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?