My heart is telling me one thing, but my mind is telling me another....so what to do? Find balance, I say. And, I think I have....
So, here it is. I'm announcing that I am going vegetarian....so, what's the big deal? My heart is telling me that this is the right decision for me, however, my mind is playing games and I'm a little bit fearful about this decision. But, why? Maybe it's that I don't know enough yet, maybe it's I'm scared that I won't get in all the nutrients that my body needs, maybe it's living this lifestyle outside my kitchen and wondering how much of an inconvenience this will become, maybe it's that we've been told that meat is vital, maybe it's my mom and dad's reaction when I tell them, maybe it's society's belief that meat protein is critical to healthy living, maybe it's becoming bored with the food choices, maybe it's doing something that isn't mainstream, maybe it's that I fear that I will be that person who just lives on pasta for their entire life, maybe it's....you get the picture.
So, despite my fears.....'m going to give this lifestyle a try. However, I am going to begin this journey slowly and call myself a flexitarian. That means, that I can eat eggs, dairy, and occasionally eat meat. For me, that will be fish. I will be 100% off of poultry and red meat. I understand that quite a few vegans or true vegetarians begin with this flexi approach before transitioning over entirely. I like the sounds of this approach, as it gives me freedom to experiment and still enjoy a dinners out (e.g., salmon!). 3 cheers for balance!
So, I know I will be asked WHY? Why have I decided to become this Flexi Veggie, as I call it. Well, for starters, my Meatless Mondays blog gives you a little more background on how the meat industry is responsible for a ton of our greenhouses gases today. Albert Einstein even said 'Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet'. And, I mentioned yesterday that BURPS are responsible for a ton of methane gas production! Cows that stand around their entire lives (1.3 billion of them, btw), never exercising, get gas...and lots of it! According to a great read (The Kind Diet by Alicia Siverstone), Alicia mentions that methane emitted by livestock accounts for 19% of total global methane emissions. The livestock that we keep alive (for us to eat), produces more than landfills, waste treatment plants, and gas to warm our homes! I won't go into this further because I don't want to sound preachy, but if you want to know more, be sure to pick up the Kind Diet. Chapter 2 was the most informative (and shocking) for me.
I also want to be healthier. By eating more super foods and coloured goodness, I hope to bring down my weight to a healthier BMI, have more energy, live longer, save money (meat's $$), and reduce the amount of nasties (found in meat products) that enter my body. I'm talking hormones and antibiotics that are found in meat products. I learned from Alicia Silverstone that meat is full of antibiotics. She mentions that animals, due to stressed conditions and dirty environments, get sick. They are given routine antibiotics to prevent illness - a sick chicken isn't worth a dime, right? So, when you eat meat, you are taking in those meds too. This causes a whole whack of other health issues. Get this, 70% of antibiotics sold, are not for humans. (ah hem? what!)
In addition, meat is full of hormones; given to cattle, pigs, chicken to increase muscle mass. (eggs and fish are one of the worst culprits - *gulp*) we then ingest them. These hormones have been linked to cancers.
Ok, now I'm sounding preachy....I'll stop. But, in all honesty, I'm writing out of a genuinely concerned place in my heart. I want to be as healthy as I can....I want to live a long life.....I don't want these toxic, harmful nasties to enter my body...... I want our earth to be healthy again...so, on that note....I'm taking a stand and announcing that I am going Flexi Veggie! I will continue to update you with my struggles, fears, successes and wellness stories! (Wow, I guess I'm feeling stronger and more liberated than when I started this blog 20 minutes ago...that's cool!)
No comments:
Post a Comment