Last week I randomly picked up Alicia Silverstone’s book “The Kind Diet” at our library, thinking it might have some good vegetarian recipes I could try out. I was pleasantly surprised by her writing skills (admittedly, I can still only imagine her as a real-life version of the character she played in “Clueless”) and her vast knowledge and experience relating to all things plant-based.
She writes extensively about her personal journey to a vegan lifestyle, but is really non-threatening about it. There is no judgement, just an opportunity for her to present some information you might not have heard of before, and come to your own conclusions. She writes very conversationally and I was hooked after the first page.
I have been on the fence when it comes to meat for about five years and could easily give it up without much sacrifice, save for the occasional pepperoni pizza craving or sudden urge for bacon with my pancakes. I don’t like the fact that animals have to be killed in order for us to eat meat, factory farming is a nightmare, and I don’t even really like the flavour or texture of most meat. But I had never considered a vegan lifestyle before. It sounded so extreme and all-consuming. You could never eat at a restaurant, you’d be a total pain in the rear if you ever got invited to dinner at a friend’s house (and, I imagine the invitations would stop rolling in faster than you can say, “soy nuggets!”), and you would have to live a life without cheese. I mean, seriously.
Before reading the book, I had no qualms eating cheese, dairy and eggs, since I reasoned that it was more humane than slaughtering the animals. It’s not like it hurts the chickens to lay eggs, or the cows to be milked, right? Well, it turns out the life of a dairy cow or a laying hen is horrific right from day one. I won’t get into all the details, but my eyes were really opened to the conditions they’re raised in and I don’t feel quite as innocent about my cheese-covered omelette anymore.
I am not planning on going vegan anytime soon, but this book made me consider it as an option for the first time in my life. A little bit of knowledge can go a long way. Now that I’m chewing on some of these new notions and ideas (she also discusses the perils of white sugar, processed foods and pretty much anything else that tastes good) I find myself wondering about a few things: how are we supposed to find balance in the messed-up system we find ourselves living in? There must be a fine line between enjoying this one life to its fullest, but doing it without cruelty. And, when one makes changes, are they destined to become nothing more than phases, in retrospect? I have many friends who have gone vegetarian or vegan for a few months, then fall back into old patterns and stop caring about the things they were once so passionate about.
One of the great things Alicia touches on is that we don’t have to completely commit to a new lifestyle overnight. We can flirt with some of the ideas she presents, try cooking without meat a couple times a week, maybe cut out some of the refined sugars in our diets, and see how we feel. Baby steps are a-OK. So that’s where I’m at right now: baby-stepping my way to a life that’s a little more aware of the food I eat, the impact it has on the planet and my body, and maybe one teensy step closer to becoming a total hippie vegan who wears a burlap toga and spins wool from her own armpit hair to use for knitting booties for the chickens who live in the bedroom with her and whose eggs she tenderly gathers while humming folk songs. Or something.
Have you ever considered a radical change to your diet? Have you gone through a vegetarian or vegan stage in your life and then quit? Do you feel as though you’re moving in a direction you’re pleased with in regards to the food you eat and making small changes that will eventually bring you to the place you aim to be? I’d love to hear from the vegans out there, how they make the lifestyle sustainable, how they live without a thin slice of havarti cheese on a freshly buttered baguette. Do tell!
Thefutureoffood.com
TappedTheMovie.com
Fast Food Nation (The movie)
Food Inc (The movie)
4 movies that will be really eye-opening for many people. I apologize for the length of this comment but water and food goes hand in hand.
Tapped (the documentary) stopped me from ever buying bottled water unless I am brutally desperate. If we forget our water containers, we often go thirsty. Read and watch about our global water crisis at http://www.tappedthemovie.com where you will see: 1)That despite 70% of the world being covered by water, only 1% of it is drinkable.2) By 2030, 2/3 of the world will not have access to clean drinking water.
Today we can detect flame-retardant chemicals (used on children’s pj’s and other clothing manufacturing) in human breast milk; it’s because of our water contamination.
Fast Food Nation was so shocking it stopped my husband eating animal product for two weeks (truly otherwise a happy omnivore).
Food Inc and The Future of Food will remind us why the petition started by the Toronto Environmental Alliance was so important. (Toronto City Council stopped Rob Ford’s wish to stop buying locally grown food for city operated facilities). Learn more about important issues at http://www.torontoenvironment.org/campaigns/greenbelt/localfoodprocurement/victory
Lastly, I just wanted to share that “Free-Range” and “Free-Run” labels are not what consumers think they are. If you really wish to buy humane food, especially eggs, this website explains what those misleading labels mean. Please do read them if you care about compassionate treatment of animals: http://www.humanefood.ca/pdf%20links/cage-free-eggs-new-logo-v4.pdf
I try to eat as humanely as possible. I have a genetic blood condition that requires that I occasionally eat an omnivore diet which bothers me a good deal. I am lucky to live in a city where we have humane options.
