For Lent this year I tried something called The Plan (super original title, huh?). You can check it out here on Amazon. While I didn't find it too practical for the long-term, I did learn some pretty neat things from it. One of those things was how to incorporate more vegetarian protein into my diet.
I've been hypoglycemic since high school (I used to pass out all over the place - not fun) and so meat was an easy way to make sure that I was getting enough protein. I used to eat meat easily twice a day and would usually have other animal based protein (cheese, milk, eggs) at meals when I wasn't eating meat. However, following the menu on the plan, I learned lots about nuts and seeds in particular that could easily take the place of some of these animal products. Throwing a handful of pumpkin seeds on a salad was a lot easier than grilling up a chicken breast and seemed to be just as helpful at keeping my protein levels up.
Even after I'd fallen off of The Plan (which really is very interesting and I would like to experiment with again at some point, it's also just very time intensive with the shopping and the making everything from scratch), I hung onto a lot of the foods that had been introduced. Making salads with chickpeas, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds was faster (and cheaper!) than using meat or eggs or so that was an easy habit to pick up. I bought a lot less meat and even the meat I did have was biding its time in the freezer.
One day in June I was out to eat and as I was ordering my meat-laden dinner I realized that it had been awhile since I'd last had meet. "Awhile" as in 5 days ago. I hadn't even noticed! It wasn't any intentional decision, apparently I just don't ever cook meat at home anymore and I guess I hadn't eaten out for those five days.
What was more shocking than anything was how EASY it was. So easy that I didn't even notice it! I tucked that info away and went on with life. I noticed the next time I was eating meat was when I was out to eat again. As I thought more about it, I decided that I'd become an "at home vegetarian." I don't know it that's an official thing, but it's what I've decided works for me (see: cheap and easy).
It's not a decision I made out of any particularly strong ethical stance (although the type of meat and meat products I'd prefer to eat as I learn more about how animals are treated is increasingly expensive), but I'm excited to see how life looks with a more plant-based diet. You may not notice my at-home vegetarianism because when eating out all bets are off. I like meat and enjoy eating it, but am just realizing I don't need as much of it as I thought I did. This doesn't mean I won't totally enjoy my Chick-fil-a or order the filet mignon when out to eat (that may or may not have totally happened earlier this week).
Next up, I'm actually flirting with the idea of being an at home vegan. Through the same Plan, I learned more about how my body reacts to dairy and have eliminated most cow-based dairy from my home (Hey, tub of ice cream! How'd you get in the freezer!?!). I use rice milk now. My cheese (when I have it) is goat cheddar (who knew they have all the kinds of cheese in goat? It's not just that strong tasting soft stuff!). I still have a container of (free range, no antibiotics, organic) brown eggs in my fridge, but what used to be dinner 3-4 times a week, is now dinner more like once every 2-3 weeks.
Like with the meat, when I'm eating out or at a party I'm not worrying about it. In fact, I may be found hunkered down by the palmetto cheese spread getting a dairy fix. For me, it's not about getting rid of it completely, but about seeing if I can make do with less and what that looks like for my body and my life.
Have you tried any dietary changes lately? Got any recommendations for yummy vegetarian dishes?
P.S. I'm obviously not a very good vegetarian because spell check had to tell me how to spell it correctly.
