Seven easy miles with friends and then it was straight to Brooke’s first soccer practice with her new team. The excitement levels were very high. During her practice I did some strength and then we have a speed workout today!
And now for a bunch of random thoughts all put together in one post…
*He wants to be involved during the preparation of every meal. Maybe he will be a chef someday. I would really like that.
*We have now reached the stage where Brooke and her friends want to go cruise the mall. Luckily, they are happy to have the younger siblings join us too:)
*Fresh nails are my favorite. I started having them done again and found an amazing woman if you are in the area and want to go to her—> Lily’s Nails 801-888-5078
*Has anyone watched this clip from Mark Rober? The information he presented really made me and Andrew think more about how much meat we eat. I don’t think we are over the top but we can definitely make some changes and cut back.
We tried the Impossible burgers that they share on the video for dinner last night. We bought them at Costco and we were both surprised by how much we loved them. They were pretty identical to the taste and texture when we make burgers at home. Andrew said that he wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between the two in a blind taste test. They were also cheaper per lb than the ground beef patties that were next to them. We are definitely going to switch over to these for our burgers at home (not for health reasons but for environmental/animal reasons) and cut back overall with how much meat we eat.
Skye won’t come near meat these days. She will occasionally eat one chicken nugget or have chicken on the bbq chicken pizza I make but that is it! I’m not sure if this is a phase or not but I’ll figure out how to support her in what she chooses over the years. I always wonder if Brooke will too because of her love for animals!
*Skye’s day was made when we stocked up on her frozen mango and edamame at Costco;).
————————————————————————-
Meat… do you eat it? What is your history?
Have favorite meat-free recipes or meals?
Long or short nails? Gel, polish or anything like that?
Woke up today naturally or to an alarm?
62 comments
Molly S
I try to include at least one non-meat dinner each week.
I love this tofu curry recipe. I sun out green beans and replace with roasted cauliflower.
https://www.acouplecooks.com/tofu-curry/
Also I love Alison Roman’s chickpea stew in the winter months.
–
Also 💯 short nails. Love your colors!
Corry
When I was in my 20’s I used to be vegetarian, now I include a bit of chicken and seafood. I mostly stick to vegetarian and meat substitute products. You have to watch out with some of the meat substitute products, as they can be double the calories and sometimes fat as regular meat.
Maureen
Being a fairly picky eater I eat meat almost every day I’d say. Mostly because it’s a very easy way to make sure I’m getting enough protein in my diet! I could definitely look for non meat proteins and make sure I keep up with eating those as well though.
Love your nails! I agree there’s nothing better than fresh nails. I tend to do dip powder at home because it’s fairly easy and I can watch a movie or show while I’m doing them. It’s a win all around. Have a wonderful day!
Julie Smith
I’m vegan and it is the best thing I have done for everything. I did it for the animals and then realized the environmental and health benefits and it is awesome. I love food and eat everything anyone would and feel awesome after eating!! TJ’s is so good at having vegan food. They have the Impossible nuggets and a vegan spinach and a cashew cheese ravioli that is delicious.
Kaelin
Hello – as a former vegetarian, I highly recommend looking into purchasing farm-raised happy animals for your household rather than factory produced fake meat products. Keep in mind that Bill Gates is very influential in that market right now, and may have swayed your opinions with his bias. Consider buying a share of locally grown beef to keep in the freezer. The nutrition comparison (one ingredient for beef vs a label full on fake meat) is one thing, especially for a high performance athlete like yourself and growing children, but the life of happy, responsibly raised farm animals is much easier to digest than chemical-laden factory food. Just some food for thought! I know this is a hot trigger item and I do understand and appreciate your concerns. Its complex and nuanced for sure.
Anne
Yes!
Localy raised, sustainably farmed, and grass fed and finished meat is nutritious and good for the soil. So many nutrients are either only in animal products or best absorbed through animal products. The ingredient lists of the factory processed fake meat products…Oy.
I came across ballerina farm recently that is out in Kamas, Ut.
Natalie
I’ve been a vegetarian for almost 10 years. I do eat fish bc I live in the Midwest and sometimes its hard to find vegetarian meals especially at restaurants. People frequently ask me how I get enough calories to support my workouts without meat. My answer “itd actually really easy” I eat lots of fresh fruit and veggies, and I constantly look for something to add to my meal that has protein. Eggs, nuts, quinoa, cheese etc. I don’t eat a lot of starch. I love pinterest and instagram/tictoc accounts for inspiration. Sometimes I look at meals with meat and just find a substitute for the meat. Its easier than you think if you’re willing to put the time and focus on it.
