I Could Do That!

This morning one of my co-workers told me she was surprised to hear I’m a vegetarian. I think the surprise was more that there aren’t a lot of vegetarians around these parts than surprise that I am that vegetarian. What followed after was the usual question about what I eat. I gave her a rundown of what I had eaten recently (lentil soup, curried chickpea-filled pitas, vegetarian chili). She expressed some mild interest and by this time another co-worker had joined the conversation.

When speaking about my vegetarianism I try to be as honest as possible. I told them that I love the flavor of meat. I think it’s delicious. I just choose not to eat it. I told them one easy thing to do is to substitute a non-meat food for a meat in a favorite dish. You can do this easily with beans. My favorite Sunday lunch right now is a simple taco salad made with canned black beans. Sometimes I go crazy and buy the spicy ones (organic from Whole Foods). Toss with a little salsa, some tortilla chips and a pile of lettuce. Yum! Add black olives, pickled jalapenos, soy cheese, cilantro, red onion, corn, whatever. The think I love about salad is that you can make it totally your own and it’s a great way to use up small bits of veggies leftover from other cooking. This salad works just as well when the fridge is a little barer than I would like. The important part is the beans, which are full of protein, well, and the salsa. The entire meal is really just a vehicle to get more salsa into my body.

So, back to the conversation, I told her to try black beans instead of meat in a taco salad and to my delight she said, “I could do that!” And so can you, readers!

Question: Would you be willing to try eating vegetarian a few meals a week if it was as easy as replacing the meat with something else in a meal you already like?

Hypotheticals

Ah, hypothetical questions. Those little things designed to ferret out one’s true beliefs about a subject. The most popular the last eight hundred years running seems to be the “dessert island scenario” or one of its variations. You may have been asked by someone a question like, “If you were trapped on a desert island and could have only one novel with you what would it be?” (The Lord of the Rings, duh. And in case any of you are coming up with a snappy retort, no, The Lord of the Rings is one novel published in three parts due to post-war paper shortages. It is NOT a trilogy. Can we finally put this issue to rest?)

Not all hypothetical questions are so harmless, however. Sometimes those who desire to challenge your beliefs/convictions/actions/decisions/etc. will develop convoluted scenarios in the hopes of tripping you up. The conversation might go something like this:

OTHER PERSON: I brought some barbecued pig flesh with me for lunch. Would you like some?

YOU: No thank you.

OP: Don’t you like barbecued pig flesh?

YOU: No. I’m a vegetarian.

OP: So you don’t eat any meat?

YOU: That’s right.

OP: None at all?

YOU: Correct.

OP: What about fish?

YOU: I don’t eat any animals.

OP: What if you were starving to death on a desert island? Would you eat meat then?

Uh oh. Now what? I have honestly only been asked this question once. I smiled and used my rehearsed answer: “If that ever happens I’ll let you know what I decide.”

The other hypotheticals I have faced have come a little closer to the realm of actual possibility. Would I eat meat if it was raised and slaughtered by someone I know personally and who raises and slaughters in a cruelty-free manner? Hmmm. That’s a tough one. I might think about it. My primary objections to eating meat are health and cruelty. If the cruelty issue is taken out of the equation I’m only left with health and I certainly eat unhealthy items from time to time (*cough* cookies *cough*). To be honest, though, the thought of having a mouthful of dead animal makes me want to gag.

Would I choose to eat an animal to prevent death? Probably. (See Yann Martel’s Life of Pi, a novel that would give The Lord of the Rings some competition in the aforementioned desert island reading scenario.) The great thing about being a vegetarian in 21st century America, however, is that I don’t have to make these choices. I choose not to eat meat, and I have an incredible variety of other foods from which to choose to supply the protein I need daily.

Question for you: If you are a vegetarian, under what circumstances, if any, would you eat meat? What about those of you were vegetarians, but now are eating meat again? What caused the switch?

My New Favorite Restaurant

Last Friday was my birthday and my sweet sister took me out to dinner after work. I work for a bank that is open an hour later than normal on Fridays, so of all the nights of the week Friday is the day I’m least likely to want to cook. Bless her! And where did we go? Whole Foods. Yup. Whole Foods is now my favorite restaurant.

They have a great spread out all day every day. They have pizza and sandwiches, gelato and coffee, and amazing hot and cold bars. I had a hard time choosing especially in a place that is so vegetarian friendly. In the end I decided on sezchwan green beans, roasted vegetables, brown rice, and chicken fried tofu. Yes you read that correctly, and oh . . . my . . . It was amazingly yummy. Seriously, that was the best tofu I’ve ever eaten and nothing like, “This is fine, but it sure isn’t chicken” crossed my mind once. Tofu is now on my shopping list so I can attempt it at home. They even had vegan chocolate mousse. I didn’t try it though because I was saving room for the pastry case in the bakery, but I might have to go back and sample it another time, along with the fresh-baked vegan almond cookies.

My sister and I enjoyed it so much we went back the next night after a long day as extras on the set of Unusual Films’ new movie Milltown Pride. Hmmmm. I am going back for another shoot this Saturday, perhaps I’ll have to give that mousse a try.

Do I Say, “That sure sounds yummy!”???

A few days ago I was eating lunch with a couple of other ladies at work. Not surprisingly, as we were eating food the conversation seemed to naturally steer in that direction. Since becoming a vegetarian I am acutely more aware of just how much meat omnivores eat and talk about eating. They talk about the meat they ate the night before, the meat their husbands grill and cover with sauce, and the meat they will eat at their next family function or party. And all the while I sit there eating chickpeas or lentils or nut butter and wonder how I will respond if someone turns to me and asks if I don’t think their steak and fried potato dinner sounds delicious.

How do I respond to that? I can be 100% honest and say it sounds delicious but I would never eat it because I’m a vegetarian. I can go for the positive half truth and just say that it does sound yummy and stop there. Then there’s also the option of the negative half truth where I pronounce my vegetarianism while hiding the fact that I think the grilled steak does sound good.

I have to admit I haven’t yet decided which would be the most appropriate response. Fortunately, I have not yet faced such a question and have time to craft a winning sentence. Unless someone asks me today . . .

Question: What would you say if you were in my shoes?

It‘s ALIVE!

In eating animals news the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reportedly considering approval for a genetically modified salmon for human consumption. The salmon, developed by the Massachusetts-based AquaBounty Technologies (fish is technology?), was created by introducing a DNA sequence from an eel species into the Pacific Chinook causing it to grow at twice the rate a Chinook should grow. Proponents of the new salmon cite growing food needs as a reason for developing such an animal.

Though approval seems likely, the “Frankenfish” is not without its vocal detractors. The Nature Conservancy and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have already made appearances on news shows expressing their concerns about the safety of such fish for human consumption and its potential impact on the environment should any of these modified salmon actually make it into the wild. According to AquaBound the possibility of the new salmon interfering with the natural food chain is minimal to zero. They have taken the precaution of ensuring that the farms will be far from waterways common to salmon and that such salmon will be sterile. However, as the Nature Conservancy has pointed out, no one can guarantee that every salmon raised on these farms will be sterile forever and all time.

In my humble opinion, however, the chances of these freaks of nature getting into the wild salmon population are not the greatest concern, but rather the impact they salmon will have on the health of the people consuming them. Though the FDA seems confident there will not be any far-reaching health concerns I think the American consumer would do well to be wary. We all know how thoroughly the FDA researches, probes, and investigates (cough*Vytorin*cough).

Vegetarian diet aside, I think everyone should think twice before contemplating eating such a creature. After reading articles and watching news stories on this subject I couldn’t help thinking about a scene from Jurassic Park in which the characters played by Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Sir Richard Attenborough and Martin Ferraro are eating lunch after touring the park. The previously skeptical lawyer Donald Gennaro (played by Ferraro) has been so dazzled by what he saw that he has visions of huge profits in his head, while the scientists are more subdued and pensive. Finally Dr. Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) has had enough from the lawyer and voices his opinion rather forcefully, lamenting that the scientists were so occupied with “whether they could [clone dinosaurs] they didn’t stop to think if they should.” I’ll paraphrase another favorite Malcolm quote to close: the lack of humility towards God’s creation that’s being displayed here staggers me.

Question: Once approved, will you eat genetically modified salmon?

On Getting Razzed

We all have people in our lives that feel the need to pick, poke, and prod us about our personal preferences and habits. I have found this to be especially true since becoming a vegetarian. Fortunately, many of these people fall into a few tidy categories that can easily be dealt with once you understand their modus operandi.

