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Let’s finish strong, friends.
This experience has been wonderful. Choosing to experiment with vegetarianism has not merely altered my diet, but introduced a new outlook for how I relate to the world. This positive change has given me greater respect for the food that nourishes and fills me. How can I respect myself if I do not respect what keeps me alive? Along with respect for the food I eat, I also have a greater respect for the animals whose lives are sacrificed to sustain others. I have been a vegetarian for two months and one day. This has been a humbling and motivational experience. Mostly, I learned to push myself to explore what healthy dietary adventures my body can take on. Throughout these two months, I have stayed completely loyal to my meatless pledge. During the second month, I decided to add some other little goals to experiment with my food intake. For the last month, I have not eaten fish or any type of seafood (and I find seafood so very delicious, a guilty pleasure of mine). In the beginning month, I still was eating fish and eggs, but for this past month, I have chosen to avoid certain foods for every other week. I experimented with excluding eggs for one week. For about a week I refrained from consuming diary products, except for milk. For about half a week, I chose to exclude dairy products including milk. It was hard to remember what I was restricting from my diet but this allowed me to take more time deciding what I could eat, what I wanted to eat, and what I needed to eat. This experiment pushed me to listen to my body for what I need to keep living the lifestyle I enjoy. I have the convenience of eating through the K-State dining services and in the dining center where I eat, there is a ridiculously, enormously wide variety of foods. I mean, I have SOOOOO many choices of food available. So, I had it pretty easy because I did not have the responsibility of making my vegetarian meals. Cooking vegetarian would add a whole new, and much more difficult, aspect to this experiment. The times I was home I had the opportunity to cook some Greek vegetarian meals and the food I made was far more enjoyable because it came with the satisfaction of knowing I made it. Eating in the dining center is too convenient. I put no thought into my meal plans because I am already guaranteed to have about a dozen meal options every day (less than a dozen for a vegetarian but still a plethora of vegetarian foods is available). I am not motivated enough to gather the necessary supplies to make a vegetarian meal here at school but I understand that having to create your own vegetarian meals would add so much responsibility to this diet. I want to try being a vegetarian again when I am cooking for myself- then I am sure my outcome will be maybe more rewarding and fulfilling but also a lot more difficult. With all of the options available at the dining center, it was easy to eat vegetarian and even days going without eggs or dairy were definitely more difficult but still doable. That infinitely filled salad bar was a blessing throughout these two months and I also have a dependence on cereal that could be possibly classified as an addiction. Raisin Bran, all the way baby.
A couple weeks ago I explored the K-State farms to observe the cattle. From my naive judgement, I thought the cattle seemed content in their living environment with a decent amount of land for them to roam and from the outside, the farms appeared clean and well-kept. I did not see too many Angus cows- maybe 15-20, which was very reassuring. This was my first time visiting the school’s farms and I was very pleased with what I encountered. The next week in class, we discussed K-State’s industrial, unnatural practices for meat production. I was disgusted with the techniques used by our school’s agricultural system but even more disgusted with myself for being so naive to not stop and consider what conditions are not plainly available to the eye. How are these cows being killed? What are they being fed? What hormones are begin injected into their bodies? None of these thoughts went through my head as I starred at the cattle, simply neglecting to consider an infinite number of aspects involved in their lives that are being hidden from the blue sky and green pasture.
What pushed me to conclude my inspiring experiment was my mother… Yes, my dear sweet mother. With good intentions, last weekend my mom gave me some dolmathes (grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat- it’s Greek) she had made. She claims to have “forgotten” about my experiment but I secretly know this was her bribing me to return to eating meat. She knew I was not eating meat (and very happily doing so) but, of course, my mother also knows me too well and is aware of my inability and hatred of wasting food. My belief is that her making and giving me these grape leaves was her way of telling me she wants me to be done with not eating meat… Mother knows best? I don’t want to waste this yummy food so I decided I am ready to eat meat again.
