i've already posted my go-to yummy snack recipe, "ohmega hummus," and everything you'd need to know regarding how to make it. so, if you haven't already, start there. make some hummus and eat it with pita and veggies. no meat required, because chickpeas are packed with protein. perfectly balanced and perfectly simple. see how that makes you feel.
(... not bad, eh?)
now, let's begin. begin by using up or giving away your meat, poultry, fish/seafood, basically anything that had eyes and a heartbeat.
there's many a folk who think being a vegetarian jives with eating fish, but to me, that makes zero sense. if you can't eat a cow because it has eyes and a heart, why is it ok to eat a fish? because it's cold-blooded? well then you'd think eating a lizard is ok too, and that's just uncool (and probably disgusting). i know when you buy your thanksgiving turkey it comes ready to cook and eat, but please remember that those giblets stuffed up the birdie's bum was part of what used to keep it alive... and pretty darn close to the same stuff that keeps you alive. and that t-bone steak that smells oh-so-great on the grill came from a cow that lived in it's own fecal matter up to it's knees, 9 times out of 10. and that fish is full of mercury and scary pollution from dirty water or unhealthy farm feed. so, you're not really doing anybody or anything a favour by eating them. in fact, you're contributing to a planet-wide problem of overpopulation of animals and destruction of valuable resources that could otherwise go to sustaining human life.
an aside: before you go haywire on me and think i'm giving you the "business" for eating meat, please read this part very carefully: a few months back, i was exactly like you. i ate meat and didn't think twice about it. i was totally disconnected from everything that i'm now sharing with you. yet, i made the switch. and i've never felt better or eaten yummier foods in my life... so, we're all in this together. so again, just open your mind and heart and go through this journey with me, your family and friends. give it a shot. you have nothing to lose and a life of health, wellness, balance, and yumminess to gain. and there's nothing to say you have to eat this way forever if you just can't do it... but please just give it a try. i did. and it's amazing.once you've used up or given away all your existing meat, stop buying it. i know, that's a scary thought. you're avoiding an entire aisle and deli counter in the grocery store. those "turkey days" sans turkey. i get it. but we'll get there... yet, guess what's not so scary? the cash you save on groceries to start that "rainy day" fund you keep putting off from starting because it seems to always be raining already. figure out how much you save each week by skipping meat and put that cash aside. another bonus: you get more protein than before and not at the expense of an animal. pretty neat, and just some food for thought ;)
next, start looking through cookbooks, asking veggie friends for ideas (like me!) and go online to find recipes.
take responsibility for everything that goes in your mouth. no more stopping at a so-called convenient fast food place because you can't be bothered to make dinner, or claim you "just don't have time." make time. make it a priority. it's your body, and only you can determine how healthy that body is. and in the occasional pinch, find a quick place to grab a veggie sandwich or wrap, a salad loaded with nuts and seeds, a hot dish at the grocery store made with rice, quinoa (i'll explain later), or beans. there are quick options, but what i'm trying to stress is the importance of cooking for yourself and being responsible for every ingredient that enters into your precious body. the 16-year-old at a fast food burger joint probably doesn't care if your burger fell on the ground, the tomato has that gross green stem in the middle, or has lettuce whiter than snow inside, but you should. and you should care about where your food comes from, how it's handled, and how it meshes with your insides. food fuels your body, so you need to put this at the top of the priority list.
now you've begun you're journey. you don't have any more meat left in your home, and you're ready to start cooking with plant-based ingredients using the recipes you've found through your various sources.
... and if you can't figure out what's for dinner tonight, cook some rice, toss some chopped veggies in a wok, add a few of those chickpeas from your fridge, add sauce, put the veggie mix over the rice, and presto! dinner is ready. wasn't that easy? your journey is just beginning, but it's much easier than you probably thought.
questions or comments? lay em on me! as that song goes, we've only just begun...
No comments:
Post a Comment