1. The “Concerned.” These are the people who believe going vegetarian is a bad idea. The concern is generally health related, believing the notion that one needs to eat animal products in order to be healthy, which is not true. Since these folks generally only have good intentions and my best interests at heart I cut them some slack and respond to their concerns with quiet respect.

2. The “Competitors.” These people have to win arguments all the time and feel the need to comment on my food choices in order to feel superior to me rather than express genuine concern. They are more difficult to deal with, especially when I have personal knowledge of their eating habits. Arguing gets me nowhere with them, but I usually find it is worth the effort to put forth a single, forceful argument simply to let them know that I am not an idiot and they aren’t going to get the better of me in a debate.

3. The “Conservatives.” For some reason political conservatives have gotten it cemented into their heads that being a vegetarian is liberal, and that the only appropriate thing to do with an animal is kill it and grill it. Generally speaking, eating meat is not any more political than eating Cheerios, and any political argument against vegetarianism can be easily dismantled.

4. The “Clowns.” These are the people that may fall into one of the above categories but make their arguments/concerns known by poking fun rather than using a more straightforward method. They are easily disarmed by playing along or using humor in response, since, like the elementary school boys who tease the prettiest girls in the class (and I have A LOT of experience there! Ha!), they just want to get a reaction.

With any form of communication, to be effective you have to know your audience. Know your audience and you can take on the slings and arrows of anti-vegetarianism just as well as if you were wearing Wonder Woman’s really cool bullet-proof bracelet thingies. Then perhaps the clowns in your life will stop clowning and the competitors will stop . . . I can’t even finish writing that sentence and pretend to be serious.

Question: Have any of you faced and verbal challenges to your eating habits? What did you find to be an effective response?

Eating Vegetarian on the Go

Sometimes cooking and eating time comes at a premium and I find it necessary to eat at quick meal on the road or when I’m otherwise not at home. Last Saturday I had the opportunity to attend a football game at Furman University that included free food from Zaxby’s. My onmivorous friends ate the Zaxby’s while I ate a peanut butter sandwich and an apple I had brought from home. Knowing my food choices would be limited I was prepared ahead of time to eat a quick, healthy, and vegetarian meal. But what about the times when you have to eat out unexpectedly or (ahem) you forget to bring your lunch to work? What options are there for conscientious eaters in a hurry?

Here are a few of my favorites:

Moe’s Southwest Grill: Moe’s is my favorite vegetarian-friendly place to eat. They have some great options for the conscientious eater, my top pick being the Unanimous Decision taco with black beans. They also offer dishes with marinated tofu, only serve cheese without animal rennet, and cook their grilled vegetables separately from the meat.

Subway: When you’re in the mood for a sandwich, the Veggie Delight can’t be beat. Load up with lettuce, onions, peppers (bell and otherwise), cucumber, tomato, and just about anything else and have it on wheat bread to make it even better.

Atlanta Bread Company: ABC usually offers a vegetarian soup on their menu and you can order any salad without meat.

Macaroni Grill: Great food (who can pass on that rosemary focaccia?). Order an entrée without the meat (not necessarily possible for every dish) or order from the “Create Your Own Pasta” menu to completely customize your meal. Substitute whole wheat penne for the white pasta to make it even healthier.

There are also going to be times when you can’t be picky either because there is only one option or because you’re travelling with a group of people and don’t want to make a fuss. In those cases McDonald’s, Wendy’s and Chick-fil-A are good options to keep you from starving. To be honest, I never eat at any of these places unless I really don’t have another choice or for the sake of fellowship or ministry. You can get any salad without the chicken and my experience with McDonald’s has been that they will even charge less for the salad without the meat.

Question: What works for you when you need to eat on the go?

My Favorite Super Foods

General reaction among the younger generations I come into contact with, when discussing eating habits, is usually a curled lip and a comment like, “Oh, that’s right. You eat healthy don’t you?” Kind of the way someone might say, “Oh, that’s right. You used to be a Nazi.”

For those with taste buds not accustomed to eating whole foods the term “health food” usually conjures a taste image of something with the texture and flavor of saw dust. Amazingly though, many of the healthiest foods God created are also some of the tastiest. These are just a few of my favorites.

Berries: Berries, especially blueberries and strawberries, are high in vitamin C (there is more of this vitamin in a serving of strawberries than in an orange), fiber, and antioxidants. Antioxidants fight free radicals which are major cancer culprits. Ironically, high levels of physical activity promote free radicals. So follow up exercise with plenty of vitamin C packed fruits and berries.

Soy: This legume contains more calcium than just about any other, making it a go-to bean for vegans. Cut firm tofu into ½-inch chunks, toss in a little vegetable oil and bake for an hour to make a delicious calcium and protein-packed crouton for salads and soups. Soy milk can be used in place of cow’s milk in most recipes. Just make sure you use plan, unsweetened soy milk for savory dishes.

Quinoa: This versatile, South American grain is actually a complete protein, meaning that it contains all of the essential amino acids the body needs to function properly. It is also high in iron. It is easy to cook, versatile and inexpensive. I buy in bulk just the amount I need for a recipe, which makes it cheap, cheap, cheap. Check out the Ridiculously Easy Curried Chickpeas and Quinoa recipe from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen.

Black Beans: Sometimes called turtle beans, these little guys make it into my cooking weekly. My new favorite Sunday lunch after church is to warm up half a can of organic black beans (the flavored spicy ones if I can get them) and toss them with tortilla chips, lettuce, salsa, black olives and a little soy cheddar cheese (if I have it on hand) to make a quick and delicious taco salad. Black beans are also high in calcium, protein and fiber.

Kale: Kale is my favorite dark and leafy source of iron and calcium. Try the Krispy Kale Leaves recipe from Vegetarian Times. I dare you not to love them. Just make sure you don’t over cook the leaves as they tend to dry out easily.

Bottom line: real, whole foods are healthy and delicious and make you feel great, if you give them a chance.

South Carolina’s Shame

Recently the Humane Society of the United States conducted an investigation into bear baiting in my adopted home state of South Carolina. For those of you who don’t know, bear baiting is the practice of de-fanging and de-clawing a bear, tying him or her to a stake in an enclosed area and then setting a pack of dogs upon him or her for entertainment purposes. The idea that there are people living around here that find this kind of practice enjoyable to watch doesn’t enrage me as much as the notion that it is still legal in the Palmetto state. That’s right. Bear baiting exists in South Carolina not because it hasn’t been banned, but it is a permitted practice regulated by the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The DNR holds regulatory authority over this despicable practice, and is tasked with enforcing rules such as not allowing repeated contact between the dogs and bear during a single event. According to the witness accounts and video tape obtained by the Humane Society, this rule was reportedly violated many times at the four events they visited. Supposedly the fact the bear is virtually defenseless makes this rule necessary.

Bear baiting was once common both in this country and around the world, but has been almost universally descried going back to even the 16th century in Europe. Bans on bear baiting began in the 19th century and currently the only place outside South Carolina one can see bear baiting in action legally is in Pakistan. I swear I am not making this up. It’s illegal in Iran and Sudan, but not South Carolina. Hopefully as the Humane Society shines a bright light on this cruelty South Carolinians will demand their elected officials to join the 1800’s and take action to ban bear baiting once and for all.

You can read more about the Humane Society's investigation here.

What I'm Eating

As a new vegetarian I was told that one of my major food problems would be staving off boredom. I actually haven’t found that to be true. My number one problem has been forcing variety. I could happily eat the same dinners in rotation every week for months on end without getting bored primarily because I usually make dinners for myself that are foods I really enjoy. Where I struggle is in working into my diet foods that aren’t necessarily my favorite, but that I know I need to eat, such as quinoa and brown rice.

Knowing that I needed to work on relying less on legumes and add more grains I went in search of new recipes to convince my taste buds they were worth the effort of cooking and eating in forms not related to bread or pasta. The quinoa recipe I settled on is called Ridiculously Easy Curried Chickpeas and Quinoa from Fat Free Vegan Kitchen (link to the right). The chickpeas are an added protein bonus and so good. This recipe is everything it advertises. It is delicious and quite easy. My favorite way to eat it is stuffed in a whole wheat pita with a few pieces of romaine lettuce. It makes a great quick dinner or a fantastic jealousy-inducing lunch at work.

