Hold the Meat

For many years I was a fish eating vegetarian.  That lasted about 20 years, then I started gradually adding meat to my diet.  Eventually I was a complete carnivore.  I didn’t feel different with or without the meat.  It was just a matter of doing what I thought I needed to fuel my body at the time.

Several years ago I decided to go vegetarian again.  I was just tired of meat and not feeling real comfortable with the entire animal thing.  Also, I happen to love all vegetables and I thought I wouldn’t miss the chicken, beef, pork, and lamb.  I was thinking I wasn’t going to be able to get enough protein so I included products like soy burgers and soy sausage, etc. in my diet.  For months I felt very lazy.  I wasn’t feeling bad, I just didn’t have any energy at all and needed to nap frequently.  The only thing that had changed in my life was that I wasn’t eating meat.  So, I again became a carnivore.  I started feeling better right away.

Recently I once again became wary of eating animals.  It’s a personal thing for me and I don’t care what others do.  I just don’t want to eat meat myself.  Fish and shellfish, dairy and eggs, OK.  Meat, no.  I do like to know the source of the dairy and eggs and sea food though.  My focus now is on eating ‘clean.’  The vegetables and fruits and grains are all important too and I try to buy local from known sources.  It’s not a major deal for me but I do try to stay informed if possible.

A difference between this time and the last time I went meatless is that I am not eating soy as a major protein replacement.  I have done some reading and it seems it is possible the soy was taking a toll on me.  Without the soy, and without the meat, I am feeling great.  I am eating fish 2 – 3 times a week and I eat beans and yogurt and cheese on occasion.  I am finding a balance with my eating and managing to eat at least 5 vegetables and fruits every day with no trouble.  In the morning I wake up and spend a bit of time thinking about what I will fix for dinner so I will be prepared when I get home from work.  I usually eat the same thing for breakfast each day,  either egg and avocado or egg and tomato wrap,  and a salad for lunch, then a variety of things for dinner.  I end up having pasta a few times a week and another starch, like potatoes, several times a week. I am managing to stay full and stay active and feel pretty good too. At this point I have not lost any weight but I haven’t gained either.

I would suggest people, especially people my age, take some time to think about how they want to eat and what their body needs to live a long and active life. Or, maybe just to live a life healthier then they now live. If you think you need a change, vegetarian or at least partial vegetarian isn’t a bad choice to make. It’s so easy to go a few days a week without meat. And, it is even easy to go every day of the week without meat. It’s a lifestyle choice each person needs to make for him/herself. It can be done for moral reasons, save the planet reasons, save my health reasons, or just because you feel like it. In the mean time, I will be the one saying, ‘hold the meat.’