Tracy
We went vegan in March after my husband’s annual check-up. At 43, his cholesterol showed it was slightly elevated and while not a problem now, his doctor was concerned with the trajectory at 50. We run a ton so the doctor said he should go vegan for six months to see if it changes it, if not he may have to look at meds to control it. My two teens don’t necessarily want to be vegan and I’m also having to make sure that my 14 year old gets enough protein for his running regime for both track and cross country. It’s a balancing act. I have to plan out all meals for the week on Sunday to be sure everyone is getting what they need. But so far, we all feel better so we’ll see what the bloodwork says in September when he re-tests!
Amanda
Definitely an interesting topic, will be curious to see the comments! I went down a vegan route and was honestly shocked at how unhealthy a lot of the processed food is…in particular the seed oil level (high correlation to cancer and other diseases) and lack of nutrients quickly had me rethinking my approach. I understand the impending and planned meat shortage has a lot of people looking at options but the value from organic and pasture raised animal protein is far unsurpassed. I am still shook at the plan for bugs to be incorporated into our diets as a meat replacement and the destruction being done to our food processing plants and farms across the US. Taking a much more thoughtful approach to meat has me feeling and looking the best I ever have, so am certainly doing as much research to figure out how I can maintain that as our future unfolds. As WEF member Henry Kissinger has said, “Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy can control whole continents; who controls money can control the world.”
Liz
Try Beyond Burgers! I like them better than Impossible. And they are pea protein instead of soy. :)
Jackie
Meat… do you eat it? What is your history? I am the grand daughter of two farmers and grew up on one of my grandparents’ farm. As a kid, we definitely ate meat with every meal. When I was in grad school, I lost my taste for meat and would only eat it if it was in something like spaghetti sauce or kung pao chicken or something else saucy. Over time, my taste shifted back and I now enjoy an occasional burger or steak. I try to have at least one meatless meal a weak but my husband is a dietician and always wants to ensure that there is enough protein included!
Have favorite meat-free recipes or meals? Black bean tacos! Pinch of Yum has awesome meatless meal options. We like quiche also for a quick weeknight meal. (Skinny Taste has an awesome tomato and ricotta quiche.)
Long or short nails? Gel, polish or anything like that? Medium length with no polish. I have a hard time keeping them healthy if I put polish on them. Gel tears them up and it takes at least 6 months for them to recover. I think I might put on some Color Street strips on this weekend…
Woke up today naturally or to an alarm? I woke up to my dogs! I swear, if one of us rolls over anytime after 5:00, they think it is time to get up. Usually we can tell then to lay down and they will but this a.m., my Vizsla grabbed a toy and it was all over. It wasn’t too much before the alarm but still…
Eileen
I don’t eat meat and am almost exclusively vegan – working hard toward that (dairy industry is just as horrible for the animals as meat and there are tons of easy delicious options there too!) I think your post is awesome! I hadn’t seen the Mark Rober video yet so thank you for positing! I think even cutting back on meat and dairy and making people aware is awesome! Thanks!
Martha Ann von Muldau
I would love to be vegetarian, but my family isn’t on board and I don’t want to make 2 different meals all of the time. I try to focus on adding veggies, so I can choose how much (if any) meat I want. I also like the recipes from Forks Over Knives- a whole food, plant-based website. Their black bean and sweet potato quesadilla is really good.
Lara
Hi Janae!
My family eats meat but I try to incorporate vegetarian dinners at least twice a week. My five year old daughter is very similar to Skye when it comes to her eating meat so I am also very interested what her preference for food will be in the future! Regarding the impossible burger – I don’t think they are as healthy as the company’s marketing team is trying to lead the public to believe. Soy protein concentrate/isolate is highly processed and not a very healthy source of vegan protein. Studies have even shown it to cause hormonal imbalances – yikes! So I always stick to pea protein.
Have a great day!!
sarah from switzerland
I’d love to try Impossible Meat, but I can’t find it anywhere in Switzerland! My husband and I have found one pretty great plant-based patty, it’s called Green Mountain and I think it comes pretty close to the real thing.