My new brown rice favorite actually came from a reader. Jenny H sent me her lentil and carrot casserole recipe (see the Recipes page), which also includes brown rice. This recipe really pleased me on three points: 1) it’s super easy, 2) uses inexpensive ingredients (and many things I normally keep on hand), and 3) tastes amazing. It does take a bit of time to cook, but the bulk of the time is unsupervised baking. This is another great one for leftover lunches for work, providing a great dose of much-needed protein in the middle of a long day.

My new favorite snacks are Lundberg whole grain rice cakes. I’m eating the organic brown rice cakes and organic wild rice cakes. They’re low salt, low fat, low calorie and the perfect thing to satisfy the afternoon munchies and keep me from hitting the vending machine at work. YUM!

Question: Do you have a favorite vegetarian recipe or healthy snack you would like to share with other readers?

What is Del Monte Smoking?

The lunch room at my new place of employment is populated by a few magazines including one back issue of Good Housekeeping. I personally am not a huge fan of this magazine, but it passes the time while waiting for the eye doctor when my only other choices are Cosmo or Southern Living. The former I don’t want to be and the latter I don’t want to do. Anyway . . . I was flipping through this five-month-old issue when I came across an ad for canned peaches. Now I don’t eat canned fruit. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to eat canned fruit. But I understand that it has been around for a long time and a lot of people like it. What I don’t understand is this ad.

Perhaps you’ve seen it? There is a picture of a large fresh peach and the copy basically reads (I’ll have to paraphrase here because I couldn’t tear the ad out of the magazine), “Why buy fresh fruit and throw money away when you can buy canned?” Ummm. So to Del Monte buying fresh fruit equals throwing money away? Well sure it does if you don’t actually eat the stuff and let it go bad. I occasionally can’t make it through all of the spinach in the bag and have to throw a couple of handfuls out, but that doesn’t mean I consider it a waste of money to buy it in the first place. It just means the next time I buy it I make more of a concerted effort to actually eat it all before it turns to green goo.

We all know that Del Monte needs to sell the fruit they’ve canned, but an ad campaign extolling the virtues of canned fruit makes more sense than bashing the idea of fresh. Are there really consumers who will read the ad and say, “Hey! You know what? They’re right. No more fresh peaches for me. I’m going to buy canned. Thanks, Del Monte!” Come to think of it, judging by all the fast food lunches that go walking past my desk everyday, they might be more attuned to the average American eater than I am.

What if I Can’t Turn Down a Doughnut?

Last week I started a new job at a bank. And this is an old, local, family-owned bank, the kind that has customers going back decades. The kind where the customer walks in the door and everyone yells, “Norm!” On day five at this job an old customer came in, a sweet elderly man, and we chatted for a bit. Finally he asked me if I like doughnuts. I answered, truthfully, that I do. Not more than 15 minutes later he came back with three boxes of Dunkin’ Donuts for the tellers, the call center, and me.

Now, in case you didn’t realize it, glazed doughnuts are not vegan. (This is where my readers all roll their eyes and say, “Duh!”). Under normal circumstances I would never go to Dunkin’ Donuts and buy, well, a doughnut. BUT, in my first week on a new job, with an old, beloved customer in front of me holding out a box of the rings of delight, and having just told him that I like them, I couldn’t very well turn one down. If I had been quicker thinking on my feet earlier I might have said that I like doughnuts but don’t eat them. But alas, it was not so. And there he was smiling and holding out a doughnut. There was really only one option available.

So I took it and I ate it and I liked it.

A Few Ways to Ease the Transition to a Vegetarian Diet

Frequently when I tell someone I am a vegetarian I get a response that is something like, “Oh, I could never give up meat.” Nonsense! Even the most ardent omnivore eats meals without meat occasionally. With a few easy steps you can change the “occasionally” to “frequently” and then “always” with very little effort. Try this:

1. Remove meat from a few favorite recipes. Spaghetti and lasagna are just as tasty without the Italian sausage. Think you can’t enjoy your chili without ground beef? Try this great recipe from Whole Foods.

2. Try Mark Bittman’s “Vegan Before 6” plan. New York Times food writer Mark Bittman (author of How to Cook Everything and the new How to Cook Everything Vegetarian) only eats animal products after 6:00 p.m. He still enjoys a steak with a buttery baked potato for dinner as long as his breakfast, lunch and snacks are dairy and meat free. You can read the details in this Seattle Times article.

3. Replace meat in some of your favorite recipes with a plant food. Substitute black beans for ground beef in your next taco or enchilada. Try roasted vegetables on your pizza instead of pepperoni. Substantial veggies such as eggplant work especially well.

4. Try meat substitutes. I will admit right now that I love a good burger and fries. If anyone was to say the words “five” and “guys” in the same sentence my mouth would begin watering instantly. To satisfy my craving for the juicy stuff I eat Boca Original Vegan. Warm it up and throw it on a bun with onions and lettuce and it tastes amazingly like a burger, but it’s made with soy and wheat gluten instead of beef. Yum! I know that soy does have its detractors. Not being a registered nutritionist I can’t say for certain whether they are full of it or not, but I do make a point not to build my diet around soy products or meat substitutes (or any other manufactured food).

So give it a try. You might be surprised at how easy going vegetarian can actually be.

Question: Have you tried reducing the amount of meat you eat? If so, what works for you?

Bible Study Part 5: Moses and the Law (Exodus through Deuteronomy)

Certainly the books Exodus through Deuteronomy are full of discussions pertaining to animals and even their consumption, and the majority has to do with animal sacrifices back to God. What animals are to be used for what particular kind of sacrifice, how they are to be slain, what is to be done with their bodies, etc. all are discussed in great detail.

There are four other events that I found especially interesting:

1. The Passover. This event from Exodus 12 includes the first recorded instance of God commanding the consumption of an animal, which I found to be interesting since it had been many years since the post-flood announcement that animals could be used for food. Yet sure enough Ex. 12:8-10 states, “And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.” I suppose I could say that there isn’t necessarily a command here. One could have technically left the entire animal until morning and then burned it total, but that feels like a stretch. The great detail in the kind of animal they were to choose (“without blemish, a male of the first year”), the use of the blood on the doorposts, the manner of cooking (“roast with fire; his head with his legs”), and the manner of eating (“And thus ye shall eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet” and “and unleavened bread, and with bitter herbs they shall eat it”) serves to make the slaughter and eating of the Passover lamb much more like a sacrifice, an offering, than a meal.

2. Manna and Quail. In Exodus 16 the children of Israel begin to complain about provisions and claim that they ate better in captivity than they are in freedom. God then announces that he will provide manna (a wafer or bread-like food) for them in the morning and quail comes into the camp in the evening. However, it doesn’t appear that quail was provided every day or even regularly, because in Numbers 11 the multitude again complains about food, but now they are tired of manna. “There is nothing at all, besides this manna, before our eyes” (Numbers 11:6). The Lord tells Moses, “And say thou unto the people, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? For it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; but even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?” (Numbers 11:18-20). And while the people were still eating the quail God struck them with a plague. God was providing for them nutritionally without the need for meat. They complained because they were bored.

3. Clean and Unclean Animals. Leviticus 11 describes in detail the kinds of animals the children of Israel were allowed to eat. Certain animals were “clean” and some were “unclean.” Israel could eat the clean animals, but not the unclean. Unclean animals included pork, fish without scales (such as shark), and shellfish. Interestingly, since this time we have learned a lot of these animals and their living and dietary habits and their dietary detriments to humans.

4. Balaam’s Donkey. Numbers 22 includes the first recorded instance of animal abuse in Scripture. The prophet Balaam’s donkey turns aside from the road when she sees the angel of Lord standing in the way. Balaam, angry with his “stubborn” donkey, strikes her three times. Then the Lord opens Balaam’s eyes so that he can see the angel of the Lord blocking his path. The angel asks Balaam why he struck his donkey, saying, “unless she had turned from me surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.” (Numbers 22:33). Balaam’s response? “I have sinned.” (Num. 22:34).

Get Educated: My Favorite Pro-Veg Websites

Those of you who are considering going vegetarian may have a lot of questions. How do I get started? What would I eat? What if I want to know more about why being a vegetarian/vegan is such a good idea? To help you out here is my list of favorite web sites:

1. GoVeg.com. This is a website of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). While I don’t agree with a lot of their tactics or ad campaigns they are a great resource if you want information on any reason to be a vegetarian (cruelty, health, environment, etc.).

2. The Vegetarian Times (www.VegetarianTimes.com.). For information on vegetarianism solely based on health issues their Vegetarian Starter Kit (see link to the right) is great. It’s also a wonderful resource for recipes.

