Meet Meredith and enjoy her story…

At a social event a few days after declaring my official re-entry into vegetarianism, someone asked me “Do you eat animal crackers?” and he was half serious.

This is only one of the many curious questions I’ve received, the most common one being “Is that how you lost all your weight?” The answer to that one is a big fat “No.” I actually didn’t become a vegetarian until a year into my weight loss. But the reasons behind my plant love go far beyond weight loss.

In 8th grade I declared myself a vegetarian. Why? I’m not entirely sure. I was 13, people. Did you have convictions at 13? (If you did, I applaud you!) I stayed a vegetarian through high school, but my mom always joked that I was a “vegetarian who didn’t like vegetables.” True. I was a competitive swimmer so I could get away with eating mainly carbs and getting protein from eggs and peanut butter. I certainly was not an adventurous eater, but more of an unhealthy one. However with all the swimming, my weight wasn’t dangerously high or low so I could eat like I ate and there wasn’t a problem.

Then I grew up and went to college. It was there I fell into unhealthy habits and gained a LOT of weight. See my blog for full details about my “downward spiral”, but it was then that I most definitely started eating meat again, and usually unhealthy meat products like hamburgers, chicken tenders, etc.

Fast-forward to now. I started losing weight in February 2009 and in February 2010 I decided to go back to full vegetarianism. I had been slowly cutting meat products out of my life and finding a new love for vegetables, tofu, beans, and other foods. I began to research healthy vegetarian sources of nutrition that could fuel my new found love for running but could help me get leaner and fitter. I stumbled upon other blogs, notably No Meat Athlete and Healthy Tipping Point. Both authors are vegetarians and tremendous athletes, so I paid attention to how and what they ate and started to change my own habits. In mid-February, I was ready and announced that I was a vegetarian. I even had a semi-challenge on my blog where I tried to find VEGAN alternatives to common foods, such as ice cream and cheese.

So now, let’s address why I’m a vegetarian, the most common question I get. It is complicated and multi-faceted, but it is what works for me. Firstly, when I lived in Argentina this past summer, I was exposed to grass-fed, organic, free-range beef. The meat there is famous and as I learned about the cattle farming practices there, I learned of their more humane slaughterhouse practices as well. It took a lot of mental digesting, but I slowly educated myself on the meat industry here in America. What a difference! Even if the meat is organic and grass-fed, how can I be 100% sure it was slaughtered humanely? With very few exceptions, I can’t. I’ve always been an animal lover and picturing the animals in such horrible conditions sends chills down my spine. That is a huge reason I’m a vegetarian, I love living things! But the animals aren’t the only reasons. Many experts believe that a diet based heavily in plant products is more healthful overall, especially in reference to lower cancer rates and heart disease. Since my family isn’t the healthiest in the world, I figured a few small changes could aid me in beating the odds. Also, I love the world around me and if being a vegetarian means helping the environment, I’m all for it. Since I don’t eat cows, I’m not part of the industry responsible for the most gas emissions (methane from cows, gasoline used in the trucks to transport the meat, etc.).

Since I’m still fairly new to this, let’s talk about the obvious: Yes, sometimes I get meat cravings. But I have found other, more-ethical ways to fuel my body and keep it strong and I have to remind myself of that. Plus, there are a ton of meat substitutes available if I’m really jonesing for some chicken nuggets or buffalo wings. Also it is important to note that I am NOT a vegan. I admire those who are, but I have chosen to incorporate eggs and dairy into my diet, though certainly not as often as I used to. For an animal lover who knows about the conditions of the animals, it is hardest to reconcile that with the fact that I still eat eggs and dairy products. When it comes to that, I really do try to find the best quality product I can, be it organic, free-range, etc. It is small comfort to me that I am not DIRECTLY contributing to the death of an animal by only consuming eggs and dairy, but I know that conditions for some animals are still abysmal.

If you want more information on Meredith, her story, or her vegetarian eats, head over to her blog Sweat Every Day.

You can also keep up with Meredith and her 140 character thoughts on twitter!!

In honor of Meredith…THE PROCLAIMERS!

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