Flirting with Veganism


I didn't mean to. It just...happened. Yeah, right. THAT's what they all say.

I believe people of vegetarian beliefs fall into 3 different doctrines.

First:
The casual observer does not eat red meat and sometimes stays away from chicken and pork. And they usually do eat fish--although they might insist on wild caught. I'll call these folks the Christmas and Easter attendees.

Second:
Up a religious notch are the Ovo-vegetarians. In addition to refraining from all meats they will stay away from eggs and baked goods containing eggs. Ovos = Sabbath Observers.

And Third:
Ovo-Lacto-Vegetarians, or Vegans are the Ultra-Orthodox of veggie-philes. (Think: attend Church EVERY day.) They abstain from all meat, eggs & dairy. As far as I can tell they eat a LOT of soybeans!

What does this have to do with me?

I've mentioned before that I am LDS. (You know. Mormons? The ones Dooce makes fun of daily.) We abstain from whole areas of generally excepted foods. Notably: Coffee, Tea, Tobacco, Alcohol. (Generally: habit forming stuff, so yes, illegal drugs are out too). But we are also encouraged to use good judgment when it comes to meats and grains. Basically there is a season for all things.

For years I've tended to eat less meat in the summer. With the heat and plenty of local farmer's market finds I gravitate to salads and pastas and my favorite: Avocado/Sprout-O-Rama sandwiches. Plus, I've been lactose intolerant since I was a teenager. I don't drink milk and had started taking Lataid in order to keep up with my nightly bowl of ice cream habit. However I still had bouts of irritable bowel and needed Zantac sometimes weekly. And recently I found out that I am mildly allergic to egg whites. (Enough about my bowels, eh?)

Last summer I read both Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle, and Jane Goodall's, Harvest for Hope. Kingsolver had been a vegetarian and explains why she returned to a meat eating diet. Goodall is a vegetarian, (vegan in fact) and while she doesn't preach her creed, she makes it very clear that our food supply is in trouble. Especially meat that comes from factory farming.

And this summer I read this book. It's title might offend some and they keep using a certain word a lot of folks do not appreciate all through it-(don't click the link if that might be you). And finally that was it.

It started out small. I was going to cut out processed sugars for a month.
{Everyone repeat after me 'STAY AWAY FROM high fructose corn syrup (HFCS)'.}
But it was hot so I wasn't eating a lot of meats anyway. I can't have much dairy, so no biggy there. And I haven't needed Zantac since dropping my egg eating.

For one whole month I accidentally converted Vegan. I was sa-aved! I didn't drink any soda (water only-the hardest part for me!). I kept slipping (sinner that I am) and did eat cottage cheese and products (like whole grain breads) made with eggs and dairy. And at restaurants I opted for Salmon dishes.

And I lost 10 pounds! Yes, you read that right. I did not add any extra exercising, I finally lost the last pounds from my last pregnancy. (That was 4 1/2 years ago!)

Now? No. Not a practicing Vegan. The conversion didn't take. Not saved. The weight loss did. But I still don't eat a lot of meat. I love my yummy salads. And I will go for a whole week or so making an extra effort to stay away from meats, eggs and dairy. And I totally feel better that week?

It's still the water that kills me. I don't love drinking it? I make a big jug of herbal tea instead.

Has anyone else read the offensive book? I love the premise of it. To NOT put CRAP in your body Girls! (They use a different word). I quote from it a lot (not the profanity though). My favorite is: Soda is liquid Satan Girls! And they REALLY hate diet soda, don't even go there with them!
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15 comments:

Alice said...

You've intrigued me enough to buy the book. We don't ban anything in the house, but I do push the veggies and fruits. My kids will eat them. And then I get cheesed off at their friends who come over and won't touch anything that isn't pre-packaged.

They're in for a shocker though. I'm like, hey kid - you can have this banana or nothing.

Jaysi said...

I am a crazy veggie lover. Some find it strange that I actually do crave veggies over sweets, but I'm not going to lie....I do enjoy a nice juicy cheeseburger every now and then. Maybe I could try this on a smaller level.

Have you tried lemon, orange or lime squeezed into your water? Even floating some cucumbers in there can be tasty!

Jenni said...

I am a notoriously picky eater, so most of my diet consists of processed crap. It's awful. I do drink a lot of water though! I love it! I should really read that book!

