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).

[therisingmoon.livejournal.com]

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

[jgracio.livejournal.com]

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

[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.

[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!

[resmin.livejournal.com]

Best of luck!

[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. :-)

[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.

[ros-fod.livejournal.com]

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

[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. :)

[(Anonymous)]

i find this very noble of you. ^_^