Temporarily Flexitarian

So for the next few weeks before I go back to college, I am actually only reducing the amount of meat I eat. I don't think it's a good idea to go cold turkey (or "cold tofu" as some say) when making a major diet change. You stop eating because you have no idea what to make and your fridge is still full of the stuff you're trying to avoid!

So instead I'm using this time to plan to make sure I don't fall off track. One problem is that I'm going to be extremely busy. Between class, class work, work work, and working out, my stress levels will be a major issue. I'll be craving everything fatty and fried. That and there won't be any time for me to come home and say, "Oh yeah I need to go cook some meals for this week" or "I should make that shopping list so I don't forget the rice milk!" Some people have the energy to allow them to keep up with mundane things in high stress situations, but I am definitely not one of them.

Another thing I am trying to decide is whether to gradually progress from being an ovo/lacto vegetarian to veganism, or to negate that issue until I have comfortably given up meat. In college there isn't much access to vegan foods. Hell there isn't even a decent kitchen! With research I'm finding out more and more how intermingled the meat industry is to almost all the foods I eat, so it's beginning to seem impossible to shut them out entirely. A true vegan according to my sources cuts out everything from broths and butters to cookies and chewing gum. For now it just seems like a good idea to cut out what I can and hope that when I'm living in my own apartment that there will be more options. Although that depends if my fiancé decides to change his diet of pizza rolls and hot pockets.

Which brings up another reason I am starting this event when I go back to school. Though I don't want to become anti-social, I do want to avoid some peer pressure. Vegetarians are a very small minority, even today when being green is what the cool kids do. I've tried this adventure in the past, only to have meat eaters bombard me with reasons not to. Some people have told me that your brain gets smaller, that you will die from a lack of B12, that you will shrink, that you will get sick more easily...etc. What stopped me last time was when I told my ex-boyfriend that I was going to become a vegetarian and he threatened to leave me because HE thought it would make me stupid. There is a reason he's an ex though. In any case, I want to leave that drama at home, and establish myself away from friends and family members who are against the idea. It leaves you with less of a support system, but it's sometimes good to fight your own battles.

To help me with the planning process, I purchased a book titled, "Living Vegetarian For Dummies" by Suzanne Havala Hobbs. Her knowledge as a nutritionist really makes her book an important resource to those who have no idea what they're doing (i.e. myself). She has advice not just on meal planning, but how to approach people who are not supportive of your lifestyle. She also has great tips for one of the hardest things to tackle, dining out. I've almost read it cover to cover and for eight to ten dollars used it's definitely worth your time. You can find it on Amazon.

What I'm really looking for though is a microwave/minifridge friendly cookbook. I don't have much of a freezer either so that throws frozen veggies out the window. I would appreciate any suggestions!

Oh and for those of you who are in the St. Louis area and are not sure what to do about take-out options, I found a great Chinese restaurant this weekend! It's called Sesame and it's located in Kirkwood. They have a good number of vegetarian options, which is incredibly rare in a typical Chinese place in the Midwest. The szechuan eggplant will blow your mind! The best part is if you have friends who aren't vegetarian, they can enjoy the other great dishes on the menu. Word to the wise though, the portion sizes are HUGE. Order with caution or the intent to share.

Even though this is as easy as leaving something off my plate I can tell there are going to be many obstacles to face in the future. The most important thing to do now is to gather my resources and arm myself with options. For now though I am going to arm myself with Kerouac and go to bed.