Amanda
you likely cannot find it because the standards for food and additives placed in them are much higher over there. One thing I have always appreciated about traveling to some places outside of the US, the food industry isn’t swayed as heavily by money but rather focus on doing their job correctly. I love Switzerland, looking forward to going back this holiday season!
Tracy
My husband and I ate a vegetarian diet for 3 years. I was surprised at how easy it was, I never felt deprived. We have incorporated meat back into our diets in the form of ethically raised without hormones. We also still eat many meals without meat at all. I run and play tennis 4-5 times a week, he lifts weights and plays tennis too, and we have been fine without meat staying this active in our 40’s. Our favorite veggie meals include tons of roasted veggies, sometimes a couple pans a meal.
Jenny
Hooray Janae!!! I’m so happy you like the Impossible burgers! I’ve actually never tried them- as a vegan for over 30 years, the Impossible and Beyond products are WAY too meat-y to me (ha ha- I like the kind of veggie burgers that he makes fun of in the beginning of that video) but my husband and son (also vegan) love them. It’s not like everyone has to go completely vegan to make a difference. If people just cut back like you are, it would help the planet and the animals so much.. THANK YOU!!!
Leanna
I second the comment regarding Beyond Burgers over Impossible! If you can find them, the Beyond brats are my favorite plant based food I’ve ever had. Also, Quorn brand makes really great chik’n products, including chik’n cutlets that are identical to a regular chicken patty. I think you would love them! My protein levels, iron, blood pressure and overall health has improved since I stopped eating meat. Dairy is super tough to give up, though, but I only use it for my coffee creamer. I haven’t found a non-dairy option that I like yet. If anyone has recommendations on a great flavored non-dairy coffee creamer, please let me know!
Kelley
The Starbucks oat and almond milk sweetened creamers are delicious and in the grocery stores in Canada! I like the caramel macchiato.
Michelle
I like the Chobani oatmilk creamers. They are very sweet, so I mix a 1/2 tsp with a few Tbsps of regular oat milk or cashew milk into my coffee.
Shelby
I ate meat/fish for the first 22 years of my life and it was only after I took my chicken to the vet (he was sneezing and a respiratory virus) that I decided it felt strange for me to eat other chickens but love my own as much as I did. I have no issue with how anyone chooses to eat, but removing animal products from my diet felt/feels a lot more congruent with my personal values.
Rachel
You should watch the documentary The Game Changers on Netflix. It’s all about performing at the top of your game as an athlete without meat. My husband and I went “plant-based” after my cholesterol at age 32 was sky high and he was diagnosed with cancer at 33. Being plant based is different than vegan – vegan diets often include processed food that isn’t great for us, versus trying to eat actual plants :) We saw a huge difference in our health – my cholesterol is healthy now and I ran a half PR on plant based diet. BUT we LOVE food – so we are now “plant based” Sunday – Thursday and eat whatever we want on the weekends. It’s working really well for us.
I just made this recipe and it was amazing! All of her recipes are great. https://thefirstmess.com/2019/08/07/vegan-thai-basil-noodles-recipe-crunchy-kale/
Tess
I don’t eat meat (but do eat fish) for various reasons, but I haven’t tried the impossible burgers. I’ve heard good things, but can’t get over the really long ingredient list – I’d rather just have a black bean burger where I know all the ingredients and it tastes amazing. Costco has really good black bean burgers and also salmon burgers!
Alyssa
We did the plant based route for almost two years. We now shoot for at least 2 meat-free meals a week. You do have to be super careful though as a lot of the stuff they market as plant based or vegan instead includes a lot of processed ingredients. It took a lot more energy and effort, but we ended up finding some really good recipes that we still make on a regular basis. Now i just try to be more cautious about where I get my meat. Trying to find local farmers or fisheries to source it from!
Deb
We are cattle ranchers so we raise our own meat, and I was raised on a dairy farm so have always had a lot of animals. Cows, horses, goats, dogs/cats, chickens. :) We love all our animals and they have great lives. It’s not an easy life, but it’s a great one. We eat a lot of burgers and steaks. It is sad the cost is high in the grocery store, as the amount that farmers and ranchers earn on the sale of our livestock isn’t high. It also doesn’t reflect the work put in all year and cost to take care of our livestock.
That was quite the ramble to say, yes my family eats meat. LOL!
