently when I paid $7 for 2...count them, 2 organic chicken breasts. :oP We weren't even able to finish them and gave the leftovers to the dogs!
I don't know what my issue is. I think I feel like I failed because I'm eating meat again. But why do I feel like I failed? That's ridiculous! Why do I feel like I have to be one or the other? Black or white...vegetarian or non. I like my advisor's label: facultative vegetarian. Meaning eating meat when one feels like it. I'm just not sure that my personality permits a gray area with something like this.
I think the other issue is that I don't like very many vegetables. Blech = mushrooms, tomatoes, olives, onions, bell peppers (depending on how they're cooked), and others. Well, that pretty much takes care of most 'vegetarian dishes' at restaurants. Do I order something I probably won't like because I'm avoiding meat or order something I'll like but feel crappy afterwards for eating?I think I just need to figure out what makes me happiest (obvious?). Vegetarian, flexitarian, pescatarian, facultative vegetarian...or just me!
This is something that I've been thinking about a lot lately too. I became a vegetarian in junior high b/c I saw my mom cooking a steak w/blood or something and I made the connect, it grossed me out and I didn't eat meat again......until I was about 18 or so. My friends and I partook in a typical Boulder activity and after, we went to Dennys and I proceeded to eat a chicken wing (b/c I thought it would be hilarious). Ever since then, I seem to be on and off. For the most part- I try to not eat it often (and it's not too difficult b/c I don't like it), buy free range eggs and organic milk (need to try soy/silk again) and I felt pretty good about that. Then I watched that show 30 days where they had a hunter live w/a PETA activist and I felt like it wasn't doing enough. I also heard that free-range eggs don't really mean much (as far as treatment of animals anyway) b/c as long as they have some access to air, they can be called free-range and it's not regulated. Again, I don't even know how true it is but it wouldn't surprise me. I also have gained weight and discovered I have a health condition where protein is imp but I feel I could do better at that w/out eating meat. My problem with eating meat is ecological and the treatment of the animals. I always thought it was natural to eat animals (in a humane way) b/c thats what other animals do and it was more the process I had a problem with.
ReplyDeleteThen one of the vegans at work told me to read the book, Skinny Bitch. I think it basically talks about how we are healthier w/out meat and that it isn't really even natural for us to be eating it in the first place.
So yeah, I think I'm in the same place as you- trying to figure it all out. I guess I'm a flexitarian for now but I definitely want to read that book b/c I know several people that went vegan after reading it (also well educated people that I respect).
Wow, thats a lot. I might write my own blog about it later :) But I thought I'd tell you about that book in case you're interested. I'll let you know how it is, whenever I get around to reading it.