On Being Vegetarian

I wasn't always a vegetarian.

Up until 8 1/2 years ago, I was an omnivore. I loved meat. Chicken, bacon, steak, lobster, shrimp....I ate most things except for lamb, veal and other animals that I deemed "too icky" to eat. I never really thought about what I ate....if it was on the menu, and it looked good, I'd order it.

I did know some vegetarians, and they intrigued me. My step-mother is a life-long vegetarian, and my ex-best-friend was too, among others. I remember years ago asking these people questions about vegetarianism. I was intrigued. What did they eat? What were their reasons for not eating meat? Did they miss it? The answers I got were as varied as the people answering. Some people gave up meat for ethical reasons, some because of health issues, some because they simply did not like the taste of meat. And of course, everyone's diets varied, as expected. I remember talking to one friend about being vegetarian. I clearly remember telling her that I could do it, but that I would miss tacos too much. She replied that I simply wasn't ready yet.

On March 5, 2002, I was ready. I decided to try it for one month. I figured that anything less than one month wouldn't really be giving it a fair shot, and anything more than one month may seem daunting. I had just turned 32, and was ready for something new. That day was the first day I went vegetarian. One month later, I renewed my commitment for another month...then another...then another....and soon I wasn't renewing anymore because it was already part of who I was. I have not had any meat---beef, chicken, pork, seafood, etc--since that day.

A few months into going vegetarian, I read the book Fast Food Nation. While it is a fascinating book all the way through, what really got me was the chapter on how they kill the cows and chickens in the slaughterhouse. It really grossed me out, and made me really sad for these poor animals. That totally sealed the deal for me. No more eating animals.

My reason for being vegetarian is strictly ethical. Sure, I enjoy the health benefit--my cholesterol is very low--but that is a side benefit. In fact, when I first became vegetarian over 8 years ago I GAINED weight! I was suddenly eating a lot more cheese products and junk food and my weight climbed up 20 pounds. I lost that immediately (thanks Weight Watchers!) and quickly learned healthier ways of eating.

At first I missed meat terribly, but now I don't miss it whatsoever. There are so many vegetarian recipes that keep me satisfied. I am always on the prowl for new cookbooks and love to buy them or check them out from the library. And so many traditional meat dishes can be made using soy substitutes (like Morningstar Farms, Boca or my new favorite, gardein). I still have tacos, veggie burgers, sausage and bacon, but it's all made with these fabulous and tasty soy-substitute products.

I am not a vegan (someone who eats no animal products whatsoever, like eggs, dairy or honey). I do eat a lot of dairy, and use eggs in my cooking. I have no interest in going vegan, although I do make a concerted effort to buy milk and eggs that come from free-range animals. One thing that is my biggest pet peeve is when people ask me if I eat fish. No, I don't eat fish; fish is an animal. I know there are people out there who call themselves vegetarians and still eat fish, but that is not correct. They are pescatarian (or as I heard once, veg-aquarium!).

I am not raising my kids to be vegetarian. If J was vegetarian as well, then of course it would be a different story. But I believe that what you eat is a personal choice. I made my choice for very specific reasons, and I want D and A to come to their own conclusions. Of course, in the house all they get are vegetarian dishes; I will not cook meat, so all the meals I make for them, whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, are meat-free. However, I will let them order a hamburger or chicken nuggets or whatever if we are out at a restaurant. If they come to me in a few years and want to be vegetarian, I will happily support their decision. If they choose to remain omnivores (and by the way they both love meat I think they will!) then that's ok with me too.

I love to cook and it is so fun and satisfying to make delicious and healthy food. Tonight I made homemade hot-and-sour soup and wontons. See? Being a vegetarian doesn't have to mean sacrifice! And I love having to think about what I eat before I put it in my mouth. Asking questions, reading labels, studying ingredients---it's important for me to know so I don't accidentally eat something with meat. Meat hides in things---many foods are cooked in chicken broth, for example--so I need to be vigilant. I'm glad I've made this choice. It's a lifestyle that I will always have. For me, there is no going back.

A Chef in the Making

I love to cook.

That statement, while seemingly innocuous, is huge for me. I spent 37 of my first 40 years actively not cooking. I hated it. I remember when I was little, my mother would sometimes ask me to help her make dinner. I would opt to make the salad! I never really learned how to cook anything at the hands of my mother (which I now regret) and went to college not knowing how.

I have no idea what I ate in college and beyond. I must have blocked those memories out. Lots of take-out, frozen dinners, sandwiches, and ramen noodles, I suppose. Even when I met J, I never cooked. He jokes that the one meal I made for him when we were dating was a tuna melt (simply made by putting tuna and cheese on bread and sticking it in my sandwich maker)...although that really wasn't a joke. I never cooked for him.

Not that I COULDN'T cook, mind you. I was able to follow a recipe, and certainly made some things over the years when needed: food for a Passover seder, a meal to bring to a friend's house for dinner, dessert for a party. I COULD cook, I just hated it. I found it boring, pointless, and a waste of time.

After we had our first child, D, I still never really cooked. J would come home from work and cook dinner for us. Once in a while I would make a Boboli pizza, and think I was Julia Child. It wasn't until after our second child, A, was born, that I developed an interest in cooking.

When A was born, and in the NICU for 12 weeks (and then hospitalized for another month after that) my dear friends brought my family dinner about 4 times a week. It was amazing, and I felt so cared for and loved. Most of the meals were homemade by my friends, which stunned me: my friends COOKED? What? Was I the only non-cooker in the bunch?

After A was stabilized, I decided to try a recipe. It was winter 2007, just about 3 years ago exactly. I clearly remember my first recipe I tried on my cooking renaissance: jumbalaya. It was so fun to chop all the vegetables, measure my ingredients, and prepare a tasty meal. I was hooked, and haven't stopped since.

Why do I like cooking?

• It challenges my brain. Since becoming a full-time stay-at home mom, sometimes I feel like my mind has become mush. Managing cooking times, trying different recipes, etc makes me feel like I'm actually using my brain!
• It gives me a creative outlet.
  
• I like knowing what is IN my food, and take comfort knowing that everything I eat is 100% vegetarian.
• It give me "alone" time without being alone. I usually cook while the kids watch tv or play in the next room (which is attached to the kitchen). I can watch them, and still be by myself. Better yet, sometimes I put on my iPod and cook to my favorite tunes.

I have found that I am a good cook! I am not the sort of cook that can make up recipes in her head; actually, I need a recipe to follow, and will seldom deviate from it. But I have made more "advanced" food such as risotto, wontons, (vegetarian) sushi, and souffles. It's fun! Just this month I took a pasta-making class through our local adult ed, and now have a pasta maker to make my own ribbon pastas and raviolis.

My main audience is my husband. He is who I cook for. On days when he's not home for dinner, you can be sure I'm making something low-key such as spaghetti. I love to see his reaction when we eat dinner; it feels good to have him enjoy what I make.

I welcome all vegetarian recipes, and would love to hear from any of my readers!