Kaelin
Thank you for your hard ranching work Deb! Knowing animals are well cared for and loved their whole lives means a lot to me – I do consume meat, but try to stick to local farm-raised products.
Colleen
This is a tricky one! Mostly whole food plant based here! Animal agriculture is a terrible industry and there are so many health benefits to eating more plants! My advice is to start early if you are thinking of going this route. As I got older I developed a lot of food intolerances that make it tough to get enough protein being plant based (legumes are hard to digest!) So fish and whey products are still a thing for me. Thank you for posting about this important topic!
warren footz
I love veggies!…I haven’t tried the new meatless burgers yet, but if I’m in a restaurant that has a veggie burger on the menu, I try it, because I’m on a search. I had the best veggie burger ever at an event at UBC in Vancouver in 1994 (yes I’m that old) as I recall I think it was a bunch of shredded veggies (carrots and I have I no idea what else) but was the best ever….whenever I hear how much water and land it takes to raise beef (avocados to) I get to cook it’s lots of veggies, lots and lots of veggies but my wife and son demand meat, to yes, sometimes chicken…..and I hate BBQing, but my wife likes that so you want a happy life happy wife?
slept in for the first time forever this morning? I know my alarm went off ’cause it was on snooze, but an extra hour of sleep…think my body is telling me something?
Wendy
So interesting you brought up cutting back on how much meat you eat. I have been thinking a lot about that lately. But chicken is where I get most of my protein, so it will do some research and taste testing to figure out options. With our youngest heading to college soon, I also need to re-learn how to cook for just 2 people… It’s been a long time since I’ve done that, ha.
I’m also getting excited to start reinventing what the boys’ rooms will be/look like now that they’re gone. I will definitely be painting and lots of cleaning out!
I do my own nails, but I love when it’s time to redo them. I keep mine on the shorter side because that just works best for me.
Off for an easy (and it’s hot already) run, then menu planning again.
Have a great day Janae
Deb
Hi! We own a cattle ranch and have cows, horses, dogs/cats, and at times goats and chickens. I also grew up on a dairy farm so have had our own beef and milk my whole life. We love our animals and they have great lives. A lot of times they live better than we do. LOL! It is sad that meat is so expensive at the grocery stores. The farmers and ranchers don’t see prices that high when it is time to sell our livestock. The hard work and expense to take care of our animals is also not calculated in. It’s not an easy lifestyle but we love it. That was a lot of rambling to say yes…..our family eats meat. Ha!
Deb
Sorry….this posted twice.
Nina
I do try to limit the number of meals with meat/fish in them, also for environmental and animal welfare reasons. Sometimes it goes great and I eat vegetarian 6 out 7 days, sometimes only 2 out of 7 days. Mostly I try to only meat/fish when I really want to, not just out of habit. Last week I drove by a truck with cows, they did not look happy…immediate spike in motivation to eat more vegetarian x.x
Katrina
I’m so glad you guys are cutting back on meat! I became vegetarian in my senior year of high school and it was hard being the only one in my family who didn’t eat meat. Now I’m vegan and most of my family has transitioned to less/no meat as well!
I love nora cooks, minimalist baker, rabbit and wolves, from my bowl, and chocolate covered Katie for great plant based recipes! Also Trader Joe’s has AMAZING vegan options, especially in the frozen section (including impossible chicken nuggets! Delicious)
Kelley
Great post for discussion!
I have been vegetarian for almost 40 years! I do believe it is better to eat “happy and humanely raised” meat if you must but people seem to forget that the animal still dies!! It’s not very “happy” for them. I do crossfit so I need to make sure I get enough protein and not too much fat or carbs which can be hard when eating lots of beans. Most days I have a Vega sport shake as they have 30 grams of protein. I also eat fake meat products. A lot of the additives are vitamins to make them comparable to meat. There may be fewer additives in real meat but for me it all comes down to the fact that animals don’t deserve to suffer for our taste buds. Everyone should do what is best for them but our world could use less cruelty. Also, if we didn’t feed animals there would be a lot more food in the world to feed hungry people! It takes 17 lbs of grain to get 1 lb of meat so not very efficient, not to mention all the water, fuel for transport etc.
My favorite cookbooks are the Oh She Glows series. Delicious and vegan! Thanks for the discussion!
