It's All About Choice

Last night Mitch, his sister Alison and I celebrated the holiday in a very non traditional way...at an Italian restaurant in Boca.   Its always easy to get a complete vegan meal at an Italian place.  A garden salad, whole wheat ziti with a mushroom and garlic marinara sauce and a couple of glasses of wine...what could be bad about that?

Just before we left for dinner we watched a rerun of the Ellen Show.  On it was Jonathan Safran Foer, the author of several books including Eating Animals.  In this book (which I actually opted NOT to read) he explores the topics of farming factories and commercial fisheries.  An on an off vegetarian, becoming a father made him increasingly interested in where the food we eat comes from.  I had missed this show when it first ran, but Mitch did not, so he was forced to listen to Jonathan's "in your face" talk about what he learned when researching his information for this book.  It made for a really good conversation on our way to dinner.

I have always suggested that in order to keep enjoying your meat, poultry, dairy and fish, you are best off NOT reading or hearing this type of information.  It makes it very difficult to enjoy your food!  I UNDERSTAND, I HAVE BEEN THERE!  But awareness is really, really important and we should care about what we are putting into our (and our loved ones) bodies.  Every day, at every meal, we have a choice.  I am so thankful for choice on EVERY level.  As an FYI, it was suggested that if you want to make just one change in your animal based diet, delete the eggs.  I won't expand on the whys.

My lean from vegetarian to an entirely plant-based diet grew out of my own internal conflict.  Safran Foer suggests that we eat in accordance with our values.  Just about 6 months ago, my eating began to reflect my personal values.  Its worth repeating that in the past 6 months I have been more at peace than probably ever before.  No  longer conflicted at meal time, I not only enjoy eating more, but definitely enjoy cooking more.

It was really important for me to make Mitch (and everyone) understand that I DO NOT JUDGE WHAT ANYONE ELSE EATS!  My eating choices are ALL ABOUT ME and what works for me.

Tonight will be another non traditional Rosh Hashanah celebration...vegan style.  I am going to try to conquer matzo ball soup again.  I usually cheat and use the mix in the box, so I am going to use the broth from the box (which IS vegan) and try playing with the ingredients in the matzo balls.  Thanks Carole, for sending that recipe yesterday,  that I will be tweaking today.  I'll let you know the outcome!

Have a great VFT.  Keep positive thoughts on world peace.  All things are possible.