It's been one of those weeks where I've been asked to defend why I eat the way I do. I am not a fan of this and I'm not good at it. It's a losing proposition. I feel like I either come across preachy or new age, I don't know. I mean, how am I supposed to answer this?
The reasons I'm gegan are multi layered, personal to me. It's not something I can answer in a quick sentence or two. So I always feel that I either give too simple of an answer or if I start to get into a little detail, I quickly realize the person asking doesn't want to hear it, they shut down and give me that "you're weird" look.
Here were the instances this week:
I was telling a funny story at work that related to vegan eating and a student at work asked my favorite question, one I've never heard, "How do you get your nutrients they way that you eat?". Seriously?!?! This question always floors me. Why do people think that eliminating animal products and gluten leaves you no food to eat?! It makes me wonder what these people are eating! I feel like I need a laminated card I can whip out that lists ALL the amazing food in the world that doesn't involve death. Wait! I would need more than one card, because one card couldn't hold it all!!!!
This person then followed up her first comment with "We are meant to be carnivores" and then the classic "Well, I had a uncle (or insert favorite relative here, I've heard many different ones) who tried to go vegetarian, but he was just so weak all the time that he had to go back to eating meat. But he ate a lot of beans....." I couldn't even manage a response for that one. Really?
Then my boss takes a few of us out to lunch today. He has no clue what vegan means. Asked me if I was going to get the fish tacos, I politely said no, and he asked why not? My co-workers that have been with me the past couple years all come out with "it has a face!". I guess he thought fish didn't qualify for animal status. So I tried to explain the whole "I don't eat anything with a face or that comes from a face", and the girl next to him says, "but you drink milk, right?" Ok. He then asks why do I eat this way, and I just went with the "it's healthier" response. All he could say after that was that it must take a lot of discipline..... but his face said "hi weirdo".
But the best one of the week, the one that makes me laugh, is this:
At a local restaurant with my Theology on Tap group. As I've mentioned before, my church is cool like that. Anyway, the lady sitting next to me is vegetarian. She's looking at the menu and complaining that it doesn't have a lot of options for her. So when the waitress comes to take her order, she tells her that they need to work on having more vegetarian options. The waitress replies, "You mean like a turkey burger?". My friend and I just looked at each other with that look of "did she really just say that?" Again, I couldn't even muster up a response.
This caused me to need some comfort food. Food Review!!!!!!
Bob's Red Mill GF Brownie Mix
Hello yummy goodness. I LOVE Bob's Red Mill products. They never let me down. I love that when the recipe on the mix calls for eggs (as this one did), he goes ahead and gives you options for substitutions. Thanks Bob. I subbed applesauce is this bad boy and then carried the madness a bit further by stirring in some of my homemade peanut butter before baking.
22 minutes later I was rewarded with these little gems. They were moist and gooey and quite delicious. And no animals were harmed for this moment of bliss.
Another thing I like about Bob's products is that there isn't a zillion ingredients listed (only 9 on this mix), and I can pronounce all of them and know what they are. Of course this is a treat, not something to make every week, but don't we all need a little chocolate now and then?
I guess weeks like this sometimes make me feel that the Standard American Diet or SAD, is just unbeatable, it's never going to change. And I'm not saying everyone should give up meat. I just want people to realize the abundance of amazing, healthy, whole food that exists and to realize that what we eat does affect our health and well being. It's just that simple.
Now, ignore these brownies and go eat some real food that doesn't come with a label!!!
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