3. Compassionate Cooks (www.CompassionateCooks.com). Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is the queen here and I love her podcasts.

4. Vegan Yum Yum (www.veganyumyum.com). This is a blog about cooking vegan and it’s full of great recipes (not all for beginners though). Lolo, the blogger, is also a great photographer. Just looking at the photos makes me hungry!

5. FatFree Vegan Kitchen (www.blog.fatfreevegan.com). This is my new “go to” web site for cooking vegan. The Fat Free Blueberry Vanilla Waffles recipe in the links list on the right is from this blog. So yummy!

Question: What websites do you go to for vegetarian information/help?

10 Things that Drove me to Vegetarianism, Part 3

Read Part 1 and Part 2

7. Male chicks hatched at layer hatcheries are tossed alive into trash bins or grinders at the rate of 150,000 per day. This video also highlights some of the other reasons I don’t buy any animal products. I’ll let it speak for itself.



8. The meat industry is the #1 contributor to the carbon emissions problem. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the meat industry is responsible for more carbon emissions than all of the cars, trains, planes, and ships on the planet combined. The report Livestock’s Long Shadow: Environmental Issues and Options (2006) states that the meat industry is “responsible for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions measured in CO2 equivalent. This is a higher share than transport.” (ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a0701e/a0701e00.pdf). And in case you are wondering, the answer is no, Al Gore is NOT a vegetarian.

9. Broiler chickens are ready for butchering within 45 days of hatching. These chickens grow so quickly (as in putting on muscle) that their skeletal systems and vital organs cannot keep up with the growth frequently resulting in lameness and heart failure. Death loss on chicken farms is so high it is a common point of debate whether the losses absorbed outweigh the profits from the chickens that actually survive to make it to the processing plant. So far the industry has decided that the rapid growth is worth the risk the chicken will die before it can be sold. Tyson can tell you their package of chicken is all natural, but there is nothing natural about the ways these chickens grow.

10. Because “it tastes good” is not a sufficient reason to financially support an industry that causes physical suffering to God’s creatures, promotes poor health, harms the environment, and is dangerous to its employees.

Question: What would it take for you to go vegetarian?

(Please help me raise the profile of this blog by commenting below.)

10 Things that Drove me to Vegetarianism, Part 2

My last post (10 Things that Drove me to Vegetarianism Part 1) contained two of the reasons I began eating vegetarian (and cooking vegan) almost three months ago. Here are reasons 3 through 6.

3. Cattle are kept in feed lots prior to slaughter. While many cows are allowed to graze for their first few hundred pounds, all factory farmed beef cattle are kept in feedlots where their diets can be closely monitored and engineered to produce the fat marbling the industry prizes so highly. After a few months of standing in mud and feces in crowded pens they are sent to the slaughterhouse. Aside from the horrible life the cows lead for those few months, feedlots are breeding grounds for disease. The chances that a cow is healthy when it is slaughtered are very low. Does mad cow disease ring any bells?

4. Farmed turkeys have been so tampered with they can no longer reproduce. Because the American consumer prizes white breast meat, farmed turkeys are bread to reach butchering weight by the age of 6 months (if they don’t die of organ failure, heart attack or disease by then-and 10.4 million do every year). Their breasts are so large and their bodies so weak that it is common to find turkeys that can’t walk well, and flying is certainly out of the question (wild turkeys can fly up to 55 miles per hour). It is actually physically impossible for tom breeders to um . . . get together with the females. According Ann Donoghue of the Agricultural Research Service, "Essentially 100 percent of the nearly 300 million turkeys produced annually in the United States for consumption are the result of artificial insemination.” (http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul98/toms0798.htm). In short, there is no such thing as natural turkey no matter the labels say.


5. All the protein humans need to lead a healthy life can be found in plant foods. God made our plant foods to be rich in protein. Though the USDA might tell us we need up to 40 grams (or more) per day the fact is that most Americans get their protein from animal products and 60% of them are overweight. I shoot for between 20 grams and 50 grams per day. Some days I eat more and some days I eat less. Vegetarians can easily get enough protein by eating a wide variety of foods including beans, peas, lentils, whole grain breads, rice, quinoa, etc. As an added benefit these foods are cholesterol and cruelty free.

6. Injury and illness rates at beef slaughterhouses run up to 30%. According to the Department of Labor, this makes the meat packing industry the most hazardous for employees with non-fatal injuries (http://stats.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/os/ostb0754.pdf). Injuries range from repetitive stress disorders such as carpal tunnel to broken and severed limbs. Injury rates in meat packing plants are twice the national average, while illness rates are ten times the national average (remember the cows in the nasty feedlots?). (http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/processing/). America’s insatiable appetite for cheap meats has increased slaughter rates from 175 per hour to nearly 400 per hour. This enormous increase in production line speed is believed to be a top contributor to the increase in injury to employees and instances of food contamination. Try cutting open 400 beefs per hour without accidentally getting the innards everywhere and you’ll see what I mean.

10 Things that Drove me to Vegetarianism, Part 1

Friends and acquaintances frequently ask why I became a vegetarian (and cook vegan at home) and to be honest that can sometimes be a bit difficult to answer. There is no one reason I chose to give up eating animals, but rather it was a conclusion drawn after confronted with information about the realities of modern American factory farming as well as nutritional information about the benefits of eating a plant-based diet. Here follows ten bits of information (to be posted in three parts) that made my personal conclusion about vegetarianism inescapable. These items are not ranked in any particular order.

1. Buying milk supports the veal industry. In order to keep dairy cows producing milk they have to be impregnated once very year. Once the calf is born he or she is taken away from his or her mother within a day (lest it drink any of the milk that could be sold to American consumers). The females become dairy cows while the males are shackled in veal crates where they live their brief lives immobilized, usually by the neck, and fed an anemia-inducing diet to create the prized pale meat veal eaters want. Veal crates have been banned in Arizona, California, Colorado, Michigan, and Maine, but the first ban won’t go into effect until next year (Maine). In addition to the cruelties they suffer in life, veal calves don’t face a better slaughter than their full-grown counterparts.

This video is from the Humane Society. Please be warned that it does contain graphic and disturbing images and some coarse language (apparently people who drag infant calves to slaughter don't use delicate language).

Once a diary cow has been worn out (within 5 years) she is sent to slaughter and becomes canned soup or low-grade ground beef.

2. Slaughterhouse “stun” mechanisms for meat and poultry are woefully inaccurate resulting in the thousands of animals being scalded, skinned and/or butchered alive every day. Folks, beef slaughterhouses WANT the cows to be alive when their throats are slit so they bleed out completely before they are broken down. The point of the stunner is to render them unconscious, but it is temporary and even if it does its job as well as advertised the cows frequently regain consciousness before they bleed out completely. Chickens are dragged through water than has been electrically charged in order to knock them out before the automatic throat slitter does its job (if there is an automatic). Unfortunately it frequently happens that neither work properly and live chickens are fully conscious when scalded for easy feather removal.

To Be Continued . . .

Bible Study Part 4: The Time of the Patriarchs (Gen. 11-50)

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all tended flocks and herds: cattle, goats, sheep. All throughout these chapters of Scripture great numbers of animals are a sign of wealth and used even as gifts (when Jacob was meeting Esau again after their bad parting) and as wages (as in Laban’s agreement with Jacob that he take the speckled cattle and goats). Animals were clearly a very important part of everyday life. Increase in animals was also seen as blessing from God.

Three events from these chapters stand out to me:

1. In Genesis 22 God asks Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac, the very son that God promised to him in his old age. Abraham prepares to obey God and even has his knife ready to slay his son when the angel of the Lord stops him, commending him for his faith and obedience. A nearby ram caught in a thicket takes the place of Isaac as the sacrifice, a lovely picture of what Christ would do later as the spotless Lamb of God who would lay down His life as the sacrifice for sin in the place of all mankind.

2. In Genesis 37 Joseph’s brothers kill a young goat to deceive their father Jacob into thinking his favored son was attacked and killed by a wild animal rather than sold into slavery. This is the first recorded instance of man killing an animal for something other than food or a sacrifice back to God. The animal is killed in order to deceive.