John
Personally I think it is more important to just concentrate on clean ingredients and whole foods vs processed foods than meat vs vegetarian. After studying numerous resources I am concentrating on cutting out seed oils and processed sugar as much as possible.
The Impossible Burgers are highly processed, I would not touch them (my opinion). I have been watching this guys videos; great resource to find products with clean ingredients and he loves Costco!
FlavCity with Bobby Parrish
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XubWLOseW9M (I bought those fudge bars! Not bad for 8 grams added sugar)
Also – a good friend of mine is a veterinarian and has worked at many dairy farms. She has no issues with dairy farms or eating non-organic dairy products. She thinks the organic label is more of a scam to sell products at a higher price.
Grace
Thank you for calling attention to the issues with meat (particularly beef) when it comes to climate change and the environment. The three most impactful things that we can do to reduce our carbon footprint are fly less, drive less, and stop eating beef. Flying and driving less can be tough because there are often no alternatives to cars or planes if you’re not willing to drastically modify your plans. However, there are many easily available alternatives to beef. Ideally, we would all be vegetarian, but if people still want to eat meat, the smaller the animal, the better. In other words, focus on chicken and fish because the process of raising and slaughtering small animals creates far fewer carbon emissions than the process of raising and slaughtering big animals, like cows or pigs.
Annie
I was vegetarian for 2 years and my running suffered…I was anemic and b12 deficient. I realized if I needed to supplement vitamins it wasn’t the diet for me. I did a lot of research to try to find vegetarian options but my body didn’t thrive. Check out the ingredients in those burgers- garbage GMO things. There are many better options!
Amanda
Love costco! One additional alternative though between their grass feed beef burgers and the impossible burger is to buy locally sourced meat. If your main concern for switching is the environment, this is a really good way to help be more environmentally sound. And it tastes amazing! One thing I’d caution with the plant-based meat is that it usually has a lot of soy in it, which can really trigger some women’s bodies if you eat too much of it. Ugh hormones….amiright???
Janine
Hi Janae! I grew up on a Standard American Diet that absolutely included meat. I stopped eating red meat over 20 years ago and went vegan about 18 months ago. It was an easy change for me and I did it for health reasons. Everybody needs to make the choices that work best for them. Personally, I try to avoid or carefully limit processed vegan food. It is becoming more and more available and those choosing a meat free and/or vegan diet for health reasons, may not accomplish their goals. I have tried both the Beyond and Impossible meats and they are too close to the real thing for me. I’ve been away from beef for so long, the texture and appearance just doesn’t work for me. I applaud anyone who is open minded enough to try and make some positive changes in their food choices, no matter the reason!
If you are interested in incorporating more meatless meals into your rotation, Shane & Simple, My Darling Vega, and Nikki Vegan are all great options to explore :o) I don’t remember the source offhand, but two standout recipes for me have been vegan lasagna with spinach and mushroom stroganoff!
I’m a short nails kind of girl and I can’t stand having polish on them. I always admire other people’s polished nails though and yours are super cute! A pedicure that includes polish is another story – those are awesome LOL!
I have a long standing love/hate relationship with my alarm. I usually wake up before it, but don’t usually get up until after it (and a few whacks of the snooze button) goes off. A habit I am working hard to change!!
Happy Hump Day, Janae!! P.S. Did Beck get a hair cut?!?!
Caitlyn
I eat meat but sparingly. I am allergic to soy so it would be hard for me to just switch to a substitute since most contain soy. Impossible meats have soy but the beyond meat doesn’t. I have been very impressed by the beyond meat options, they taste convincing and delicious! But I do have some concerns with these alternatives though because they seem to be highly processed so I don’t think they are quite the solution. Regardless, I probably get most of my protein through eggs.
Eggs with black beans are so good! I also love a good portobella burger. I grill the mushroom cap cup up with an Italian dressing in there (it will boil and cook the inside well while also marinating), flip, then flip again and top with provolone cheese. Also there are a lot of Indian dishes that are meat free since many Indian people are vegetarian. Plus Indian cuisine doesn’t use soy.
Short nails, no polish. Too hard to maintain working in a lab.
No alarms lately. Just letting my body do what it needs.
Erin
I grew up a classic meat and potatoes kid from the Midwest. As an adult, I have cut back on my meat/animal consumption because unless I know the animal was humanely treated, I feel terrible eating it. I’ve made switches like Beyond Burgers (love getting them as Costco!) and almond milk. I still eat meat/animal products, but I just try to be mindful that it’s less often.