I have learned so much from being a vegetarian. There were a couple times I craved meat but even in those few times, rarely did I ever really wish I could eat a piece of chicken or have a cheeseburger. Honestly, I become so satisfied with my meatless meals. I ate healthier and gave my food more attention, which is something I want to always continue doing. I indulged each of my senses in my meals and was filled internally on a level beyond the digestive system. It is amazing how often we not only take for granted but neglect to even realize the role our food intake has on our lives. The impact food has is astounding. What we choose to put in our bodies gives us the energy to enjoy the day. Being a vegetarian forced me to notice what I was eating and want to receive the utmost benefit from healthy food so I could better thrive in each beautiful day. I also became more thankful for the food available to me. There are so many gifts the earth has provided to us. The fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, beans, seeds, rice, and even bread, pasta, and dairy products are plenty to keep anyone sufficiently satisfied. We have so many delicious things to be thankful for.
Thank you to all the readers that accompanied me on this journey. It was an experience I have gained so much from and will not forget. I hope to try it again! Even sometime soon. I have decided to refrain from consuming red meat. Chicken and fish will become a part of my regular diet but no more beef for me! Thank you again to all for encouraging and supportive comments! Good luck with your experimenting! Finish strong!
My spring break was enjoyed at a friend’s lake house in Arkansas. Throughout the week I was surrounded by plates overflowing with hot dogs, cheeseburgers, and miscellaneous barbecued goods. At first, I wished to indulge along side my friends and stuff myself with all the meat my stomach could handle but once I separated myself from the tempting smell, I returned to my goal and renewed vegetarian mentality. While searching for a vegetarian alternative to lunch one day I found my new boyfriend in the fridge- almond butter. Oh my goodness. A slice of wheat bread with a thick layer of almond butter and homemade strawberry rhubarb jelly. Do you hear angels singing? Almond butter on anything (yes, anything) beats a hot dog. That’s the vegetarian spirit!
I also had a little vegetarian adventure while all my friends decided to fish one day. Oddly, I wasn’t in the mood to hold a pole in water and wait for a creature to bite a raw squeaky hot dog, so while my friends were blasting music and catching their lunch, I ventured off in a kayak. I rowed until the notes of Rihanna became a faint echo in the wind. It was before noon and the air was still slightly crisp- not packed with afternoon bearing humidity. The further I rowed, the further I became surrounded by nature. The birds chirping, the water rippling, my eyes squinting in the sunlight, a light breeze cooling my sweat, thirst creeping into the back of my throat. I embraced it all. I would row for a while and then stop, float, and relax. The water carried and pushed the kayak in the direction it chose. This gave me the opportunity to notice how the sunlight was bouncing off the trees and how each tree seemed to have a slightly differing tint of green. I began to see how dense this nature is. So many parts: the dirt, the weeds, the flowers, the trees, and all of them adding to each other- not interfering but enhancing the ability of each other. So many separate parts uniting to create a beautiful whole. That’s what I call teamwork. It was a small lake so no seadoos were present. Instead of boats containing drunk frat boys, I found older men fishing who kindly waved. I felt like Pocahontas and will admit to singing some “Just Around the Riverbend” and the ever popular, “Colors of the Wind”. When I stopped singing I could listen to the music of nature which casts a shadow on my Disney rendition. The blisters on my hands are hardly a fair exchange for the beautiful and bountiful nature I experienced.
Had I not chosen the vegetarian alternative, I would have deprived myself of the closeness with nature I felt while kayaking. I would not have witnessed the serenity in the sparkling flowers. The lake would not have enveloped me. I am so thankful I choose to kayak instead of sitting bored, watching my friends fish. It was so relaxing to not have to think about being late somewhere or what I have to do later. With each ripple of water minutes passed unnoticed. Time was irrelevant. I also would have missed out on some delicious strawberry rhubarb jelly that I found while scavenging through the fridge. Instead of coating my meal with BBQ sauce, I enjoyed tasty almond butter. What a great trade.
