The actual video has the embedding option disabled so enjoy this one instead. I think it's funny, but you may not share in my stupid humor. ;)
I've said many times that I want to be a vegetarian, but I think I'd starve. Those who know me know that I'm quite the picky eater. Basically cooking for me and your toddler are very similar. New = Scary. But you know I'm ready for the leap.
I've been saying it a lot more lately and I've decided to really look harder into it than just saying that it's a nice idea. I've been googling a lot and been on the lookout for picky-friendly vegetarian recipes. I've found quite a lot. I've also found that you can retrain your taste buds. Who knew? Basically the fact that I "don't like" so much is mostly in my head. Sure, there are things that I'm honest to goodness not going to like, but most of them are a mind set. So I've decided that I need to change that mind set.
I've heard a lot of buzz about the book "Skinny Bitch" and I decided to request it from the library. I read it in one day and turn after turn of the pages I became more and more horrified but determined. It basically confirmed many of my thoughts in a no B.S. your best friend telling you how it is kind of way. A disclaimer if you are thinking about reading it - don't read with a heavy stomach and have a tissue or two ready.
For a long while I've been thinking about my food way too much as I eat it. Consequently, I get a sick feeling when I do. That's what bothers me the most. I really honestly think that you shouldn't block the origin when you have a plate of food in front of you. Where that food came from should not make you sick to your stomach. That right there is the reason that I'm ready to take the plunge. I don't want to have to push those thoughts from my head in order to get that food to my stomach. I already made the change from buying whatever they have to offer to only really buying organic and whantot, but that's not cutting it.
I have two hangups though - the first is offending others. Yeah yeah I know - it's me not them so I shouldn't worry about what others think. But I do. I don't worry about my family because well honestly they know me and all my "crazy" ways so they probably wouldn't even bat an eyelash at this. When it comes to my inlaws I fear that they are going to think I've finally gone off the deep end and then they are going to fear for my children and the fact that they would absolutely not be eating anything decent. But also just being a pain if I go to eat at friends' houses. I don't want them to feel like they must cater to me. I'm not sure how to get past this one. The second is with the kids. Honestly, if I'm going to be eating vegetarian well guess what, the rest of you will be too. I'm not all keen on the thought of having to still buy and make meat if I don't want to eat it. Kind of seems like a slight hypocrisy. So inside my own home is where I see having really few issues. But again going out. Do I stop my daughter from getting burgers? Do I stop getting chicken nuggets for my son? They haven't decided for themselves that they want to be vegetarian (not that I think a not even 2 year old and 4 year old can make this decision for themselves). So that's what I'm not sure and are kind of stuck on right now. I guess the biggest thing is that it will definitely effect where we do eat outside of the house and make sure that we choose places that I can be sure there are options for all of us that don't include meat.
Last night my mother-in-law called and invited us to lunch today. She asked me if there was something that I might be in the mood for and I stumbled. Dinner to them is meat. Roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, the works; chicken with the same, ham with the same; You know. So thinking as quickly as I could I requested salmon cakes. I know this one is a gray area for vegetarians. Some eat it some don't. I'm 50/50. I'm not a huge fan of most fish and seafood anyway so that helps. But still I think if you are going to stop eating meat just to replace it with fish and seafood that you've kind of missed the mark. You're just going to be harvesting the oceans more and they are already way over harvested. But I kind of feel that if I eat it at the same rate I eat it now - maybe 2 fish/seafood meals a month then it's not a huge deal. Go ahead and boo-hiss if you'd like. So I picked the salmon so I wouldn't have to have too hard of a time.
I've thought about holidays and honestly that doesn't bother me. Yes, I do enjoy having dark meat turkey on Thanksgiving, but I'd rather fill up on the others stuff anyway and typically do so I can do without that. Ham is becoming one of my least favorite meats anyway so Christmas without ham, I'm ok with that. Honestly, I do think I'm ready.
We made a trip down to Whole Foods. (Closest one is about a 45 minute drive from here.) I've never been to one before. It was really nice. I'd like to go back again. I've never seen so many choices for alternative eating and all the foods looked so fresh and yummy. They had produce which made some of the foods I currently don't really like look appealing. We picked up some tofurkey deli slices, some Quorn naked chik'n cutlets, Morning Star Grillers Original veggie burgers, and some Lightlife Smart Ground. A few different ideas that would really work as substitutions in our recipes which we already enjoy. I know that a lot of it is try and try again as there are so many different brands out there so if one doesn't suit us we should try a different brand.