3. In Genesis 41 Joseph interprets two dreams of Pharaoh both of which predict the same events. Egypt was to have seven years of plenty followed by seven years of extreme famine. During the seven years of famine the people of Egypt consume the stores of grain Joseph lays up during the seven years of plenty. The implication is (and we know this from the pre-flood years) that plant-based diets are perfectly capable of sustaining life and can do so more efficiently than animal-based diets (It takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce 1 pound of meat). In fact, by the end of the famine Egyptians were exchanging livestock for bread.

Question: What have you observed in Scripture about animals and eating?
(Please help me raise the profile of this blog by leaving your comments below.)

Joel Osteen Doesn't Eat Pork

Joel Osteen may have some facts correct when it comes to why pork and shellfish are not healthy eating choices, but I wouldn’t want him preaching about it in my church. Check out this video from You Tube:



“These are some of the things the Scripture tells us we should not eat.” Well, Mr. Osteen, if you want to get technical, these are some of the things God told the children of Israel not to eat when they were under Levitical law. As Paul wrote in Romans 14:14, “I know and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself.”

Osteen goes on to discuss some of the reasons that eating pork and shellfish are unhealthy, and there I agree with him totally, though his “facts” about while beef is healthier are wrong. The beef you buy in the grocery store is not fed on “fresh, clean vegetation,” they are fed processed, treated, synthetically-supplemented grain-based feeds which cows don’t digest well at all, while standing around in crowded, feces-filled feed lots.

My problem with Osteen’s teaching is not, however, that his meat facts miss the mark, but that he doesn’t seem to display a strong command of Scripture as a whole, including the New Testament in which we learn that Christ came to fulfill the law. Hey, don’t get me wrong, I would love for every Christian man, woman, and child to become a vegetarian or even just give up pork and shellfish, but the integrity of Scripture is far more important than any food choice.

Combating Food Temptations

For a foodie who recently went off a diet temptations to “mis-eat” can lurk around every corner, while grocery shopping, and even while driving down the road (as in, “I have a few dollars in my wallet, maybe I should stop and get a cinnamon raisin bagel.”) The desire to keep the weight I lost from creeping back on has forced me to create some guidelines for myself and my enormous sweet tooth.

1. Make appointments with special treats
Hot chocolate is one of my favorite things in the whole world. I drink it all year round (even in the 100-degree South Carolina heat), but it is not calorie-free and packs quite a bit of sugar so I obviously don’t want to drink it every day. To moderate, I allow myself two mugs of the hot, sweet stuff each week, no more. I schedule my hot chocolate appointments for the same nights every week, that way I always have them to look forward to and am less likely to spontaneously reach for my soy milk, cocoa powder, and sugar.

2. Allow yourself one day a week to eat what you want WITH one condition.
Sundays are my day to eat what I like, waffles for breakfast, an extra snack after lunch, whatever, PROVIDED that I do at least thirty minutes of planned exercise at least three times during the previous week. This means a yoga or pilates DVD, jogging, cardio, whatever fits my schedule or mood, but it has to be a concentrated workout not just getting out of my chair more frequently during the day.

3. Keep junk food out of the house.
This may sound like a no-brainer but anyone who loves to eat understands that this is not always easy. Simple yes, easy not necessarily. Rarely does an afternoon go by that I don’t need at least a little something to get me through until dinner. By keeping my fridge, freezer, and pantry stocked with healthy options such as fruit or “healthier” versions of some junk foods helps. I love Bethenny Frankel’s Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (see "Recipes" page). They are low-fat, vegan, and easily made with whole grain flour. At roughly 165 calories each (and they aren’t tiny cookies) I can have one as a mid-afternoon treat or a reasonable dessert without any guilt. Keeping homemade, whole-grain, low-fat sweets in the freezer makes it less likely that I’ll be tempted to pick up a package or Oreos the next time I’m at Walmart.

4. Allow yourself one major dessert a month.
Knowing that I don’t have to give up decadent desserts entirely makes it easier to stay on course to maintain my new weight. And if I can make it one of those aforementioned “healthier” versions all the better. For me this usually takes the form of vegan ice “cream,” which I can even get sweetened with fruit (fruit juices carry a lower glycemic index ranking than cane sugar or corn syrup).

5. Seek ways to treat yourself that don’t involve food.
Admittedly this is something I’m still working on. Take stock of the non-food things and activities you really enjoy. Is it curling up with a good book for an hour in the middle of a busy afternoon, poking around a bookstore with a cup of coffee (Hey! It’s only a few calories black!), windowing shopping with girlfriends, taking a day trip to a state park? Try using these non-food rewards the next time you hit a weight-loss milestone or finish a big project at work.

Even working within these guidelines requires some self-discipline and I wish I could say that I always follow them all the time. I don’t, but having a road map makes it easier to detect when you have gotten off course than when driving map-free. It also helps to be honest with yourself about what your personal food demons are. Clearly my downfall comes in the form of sweets. For someone else it might be salty snacks or fast or fried food. Whatever food temptation trips you up, determine to combat it and win.

Question: What eating rules have you created to combat your own food temptations?

BLUEBERRIES!

There aren't many reasons I would get up at 5:15 on a Saturday morning, but picking blueberries at a local farm that uses organic practices is definitely one of them. My roommate took me to this place just after Independence Day, which was my first time blueberry picking, and now I think I am addicted. I picked almost 10 pounds this morning and when the cashier told me there should be berries through the end of August I think I decided I need to go back for more. Can I just say that I think blueberries are perfect? You can eat them fresh or freeze them (which they handle quite well) and they are absolutely packed with antioxidants. In fact, blueberries are the most antioxidant rich food you can find. All that and they taste great too!

Sure, you can buy them already picked at a good price (though not as good as picking yourself), but I personally think there is something about actually going to the farm and picking the berries that takes it from "getting blueberries" to an "experience," kind of like the difference between listening to a Renee Fleming CD in your car and hearing her live at a world class venue. Supporting local farmers, connecting with your food, knowing what you eat and why you are eating is not only a healthier way to live, but I believe also makes life richer. Why be content to look at photos of Jasper Johns prints in a book when you can see them in person at your local art museum? I understand that not everyone is into great contemporary American art (though they should be), but food touches all of us. I cannot fathom why anyone would be satisfied to eat processed food from a cardboard box when instead they could enjoy roasted fresh Carolina eggplant with pasta, or just a bowl of fresh local blueberries.

Going vegetarian has made me think about what I eat in an entirely different way than I had all my life. There is something so intensely satisfying about planning the food for my day and knowing that it is good for me and so delicious that I cannot wait to eat it. I admit that I am a foodie. I enjoy shopping at Whole Foods just as much as I do Banana Republic. My heartbeat quickens when I have a few extra dollars in my budget and I get to decide whether to pick up a red mango or a couple of golden kiwi. So here's what's going on in Darcy's food world today: For breakfast I had a banana and 1/2 cup of homemade granola made with rolled oats, flax seeds, and raw sunflower seeds. Lunch will be a large salad of romaine, spinach, carrot, red pepper, gala apple and homemade balsamic vinaigrette, topped with more seeds. For dinner I have half of a large organic, local eggplant ready to roast and I'll have that will some whole wheat penne aglio olio (garlic and olive oil with red pepper flakes). If I need an afternoon snack I think I'll enjoy some fresh-off-the-bush blueberries or break out the blender and make Bethenny Frankel's Pomegranate Smoothie recipe.

1 c. blueberries (or any berry really)
1/4 c. pomegranate juice
1/4 c. water
1/2 of a banana (I usually just toss the whole thing in)
1 cup ice (or less if you like a thinner smoothie)
optional: a little honey or agave nectar to make it a bit sweeter

Just blend it until it's . . . um . . . blended. So good! And it's even better with blueberries I picked with my own two hands at a local farm.

Chick-fil-A Has My Back

Last Saturday I had an interesting encounter with the fast food chain Chick-fil-A. I was working at a children's event at our local mall for just a few hours. For some reason the mall guest services department thought it was appropriate to promote the consumption of slaughtered animals to young children and gave Chick-fil-A a table at the event. The main reason for their presence seemed to be the promotion of their new Spicy Chicken Sandwich. In case the casual observer missed the link between the sandwich and the children's event the name of the product was printed on several mylar balloons which festooned the table upon which was set a hackey sack tossing game.

