I’m no longer simply a tofu and meat eater; I am a tofu, seitan, and tempeh eater (minus the meat). That’s right. I am eating vegan. Three years ago I was a vegetarian, but eating dairy and living in Texas at the time. Try ordering dishes without meat in that state. It’s not easy. Once I ordered a Rueben sandwich at a state fair (sandwich not yet assembled) and asked to have the pastrami left off. I was told that they would need to check to see if this was possible. Oh Texas…. Then upon traveling back to Korea knowing that my birth family would serve meat at every meal, indulging me in the delicacies of the culture, I thought it easier to transition back to a “normal” diet. I would avoid the hassle of probing questions and remarks about my weight (although I have remained more or less the same size for the past 10 years). My fit body could therefore be attributed to exercise and “eating well” rather than a strange western diet that in their eyes would be deemed too restrictive and depriving. Note: I’ve never dieted. I’ve always eaten healthy and been interested in learning about food, nutrients, and fueling one’s body. I have been a health food addict for several years, and have enjoyed consuming soy and rice milk “ice creams,” cooking with olive oil rather than butter, and throwing flax seed into many recipes. (When I was 20 years old I asked my parents for a Juiceman Jr. for Christmas and juiced 2-3 times daily). Of course I indulge in fries and chocolate just like anyone else and until recently was quite in love with the “Shackburger” at my local Shake Shack. (Why Mr. Meyer did you see the need to open up your restaurant so close to my apartment? Why must your tasty aromas waft through the air as I walk to the gym or to catch the subway?)
Last year I grudgingly gave up meat for Lent, beginning a few days late because I was that in love with meat. My last meal was lamb so tender and succulent it fell off the bone and practically melted in my mouth. But the whole point of Lent is abstinence; to challenge yourself and to think of Christ when you are tempted. Am I right? Meat was my temptation. It was what I was daily craving. At work I would obsess about what I would pick up on the way home to cook that night. I was always browsing the NY Times Dining and Wine section for places to consume fleshy dishes. Now that I think about it, gross, was that really me?
Of course after Lent commenced I was back to eating meat. Then this Fall I again flirted with being vegetarian, but again chose to keep fish and dairy in my diet. Being lactose intolerant I always had Lactaid in my bag. Never leave home without it! In fact I think there are still a few pills hanging around in the bottom of my pocketbook. God forbid I am out with friends sitting in front of a large pie covered with melty, gooey cheese, I reach into my bag, and oh no, zip on the Lactaid. Eat the pizza and face the consequences or forgo the pizza, order a salad, and sulk because let’s be honest, the consequences are never worth the act that got me there in the first place. In situations such as this I always sulked.
Up until about a month ago I was eating meat, but sparingly. The last time I consumed meat was July 3. My sister was visiting from MA. Her being a foodie right down to the bone (haha) we went to Eatly and decided to split a pork sandwich. It was prepared to order. We watched the butcher slice a more than generous amount of meat, place it on a baguette that was crispy on the outside, but soft in the center (mmm), then drizzle (actually drown) the meat with olive oil, large crystals of salt, and fresh black pepper. It was a gorgeous mess. The first few bites were amazing. We sat in silence, quickly falling in love with lunch. Then I became curious.
“What are the crunchy bits?”
“That’s the skin.”
“Oh….”
I continued to fill my tummy. I grew full. I still ate and my half of the sandwich disappeared. About 5 minutes later I felt horrible. My insides felt like they were swimming in oil and fat. My fingers were covered with grease. I thought to myself, “Whoa, I just consumed the amount of meat that I would normally eat in about a week. I’m no brain surgeon, but I don’t think that’s something to feel too good about.”
July 4th we watched the Cooking Channel. They were making sausages. A mixture of ground meat and “unmentionables” spurted out of a machine and into a clear film forming one long skinny roll.
“What do they use for the casing of sausages?”
“Intestines.”
Still recovering from the pork sandwich this was almost too much information for my former vegetarian brain to handle. I needed to look into the matter of food further. Intestines? Seriously, it doesn’t get wilder than that? Or does it?
Michelle Obama tells school aged children that one of the most important things they can do to get ahead in this world is read, read, and read some more. “Never quit reading” is what she says. Never quit reading and never quit watching is what I believe. Don’t be afraid to fill your head with uncomfortable facts, especially regarding the ethics of eating, an issue that for most of us, if we choose to confront it, occur at least three times a day. If the only reward for eating healthy meant looking good in a bikini then I would skip the veggies and go straight for a steak and probably pick up a one piece bathing suit while I was out. It doesn’t hurt to be prepared, right? Veganism is not just about having a healthy body (it is a perk though). Instead it is about being educated and informed. It is about discovering where your food comes from and the process it took to get on your plate. It’s choosing not to believe everything the big food corporations are telling us. It’s questioning what “natural” and “free-range” really mean and in many cases what they do not mean. For me, the eye opening materials and what lead me to this change were Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Eating Animals” and the documentary “Earthlings.” In an effort to not sound too preachy I am going to let these mediums speak for themselves. The images are haunting, but real and true. You can’t make that shit up, and who would want to? If you are at all interested in why a girl who use to order her hamburgers pink and slightly juicy would switch to a plant based and for lack of a better term, “cruel-free” diet, then give at least 20 minutes to “Earthlings.” It’s narrated by Joaquin Phoenix and who in their right mind could pass up that sexy voice?
It’s wonderful to read a couple of your posts. Nice to look in on what you are up to old friend. -Tia