I know this series is usually posted on Sunday’s, but this weekend was crazy busy with my Memphis trip. I wanted to make sure this post was up by last night, but that didn’t happen either. So without waiting until next weekend I’m posting it now AND you get ANOTHER Memphis Beale St Music Festival video!!!

When I was in seventh grade, I saw a movie that showed the insides of animals.  I don’t remember the details, but I do remember upon the completion of the movie thinking, “I will never eat meat again.”  I went on a long weekend vacation with my family shortly after the movie, declared myself a vegetarian, and shocked my parents to no end.  We were in Maine.  I’ll never forget lecturing my family on why they shouldn’t be eating lobster.  They could have cared less! They were meat eaters.  Always had been.  A typical meal at my house growing up was a hamburger, a frozen veggie, and some kind of Ore Ida potato.  We always had veggies, but they most certainly were not the center of our house.

Not surprisingly, my seventh grade vegetarianism didn’t last long.

Fast forward 13 years and I was living in New York City.  I loved every single minute of my four years in this city.  One morning, I was walking to work from the subway, and I saw meat getting delivered from a van.  Just a regular old van.  No freezer, no coolers in the van, just meat coming out of the van.  At that very moment, I declared myself a vegetarian again.  I couldn’t fathom eating meat that had been delivered from that van. Many different people pointed out to me that perhaps this was the only stop they had made and that I didn’t have all the details, but deep down, I just couldn’t do it.

Fast forward a year.  Again, I was walking through NYC from my subway stop to work and smelled bacon.  I had to have bacon right at that moment. Vegetarianism over.

Since I had my two children in November 2006 and May 2008, I have really struggled with my eating habits.  I went through a lot of changes in a short time – all of which included giving birth, finding a new job and new house, moving, starting said new job 6 weeks after my second kid was born….all the while desperately trying to shed the pregnancy pounds.  Nothing was working – mostly because with everything going on, I didn’t have time to think about what was going in my mouth.  During the school year of 2008-2009, I was in major survival mode.  I loved my work, loved my family, but lived moment to moment, day to day.  During this time, I was constantly trying to find some kind of peace.

I started reading blog after blog and really looking up what being a vegetarian or vegan meant.  How could I be sure I’d be getting all of nutrients and vitamins I needed?  I was turning 35 soon, had two kids that notice and mimic everything, and wanted to be the best possible example to them.  One Friday night, I was driving home from work and decided I would make vegetable soup.  I followed a recipe from fatfreevegan.com, and devoured the soup with my kids.  It was March and felt like things were getting under control.  The next morning, I woke up and felt amazing.  Better than I had felt since long before giving birth in May 2008.  I didn’t know if it was the veggie soup or something else, but to this day, I’ll say it was the soup!  

Over the next several months, I ate very little meat, but occasionally had a hamburger or piece of chicken, or something.  I hadn’t seen Food Inc., but knew enough about it from reading reviews and articles.  I hadn’t read any Michael Pollen but knew enough from reviews and interviews.  I thought to myself, “I don’t really like meat.  I don’t really want to eat it.  This is a way I can truly contribute to the Earth and do something I know is really good for my body.” And I haven’t gone back since.  It’s awesome!  I feel great.  My skin is better.  My energy is generally higher.  My husband has basically given up meat too and says the same things about himself.  We eat only veggie at home, but when we’re out, if my kids ask for chicken fingers, we get them chicken fingers.  I’ll let them decide for themselves when the day comes.  They don’t ask for meet at home.  I swear tofu is one of their favorite foods! I watch what I eat so closely.  I make sure I have healthy fats, protein, fiber, fruits, and vegetables as often as I can.  I’ve learned a lot about complete proteins and how to make sure my body is having them.  I’m getting closer to being vegan.  I don’t eat a lot of eggs (it kind of creeps me out!)  and have recently discovered that dairy upsets my stomach (this is after testing this theory over the past couple of weeks). Plus, with my discovery of almond milk, there is no reason, in my mind, to drink regular milk.  I really heart almond milk! I’m not totally vegan and probably never will be, but I’m pretty close!

I love this lifestyle.  I love reading new recipes and sharing what I’ve learned.  I love the blogs and websites that are out there that help you live this lifestyle and don’t make you feel like you are missing anything.   My body is changing.  I turned 35 this past week and feel like I’m taking care of myself better than I ever have before.  I haven’t lost a ton of weight and am still working through that, but I feel pretty darn good.  I still get guffaws from my family, but I think even they are impressed with how much better me eating is!  

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