The Chick-fil-A cows were also present since they seem to like the idea of promoting chicken slaughter in the vain hope that Americans will spend more of their food dollars at Chick-fil-A than on dead cow. These cows were wearing sandwich boards that read, "Eat More Chikin" (supposedly cows are not good spellers). As I watched them interact with the pint-sized omnivores swarming them I recalled a Chick-fil-A commercial in which the cows vandalized a new hamburger joint to deflect customers away from eating the burgers and towards chicken and I got inspired. I took a large black marker to the balloons at the Chick-fil-A table and added a few words. Once my work was done each balloon stated, "Try our new spicy rotting chicken carcass sandwich!" Every child at the event screamed, ran away, and became a lifelong vegetarian. A moment later I snapped back to reality when a shy four-year-old needed help gluing fun foam leaves onto his bug jar.

Obviously I didn't actually alter the balloons, spit on the cows, or any of the other things I thought of doing, but I was fully prepared to proclaim my vegetarianism unashamedly had the woman working the table offered my one of her coupons for a discount on fried animal flesh. No opportunity presented itself, though we did have a little interaction early in the event.

Her table was almost directly behind mine in our circle and I felt my lower legs pegged by flying hackey at least a couple of times. I didn't really mind since it momentarily distracted me from glue sticks and fun foam ladybug body parts. After some time passed I realized I hadn't been hit in a while and looked back at the Chick-fil-A table to see the woman there holding up an empty cardboard box as a backstop for the hackey game. I thought that was very nice of her and was thankful I hadn't said anything to disparage how she earns her living. After all, I was the one earning money by making bug jars at a mall on a summer Saturday morning.

Busy and Stressed!

Has it really been nearly three weeks since I last posted to this blog? Though I am sure you weren’t crying in your Wheaties because of my prolonged absence it did give me a bit of inspiration. I’ve had a lot going on in my life the last few weeks what with work and outside projects (both of which haven’t been going super smoothly), and I have found that it is easy for me to let “extra” things slip when I’m laser-focused on what is keeping me busy and stressed.

Unfortunately one of the extras that falls off the Darcy Radar is my concern over eating habits. This first became evident to me when I was in my last semester of graduate school and I was eating out of styrofoam trays at my editing station three meals a day. It wasn’t just the need for a quick meal that lowered my health standards, it was the stress. I turned to junk meals as a way to comfort myself when I wanted to pull my hair out because I couldn’t get clearance on the music I wanted for my final montage (and my original cut was perfect!) or when I ran into technical difficulties and things weren’t exporting from Avid to After Effects exactly the way I wanted them to. Let me give you an example: I recall one lunch that consisted of two hot dogs, cheetos, a large chocolate chocolate chip cookie, and a beverage made up of half hot chocolate/half coffee. As Dave Barry would say, I swear I am not making this up. This is the way I ate for most of the last few weeks of my last semester.

Though my comfort foods have changed somewhat since grad school and I am also limited by what I have in the house rather than what the university’s dining common puts within arm’s reach, I still struggle with the use of food as a way to ease stress. Even if I have plenty of time and all the ingredients to cook a full meal I want to go for the quickest, easiest thing. It might not necessarily be unhealthy, but it’s the attitude that concerns me.

Looking back over the last one year plus, though, I definitely mark signs of improvement and I find that encouraging. I am pleased to say that I never once at any meat. To be honest I expected to find the switch to vegetarianism much more difficult than it has turned out to be. After more than six weeks I don’t miss meat at all and I feel terrific.

Wave Good-Bye to the Elderly Woman with the Bun

I know she's been around a long time. I applaud her for her auto insurance company endorsement deal and I certainly think she's sweet. But, let's face it, Mrs. Butterworth is full of garbage. Her ingredients list reads as follows: high fructose syrup, corn syrup (seriously?), water, salt, cellulose gum, molasses, sodium hexametaphosphate (what the . . . ??), natural and artificial flavor (caramel color [caramel color is a flavor?], corn syrup [more????]), preservatives (as if this concoction can't preserve itself) (potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate), artificial flavor (shocker!), caramel color [repeat: more???], citric acid (I love parentheticals).

All that trash in my pantry (yes, I own a bottle) can go one of two places: my body or my trash can. Hmmmmm. Let's weigh the pros and cons of eating this syrup-they-can't-legally-call-maple. In the pros column we can write "tastes good." Good. We're off to a great start. Then let's add . . . um. OK, let's try the cons column then we'll get back to the pros. We can write that "it contains high fructose corn syrup," which we know has been genetically modified. It also "contains chemicals, not foods, which have been linked to various ailments including diabetes and certain cancers." Need we go on?

If the ingredients isn't enough to scare anyone away from ingesting this goo-that-technically-shouldn't-be-categorized-as-food, the fact that the real deal (I mean maple syrup, folks) is readily available should give you pause before continuing in this damaging relationship.

So, in my quest to cleanse my refrigerator and pantry of artificial additives and nasty things like high fructose corn syrup Mrs. Butterworth is going down the drain and her bottle will head to the recycling bin, soon to be followed by her partner in crime, Kraft mayonnaise. And with her passing goes every last bit of surreptitious corn syrup from my food supply. I know I have no reason to be eating this trash, so why even keep it around?

I'm done!

Psalm 24: 1 states, "The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world and those who dwell therein." In light of the recent oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico this verse resonates strongly with me today. As a born again Christian I know that God created the earth just as it is recorded in Genesis 1. It is no less true today that it was then and it is no less true in the Gulf of Mexico than it is while sitting in church, Sunday School or seminars on creation, and yet there are flocks of Christians bending over backwards to avoid saying that the BP oil spill is a terrible thing. If you ask them directly they will say it is bad, but . . . And there's always that "but." And what follows the "but" is typically something straight from Sean Hannity or Tea Party bullet points. The "but" is always political. Why isn't the "but" biblical?

Yes, this blog post is going to read like a rant today, because that is what it is. A raw, passionate rant against Christians who respond to current American life more like Republicans or Tea Partiers or whatever else they want to call themselves and less like biblical Christians. I realize that I am being harsh, but it makes me angry to see God's precious creation desecrated and His children responding with, "The planet has seen worse." Is that true? Undoubtedly, but the planet also saw worse than the Holocaust, Hiroshima and 9/11.

Imagine, if you will, that you have built a home from scratch with your own two hands. It is beautiful. It is exactly how you wanted it. And you turn it over to someone else to take care of; someone you love and who you trust. Then imagine this person uses your house to earn some money. No sweat. Everyone has to make a living, right? Then imagine this person's quest for money results in the destruction of part of your house, not totally beyond repair, but it will take a great deal of effort and time to restore it to what it had been. And then imagine the person who caused the destruction, when confronted with their actions, responds to you with, "I know it's bad, but I've seen worse." I sincerely hope that none of us would behave in that way, and yet . . .

At what point did popular American Christianity,  however subconsciously, start putting politics first? We like to congratulate ourselves that we are bringing biblical Christianity to politics when we support bans on partial-birth abortion and homosexual marriage, and yet for some reason when it comes to protecting something that God touched with His own hands we leave it to the Sierra Club? If God sees when a sparrow falls can we believe He doesn't see the flocks of brown pelicans covered with oil, the thousands of sea turtles staring extinction in the face, and countless other creatures, not the least of which are the 11 men who were killed in man's quest for more, more money, more convenience, more more more. When does it end?

When my nephew was just learning to speak he would respond to things he didn't like, such as dinner, with "I'm done!" And that's how I feel today. I've had it up to my eyeballs, and I hope other Christians will join me in speaking out against man's continued wholesale pillaging of God's earth. I've had enough. Yes, I'm a vegetarian environmentalist and it is because I love the things that God has created, the trees, the animals, and the Gulf of Mexico. If that makes me a liberal then a liberal be I, but I'll be a biblical liberal who puts God's creation before anything that has to do with politics.

Bible Study Part 3: Noah and the Flood (Gen. 5-10)

This portion of Scripture contains a great deal about animals, of course. Most people know the story of Noah's ark and I have certainly read it many, many times. However, I had never read it for the sole purpose of gleaning insight about man's relationship with animals especially in the context of eating. This passage contains a great turning point in that relationship as we will see.

In Genesis 6:7 God announces that he will "blot out" men, animals, creeping things, and birds because He is "sorry that [He had] made them."  Noah, however, finds favor in God's sight, and he is chosen to be the human vehicle by which mankind will be preserved along with animals. God commands him to build a great ark for his family (his wife, three sons and their wives) and several of each animal. Genesis 6:19-21states, "And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall com in to you to keep them alive." Then the passage continues, "Also [emphasis mine] take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them." It would appear, then, that the animals that made it on to the ark were not a part of the food stores. The pairs of unclean animals could not be eaten, obviously because there would be no way to continue the species with only one male or one female, however, in Genesis 7:2 God commands Noah to take "seven pairs of all clean animals." And yet Scripture makes no mention of Noah using them for food, and for good reason.

