Going Somewhat Vegetarian: Or, How We Mostly Stopped Buying Meat

To be clear (if the title of this post wasn't enough), we have not gone vegetarian. This week, we did the lunch buffet at the Indian Oven where I ate more Chicken Curry in one sitting than anyone ever should, vegetarian or no. The week before that, we got big, meaty subs from Logan's Heroes. And the week before that, we did pick up the Gourmet Vegetarian pizza from Papa Murpheys (but that's just because it's their best pizza -really, try it). That being said, I cannot remember the last time I bought meat at the grocery store (with the exception of two organic chicken breasts that we paid $10 for and served to some company).

It happened gradually. I was actually going to title this post, “Taking the Plunge” or something exciting like that, but it's really been more like taking a ride on a long, gently sloping slide (which didn't make for nearly as good of a title). It had a lot to do with the Cache Valley Gardener's Market ending in the fall -where we had been buying local meat that had been raised in a more humane -not to mention in a more environmentally-friendly- manner. Once it ended, we kept holding off on buying meat until we could find a seller we'd feel good about. And maybe that's all it took. Just a few weeks of not buying meat. I'd find myself wandering through the meat section thinking, “Well, we've been fine without it for this long...” Maybe it was Dave getting this disappointed look on his face when I said I'd planned meatloaf for dinner. Maybe it was just one Netflix food documentary too many (you know how Netflix does this thing?: “Because you watch Food Inc. here are a zillion other distressing food documentaries that you need to watch!”)

Like I mentioned before, I do often order meat at restaurants. I also eat meat that others have prepared (like at a ward party or when eating with friends or family). I just don't feel much desire to buy the stuff anymore. I still wonder what the point of it all is. I mean, why go half-way? What kind of mixed messages I am trying to send? (As you can tell, this is still a bit of a moral dilemma that I like to ponder on occasionally). Well, there are a few reasons. For one, I know myself and the limits of my own willpower all too well; I think if I were to quit eating meat entirely I would probably go nutsy and splurge in other terrible ways. Also, despite what any vegan will tell you, I believe that meat does in fact have some important nutritional value. That being said, I don't think we need to eat it every day (thank you “Word of Wisdom” for clearing that up). What's more, I am discovering that many meals are fine -if not better- without it. I suppose that the most fundamental reason why I am not a vegetarian is that I don't believe that man eating beasts is inherently wrong (again, thank you “Word of Wisdom”). I could be called a “speciesist” for saying that, and I suppose I am. So be it.

And there's another important reason: convenience and “do-ability.” That might sound a bit on the selfish side, but I'm very aware that many people simply don't have the resources or the time to go to the lengths that Dave and I have gone to. They can't spend 30 minutes driving across the valley to buy local, free range eggs. They can't pay $30+ dollars for a roast at the farmer's market. What's more, they may have a picky spouse or child and are just doing their best to get something edible on the table. Basically, it is hard to eat healthy –let only to eat conscientiously in our society. No one has unlimited resources, and Dave and I are no exception. (For example, we couldn't really afford to buy organic on everything, and we rarely do buy organic -partly because we got disillusioned after reading, The Omnivore's Dilemma). But, I figure this is at least something I can do. And I like to hope that a lot of little somethings will eventually add up to...well, something more.