Honoring the earth: A month of vegetarianism
When I decided that we were going vegetarian for a month – and I say “we” because despite our attempt to break down gendered roles in our home, I am the primary cook – my husband was expectantly dubious.
“Like, no meat?” he asked back in February, when this idea began percolating in my omnivorous mind.
“Mm-hmm, only bean spouts and organic kale,” I teased, pretending to be more certain of my ability to construct balanced vegetarian meals that could fuel my marathoner hubby and myself than I actually felt.
So over the next three months or so, I casually researched really juicy stuff, like non-animal sources of protein, quick vegetarian dinners, and even how to host a party with plenty of veg-friendly dishes. By the time that May rolled around, I felt prepared to embark on our journey, only slightly anxious about the chicken breasts I was leaving behind.
You may be wondering why we decided to do a month sans meat. Well, back in January I had chosen the word honor as my word of the year. I had decided that 2011 was to be a year in which I focused myself on honoring my truest desires, my body, my relationships, and the earth. Specifically, I said that I wanted to live with more awareness and respect, and I decided that shifting from a meat-centric lifestyle to one that was more earth-friendly was one way to do so.
When I learned about the how entire ecosystems are being destroyed across the globe in order to create room for livestock and crops to feed them, I was intrigued. When I learned that producing two pounds of beef creates more greenhouse-gas emissions than driving a car for three hours, I was stunned. And when I learned that the United Nations considers a plant-based diet the most important step to be taken in reducing global warming, I was blown away.
If you’re interested in going meat-free for a month or another set period of time, I encourage you to consider the following:
Do it for the right reasons
As I’ve talked about before, making a change in the way that you eat should not come from a place of fear or desperation. Those who have struggled with disordered eating can be particularly vulnerable when it comes to eliminating a major food group from one’s diet. In fact, research shows that vegetarians are more likely to have had eating disorder thinking or behavior, and young vegetarians tend to more susceptible to binge eating. Thus, it’s important to honestly assess your reasons for forgoing meat or animal products. Consider things like:
- What need might I be trying to meet by engaging in this practice?
- What emotions are behind my decision? Am I experiencing fear, frustration, anger? [If so, eliminating foods might not be the best choice right now.]
- How will I know if my thinking about this is becoming rigid or distorted?
Enlist support
As with any challenge, the buddy system is best. Not only can you support one another when the going gets tough (though if it gets too “tough”, I recommend returning to your normal eating patterns), but it can enhance the enjoyment of this experience. It was fun for my husband and I to search out vegetarian options at new places we visited, and I loved getting to taste test my lentils recipe on him (so, I might have some work to do on that one, given his less-than-thrilled expression). Not only that, but a friend can help you assess whether a meat-free lifestyle is a healthy option for you.
Prepare yourself
As I mentioned, I spent several months researching vegetarianism before delving into this lifestyle. I wanted to be sure that I had a cadre of go-to recipes on hand that would offer me all of the essential nutrients I needed. I visited some veg-friendly blogs, like Daily Garnish and Savvy Vegetarian. I also made sure to not let this month of no meat go by without truly appreciating the choices I was making. For me, this meant reading up on the environmental and economic impact of meat production and doing a lot of self-reflection about my own values and beliefs. I also happened to catch the new documentary, Forks Over Knives, which primarily details the incredible health benefits of a plant-based lifestyle.
Think about what you’re adding, not what you’re taking away
I also wanted to look at this experience not as something to restrict my eating, but something to enhance it. Unsure as to whether this would become a longer-term venture, I decided that I at least wanted to expand my repertoire of vegetarian meals. One can both improve health and reduce their carbon footprint by even incorporating a couple of meat-free meals per week, so I took this month as an opportunity to create more options for myself. What I found is that there is a whole world outside of chicken breasts and bacon! Not that I don’t love those foods, but this month forced me to broaden my horizons and try new vegetables and legumes that I definitely would have overlooked.
Stop if it’s not working for you
If you’re feeling weak, fatigued, restrictive, or just like you’re really missing your barbacoa burrito, for goodness sake, stop! There are endless ways to honor the earth, and yours doesn’t need to be by eliminating a food group. Just as important as the preparation is the self-awareness it takes to know when something is not the best idea for you. Remember, you are part of the earth as well, and honoring our planet starts with taking care of your own body and mind. So do what works for you!
Are you vegetarian or would you consider going vegetarian for a period of time? Why or why not?