After the flood subsides Noah and his family emerge and he makes an enormous offering of some of every clean animal and bird. This is the second recorded instance in Scripture of man killing animals (Abel's offering in Genesis 4 being the first). After the offering God charges Noah and his family to "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" (Gen. 9:1). Then Scripture continues, "The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered. Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood." And there we have it. God clearly states at this point that animals are given to man for food. Man's relationship with animals was forever changed after the flood.

I think it is important to note that, at least to this point in the history of mankind, God has given animals to man for food, for clothing, and for giving back to God in the form of offerings. There is no mention of man killing animals for sport, for the fun of it.

Surrounded by Barbecue

For new vegetarians summer holidays can pose unique dilemmas. Invariably, unless gathering with other vegetarians, you'll be surrounded by piles of barbecue and grilled meats. (For those of you in the South, barbecue is its own dish, for those of use who grew up in anywhere else, barbecuing is a technique. I use the southern definition here, since I live in the South.) Fortunately, barbecues usually indicate massive quantities of any kind of food and I entertained this hope last Saturday as I made my pasta salad, knowing there would be at least one or two edible things for me.

The pasta salad I made was largely edible (I've posted the recipe on the Recipes page), though I made far more than necessary. And I certainly didn't go hungry. There was potato salad next to my pasta salad, fresh vegetables, strawberries and blueberries, mango salsa and tortilla chips. I know I ate too much, but that is the fault of my sister's sister-in-law who made two beautiful pound cakes, which she served with berries. I did my duty as an honorary member of my sister's extended family by trying both the plain and lemon pound cakes.

Again, no big deal. It turns out that all my concern about how people would potentially react to my new eating choices were unfounded. No one said a word to me. Either everyone knew and didn't care or they didn't even notice I didn't have a hamburger or grilled sausage amidst my other piles of food. It was a wonderful evening. I think I can finally put my fears to rest. I know that I will run into people who will get defensive at the mere uttering of the word "Vegetarian," but the positive experiences I have had so far have, I think, equipped me to stay calm and then quietly tell them that I'm sure they have more important things to worry about than what I'm eating. All in a spirit of love, of course . . . .

Taking a step back in time, the big challenge of the weekend came in the form of the local barbecue cook-off. I, of course, participated because the rest of the family was. My chief concern was not being tempted to eat the barbecue (though it lingered in the back of my mind). In my carnivorous days I wasn't a fan of the dish anyway. My concern was how I would feel by being surrounded by large quantities of dead animal flesh. I think I masked my feelings fairly well, but in all honesty, I found the whole thing rather disgusting, though I realize I'm still in the newly converted vegetarian how-can-you-eat-the-rotting-flesh-of-dead-animals? stage. I needn't have worried one moment.

Prior to the cook-off I fortified myself against any potential hunger by eating breakfast a little later than normal and then eating a snack right before leaving the house. It worked like a charm. I not only wasn't hungry, but my stomach was full. Another crisis averted. So far as I know I have clear sailing until my church's Fourth of July shindig. Perhaps I'll be brave enough to bring a quinoa salad and introduce everyone to my new world of food.

Bible Study, Part 2: The Fall of Man (Genesis 3)

Genesis 3 contains a lot of eating and talking about eating. Of course, since the discussion centers around the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the eating is plant-based. In this case, the eating of fruit is in rebellion against God's command to stay away from that fruit. This act of disobedience results in a curse against mankind and, indirectly, the first use of animals recorded in scripture when God "made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them."

The serpent, Adam, and Eve, each in their turn receive a curse from God. While woman's curse centers around family, her relationship with her husband and child-bearing, man's is centered on laboring in the earth to bring forth food. Genesis 3: 17-19 states, ". . . cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken."

Notice there is no mention of difficulty in raising and butchering livestock, for the eating of animals has not yet entered into the history of mankind. That won't come for many generations.

No Big Deal

Sunday night I survived my first large social gathering as a vegetarian when the singles group at my church had a fellowship at the home of some friends of mine. The common running joke is that Baptists can't get together without involving food and that is no less true when the gathering is approximately one half single men. They broke out the grill, which meant a huge pile of hot dogs and kielbasa, but there were other things to be had as well, and I certainly didn't starve. I was a little concerned going in, but I figured that if I simply passed up the meat and ate other things no one would really notice, and I was right.

I will confess that when the hostess noticed I wasn't partaking of the hot dogs and asked if I was sure I didn't want one I simply turned it down rather than explaining why. I'm not sure if that was the right way to handle it. I certainly wouldn't want her to think I was turning down food just to turn down food, but at the same time I don't think that every food choice I make has to come from being a vegetarian, and I know that not everyone is going to want to hear about it. I imagine eventually eyes will start rolling and I'll hear: "Yes, Darcy, we know you're a vegetarian."

Maybe I need to investigate vegetarian etiquette before the Memorial Day barbecue I'm going to on Saturday. One thing I have read though is that it is considered good etiquette, for vegetarians especially, to offer to bring a dish of some kind when invited to a meal or party so as not to put any undue stress on the hosts, and I think that's very appropriate. My food choices are my own thing, and though I'd love to inspire others to try vegetarian eating, I don't want them to feel like they need to cater to me. It's not like I have a deadly allergy.  So to the barbecue this weekend I'm bringing a Greek-style pasta salad made with orzo. Should be yummy. To the singles group fellowship Sunday night I took a vegan chocolate chocolate chip cake made from the Dairy-Free Chocolate Cake recipe in The Joy of Cooking. Check out my new Recipes page for the recipe.

I did get a few questions about my new diet, but no criticisms or defensiveness, which is what I was bracing myself for. It was a great evening catching up with friends. I didn't go hungry. People seemed to enjoy the cake (though most didn't know it was vegan, ha ha!). No big deal.

Bible Study Part 1: Creation (Genesis 1, 2)

As I mentioned in my opening post on Monday, part of my transition to a vegetarian diet will involve exploring the Bible thoroughly to make sure that my philosophies about animals and food line up with Scripture. I couldn't think of a better way to this than to start with Genesis 1 and just plow through to the end of Revelation, keeping detailed notes on what I read as I go.

Please keep in mind that I'm not a theologian. I don't know Hebrew, Greek or Arabic, though I do have access to common Bible study tools such as a concordance and Bible dictionary. My thoughts and observations in these Bible study posts are just those: my thoughts and observations. I encourage you to read these passages for yourself and join in the discussion. If you disagree with me or think I am in error, or have a thought you would like to add, please leave a comment below. I want to foster discussion on vegetarianism (or even "animal rights") amongst Christians, not just get on a soap box and spout, as I much as I enjoy that.

I began my study with Genesis 1, as I said, and food gets a mention by verse 29. Gen. 1:29, 30 states (all quotes are in the English Standard Version, unless otherwise specified), "And God said, 'Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.' And it was so."And the discussion on food ends there. God explicitly gives plants to man and beast for food in these two verses. He does not in any way give animals or their products to man for food here.

If we back up just a bit to verse 28 God says, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth." By putting all three of these verses together I think we can reasonably infer that eating animals does not follow from what God means by "dominion." If it did, it would be unnecessary to then point out that plants are for food while animals are for dominion, or to rule over (which is what the Hebrew radah means).

As we move on to Genesis 2, events step back chronologically to give a bit more detail about the creation of man. Genesis 2:8 states, "And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food." Again we have an explicit link between plants and food. There is no mention of animals (for food or otherwise) in the verses immediately before or after this passage.

In fact, animals don't get a mention until verse 19, the first time animals come into the discussion since their initial creation account in Genesis 1, but only as possible companions for Adam, and certainly not for food. Gen. 2:19-20, "Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.' So out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was it's name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him." The passage goes on to describe the creation of woman.

I personally find this passage very interesting, and I believe describes the reason man and animals have such a strong link. We've all heard stories about children finding animals to take in temporarily ("just until we can find a home for it" or "just until it gets better") and the mother or father allowing it, but discouraging the naming of said animals. Why? Because once you name something you become attached to it. God gave Adam the task of naming the animals; He did not name the animals himself. Why? I believe it is because God wants us to be attached to the animals over which we have dominion, to love them and care for them. The Hebrew word does carry with it the idea of subjugation, but it is more the idea of the rule or dominion being total rather than hard or severe.

