Verdict on Month 2

“If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be a vegetarian.” --Paul McCartney

A few thoughts on my meatless month.

Will I stick with it?

While my moral inclination is still to just say no to meat, I most likely will not be able to keep up with the vegetarian thing 100%. My main reason for this is that I do not feel like I’m getting enough protein. There have been several days where I didn’t feel full, no matter how much I consumed. My plan is to be about 80% vegetarian and eat meat only rarely. And by this I mean infrequently, not undercooked.

Also, my plan is to only buy free range and/or organic meat products. Yes, this will be more expensive. But since I’m not eating meat as often, it will work out splendidly.

My last reason for not sticking with the vegetarian lifestyle is that I have lost about 10 pounds and counting. This has required me to basically buy a new wardrobe, because my pants no longer remained on my body on their own. This became problematic in the workplace. While it is nice to lose weight, I feel like that was an unhealthy amount to lose so quickly… and several close friends and family have voiced concerns about my “lankiness.” Yes, that was the word one of them used.

Am I glad I tried this?

Absolutely! It was strangely cleansing. This month opened my eyes to a lot of things and forced me to try an excessive amount of foods that I was previously scared of. I have a new respect for vegetarians and vegans. It is really difficult to defend yourself among meat-lovers. I’ll provide you with the following real-life example:

Dude: What the heck are you eating?

Me: Sesame Tofu and Broccoli.

Dude: Tofu?

Me: Yeah, I’m trying to be a vegetarian for a month.

*Insert cricket noises here*

Dude: But… why?

Me: (Abridged version) I don’t want to kill animals, meat is bad for digestion and meat corporations are cruel and remind me of Sid from Toy Story.

Dude: But meat tastes really good.

I just can’t argue with that kind of intellectual rebuttal.

Would I recommend trying it?

Yes. I think it would give people a chance to try new things that they wouldn’t try otherwise. It also might force restaurants to provide more vegetarian options (hmm… should I have salad #1 or salad #2 and ask them to take off the chicken?). The main reason you should try it is because it makes you realize just how much you eat meat. It’s kind of ridiculous.

Top 5 things I learned from this month:

1.      Tofu is not, in fact, scary. And while the texture is unlike anything I have ever experienced, it is not as revolting as people make it seem.

2.      Spaghetti squash is the best kept secret in the vegetable world. Words can’t describe the ways in which I love and adore this large, yellow entity.

3.      Beans have a perfectly acceptable texture when mixed with other items, such as in chili or soup. But on their own, I still despise them immensely.

4.      I suppose it’s not shocking that meat companies are huge monopolies that treat their livestock and farmers like… pieces of meat. But it still outrages me.

5.      You cannot be overweight if you are a true vegetarian. I mean… honestly, just think about what you cook meat in… butter, grease, fat, unhealthy condiments? This should also not be surprising.

I declare this month a success… mainly because I survived and I learned A LOT.

Alternatives to that protein stuff

“Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant? I’m halfway through my fishburger and I realize, Oh my God. I could be eating a slow learner.” --Lynda Montgomery

As a vegetarian, the main obstacle to overcome is having enough protein in your diet. I learned what some of these delightful alternatives are from my many vegetarian supporters (holler!) and random books that people have been giving me. Here is an abridged list for your viewing pleasure:

Beans

Eggs

Nuts (almonds, peanuts, etc.)

Soy

Yogurt

Tofu

Legumes (chickpeas, lentils, etc.)

Cereals and grains

Now, as I’ve mentioned before, I’m not a huge fan of beans. I have texture issues with them. This poses a problem in the life of a vegetarian. So I’ve been experimenting in hardcore ways with other kinds of protein.

Yogurt-- I eat yogurt every single day. Not only is this a great source of protein, but it is also great for my digestion’s overall happiness.

 Eggs-- I used to eat grilled chicken salads a fair amount, but now I put hard-boiled egg pieces on my salad instead. It’s delicious and extremely economical. I have also been eating omelets like it’s my job, experimenting with various vegetable combinations. So far the favorite is by far the broccoli, onion, tomato variety.

Soy-- Before entering the world of vegetarianism, I had only ever tried soy milk. All other soy products were foreign to me. The soy protein crumbles that I put in my spaghetti squash sauce were simply amazing. I also put it in some chili. I could have sworn I was eating ground beef. You can find them in your grocer’s freezer next to the veggie burgers and other fake meat products. I’ve also tried some fake grilled chicken, which had a strange texture and I still can’t decide if I liked or not.

Tofu-- I am woman enough to admit that making tofu scared me. It’s one of those unknown territories that I wasn’t sure I wanted to venture into. I am also generally fearful of bringing new textures into my life. But I recently sucked it up and bought some. I simply refuse to let inanimate objects have control over my psyche. The following recipe was my first attempt. It definitely can’t touch the majestic levels of the spaghetti squash, but I was pleasantly surprised that I liked it.

