Be a better vegetarian

And I’ve been completely veggie! Yay!

Okay I slipped up this week to have chicken noodle soup because I had the flu.

But I don’t want to be militant about this. One of the rudest things I can think of is when people eat out with others or go to a party and go on endlessly about “oh I can’t eat that” or “do you know what’s in that hot dog?” You know, most of us in the Western world are converts to vegetarianism; we all ate meat at one point…don’t pretend you didn’t!

If someone invited me over to their home for a meal and there were no vegetarian options, I’d like to think I’d graciously accept what was given to me, thank the animal silently and partake. Better that than it ending up in the garbage, wasted, and the night ruined because of my “veggier than thou” attitude.

All of this week I was completely vegetarian. It was so difficult to do because of the raging carnivore I live with. But I made casserole type dishes with Morning Star Farms “ground beef replacement” and there was no noticeable difference whatsoever. Boca Chik’n patties also passed carnivorous inspection. Boca “burgers” have a good flavor, but are a bit mushy. Maybe I can doctor them somehow.

I’m still going more pescitarian than vegetarian, but I already feel lighter in my soul by not eating cows, pigs or birds.

I applied, albeit passively, for a job in a health food store today. It’s a little scary because of my obvious (and hidden) health issues. Let’s face it, I’m not a size 0 and I don’t have orange skin from eating too many carrots. (I actually worked with a girl decades ago who ate a pound of carrots a day, and her skin turned yellow-orange. Customers asked me if she was jaundiced. I said no, she’s over beta-carotened.)

They want someone with “natural products” experience, and I don’t have a lot of that, but I am an amateur herbalist, I know alternative health procedures and treatments somewhat, and I have hella Health and Beauty aids store experience.

They are also moving to a bigger location in a few months, a good sign of growth in this economy. Grocery stores actually profit more in a bad economy (people eat in more) and coupled with the green movement, well…we’ll see.

If I get this job, maybe I’ll be more food conscious. Maybe they’ll let me write the store’s newsletter or make a beginner website. Maybe I can find a way to do massage therapy through them.

Whoa. Breathe. It’s just a local part time gig, remember.

I don’t know if I want it or not.

I feel better about myself if I don’t eat meat. But carbs make me so slug-like. So if I don’t eat meat, and don’t eat carbs, I get to eat….just vegetables. I’m not ready for that extreme yet.

There’s got to be a happy medium somewhere.

[edited to add:]

It doesn’t help when you live with someone who thinks the only vegetables are potatoes and ketchup.