Of course, this is isn't the end of the discussion on animals or even eating animals. Things will change as events in the Bible unfold, but I think this is a good stopping point for now.

I'm a ding dong!

That's right. I am a Grade-A, first-class ding dong. All of my life I have been running away from anything that could possibly be referred to as greens, because of this odd phobia I allowed myself to develop when my mother would try to get me to eat healthy things like spinach and oatmeal (by the way, thank you, Mom, for making the three of us eat good things, for refusing to turn the kitchen into a short-order restaurant, and instilling in us a sense of responsibility about our diets). I didn't like spinach when I was 14, and so avoided it like the plague, or at least a less-contagious cousin of the plague, until a couple of months ago (19 years later-you see where the ding-dong thing is coming in?). Now I eat it all the time. I had been denying myself a wonderful, plant-based source of iron, calcium, etc., etc., etc. Spinach, however, was where I stopped. It is easy to eat raw spinach tossed into my usual salad, but what about greens that really should be cooked?

I was still afraid things like kale, collard, beet greens, mustard greens. You know the stuff that looks like the part that gets thrown away or composted once the real vegetable has been removed. But when I decided to become a vegetarian I realized that I would need to add a greater variety of foods in order to get enough iron and calcium in my diet (more on calcium in a post further down the line), and that my more varied diet should probably include greens. But, the thought of eating a pile of soggy, smooshy, green stuff just make me want to go "Blech!" Vegetarian Times to the rescue!

While perusing their web site I saw a listing for a recipe called "Crispy Kale Leaves." Hmmmmm. I e-mailed it to myself, wrote it out in my little recipe notebook I keep (once again, thanks, Mom!), and promised myself I would try kale. As I mentioned in my last post, I picked up a bunch of kale at Whole Foods on Tuesday. And I mean bunch in every sense of the word. This bag of kale I had was enormous! Now it is slightly less enormous, since I ate roughly 1/3 of it last night.

I was nervous about the crispy kale leaves, I'm not going to lie. What if I hated it? Can you be a vegetarian and NOT eat kale? Would the experienced vegetarians think I was a sham? All of these thoughts ran through my head while the kale got, well, crispy in the oven last night. I followed the recipe precisely (except for the amount of oil they recommended, which I cut in half), the timer went off and I pulled my baking sheet from the oven. I sprinkled a little sea salt on the leaves (which had shrunk quite a bit), picked one up and popped it in my mouth. Oh my . . . It was crispy, it was green-y (and I mean that in a good way). It was like eating an ultra-healthy potato chip. I'm not ashamed to say I stood there and ate about five right off the baking sheet, though gobbling might be closer to what I was doing, before I realized my gnocchi needed attention (I was supposed to be watching for them to turn "pillowy." No joke.)

So there you have it. Fear had kept me from experience some truly amazing foods. Foods created by God for me to use. I am a ding dong.

P.S. Check out my new recipe links to the right! The list will grow as I try new things.

If Whole Foods was a man . . .

. . . I'd want to spend the rest of my life with him . . .it. I love, love, love, love shopping for food at Whole Foods. Where else do you have a reasonable expectation to find organic Italian kiwi, next to the organic kale (red OR green leaf, whichever you prefer), which is next to the organic fresh herbs? YUM! If I was a bajillionaire I would shop there every day. I would also weigh 350 pounds.

Today was my weekly shopping trip. I LOVE MY WEEKLY SHOPPING TRIP! Other than the mild nervousness of not knowing whether all the yummy things I want to eat will fit within my budget, it is my favorite weekday thing to do. I plan and re-plan my menu all week long down the exact fruits I want to eat for which breakfast (this of course changed when I got home because I now have a large Costa Rican pineapple instead of my usual bunch of bananas). The bananas were all green. I don't like it when I have to choose between bright green organic bananas and semi-ripe conventional bananas. So today I chose no bananas, proudly driving home with my ripe organic Costa Rican pineapple, which I butchered promptly so I could have a little with lunch. Yum! And then I remembered why I often see sliced pineapple in the shape of a ring. There's sort of a core thing in the center. Hmmmmmm. I'll remember that next time.

Sadly I think most people assume that eating organic is too expensive. Is it cheap? Certainly not. But it doesn't have to be prohibitively expensive. Often you can get an organic version of something for just a bit more than the conventional version. And when my budget seems really tight and I'm deciding whether I should just get the conventional because it's 50 cents per pound cheaper I say to myself (and I'm not joking): "So what you're saying, Darcy, is that you would eat pesticides if someone paid you 50 cents to do it?" Because that's what it amounts to.

I've also been making the most wonderful discoveries while comparison shopping between Walmart and Whole Foods. Walmart, to their credit, offers a growing number of organic items including a bag of three hearts of romaine. Then I discovered that Whole Foods has it cheaper. Hello! I've been discovering over and over again that while, yes you can spend $12.99 for a pound of Yodeling Goat Gouda at Whole Foods, you can also get a bag of organic baby spinach for $1.99 and a liter of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil for $5.50. (Note: These are Greenville, South Carolina prices.)

I've also discovered that the hole in my budget once occupied by meat can now easily be filled with more fresh fruits and vegetables, encouraging me to try new things like the bunch of kale I left the store with. *GULP* I think I mostly bought the kale because it seems a lot of vegetarians eat it (plus it was on sale). I also bought it because I found a really great-looking recipe for crispy kale leaves (we'll find out if it's great tasting tomorrow night). Next week I'm trying quinoa for the first time. Hopefully the week after than I'll try another new thing, and the week after that, and the week after that.

My eating habits can easily get into a rut, and I can only imagine that yours sometimes do also. This week try shaking things up a bit. Shop at a new store, add a new vegetable to dinner, and add a few organic items to your pantry.

So what's the deal?

What made me do it? Why vegetarian, why now? The entire story would take far too long to write, and though I am certainly willing to undertake the task, I’m sure you would find all the details that led up to it to be vastly less interesting than I do.

Going vegetarian is not a great leap for me. I started eating organic five years ago. A three-year hiccup (during which time I was living on a university campus, working on a master’s degree, and eating in their dining common) was reversed when I watched Robert Kenner’s extraordinary documentary Food, Inc., which reminded me of why I had been eating organic in the first place. And so I returned to eating organic in December of last year. Not always easy to do on a limited budget, but I do the best I can.

I rarely eat fast food, I make every meal at home myself outside of the few a month which are meals out with friends or my roommate is having company and I get a free home-cooked meal (yay!). Salad ranks among my favorite foods/meals, I make my own granola, and I love whole grain breads and pastas.

Vegetarianism, for me, is the next logical step towards becoming as healthy as I possibly can. Towards the end of my three years in grad school and through the end of last summer, my eating habits took a complete nose dive and I realized I was putting on weight. I took the weight off, started exercising regularly, switched back to organic food and felt better than ever. Statistically speaking I was probably among the most-healthy eating people in the state, but I wasn’t satisfied. I wanted to eat even better.

Many people are vegetarians because of health reasons. Many people are vegetarians because of animal cruelty issues. I am a vegetarian for both reasons. I no longer have the desire to eat meat or participate financially in an industry so full of cruelty. The kicker was watching this video from PETA:

I realize this is not commonplace amongst born-again Christians, especially the fundamentalist circles I travel in. And it’s a shame. I am the temple of the Holy Spirit, and if that means keeping alcohol, cigarette smoke and illegal drugs out of it, I think it should also mean keeping unhealthy “foods” out of it. And if we are so adamant in defending the fact of the EVENT of creation I think we also should adamantly defend the PRODUCTS of creation (and not just the human ones). I also want to make sure that my reasons are scriptural and so intend to undertake a study of the entire Bible in the attempt to discern God’s intentions for food for His children. This may take a year or more.

Becoming a vegetarian is not an instant transformation. This is a journey. There will be days, especially at the beginning, when I will be very proud of myself and eat very well, and there will also be days when I will eat poorly or be too embarrassed to tell someone I am a vegetarian and will find myself eating meat rather than draw attention to myself. There are self-righteous vegetarians who love to announce the fact publicly at parties and barbecues. I pray I will not become one of them.

One of the pros of becoming a vegetarian publicly is that I will have accountability towards those who read this blog (even if they be only my mother and sisters) along with their support. One of the cons is that I will also find myself accountable to those who do not support my decision and will seek to question and find inconsistencies. But this is not about them; it is about me, and what I believe I need to do. So here it is: my blog on becoming a vegetarian.