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Question of the Week - How long have you been a vegetarian or moving

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Here is our Question of the Week for this week. -

 

QOTW:

 

How long have you been a vegetarian and if you aren't one yet, tell us if

you are getting closer since being in the group?

 

* * * * * * * * *

Okay, I would not call myself an actual " vegetarian " , because I am not

exclusively eating " vegetables-only " just yet. On the other hand, I would say

that probably 9 out of 10 meals (days), or higher, for me and usually for my DH

are exclusively " veggie " meals. And, it has been easier than I thought to do

that.

 

Both DH and I started doing this during Lent this year. We gave up all

meat on weekdays and " allowed " meat-as-part-of-the-meal on weekend days only.

And, even then, I don't think we had meat as a MAIN part of a meal at any time,

unless on a rare occasion at a restaurant as an entree. There were several

weekend days that went meatless anyway. We found we weren't " missing " it or

really feeling deprived, etc.

 

Are we " moving toward it " ? Yes, I would say so. I joined this group

during our " Lenten discipline " time and really have enjoyed seeing all the

varied and different foods in the recipe posts--and have enjoyed seeing the

ideas exchanged here, too. I have tried many new foods and find I really do

LIKE eating this way--especially when something is full of flavor, texture and

color like so many " veg " dishes can be! It doesn't have to be dull and I do

feel very enthusiastic when I try something and it's an exciting " taste

adventure " .

 

What has surprised me the most is that, once Lent was over, my DH

actually AGREED that we didn't have to " end " our way of eating. I didn't push

it, because I figured he might feel " deprived " or something, since he grew up

eating VERY traditional (boring!!) mid-western meals--overcooked meats, white

starches (potatoes, macaroni and cheese, white bread) and only maybe 2 or 3

actual vegetables his whole childhood and youth. DH would be the one of us two

who is more of the " meat-eater " , if anything.

 

My parents were avid summer gardeners--I learned to like broccoli,

squash, greens, etc...but they insisted that every main meal HAD to have huge

amounts of MEAT or else one could suddenly " DIE " of not getting all that

" protein " ! (I was not a great meat-eater as a child, and there were times of

conflict between me and my dad--who seemed to be particularly insistent about

what we " should " eat!) Mom was that way about making us drink dairy milk--and I

still have a great aversion to that, too, although yogurt and cheese are fine by

me.

 

So, my DH and I are eating more and more meals without the addition of

meat, and we both seem to be doing just fine that way. Only last week, I made

some multi-bean chili (no meat) and had it ready when DH came home. Almost

apologetically, I asked him if he wanted me to get some ground beef or something

to " add to it " . He answered, " No, I think it's just fine without that--you put

in lots of beans, didn't you? --That will be good just like that. " So,

without much fanfare, DH let me know that, while we are not full-time " veggie "

people, not 100% vegetarian every day and night, he is not " missing " meat from

the meals very much, and neither am I.

 

Oh, and another thing I have noticed since doing this. I am moderately

" chemically-sensitive " . From time to time, I have had to go to mostly " organic "

foods and there are a lot of agricultural chemicals (we live in corn/soy farming

country--pesticides are everywhere!) which bother me with different physical

symptoms, particularly with skin problems. I have noticed that, while doing

this roughly " 90% veggie " eating, my skin has been as clear as it has ever been

in a long time. I still have a few " patches " (like psoriasis, I guess) on my

face, but for this time of year, usually a really bad time for me--this has been

the best I've seen my skin in a LONG time. I also try to drink lots of water,

but consuming mostly a veggie diet obviously has been helpful. (when a younger

woman at my church commented to me how she admired how smooth and " beautiful " my

skin looked--I could hardly believe it--but I credit the diet with whatever it

was she was seeing.)

 

Lastly, I think this has been one of the best benefits, aside from the

health aspects: DH and I now save a LOT of money on our groceries!! I do shop

at " cheap " places like the " Aldi " store near us. I look for " veggie only "

foods--and I have this HUGE collection of beans, grains, rices, pastas, herbs,

and basic staple foods in my pantry. The veggie meals I have made from these

foods--the " beans-and-grain " combination dishes--have saved us a BUNDLE on our

grocery spending!

 

That last part has been just amazing to me. DH and I are saving our

money --or trying to--because we want to go on a " work mission trip " (church

related) to Liberia, in western Africa next January. My DH has been there

twice, but this would be my first time going. Of course, travel is expensive,

and getting more so all the time. This ( " veggie-venture " , as I call it) has

been my personal effort to keep more of the money we earn " in our pockets " so we

can put it toward this planned trip. In the meantime, I feel we are also

standing in " dietary solidarity " with our friends in the Third World, as is the

country we hope to visit. When we go there, we will find many of the people

eating some of the same " beans-and-rice " kinds of foods that DH and I are

learning to enjoy now.

 

Okay, that's my story! Sorry so long! I do appreciate all the very

interesting things I read here and I am grateful that you-all allow people like

myself, the " not-yet-vegetarian " fellow-travelers to participate and learn from

the " pros " and the long-term veggie-folks. I have benefitted greatly from this

association and have so many good recipes now to keep me busy for years to come!

 

Thanks again, with appreciation and good wishes to all!

--Laura B., in Illinois

 

 

 

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