Why? After all I have read about the health benefits! After all I have read about what is in our food! After all I have read about the treatment of animals and the treatment of workers in the slaughterhouses!
I know! [insert forehead slap here]
There are two reasons why I have gone back the basic American diet:
- Husband and I have very few hobbies that we enjoy together. I love Star Wars - he doesn't understand why "vehicles fly in space and guys swirl around laser swords".
- One thing we have always enjoyed together is food, eating out, cooking a great meal at home - part of our relationship - a very strong part of our bond revolves around food - the breaking of bread at our table. By being a Vegan - I took myself out of that part of our life we enjoy.
- He was very supportive of my choices and in no way influenced my current decision. Basically, I missed that part of us. Our restaurant choices were limited ... I got tired of ending up at a salad joint and felt guilty for "making him eat rabbit food once again". He does enjoy veggies but not as his only food.
- I wanted our food life to be simple and to be a couple making those food decisions.
- I started focusing on my weight. During that time as a Vegan I lost a bit of weight [nice] - bought some new clothes [very nice] BUT also became focused on losing weight and started calling foods either "good" or "bad". [This food is from nature it's good - this food has preservatives in it - it's bad]
- I stopped being perfectly happy with the body I had and started focusing on what I thought was wrong - well "hello" eating disorder from my past...haven't seen you in several years.
- I could tell my days revolved around eating just the right "good" thing - I stopped being happy.
- It has taken me many turns around the sun to be happy with the body God gave me - I refuse for my own mental/physical health to start calling food "good" or "bad" or start focusing on my weight again.
I am not sure what to do about the guilt I feel about the animals. But I am talking to God about this whole thing because I really don't know what else to do. I think I will keep the blog - I have renamed it to "Just Living This Life"
Peace.
~K
Kelly, I certainly understand much of your reasoning. Fin and I have many of the same complications about our diet. On my own, I will eat meat once or twice a week. He would eat filet mignon every night. I've been gluten/wheat free for over a year. The other thing he would eat every night is spaghetti. On pasta nights, I cook two pastas. As for the meat, the best I can do (and it's pretty difficult in the wilds of Mississippi) is to look for meat that is certified humane, I try to buy eggs from local farmers and overall just do the best I can to source animal products from sources that make an effort to treat their animals well. When I can't do that I just take a deep breath and buy what we need. Good luck continuing to find the balance that is great for both of you.
ReplyDeleteBethany, thank you for your comment. It's finding a balance - I like that point you have made.
DeleteWell argued with yourself and valid points - each and every one.
ReplyDeleteThank you Maggie :)
DeleteI, too, like the way Bethany put it - it's about balance. We still can make conscious eating choices, be aware of what we put in our mouths and how it affects the planet overall. I'm sort of a "part-time" vegetarian. It's easy for me to not eat beef and pork, and to eat only poultry and fish occasionally. But when I come across some good German bratwurst (made of pork), I'll eat it for the childhood memories. My choice. And if I have salmon, I stay away from the Chinese, farm-raised ( = chicken poop fed) salmon. My choice.
ReplyDeleteYou gotta do what's right for you...at the right time for you. :-)
Pixel, that's a great thought pattern. At this time I am just not ready for an "all or nothing" approach...doing the best I can is where I am at.
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