Emily
Check out the Forks Over Knives ap for recipes, it is well worth the $4 or $5 it cost to download. The recipes are super easy and also easy to make shopping list for. We love the veggie pitas and mango/black bean/rice.
John
Here is a very timely Podcast I just listened to:
Nutrition Diva Podcast: The class action suit against Beyond Burger, explained
https://nutrition-diva.simplecast.com/episodes/beyond-meat-class-action-9qYKHkhI
Amanda
Glad you shared that, I just listed to it recently as well. So good. I have learned a lot from The Food Babe on IG, it is beyond eye opening what goes into so much food offered in the US. I am leaning really hard into being a Qualitarian these days. Clean and source able.
Leanna
Thank you!! I will definitely try the Starbucks brand!!
Kaitlin
I moved to a vegetarian diet at the beginning of 2019 as a trial and have never looked back. For me it’s been an evolution in my health journey after learning about the health implications of animal products, environmental impacts, and animal cruelty aspects. But even more so, I’ve found I recover faster from hard workouts through less inflammation caused by my diet.
Elissa
No meat for me! Mainly for animal reasons. My rule is: I can’t kill it, I can’t eat it! Years ago when I learned about Yulin, I was appalled/angry/heartbroken and then felt hypocritical about eating cows/chicken/pigs, so just stopped all together, and never looked back.
Nora
Not a vegetarian, but love 101 Cookbooks blog for amazing vegetarian and vegan recipes. Lots of focus on seasonal produce treated well to maximize it’s natural flavor + beautiful photos :)
Kelly
For all those who have given up meat – pass it over here! I love meat. I usually have it at every meal. I live in SW Ohio surrounded by farm land with grazing cows everywhere and I have no problem eating meat. It is just so darn GOOOOOOD!
I wake up without an alarm anywhere from 5:00 to 7:00 am. If I get up later than 7, I feel like I have missed the morning. When I was younger I slept in. Now, I just can’t. I get achy if I stay in bed too long.
Ann
I’m with Kelly… if you’ve given up meat, pass it over here! I’d much rather eat the meat that God made and has blessed us to eat, than a substitute meat filled with chemicals made in a laboratory. Yes, the animals die. 10 out of 10 animals die, just like 10 out of 10 humans die. God gave us animals for many reasons, one of them being for food.
Eveline
I loved reading everyone’s answers to the meat question, there are so many different factors to consider and what works for one person doesn’t for the other!
For me, I decided to eat less meat and dairy but not become vegetarian as I don’t like rules around food. Most of my meals are plant based, but I also don’t mind adding some bacon to my Brussel sprouts and then serving them with a veggie burger :) (that was actually our dinner last night!). I try and substitute meat when it’s not the main part of the meal, so instead of mince in sauce I will substitute with Quorn mince or lentils/beans and instead of chicken in a curry I will add tofu or chickpeas and then serve it with roasted cashews. I try and replace meat with “whole food options” like beans, nuts, tofu etc. For favourite recipes, I would look for ideas that are naturally meat-less rather than trying to find a substitute!
A few of my faves:
– Falafel bowls – You can use whatever you like, but I often use: spinach, roasted sweet potato (still warm), capsicum, carrot, cucumber and lots of hummus. Serve with falafel and roasted pita bread.
– Roasted beetroot salad with buckwheat, goats cheese, spinach and cucumber.
– Yellow curry with sweet potato, onion, green beans (frozen works great), chickpeas (optional) and served with roasted cashews and some yoghurt.
– Miso kale salad (this one was unexpectedly delicious!): massage kale with miso paste and oil and some turmeric powder. Serve with some form of protein and carbs (I had canned mackerel on rye toast but I think this would also be great with some tempeh or tofu and maybe sweet potato!).
– Yellow split pea soup/dahl, with turmeric and ginger, topped with roasted onion, spinach and garam masala and roasted hazelnuts.
Shay @ WLBM
No meat for me! I’ve been a vegetarian for almost 14 years. Fourth of July is my vegetarian anniversary. As a kid, i would go months/years without eating meat because of animals. Now it’s that and the environment and I always felt yucky after eating it. I actually don’t like the Impossible burgers because they taste too much like meat to me. But I think they are fantastic for those, like you, wanting to eat less meat.
