My sister went through a vegetarian phase for about 10 years, which was pretty incomprehensible to my Eastern Oregon cattle country family. My mom asked at least once a week 'but you'll still eat chicken and fish, right?' Uh, no, no she will not. Last I checked, you don't plant a seed for chickens and fish and then have them grow in your garden...Anywho, after attending her high school reunion, she was awoken from her hangover on my parent's couch (my parents house was within walking distance of the infamous Stockshow Grounds where the reunion was held) to see our dad staring down at her. I'm not sure how much you know about the LDS faith, but they aren't really stoked about getting jacked up on Mountain Dew, so alcohol is a whole other ball game.
He asked how she was feeling and then slyly asked her why she was a vegetarian, hoping that she would get on a platform and talk about the health disasters caused by a carnivorous diet. Even with a gallon of HRD Vodka in her system her razor sharp wit didn't let her down. 'Because meat's too expensive' she replied dryly before reaching for some aspirin and a glass of water.
Curses! Foiled again! His attempt to compare giving up meat for health reasons with a night of drunken debauchery would have to wait for another day.
I am the last person who will ever give up the option to occasionally eat a big, bloody steak but for most ethnic cuisines, I tend to opt for a vegetarian meal. I guess I just like my meat simple and tofu allows the spices and other flavors to play center stage.
I've recently committed to making something new for dinner every night for a month. While this may seem like no big deal to a lot of people, we had been in a rut here at the knitty household and I wanted to mix things up so that we wouldn't be tempted to just chuck it all and pull out the delivery menus.
I did my big shop at BJ's (seriously, did the owners not think about the other implications of this name?) and stocked up on some basics that would make experimenting simple.
At about the same time, I was reading this article on SparkPeople, and decided that with the current economy and the potential for the added health benefits, I'm going to jump on the Meatless Monday bandwagon, prompting J's sarcastic 'adding to your Catholic Fish Fridays, eh?' All that it means is we're committing to having a couple of meatless meals during the week, which will save our budget, while shaving away the waistline.
Looks like 'Flexitarians' Are the New Black
5 comments:
I just joined Sparkpeople the other day and so far I really like it. Haven't exactly been burning up the fitness minutes, but I'm starting slow. (look for me if you like, my username is ginger_ish)
Know what helps getting out of a food rut? Making a weekly menu. Sit down once a week and write out what's for dinner every night. The shopping's easier too, when you do that. I started doing this in February and we've been doing it ever since. A whole lot of variety has come to the Carpool House!
I have been a bad knitty reader:(
I could not give up my occasional steak- or chicken- but I loves my veggies!
That is one of my favorite Dad stories. We have also been cutting back on the meat. It does help with the budget!
I quit eating red meat about 10 years ago. My cholesterol has dropped significantly, I no longer have IBS, and my IQ has improved by thirty points.
I also now have the ass of a seventeen-year old girl.
Ha! That's a good one.
I don't eat meat, but pretty much everything else I just wrote here is total BS.
Thanks for the BJ comment. I had the pleasure of having mom read that post for the first time with me right beside her and had to explain what else it stands for. All I have to say is if Dad asks, I am putting you on speed dial!
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