The vegetarian alternative provided me this enjoyable experience. It’s a lifestyle, not just a diet.
I deprived myself of the glorious experience of tripping through Aggieville and drinking until my insides turn out and decided to go home for the weekend instead. Home for me is Overland Park, Kansas. Suburbia at it’s finest. My weekend was filled with a very green (not Fake Patty’s green) day.
At home, we have a wonderful and fairly large garden. And guess what I did early Saturday morning?!?! Planted some spinach and onions!! (way better than filling my stomach with alcohol-that’s for sure). As I was enjoying an omelet, my grandmother asked if I could help her in the garden. I knew it would be unfair to let my 80 year-old grandmother and mother commit themselves to the painful labor that is gardening without my help. If I sat inside my house, I would be wasting the gift of my age and physical ability. Respect to my mother and grandmother is something I do not neglect to give. My grandmother and mother are some of the most beautiful women I know and I hope to achieve half of what they have accomplished in their lives.
The moment I knew my grandmother was going to ask me to help her in the garden, I knew my answer would be a joyous chirp: Yes! I have always helped in the garden and once I get my feet dirty I enjoy myself but it is never my ideal choice of activity- just because I can be lazy. I walked across the backyard toward the garden and I decided I was going to thoroughly enjoy myself. As I was shoveling soil, I distracted myself from the tightness in my muscles by singing some Regina Spektor. The repetition in my shoveling allowed my thoughts to fly freely. ”What a beautiful day! How cool is it going to be when these onions are going to be in salsa that I eat? This is the full circle, baby. I am planting the food I eat. Yeah! I will deserve to eat and fully enjoy this food because I am planting it! I initiated the food’s life and it is supporting mine. Planting vegetables is a great activity for my vegetarianism! Woohoo!” The sweat coating my skin, the smell of moist soil, the fresh air filling my lungs… Ahh, being outside is just good for you. As we were tilling the soil, I thought of Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement. I told my mother and grandmother about Maathai’s dedication to the environment and the empowerment she brought, not only to women, but all indigenous people of Kenya. My grandmother cannot speak English so I shared Wangari Maathai’s experiences in Greek so my grandmother would be able to understand. To hear my mother asking me questions in Greek about Maathai’s struggles and success made me realize how applicable the lessons we learn in class are. I had the opportunity to connect class readings to my heritage and family- which doesn’t happen as often as it should. Speaking Greek always brings warm memories of my family and the beautiful country into my heart. It was a special and unique realization that me telling my family in Greek about Rigoberta Menchu and Vandana Shiva was bridging two mostly separate parts of my life. Three generations in the garden was a wonderful experience.
This was the first day I engaged myself in a vegetarian activity- besides not eating meat. It made being a vegetarian feel like a lifestyle and not just a diet. After the gardening, I felt so revived by nature I did not want to separate myself from it. When my mother proposed a trip to the Arboretum, I couldn’t think of a way to let my refreshened self enjoy the wonderful weather. The rest of my day consisted of hiking through the Arboretum, playing tennis, and going to the park with my younger sisters. What a green Fake Patty’s Day!
Lacto? Ovo? Flexi? Let’s learn some cool veggie vocab.
I had never considered various types of vegetarians. Vegetarians don’t eat meat. I thought it was just that simple. With my experimenting, I have learned there are three main types of vegetarians: lacto-ovo-vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian, and vegan. (lacto=dairy and ovo=eggs) Before this experiment, I was only aware of the vegan diet as a branch of the vegetarian diet. The lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet is the most commonly adopted vegetarian diet and includes both dairy and eggs. The lacto-vegetarian diet includes dairy but not eggs. There is also flexi-vegetarian. A flexi-vegetarian diet includes some meat on occasion or only includes certain types of meat; like fish or poultry. See? What a variety! I wasn’t sure to what extent I wanted to limit my vegetarian diet. In the past week, I have eaten fish once and eggs once. For my introduction to vegetarianism, I have chosen to combine the flexi/lacto/ovo to create a diet consisting of yummy fruits and vegetables (of course!) along with dairy, eggs, and fish. This is how I will begin at least. For the last week or two I may choose to exclude fish or eggs or maybe even try being vegan for a couple days… We will just have to wait and see.
