I am going to be a vegetarian for the month of April.
About a month ago I watched Food Inc. after being prompted by Hayley's Food Adventure. It's a really eye-opening and well-done film and I definitely recommend seeing it. I can't say I had the response like most people did and I wasn't particularly freaked out by it as I think I should have been, but it really got me thinking about food. Or, at least, my relationship with food.
I'm a picky eater. I was that child who bawled during breakfast at church camp because I refused to eat their French Toast. I didn't go back my Fourth grade year because of that very reason. At home, probably around the age of 6, I was told that I couldn't leave the dinner table until I ate my meatloaf. Once my parents left my room, I hid it in the garbage. I hated sleepovers or eating at other people's houses for years because I was scared I'd have to eat something I couldn't.
If your child is a picky eater, please be gentle. We're an annoying breed, but I do think a lot of my apprehension regarding food stemmed from the response people had to my pickiness. I have cried too much over food in my lifetime.
Most of the food I refused to eat were vegetables or anything spicier than a bowl of macaroni. I have this weird thing with textures where I physically can't get myself to swallow certain foods. Apple skins, oranges, grapes, any type of berries, you name it. I can't fathom how somebody can eat oranges, I mean, yes, they do taste delicious, but suddenly after a couple bites in there is all that white crappy stuff in your mouth, and then what do you do with it? (My insanity is becoming apparent). And berries have this weirdo texture that freaks me out. I have tried strawberries many times, but can't get over how weird they feel.
I've gotten a lot better about it over time. In the last year I have tried and liked asparagus, Indian food, olives, beans, guacamole, avacado, grapes, olives, and pomegranates. We'll just not talk about the kiwis, green beans, or whip cream, yuuuuck.
I'm telling you all of this so you'll understand my debacle with food. I love anything processed. My relationship with Sonic is way too close. If it's fried, easy to eat quicly, and full of carbs, I will love it. Now, I'm not one of those girls who's all "food is the enemy", freaked out about my weight, and all 'skinny is beautiful'. Heck no! How 'bout we stop telling women what they should look like? K, thanks. (But! If I read one more thing about 'real women have curves', I will throw a cheeseburger at you. Just because I am size 2 and am practically still in a training bra does not mean I'm not a real woman, asshole).
Anyhow, one of my reVolutions was to "eat less processed food". That resolution has been in the back of my mind for awhile and when I finally watched Food Inc., it popped up again. About the same time I discovered Kyla Roma's blog and specifically her post on the vegan challenge she took(Kyla is already a vegetarian). Wheels starting turning and I decided that in April was going to go vegetarian for a month. (I would have done it sooner, but I didn't want to make any notable diet changes right before my surgery).
I'm not doing this so much because I believe eating animals is wrong. I do think they were put here for our enjoyment and as a resource for us. But I do believe there is something wrong with the ways animals in our overzealous consumption and instant gratification obsessed society are killed. I'm just not okay with chickens being genetically altered so their breasts are bigger and can be grown quicker, at the sake of them not being able to take several steps without falling.
If I'm not willing to eat baked goods from a neighbor because I don't know what they're kitchen is like, why am I so trusting to eat meat or any other processed food without knowing how that animal was treated and killed, or what pesticides were used to grow that apple, or what chemicals were put in those potato chips to make them so crisp and delicious months after they were made?
I am doing this because I want to be aware of what I'm putting into my body. It's hard right now because I don't cook the majority of my meals. But I can decide to spend extra time to make better lunches, I can say no to bottled soda, and for April, I can decide to not eat meat. And if I have to turn those dreaded nasty texture fruits into smoothies to eat them, I will.
If you have any resources, or just want to comment, please do! I'm planning on reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran-Foer and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. (Two of my fav. authors. Definitely read Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Safran-Foer and Poisonwood Bible by Kingsolver some time, if you haven't) and gleaning from Kyla's Challenge Tips.
Be back tomorrow with a cute 'do' project.
