How many times do we have to be told that we need to eat more vegetables? Vegans exhort us to treat animals as our siblings rather than food, nutritionists exhort us to eat less meat, more fruits and locavores act as if money grows on trees! Why can't humans be more like trees, anyway? Why can't we get our energy, our fuel, directly from the sun like plants?! If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride, as my Gramma would say.
As I have said previously I have tried to be a vegetarian at least twice in my life, but have come to terms with the fact that I am an omnivore- that is, like most human beings I am genetically programmed to eat a diverse menu that includes meat. When I was in my early twenties, I was profoundedly affected by a story that one of my mentors told me. I was renting the basement appartment underneath the Watson's, and Elizabeth, another Quaker preacher without a pulpit like myself, was fast becoming a friend as well as a mentor. She was a bit older than my parents and I admired her greatly. She served primarily vegetarian food, and told this story:
When she and her husband embarked on having a family, they had some trouble getting started and feared the worst so adopted Jean. Shortly before the adoption became legal they found they were pregnant with their, now, second child. I have learned since then just how common a story that is, but unfortunately not a garantee for those wishing to have their biological child. But that is not the part of the story I want to tell. Jean and John were nearly twins, but more Watson babies followed. George and Elizabeth were new Quakers, and deeply influenced by Gandhi, so they decided that they would raise their growing family on a vegetarian diet. When Jean was almost 4 years old one evening the Watson family was invited to a neighbors house for supper. Meat was served. Jean took one bite of the meat and said, "What is this?", with astonishment. Her mother replied, "That's meat, Jean." Then Jean said with passion, "Meat is my favorite vegetable!" Elizabeth explained they decided right then and there, that they would somethines serve meat, and did, at least as long as Jean lived with them.
So, the task before us now, as we move toward improving our own health and the health of the planet which is; how to transition to eating less meat, especially beef. Now I love beef-especially that hormone-free, grass-fed (ridiculously expensive) stuff. But by all reports, cows are second cousins to automobiles, emitting nearly as much CO2 as a gas guzzling car! (By the way, I believe this is also true of milk cows, as well!) We need to start thinking of meat as a side dish. Certainly the vast majority of people on earth do- or, rather, meat is a granish, a flavor in the sauce, definitely not the main dish! Meat is reserved for special occaisions, celebrations, special guests... We could benefit greatly by following their example and seeing veggies, including salad as the main dish and meat, if we have it, as a side or a garnish, saving the 'meat as main course' for holidays and such.
About 10 years back, trying to help my daughter, Kate, who happens to have Down syndrome, controll her weight, I came accross the concept of the Healthy Plate. It has been helpful not only to her, but to me as well and now I realize it can be used to help us make this transition. Imagine a dinner plate, or better yet, imagine one of those picnic plates that is divided up. I always thought they were divided in order to keep the barbeque sauce from 'contaminating' the cole slaw! So, one section of the divided plate is about the size of half, and the other 2 sections are about one quarter each. We always filled the biggest section with the barbequed meat or fried chicken and then tried to squeeze the potato salad and greens into the 2 smaller spaces. But now, we can change the rules. Think of this as the plate you use for every meal. The half-plate sized space is for salad and/or veggies (not potatoes). One of the smaller spaces is for protein (can be meat), and the other is for starches, like rice, noodles, bread or white potatoes. You can have seconds (or even thirds) of the veggies/salad (the new main dish), but no seconds of the meat/protein and no seconds on the starch, unless you plan to skip dessert. If you are trying to lose weight, have either the starch or dessert, though my daughter and I find that it works best for us to not have dessert except on weekends or special occaisions.
I think we can do this- lets start a campaign. The Healthy Plate: Healthy Bodies/Healthy Planet. Meat IS the new side dish, and vegetables can now take their rightful place as the main stay of the meal. This is not only healthier, but easier on the pocketbook/wallet!
For those of us concerned about our weight, I end with my favorite quote about food:
"Never eat anything bigger than your head." Miss Piggy
This is why I keep going to this site. I can't believe everything you've put up since last time!
Glad I stumbled across your site! Interesting discussion but don't you think slightly narrow minded? Maybe it just seems that way to me. Let me read the post again.