Are you vegetarian (or vegan)? If so what helpful hints/tips do you have? Any favorite websites or cookbooks?
Here's a list of a few websites I've found...
http://vegweb.com/
http://www.vegcooking.com/
http://www.theveggietable.com/recipes/recipes-az.html
And I ordered the Free Vegetarian Starter Kit that you can get HERE and am anxious to see what exactly it is when it gets here.
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9 comments:
A timely post Kelli - for a couple of reasons:
Brittany just did a post about soy which you might want to check out:
http://4littlemen.blogspot.com/2007/12/soy-is-junk-food-what.html
Brittany's family doesn't eat very much meat at all - she would be a great resource.
Also I came THIS close to exposing my son to something that would have given him nightmares for sure and probably sent him screaming from the table if meat was put in front of him.
WARNING!! THIS IS BEYOND GROSS!!!!!!!!!!
I pulled up behind a semi two days ago that had at least 2 tons of cargo in the back. From a distance it looked really wrong, but I was afraid to get closer to see what exactly it was.
I did take a closer look (still 10-15 feet away) and my worst fear was realized. It was cow hides. What I thought was hooves, was actually the ear of a cow still attached to the skin. It was SOOOOO horrible, I couldn't get the image out of my head. Sam noticed it too (he said it stunk) and I told him what it was. I didn't want to scar the poor kid for life by showing him the gory pile of skin up close, but I did think about it for a second....
- My InLaws are meat eaters and my hubby doesn't consider something a meal if there isn't meat involved. As far as imposing your beliefs on your kids, I think the best thing you can do is to educate them and expose them to as many different foods as you can.
I wish you the best in your journey!
Hi Kelli,
I'm willing to try this with you... Related to your post, I can't seem to eat chicken like I used to after I read an article in the Washington Post about chicken farms. I guess, like you, it's time I stopped squirming when I eat it, and just stop eating it altogether. It's like you read my mind, though, about all your concerns. Maybe you should start a New Veggie Monday, [or Insert Clever Name Here], where your readers can post a new vegetarian effort each week using Mr. Linky. I'd be willing to post my disaster-ish attempts...er, I mean, yummy successes!
I'm so excited for you! :) Yay another veggie! I knew it was only in due time since you are a Green Machine.
Congrats! That's a big step and I wish you much success with this new journey. Look forward to hearing more about your experiences with this. I'm going to have to check out that book.
Sounds like you are ready. I have a friend who has been a vegetarian for several years...if you want to talk to her she can probably give you lots of tips. It was surprising to hear the things that have meat products in it.
Something that does stick out was one of your q's. Do you let your kids have meat when eating out. My friend cooks vegetarian at home, but her dh isn't so if he wants meat he buys and cooks his own. When they eat out...she'll let her 4 year old get nuggets if she wants cause it IS a personal decision, but she cooks veggie at home so she gets only that at home.
Anyway....Good luck!
I understand what you are saying about not wanting to offend others and trying to figure out how to make it all work for your family. I've been having a lot of med problems and I'm tired of just running to meds and the doc's for help-cause i've been doing that for a few year and the problems are going away. I decided to instead change our diets. It's basically the Nourishing Traditions way of eating. But we bought a few herd shares and our consuming raw milk and raw cheese, which is controversial. I struggle with getting flack from others in a similar way as you. But I believe this is the best for my family and it's okay. Good luck with this kelli! You'll figure out how to handle "stuff" in terms of family not understanding and the holidays.
I like recipezaar for most recipes, including veg recipes.
Take Care!
-beth
good luck with this new venture. i always think about going vegetarian, but would never be able to fully commit. what can i say? i like meat :)
Talk to Kaci at Ellyphant about how to incorporate the kids... I think Elly still has stuff on the side. They figure it should kind of be her choice to be vegetarian or not... Also, as far as the part about burgers, have you ever tried Boca Burger or Garden burgers? My kids INHALE either of the above without batting an eyelash. We're not vegetarians, but I'm like to eat healthier where I can and Boca and garden burgers were a good alternative to a beef patty, in my opinion. GOOD LUCK! I, too, am very picky and would like to be more in-line with vegetarian ways, but I think I would starve as well. LOL Kaci's supposed to be sending me recipes, but she hasn't yet.
Dear one... keep going with your insightful questions for yourself. You are waking up which is all any of us can do. You can be a Part-time Vegetarian... sound good? This website has great recipes and videos and info, geared to the part-time vegetarian:
http://www.tastyandmeatless.com/
Aloha from Hawaii!
Joy Waters
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