I wake up with the sun. If I need to be up before that, I have to use an alarm.
Whitney
I was raised a vegetarian—I’ve never eaten meat. Raising my girls the same way ☺️ Eating less meat is one of the best things we can do environmentally—and of course—for the sake of animals. Happy you’re on board!! 🤍
Liz
I don’t naturally eat much meat or protein in general but protein keeps my blood sugar stable and as an anemic athlete it’s a great source of protein and iron, so I try. I’m allergic to milk and eggs so I’m not left with much else.🤣
Once you find a good gel nail lady it’s hard to go back my nails grow so much better and they look so good for about 3 weeks so worth it to me. I never did my nails regularly till I found a good person now I always have them done.
I always wake up with the sun…sometimes before but never after. Wish I could sleep in…even with blackout everything and a face mask I wake up with the sun. How about you?
li
Your kids are so cute! Totally understand wanting to have edamame and mango in the house at all times. And totally agree, the environmental/animal ethics argument for cutting back on meat consumption is compelling, especially as US residents who likely have pretty big environmental footprints overall. Do you feel like your family is complete? Do you worry about the effect of expanding families on the environment? As a non-parent, this weighs heavily on me when I think about the future…
Lyvia
Have you read the ingredients list of the “fake meat”? Meat has only ONE, how many does this fake thing has? It’s not about taste and texture, it’s about humans trying to thing they’re better than God at creating what we are supposed to eat. I’d think you knew better.
Rebecca
I was very much a meat person and then my very ethical brother who loved eating all food came back from Guatemala a vegetarian. He saw the forests being cleared for corporate beef raising and couldn’t do it anymore. It made me think. So we’re pretty much 75% pescatarian and when we do buy meat we try to buy it ethically sourced. Summer is my favorite because my farmers market has a local specialty beef vendor and I know exactly who I’m buying from! We also concentrate on using non-processed food instead (beans, nori, lentils). Two cookbooks that I love: Pretty Simple Cooking by A Couple Cooks and Weekday Vegetarian by Jenny Rosenstrach (both have blogs too!). For gorgeous inspiration I love the Forest Feast cookbooks. Just make sure you’re getting the B12 you need because vitamin deficiencies can get scary.
Celeste
I’m curious, are you and ‘very ethical brother’ equally upset when the same amount (or typically more) of forest is cleared for solar farms or windmill farms? And for the ones of you commenting that you give up meat for environmental/animal welfare reasons, are you bothered by the amount of birds (including bald eagles) killed every year by the environmentally ‘friendly’ windmills? Please tell me, I would really like to know.
Lyvia
ALSO, a TON of natural vegetation and wild animals is destroy to plant SOY, WHEAT, RICE, the VERY THING they have to eat to supplement the lack of meat. It’s absurd. Besides, we have not evolved eating any of the crap we eat today, the consequences for our health are disastrous. I have a MD and it drives me insane when I see the kind of ‘nutritional advice’ most doctors give.
If you don’t want to eat meat, it’s ok, you do your thing. Just don’t try selling lies about the forests and climate change and cow’s fart and for health benefits. Any diet you need to supplement anything is not the diet you were meant to have as a species.
Lyvia
*destroyed
Sorry about the grammar errors, english is not my first language.
Tara
You have such a kind heart and that’s incredible that you and Andrew are making that decision for you and your family!
About 10 years ago, I started running and listening to the Rich Roll podcast, where I learned about the impact animal agriculture on animals and our world. I started cutting back on animal products but admittedly would be quite extreme about it. I would go all into veganism and then all out, eating a lot of animal products. I met my husband 4 years ago and shared with him some of what I knew, he took to heart what he learned and since we have found a more moderate approach to how we eat. We eat vegetarian at home and chicken or fish while we are out. We are currently trying to cut out more dairy and I’m trying to cut out more chicken. It takes time! I’m a lot easier on myself than I used to be and recognize that my consistency is probably more impactful than my all or nothing approach. I think it’s amazing when anyone is trying to cut back and if only we all could, what a difference that could make in our world.
Anyway, I’ll get off my soap box, ha, but seriously, it’s very important to me so it makes me so happy to hear that it’s becoming more mainstream and people are trying to be more conscious consumers ❤️ I still have a long way to go and it’s taken me 10 years so I get that it’s hard!!