Lori Lieberman
718 days ago
Nice to read such a balanced perspective on approaching a healthy vegetarian lifestyle! I’ve got some more vegetarian favorites coming to the blog soon!
Please see this post on a vegetarian diet for those not so responsible as you regarding their choice to be vegetarian! http://dropitandeat.blogspot.com/2011/04/eating-vegetarian-diet-not-as-healthy.html
Lori Lieberman recently posted..Time to Clear My Plate Before You Get Triggered by My Plate- Read This
Susan
718 days ago
What a wonderful idea. I did at one time become vegetarian for about four months. One reason was I decided I wanted to eat kosher( religious reasons). In Myrtle Beach, not much acess to kosher food, so I decided to go vegetarian foods which was more restrictive. What you have said, was great information. Because if you go head first it is too difficult. But, if you go baby steps you would be more sucessful. I like the idea that you did your reserarch first. I don’t think many people including myself did that. That is probably the most reason for set up to fail. Good luck on your month of celebration to the earth. I would like to know how you are doing with it. It sounds like you did not go in blindly. I am cheering you on!!!
maria
718 days ago
Ashley, so funny, I was also thinking of going vegetarian or maybe just meat-lite for this month. I obsessively read Good magazine and this was their challenge for the month. Check them out: http://www.good.is/category/food/
I also really like Girl Gone Child blog and her mom constantly posts just amazing vegetarian recipes.
Lael
718 days ago
I’m down to 2 meat meals a week and am so proud of that!
My eventual goal is to eat mostly raw vegan.
I started one year ago, experimenting and it’s so funny/cool that I’m at this place now.
I never thought I’d like it, for one, and it’s way easier than I imagined.
I have found it wonderful for my body image issues too because when you eat mostly veggies
and make a point to chose natural food products, it takes a lot of the food angst out of the
situation. My main motivation though, was to eat healthier and with my heart.
Lael recently posted..SlutWalk Edmonton 2011-Slutalicious
McKella
718 days ago
I’ve tried to be vegetarian before, and it just didn’t work out for me. I felt too restricted and obsessive and it caused great tension with my family. I don’t eat a lot of animal products anyway, but going all the way and adopting that label was just too far for me. I’d rather feel good about all the good food I do eat than stress over eliminating the occasional egg or fish or burger.
McKella recently posted..Soul Writing Tips
maria
717 days ago
McKella,
I’m with you. I don’t think I can go all out vegetarian, but I can start buying hormone-free milk and meat, and just eat healthier.
Lindsey Harper
717 days ago
I was a vegetarian for around four years. Finally started adding meat back into my diet in January. I had realized about my third year into the lifestyle that my thought process had changed from a cruelty-free lifestyle to an eliminated food group lifestyle instead…and decided that Vegetarianism may not be the best route for me in this stage of my life. However, I only do Chicken and Fish, and only when my body craves it, which is maybe four times a month. My body cannot process red meat anymore, (I’m okay with that, I was like the little kid that gagged any time I ate it.) and I still enjoy my favorite vegetarian dishes. I just don’t feel so limited in my diet.
I’m so glad you are embarking on this journey, and I am so glad you’ve got a supporter cheering in your corner, and JOINING YOU! That is really great! Can’t wait to read more about it in the upcoming month. :)
Lindsey Harper recently posted..Stand Up
Dorry
717 days ago
I think experimenting with your diet can be very beneficial if done in an educated, informed manner. I eat vegetarian a lot of the time, but my body craves eggs, tuna, and salmon, so I eat those things several times a week. I just listen to my body!
Dorry
717 days ago
p.s. Good luck with the meat-free month! There are so many delicious and nutritious vegetarian meal ideas and recipes out there.
Dana Udall-Weiner
714 days ago
This is great, Ashley. I love that you framed your effort in terms of purpose and gain, as opposed to deprivation or loss. I frequently toy with the idea of trying out vegetarianism (Eating Animals is sitting on my bookshelf beckoning me), but have yet to summon the courage.
Dana Udall-Weiner recently posted..Ordinary Bravery- Self Discovery- Word by Word
lynn @ the actor's diet
713 days ago
i am not vegetarian – i used it as an excuse for my e.d. back in the day – but my husband is and i find it easy to eat veggie 90% of the time. it’s very easy, but i like not putting “rules” on my diet, though i do love honoring the earth.