The more of us who choose them, the more accessible, viable and affordable they become.
Most people cannot imagine a future where food will become scarce with fossil fuels disappearing. Yet the current refusal to pay a living wage to farmers locally and offshoring food sourcing is propelling us toward a future of famine for many people. IN NORTH AMERICA.
It’s a lot to digest (pardon the pun) but if every one of us made small changes over time, we could steer our food production to be more sustainable, humane and healthy.
Cheap abundant food has created an nation of overweight and obese children, teens and adults; a world where diabetes and heart disease are increasing year after year in developed “rich” nations.
Can we really think more is still more? Or can we start to see food as an investment in the future and be more willing to consider that cheaper is not sustainable?
Food for thought. Thanks for raising it on UrbanMoms!
Idas
I try to be kind to the chickens by only purchasing free run eggs, even when I’m on a tight budget. We don’t eat a lot of meat, but I like the idea of cutting back further. I was a vegetarian when I was young. When I met my husband he ate meat three meals a day. We’ve settled somewhere in the middle. For now. I really think I’d like to return to my meat free ways.
My middle son is gluten and casein free and has been since 2005. So we eat a lot of his food.
There is a new raw food/health store in town and I have found myself there several times this week. Boy if I had the money I’d have her provide me food all the time. It is delicious and I feel amazing when I eat her meals. No gluten, no dairy and nothing heated over 115f. Sooo good. I never thought this type of food would be as delicious as it is. She does home delivery and weekly meal pplans – but really it’s way too expensive for me.
I have also had some awe inspiring moments in the past few months about the way we eat as humans and how we eat.
One blog I follow… along with (both) of yours is called http://www.peasandthankyou.com. A SAHM … she write humourous articles coupled with vegan and vegetarin recipes. And Amanda. She has recipies for Donuts. Vegan Donuts. If I know you at all from your blog, you will check her out. Genius. (along with you and all the other Urban Mom Bloggers I read of course!)
I think if I decided to turn this house vegan Corey would move out. Meat rocks his socks. I on the other hand could cut out all meat and be good with it, happy in fact.
We eat pretty “clean” around here. While it’s a far cry from vegan or vegetarian, we eat and keep very little processed foods in our home. The ingredients they contain are scary and we want to teach out kids to eat healthfully and to read labels. Having a serious food allergy helps me with that, having to be careful with what I consume means I’m aware in a big way of what our girls consume. We eat copious amounts of vegetables, whole grains and the like. I do bake/cook with sugar, I think twice about salt and I say we’re doing pretty well.
Cheese however is what helps me breath and I’m offended at even the thought of not eating it. It’s one of my guilty pleasures.
Sounds like you’re taking a good look at healthier eating (not that you weren’t eating healthy before) and that’s awesome! Any great recipes you come across would be wonderful if you share them!
I’ve been eating gluten-free vegan lately, but more becausey doctor told me I had to. I’m learning about the goodness of veggies and fruits and rice. There is souch variety, and it’s all SO GOOD. Also, drinking only water. I don’t even crave my former jug of iced tea a day. And I’ve lost 7 lbs in two weeks, so that’s pretty rad too.
It’s totally doable, it’s just a lot more work. And I miss pepperoni pizza.
I started eating vegetarian after reading “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer. Its a really great read…or as great as a book about factory farming can be. That was back in October. I’m not vegan (yet), but I’m heading that way. I don’t drink cow’s milk anymore, I switched to almond milk. I just haven’t been able to say goodbye to cheese or eggs yet. I’d say more than half my meals are vegan at this point but I’m not planning my meals with that as a goal yet.
I’m so glad I made the change though. I’m cooking with a lot more thought and planning now that I’m not eating meat. My meals were so boring when I ate meat! Now my meals are so colorful and flavorful! I live with my (omnivore) boyfriend and he hasn’t bought meat for himself to eat at home since I stopped eating it because he likes the new meals so much. And we obviously eat a ton more veggies than we used to. We joined a CSA so we get a weekly produce box too. YUM.
i have a friend who is a raw food vegan. she went from unhealthy and almost 300lbs to astonishing her doctors with her perfect health by only changing her diet. she’s a real inspiration for sure! if i had someone who would do all the cooking for me i’d go for it but i’m too lazy! 🙂 i just try to “eat the rainbow” and eat real food.
I read that book awhile ago too.
A good alternative would be joining a CSA group. Then you’d meet the farmer who tends to the animals and get to see the farm conditions. That’s what I’d most like to do. Kind of seems to solve lots of the problems, as well as supporting your local farmers. Check out this link of CSAs for BC. http://www.ffcf.bc.ca/resources/kp/csa.html