Last night, I had a dream I ate meat. I was eating a plate of turkey and sausage. I realized half way through my meal what I was putting in my mouth and woke with an unsettling amount of guilt. Oh, my carnivorous unconsciousness. I will share all my other dreams in the next blog. Get excited.
I have been a vegetarian for a week exactly. I feel really good. I have a renewed disposition toward my diet; a better disposition. I am eating what my body needs, not what my eye craves. In addition to my improved health, I am admiring my perseverance. Yes, I know it has only been a week but I tend to have difficulty pushing myself. I will do everything I can but not to the point involving sacrifice. Being a vegetarian for a month is involving sacrifice but the effects are benefitting me in outstanding ways. I hope this experience continues to prove sacrifice can be rewarding.
I don’t know many vegetarians. My sister and a close friend are vegetarians but besides those awesome people, my life is filled with omnivores. Being Greek, meat is a prominent component to most meals. For anyone familiar with the movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, when Ian admits to not eating meat, Toula’s aunt reassures him that it is alright because she will make lamb and this is, without a doubt, the reaction I would receive from family members. But living away from home allows my diet to be completely my choice. Mom’s cooking is not the only option available. Living in the residence halls has been a convenience because the dining center always provides an assortment of fruits and vegetables and a variety of courses, some meatless. In order to retain a substantial amount of protein and iron, I am increasing my intake of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Actually, I am eating some almonds and dried apricots as I write this. Beans would be great protein but I rarely find beans in the dining center. Boo. But when beans are provided, I eat up. I am enjoying my yogurt with raisins and carrots with peanut-butter. While doing some research, I am now aware of Vitamin B sources like whole grains and lentils. I have not eaten eggs in the past week, but I have chosen to include eggs in my diet for the rest of the month. I will continue to work towards a balanced, healthy diet as a vegetarian.
Some more good eats will be shared once I find them. Unfortunately, cooking is extremely difficult in the dorms so I will not be sharing personal experience with vegetarian recipes but for those interested in some tasty meatless dishes check out: http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Vegetarian-Cuisine/Detail.aspx. Yumm.
Humans are on the same level of the food chain as squirrels, bears, and raccoons. Before recent, I believed we created and managed the food chain. We do not own other animals. Humans feel incredibly threatened by the power and strength of the animals that thrive in nature. We are willing to go to any extent to control and degrade animals to either meat or pets. Animals are worthless pests until we can manipulate their lives to benefit us. Food and entertainment are why we value animals. There is no respect for them as influential and divine beings. Animals are synonymous to dirty, barbaric idiots. Comparing a person to an animal is a disgusting insult. We strive to separate ourselves from our natural, animalistic natures. Through my ignorance in eating anything without a second of thought, I was privatizing nature. No animals are below us. I lived believing that whatever was available to me was rightfully mine. I did not question what may be degraded by the foods I ate. I never doubted my right to eat whatever I chose. Since Monday, the 20th I have not eaten meat. It has been great! Given, it has only been four days but I feel good. I am benefitting myself through taking the time and considering what sounds good to me, what is good for me and last but not least- what will not show superiority over other creatures. I also have had some really great conversations with people about why I am becoming a vegetarian. Some people may surprise you with their open-mindedness. This is the beginning of a humbling experience. I am in the process of gaining more respect for animals and realizing the place I should have in nature. Positive experiences are not only those in which empowerment is achieved. I hope to enjoy finding a new, included place in nature. Vegetarianism, here I come!
