Time to Go Vegetarian?

_In the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding (I couldn't resist posting a clip from the movie), and upon hearing that Toula’s intended is a vegetarian, her Aunt Voula says, “What do you mean he don't eat no meat?” The entire room stops, in shock and she says, “Oh, that's okay. I make lamb.”

I laughed out loud when I heard that line, and realized the world of meat-eaters must think eating a vegetarian diet is absolutely crazy! We are carnivores, after all, right? Well ... Wikipedia says, “Vegetarianism is the practice of following a plant-based diet including fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, nuts, and seeds, mushrooms, with or without dairy products and eggs. A vegetarian does not eat meat, including red meat, game, poultry, fish, crustacea, and shellfish, and may also abstain from by-products of animal slaughter such as animal-derived rennet, found in some cheeses, and gelatin. Vegetarians may unknowingly consume animal-derived rennet, gelatin, or other unfamiliar animal ingredients, however.

Vegetarianism is adopted for various reasons: ethical, health, environmental, religious, political, cultural, aesthetic, economic, or other reasons, and there are a number of vegetarian diets. A lacto-vegetarian diet includes dairy products but not eggs, an ovo-vegetarian diet includes eggs but not dairy products, and an ovo-lacto vegetarian diet includes both eggs and dairy products. A vegan diet excludes all animal products, such as dairy products, eggs, and usually honey.

Semi-vegetarian diets consist largely of vegetarian foods, but may include fish or poultry, or other meats on an infrequent basis. Those with diets containing fish or poultry may define "meat" only as mammalian flesh and may identify with vegetarianism. A pescetarian diet, for example, includes "fish but no meat. The common use association between such diets and vegetarianism has led vegetarian groups such as the Vegetarian Society to state diets containing these ingredients are not vegetarian, because fish and birds are animals.”

So, is vegetarianism really the way to go? You’ll have to decide for yourself. Personally, I am more vegetarian than not, I do eat fish and eggs. But, honestly, if I saw a perfectly roasted leg of lamb or pork roast ... yeah, I’m not sure my carnivorous side wouldn’t be salivating. Once I realized how I’d have to eat meat in order to regain and retain my normal cholesterol, I decided it just plain wasn’t really worth it! If I couldn’t taste that crusty, salt and peppered bit of fat with a bite of pork roast, well, I didn’t really want it at all. OK, I’m a baby, but I want what I want or I’ll take nothing at all.

I had to change my attitude to make my new lifestyle really work for me. I found some marvelous vegetarian recipes and love to experiment with new ideas so it was a match made in heaven. I still cook meat for my meat and potato husband, but even he’s enjoying the new vegetables I prepare for him.

All in all, it’s a choice we all need to make for ourselves. Do it or don’t ... it’s your choice ... just don’t let it be a decision you have to make at the last minute ... it might be too late.