I also went a step further and tried… Tofurky. That’s right. I took it out of the package and just stared it down for a few minutes. I then made a sandwich with it and took a bite before I could think about it. I surprisingly really liked it. It shockingly tasted like a turkey sandwich. No one was more surprised about this similarity than me.

*Teriyaki Tofu with Pineapple*

1 (12 ounce) package firm tofu

1 cup pineapple chunks

2 cups teriyaki sauce

Cut tofu into bite sized pieces and place it in a deep baking dish; add drained pineapple. Pour in teriyaki sauce. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. I served over rice, but that is optional.

the best thing that has entered my life in a while

“Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.” --Samuel Butler

I have to give mad props to my friend, Rachael. She introduced me to my new favorite vegetable. Not only had I never tasted this delicious substance, but I did not even know that it existed! Allow me to introduce the one, the only, the Spaghetti Squash.  

If you don’t know what this is, you should. If you do know what this is, shame on you for not revealing its majesty to me!

Spaghetti squash looks like a really fat yellow squash. One of my favorite things about it was that it came with directions. Clearly, people don’t know what the heck they are supposed to do with it. When have you ever bought a vegetable that came with directions? It made me chuckle.

The reason it’s called spaghetti squash is because the insides resemble noodles. And most people eat it with different varieties of pasta sauces. I was also bold and put some soy protein in my spaghetti sauce. I thought it was going to be gross, but it was delicious. It tasted like ground beef. Although, I do think they should come up with a more appealing name for it. I bought the aformentioned soy protein in the frozen food isle where all the other non-meat products hang out.

I loved this dish so intensely… most likely because it tasted like an Italian dish. Spaghetti squash and I are going to be great friends. This I know.

Here is how I made it:

*Spaghetti Squash*

Wash squash and poke 5-6 times. Microwave for 12 minutes and rotate every 3 minutes so all sides have faced up. Let cool. Cut in half. Scoop out middle goop, including seeds (like you would do for a cantaloupe). Then use a fork to scrape all inner sides of the squash. Little stringy things should peel off easily. Top with your sauce of choice and prepare for the magic you will soon experience!

the smell of temptation

“Vegetarian: A person who eats only side dishes.” --Gerald Lieberman

Let me start by saying that being a vegetarian is not as hard as I thought it would be. And by this, I mean that I haven’t epically failed yet. Understandably, it does require a significant quantity of self-control.

I had my first bout with temptation on Wednesday. I was doing community service during my normal dinner time and the organization provided sub sandwiches for everyone. Living in the culture that we do, vegetarians are often forgot about. Thus, all that was offered contained a variety of lunchmeat. I was hungry… and there, sitting in front of me, was a delicious smelling turkey sandwich. But I stood my ground, desperately listing in my mind the reasons why I initially believed this was a good idea over and over. Instead of grabbing a sub sandwich, I halfheartedly ate 4 helpings of fruit and some crackers. Welcome to the world of having a restricted diet, where we eat only side dishes.

Did I want some turkey? Obvi. I would be straight-up lying if I denied this fact. However, I also yearn to eat chocolate 24/7. But that doesn’t mean I do. You have to weigh the cost. The come-back I hear most often is that the animals on our plates were going to die anyway. But I don’t see why that makes a difference. Aren’t we all going to die one day? Does that mean we should go ahead and get it over with now? Not at all. It makes life that much more precious.

I was thinking about this preciousness when I munched on my fruit and crackers. I smiled to myself. Following that light bulb moment, I swear the fruit tasted better and the turkey sandwich smelled dreadfully unappetizing.

Italy, changing lives one dish at a time

“Ancora un pochino, per favore!” –Italian saying

If I could live anywhere in this world, I would live in Italy. There is nothing about that country that I do not love. I spent a little over a week there a few years ago. I may or may not have gained 5 pounds in that short time frame. And by that I mean... I did. I ate bread and pasta constantly, drank my fair share of wine and limoncello and ended every evening with a stop at the Gelato shop. I also learned one of the few Italian phrases that I know, “Ancora un pochino, per favore,” which means “A little more, please.”

I’m not daring enough to move there (mainly because I know virtually zero Italian). So instead, I will surround myself with their delicious cuisine to remind me of that magical land. (Just in case you haven’t picked up on that theme in my cooking choices yet.)

So I recently made some Bruschetta, which is one of my favorite Italian foods and conveniently vegetarian. It’s also one of the easiest dishes to make and doesn’t require many ingredients. This dish is meant to be an appetizer. I often intend it to be this way and then end up eating it until I’m full. It’s that delicious. I don’t use a certain recipe (which is how all the cool kids cook). But the main gist of it is below.

*Bruschetta*

Olive oil

Tomatoes

Onions

Basil

Salt

Pepper

Baguette

Mozzarella or parmesan cheese

Cut baguette into slices and place on baking sheet. Brush olive oil on both sides of baguette slices. Bake for 2 minutes on 400 degrees. Flip and bake for 2 more minutes. Mix tomatoes, onions, basil, salt and pepper. Put spoonful on each slice and bake for 1 minute. Sprinkle with your cheese of choice and serve!

