Things I Miss About Being A Carnivore

Things I miss about being a carnivore

1. Bacon
2. People not asking me why I decided to become a vegetarian
3. Sushi
4. Cheeseburgers
5. People not asking me if I’m a PETA member
6. Steak
7. People not asking me where I get my protein
8. Marshmallows
9. People not looking down at me for believing that my values are worth taking action to better myself and my planet
10. Jell-O
11. Not having to hear opinions about animals having no feelings
12. Gummy bears
13. Being oblivious to the fact that what I eat affects the environment, my health, and the economy

John and I are only a few weeks away from our one year anniversary of vegetarianism and I think we have both learned a lot in the last 11 months. Not only have we learned about nutrition and food production, but we have learned about what’s important to us as human beings who live in a complicated ecosystem. We have learned to make decisions not solely based on price tags, but on the quality of ingredients and the ethical practices of industrial food producers. I can’t say that we have been able to make the transition to a completely sustainable, organic, and cruelty-free diet, but at least I know that we have taken steps in the right direction. By reading more labels at the grocery store and taking advantage of information available online I think we both have discovered that we are able to be more conscious of what we put in our bodies. For those of you who want to know, here are some of the things we try to avoid now:

1. Gelatin
2. Hydrogenated oils (trans fats)
3. Eggs that are not cage-free
4. Packaged food made with powdered meat products (there are more out there than most people realize; even these cheese noodles contain powdered cooked chicken)

Here are some things we have been trying to eat more of:

1. Locally grown vegetables
2. Organic vegetables
3. Whole grain pasta and cereals
4. Beans and nuts
5. Organic dairy products (hormone and antibiotic-free)

And here are a few wonderful things we have discovered or learned to appreciate since making the transition to vegetarianism (all are seriously delicious):

Quorn brand Gruyere stuffed “chicken” cutlets

Morning Star Farms Chik Patties

Tofu

Kale Chips

Morning Star Farms “bacon”

Soyrizo

Quinoa

In the past, I never gave a second thought to what I ate as long as it satisfied my hunger until my next meal. I was never very weight-conscious and I never put much stock in dieting. This lifestyle change was never about weight loss. However, as a result of our decision John has lost around 20 pounds and I have lost around 15 pounds. Neither one of us have suffered any kind of deficiency, malnutrition, or deprivation. I’m not saying that this lifestyle is right for everyone, but it hasn’t been as difficult a transition as we thought it would be.

I know there are folks who may be intimidated by vegetarianism, or who distrust the hype surrounding the organic food movement; I know I was skeptical initially. All I can say is that if you have any doubts or concerns about the source and quality of the food you have always eaten read, read, read, and read some more. Pay particular attention to names like ConAgra and Monsanto. Please don’t put your faith in Big Food to tell you what’s good for you. Don’t discount the power of money when it comes to food producers and the information they disseminate. 

At the risk of sounding like a public service announcement, only you can take responsibility for what you eat and what your children eat. John and I have made a transition that has lasted much longer than we had planned, and not only was it less difficult than we expected, but it has also provided us with more enlightenment than we hoped for.