become vegetarian

I just want to live a healthier life. I already don’t eat chicken, its the beef that I’m having a hard time letting go. I love my burgers and tacos. :( But I know if I keep trying, I’ll eventually win. :)

This has always been been an important goal for me.

I would be lying if I didn’t say it is the weight loss I desire, or the ability to contribute to environmentalism, but most of all, my primary reason (and this has been something I’ve been needing to define for quite a while now)—is to be self-reliant and DISCIPLINED. To be disciplined is anything more than I could ask for. I figured that now, as a vegetarian, I would be able to implement good habits and develop a sense of self worth. Not only would I be healthier, but I would have developed a certain commitment to myself and myself only that I can apply to other aspects of my life.

I actually tried being vegetarian last year and succeeded for about a few months, but I started creeping back into my old habits when I started going to university. Thing is, I miss feeling happy and energetic. Vegetarianism actually gave me an amazing energetic high that I’ve never felt before. In fact, when I was vegetarian, I felt refreshed when I woke up—not groggy.

Knowing what I’ve experienced before, I’m determined to finally wean myself off meat and make this decision into a lifestyle. Hopefully a long-lasting one.

I can only hope not to fall back into undisciplined habits and lose control, so I want to take this step by step.

I love food. I love cooking, and I love the taste of meat. Unfortunately, I have this damn social conscience which makes me feel guilty every time I eat a piece of factory-farmed, horrifically produced and wastefully reared meat.

Meat is hugely resource-heavy to produce. It takes tonnes of food (usually flown in from thousands of miles away – see the Friends of the Earth Fix the Food Chain campaign) to produce, and releases tons of methane during its lifespan.

I converted to vegetarianism when I was 11, for over a year. It was a strange age to be converting, and had a lot to do with a hippychick girl in primary 7 who I had a bit of a thing for – and I’d love to manage it again.

I have something on my side: three sisters. Two of them are vegan; one is vegetarian. I’m quite proud of them for having the willpower to stand up for their beliefs.

On the other hand, though, I have an enthusiastically carnivorous wife and family and friends, and damnit, I just love the taste.

I’ve killed my own food a few times in the past, and feel a lot better about doing so. We keep hens, which are fed from grain grown on the farm; I’ve killed and eaten wild rabbit from around our farm cottage before; and I have a ready source of trout which we home-smoke. My wife and I would both like to keep pigs when we have a place large enough to support it.

So. Here’s what I’m aiming for. I’m going to try to cut out all meat from my diet unless I a) have reared/killed it myself, or b) know exactly where it has come from, am happy that it has led a good life in a natural environment and has been fed well (ie. no Brazilian soya/hormone injections/other horrors).

The revolution starts here. It will probably involve vegeburgers.

I have made a good start by not eating red meat. I did get a egg laying chicken (five actually)...I will have fresh eggs all year round!

Over the summer my goal was to be a vegetarian. I was for a month…but my mom made me stop. Pretty lame….seriously! i had already gotten over the addiction to meat and everything. Oh wells. 1/1/09 back to veggies!

I’m getting better at this. Yesterday I consumed green beans, asparagus, whole grain bread, peanut butter, grapes, triscuits, and some green bell pepper.

I think I will call this goal done if I can keep it up for two weeks.

As of 01/01/09 I will re-pledge my vegetarianism.

...and I ate some popcorn chicken with him when he cooked dinner. I realize that I don’t eat meat at home but when elsewhere, I feel uncomfortable making people work harder to conform to my desires, such as meatless meals. I don’t want to hassle them or complain. He doesn’t think its a great idea, but he said he’ll support me in it, so I guess that will help. He likes meat, has it with most meals, so its a bit difficult when I’m with him…

I know it might be offensive to say here that I am fond of the taste fish and poultry, but its true, and it is proving to be a major obstacle to this goal. I haven’t given in yet, but my family eats mostly meat, candy, white bread and fatty snacks, with no fruits or veggies, so I’m in a touch place to attempt these goals. When I see a plate of salmon or a turkey sandwich, it hurts to restrain myself. And this is how I also am teaching myself self-control.

I don’t drink milk any more, but I do eat eggs – only because they are from our own chickens, who frolic in our large tree-y backyard eating bugs all day, and are well sheltered at night.

The only thing I don’t like is that I’m hooked on cheese. I’ll wean myself off that as well, though it will be difficult…

Now, I’m going to stop eating meat completely. I have been eating small amounts of poultry and fish for most of my life (don’t like beef or pork anyhow). I know it won’t really help save any animals (its not like they’ll let one go free every time I choose soy), but at least I can choose not to be a part of the mass production slaughter.

I’ve been eating a lot more veggies, beans and whole grains.