Ratatouille (the entrée, not the movie)

“A vegetarian is a person who won't eat anything that can have children.” --David Brenner

Last night for dinner, I made my first purposefully vegetarian meal. Obviously, I have eaten meals without meat, but this one was the first in which I consciously chose that option.

On the menu: Ratatouille and Focaccia bread.

 

I picked this recipe because it wasn’t too far out of my comfort zone. I had eaten it before at my friends’, Kim and Rachel, house (thanks, ladies!). So I already knew that it was delicious. But since I’m not the best cook in the world, it was still an adventure. Luckily, my mom was there to correct some of my minor mistakes along the way. For instance, I was unaware that slicing and dicing are different things… whoops.

It turned out just as I remembered it, absolutely delightful. The best part about it is that it is quite filling. You normally don’t expect that a medley of veggies is going to abate your hunger, but it did. The bread helped too.

I’m sorry, but I cannot eat an Italian dish without bread. It doesn’t work for me… despite the fact that while I was in Italy, I think I was only served bread with my meal once. But that is beside the point. I will freely admit that I am addicted to carbs. I could eat pasta, bread and potatoes until I burst. They are my little trinity of happiness. I love them in a way in which no one should ever love an inanimate object. It’s just a fact.

I didn’t actually make the bread myself... just heated it. I bought it at Trader Joe’s, aka my Mecca. (Everything that I have ever purchased from that store has been nothing short of breathtakingly delicious.) I highly recommend the Focaccia bread. It reminded me a lot of the bread from Macaroni Grill. Yum!

Here is the recipe, for your eating pleasure.

*Ratatouille*

3T olive oil

1/2 cup Italian style breadcrumbs

1 yellow or red pepper, sliced

2 crushed garlic cloves

2 sliced leeks (or small mild onions)

2 sliced zucchini (or squash)

2 sliced tomatoes

1t rosemary

a sprinkle of basil

4 eggs

Heat half the oil and fry the breadcrumbs in it until golden brown. Drain oil and set breadcrumbs aside. Add the rest of the oil and sauté the pepper, garlic, and leeks until softened (about 10 min). Add zucchini, tomatoes, basil and rosemary and cook for 5 min. Make 4 wells in vegetables and add the eggs into the wells. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook until eggs are cooked and then sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and serve.

Experi-month #2: Meat or not to meat?

“Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.” –Hippocrates

I figure I’m on a roll with health related things, so I have decided that Experi-month #2 will be devoted to attempting vegetarianism. If you know me, then you probably know that I have flirted with being a vegetarian for about 5 years now. And by flirted, I mean that I have tried and failed multiple times. I have a commitment issue in my relationship with a meatless life. I usually do not have much of a problem with will-power. That is one thing that my stomach issues taught me. But this is the one thing that I can’t seem to give up completely.

Why I want to be a vegetarian:

1.      I love animals.

2.      If I was forced to go out and kill my own dinner, I would never do it.

3.      Meat is difficult to digest… and per last month’s topic, I don’t need more difficulty in that area.

4.      I’ve seen multiple documentaries on the meat industry and the conditions outrage me. I don’t want to support those terrible companies.

5.      Why are certain animals acceptable to eat and others are not? For example, I would NEVER consider eating my dog (I love you, Krissy).

Why I fail at committing to vegetarianism:

1.      Chicken is delicious.

2.      I don’t really like beans. Thus, protein becomes a problem.

3.      It’s hard to be the only one… especially when you go to someone’s house for dinner.

4.      I forget that what I’m eating used to be breathing.

5.      People think you are high-maintenance. Don’t pretend you haven’t thought that.

So this topic is a perfect Experi-month for me. I need a deadline. I need to know that it will be over in one month if I want it to be.

I have been dabbling with vegetarianism for a long time. I stopped eating red meat about 3 years ago. This decision was made to help my digestion and because pigs and cows are cuter than chickens. Legit. That was my thought process. I have also never really eaten seafood. I have a texture issue with most of it. So that leaves poultry, which is the only meat that I consume. My original plan was to give up red meat first and then give up chicken… so that I wouldn’t be going cold turkey (no pun intended). But I never did.

My current diet does not have tons of meat in it. I would say that I eat meat 6 times a week. And this is usually at dinner time. I never eat it for breakfast and very rarely for lunch. If you have suggestions of delicious recipes for me to try, PLEASE send them to me!! I need help on this one. Salads get old pretty quickly.

I’m not really sure that this will contribute to my happiness, which was the overall goal of Experi-months. In fact, it might contribute to unhappiness. If that turns out to be the case, so be it. I’m going to try it for all the chickens (people and birds) out there.

Here goes nothing.

P.S. I’m serious about the recipe thing. Send them. Now.