Health: Dietary Change

[butterfly]

In the wake of quitting caffeine, I have decided that I can do anything.

So, I've decided to become a vegetarian (I'm wobbly on the idea of being a vegan -- I suspect that I shall become a vegetarian first and then decide on veganism). I haven't had any meat for a couple of weeks and I've been trying all sorts of things. Plus, eating food that I do like that I haven't had in a while (it had been amazing long since I'd had an apple, you don't even want to know). I've already started to adjust to the taste of soymilk.

I miss meat. I love the taste of meat -- barbecued ribs, tender chicken, juicy steaks. Love it all. But I don't love how it gets from the animal to my plate, and I don't love killing things merely to suit my stomach. I never seriously thought about quitting before; it just wasn't something that I could quite wrap my head around. That's starting to change. I want my behavior to match my highest idea of myself. And in my highest idea of myself, I don't want to eat dead animals when I can get what I need from somewhere else.

And by choosing not to eat meat, I feel... a freedom that I wasn't feeling when I was just eating whatever I happened to like. This is a choice, this is my brain and my morals deciding, not my body. And yet, it isn't choosing against my bodily desires, either. I like eating corn and broccoli and apples and pears and cucumbers and, well, we'll put an 'etc.' here. I like all those things.

For me, this was the right time to make a change.

Comments

[trepkos.livejournal.com]

Hey! Good for you!
If you want some stuff that tastes like meat (well, at least it does to someone who hasn't eaten meat for 32 years ...) try Redwoods roasting joints (beef and turkey flavours) and Granose Mock Duck (comes in a can - its actually wheat gluten).

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I'm not sure if we have those brands in the States, but I can look.

[therisingmoon.livejournal.com]

that's great that you made a choice like that. :)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's something that I've kinda sorta wanted to do for a while, but it seemed so impossible (and now that I've started, I'm baffled as to why I felt that way, as it isn't impossible at all).

[jgracio.livejournal.com]

As long as it's something you want, good for you. :)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It really is, I think. Of course, I might be singing a different tune when Thanksgiving rolls around. Well, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

I salute your resolve and wish you a smooth transition.

I have lots of vegetarian and vegan friends, and I rarely cook flesh in my own kitchen, although I haven't been able to make the switch across the board. It's much easier now to find healthy, varied recipes, and modern produce availability is great all year round.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

It's much easier now to find healthy, varied recipes, and modern produce availability is great all year round.

Very true.

[sarall.livejournal.com]

I became a vegetarian at the age of 14 and never looked back. 17 years later and I'm still finding new and interesting things to try. Best luck!

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thanks. And it's always helpful to hear that something's working out for someone else. It helps the resolve.

[resmin.livejournal.com]

Best of luck!

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

*Hugs* Good for you for being flexible enough to make a change. I've been a vegetarian off and on (currently off) and I think it can be very freeing to learn to eat in new ways, etc. :-)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

*hugs back*

Thank you. The idea of change was actually a lot scarier than the actual changing seems to be (perhaps I should take a lesson from that...).

Also, that is such a cute icon.

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Hey, would you be interested in a couple of books about becoming a vegetarian? I'm in the process of weeding out books I'm not using anymore and I'd be happy to throw these in the mail if you think you might like them.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Oh! I would be very interested. Have I given you my address at any point in the past or would you need it?

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

If I had it, I can't find it now. You could email it to me at wesleysgirl@livejournal.com - I'm going to the post office tomorrow so I could send them out then. :-)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Done.

Thank you!

*hugs*

[theantimodel.livejournal.com]

Cool! I've been vegetarian for hmmm 8 years or so I think? I was a strict vegan for about 1 year and a half but now I'm just mostly vegan, like I'll eat the occassional slice of cheese or scoop of ice cream. I've always felt healthier as a vegetarian.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I'm unsure whether or not I feel healthier yet, but I feel cleaner. Less internal conflict, too, because for years I've been hating the way table-bound animals are treated in the States.

[ros-fod.livejournal.com]

Those are all great reasons to become vegetarian. I fully support you!

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

*grins*

Support is very much appreciated.

[noseyroser.livejournal.com]

And in my highest idea of myself, I don't want to eat dead animals when I can get what I need from somewhere else.

You're awesome, girl. I hope you know that. :)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

*blushes*

Thank you.

[(Anonymous)]

i find this very noble of you. ^_^

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Thank you.