Jocasta said...

I had to click on the link just to see what the word was!

I've flirted with vegetarianism. I really love animals and somehow I don't feel right eating them however I've never managed to give meat up. Doesn't help coming from a farming country where meat revolves around everything - I don't think I could go the whole hog (sorry about the pun) to be a vegan. To difficult to avoid all dairy products.

Classy Fab Sarah said...

I have been told that I should read that book, but I haven't had a chance to pick it up yet. I love fruits and veggies, but I also love carbs, crap, and dairy. I guess I still need to be convinced (maybe I should buy the book!)

Tidbits Of Tammy said...

Like JenniBeanV I am a very picky eater. The only veggies I like are the starchy one unfortunately.

But I would like to check the book out for the sake of my boys because I have been really watchful to raise my boys to eat healthy.

With my first I did not give a drop of sugar for the first 2 years and he will now chose water over soda and fruit and veggies over candy cookies and ice cream.

So I am now doing the same with my 16 month old, I hope it works as well with him.

Thanks for sharing about this I will definitely be reading it.

I am Arizona; a person, not a place. said...

You flirt. Go all the way, will you?

I read Skinny Bitch and thought it was, um, annoying. But I had read books like it before and know the sermon. I was also annoyed because I thought it was going to be a funny book and it so was not. I was really looking forward to funny. I've been a vegan and/or a raw food vegan for most of my life. Right now i am not (I eat the occasional sea creature, but no other animal products). I think its funny that people who eat fish would call themselves a vegetarian. If you are eating a fish, you are not a vegetarian. And the whole lacto ovo thing is weird, too. But, that's just me and I can be a skinny bitch sometimes.

Laurie said...

I love veggies. My problem is that I am a horrible cook, make no effort at trying to make dinner, and the biggest stress of my day is what we will eat for dinner. Sometimes we have a t-ball game to rush to, hubby is out of town, or I just am in no mood to want to cook something after being with kids all day.I know bad mom.
That being said, I eat out way too much and do need to start eating better.
I do not eat red meat, and I do not eat anything that comes out of the ocean. Always been this way. I will occasionally eat chicken and ham. I am so not a burger person. My area of weakness is carbs. I will take a look at the book and thanks for pointing it out.
Congrats on the 10 pounds too.

Rachel said...

I haven't read it, but a 10 lb weight loss in one month sounds good to me! I have issues that should mean I eat healthy, but I don't. . . maybe I should get started. Not sure how I would explain "no red meat" to my beef-producing family, though.

Jo said...

Liquid Satan????? No, see that's where they TRY to confuse you. WATER is liquid Satan, Soda is just an innocent bystander in this horrid smear campaign. *snort*

I think I drink a glass of water a WEEK. Sick I know. One of these days I'll ditch the soda addiction. Someday...maybe..definitely...maybe. :)

Melissa Ann Browning said...

Who's Dooce? personally I love mormons - especially you accidental vegan mormons :) But I won't discriminate!

I was a vege for years - travelling killed it & I've never gone back.I could easily rant here, but I'll curb myself because I love you! (also because I'm totally stewaling internet from across the lake from some posh summer camp called "Skylemar".... sad sad sad.....

United Studies said...

Great post!!

In the past year I've become more aware of what we are eating and why, and have incorporated more fresh fruits and vegetables into our diet. PLUS I am putting more vegetarian dishes into the diet. At least twice a week we have a no-meat meal.

But sorry, I can't give up my daily can of Coke. :-)

I agree with Jaysi...try putting lemon, lime or cucumber into your water, it tastes delicious!

Anti-Supermom said...

That's funny... somebody really doesn't know who Dooce is? They must be joking, right? :)

Wow for you, and I can't imagine. I'm loving my steak way too much. 10 pounds might be enough to convince me though.

Threeundertwo said...

We're vegan at different points in the year for religious reasons (Greek Orthodox) and it really isn't that hard to get used to, once you get started.

The book looks interesting. I think I'm going to download it to my phone to read. Thanks!

Lisa@BlessedwithGrace said...

Carissa, I found your blog through the Mom Blog Ad Exchange. Anyway, I have enjoyed reading it, this morning. Love this post about your "inner vegan". You may have inspired this meat eating girl to give some more thought to her diet. Thanks!


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