A couple of months back my husband watched a documentary in my absence. I suppose I was off caring for my granddaughter at the time. When I returned home he told me about the documentary, "Forks Over Knives". He said it was about eating meat vs not eating meat. Immediately my back went up and I informed him that was against everything I have ever believed. Of course I have known many vegetarians and always felt they were weird or missing out on protein and some awesome food. Two weeks passed before he convinced me to watch the documentary. I'm no genius but neither am I stupid. It all made total sense to me. I wanted to be healthy and I could lose a few pounds also so I agreed to give it a shot. One week of vegan eating to see how I liked it. I could just imagine my three son's reaction to me giving up meat. They totally embrace good food. They are all excellent cooks and so is my daughter. My daughter would be more accepting but those boys will think I've lost my mind. They are always on a quest to cook the perfect steak, ribs or brisket. "Mama has lost it!"
At the end of that week I had dropped several pounds and felt great. I felt light and different. I don't know how to explain it but there was a difference. So I embraced the vegan way for a month. At the end of the month I had lost a few more pounds, still felt great but decided cooking without eggs and cheese was not satisfying my need to create yummy meals. I added eggs and cheese in small portions. I replaced my dairy milk with soy, almond and coconut milk...coconut being my favorite for making curry. The almond is delicious with our homemade granola. I was hooked....so now I'm calling myself a vegetarian.
I love animals. I believe we all descended from them. Sometimes I look at people and think they look like some sort of animal. I've known lots of T Rex type humans. By the way, they eat meat! I have a flock of 10 chickens that I talk to on a daily basis. They think I'm their mommy. I don't eat them, never have. I eat their eggs and observe them. There is a lot to be learned from watching animals. Hens can teach you much about women. If you ever have the opportunity to sit and watch chickens for an hour you will see they are not dumb birds. They problem solve.....I have rearranged their home several times and each time they must figure out how to get to their nesting box or perch. They sit and study it and attempt and study more until they figure it out....and they always do.
I have shot and killed deer a few times and couldn't believe it was me at the trigger end of that rifle. I still don't know how I did it and I still feel guilt. If you are a hunter reading this I know exactly what you are thinking. And if you are of a religious nature you are probably thinking God put animals here for our survival. Well I'm neither hunter or religious. I believe in science because it's a tangible proof.
So this documentary "Forks Over Knives" has a lot of scientific reasons for giving up meat. Honestly I wish it was one way or the other but it's not. I'm thinking the cattle industry brings in a lot of revenue producing meat, milk, cheese, butter yogurt, etc. Killing the animal for it's meat is not something I want to be a part of any more. I watched another documentary that showed how animals are raised and slaughtered and it made me cry. Calves taken from their mothers, put in small cages and fed special food to make their meat tender, hence "Veal". I have driven past our local slaughter house when a truck load of pigs were being led to slaughter. Hearing their screams as they were hit in the back of the head and killed instantly made me cry. Pigs are very intelligent animals. Chickens raised in tiny cages on top of each other, never being allowed to roam or do the things chickens do thus becoming deformed.
I can't change everything but I can change what I do and make a tiny little difference in my corner. I feel good about it. I have lost weight, my blood pressure went from 130/80 to 117/70, my blood sugar stabilized at 80 and stays there and my stomach doesn't hurt any more. I have also learned to cook some amazing new dishes. I never get hungry because I eat all day but I eat good, real food.....apples, peanut butter, almonds, oranges, bananas, stir fry, beans, all veggies, tahini and my new meat is "mushrooms". I create something new every day from a wide selection of vegetables and spices.
The deer on my property now roam safe and free. Thank you "Forks Over Knives".
One of my favorite recipes:
A few hands of baby spinach
2 eggs
Any seasoning of choice
Whisk together
Pour into a heated frying pan with a little olive oil
Cover, reduce heat to very low and cook still egg sets
Remove lid, cut into fourths, flip each piece and brown the flip side without the lid on.
I also add mushrooms to this sometimes.
You can do the same thing with a grated potato and two eggs. It's like eating hash browns.
This makes a quick meal any time of day. Add a big kale and avocado salad on the side and partake of a nutritious, yummy meal.
At the end of that week I had dropped several pounds and felt great. I felt light and different. I don't know how to explain it but there was a difference. So I embraced the vegan way for a month. At the end of the month I had lost a few more pounds, still felt great but decided cooking without eggs and cheese was not satisfying my need to create yummy meals. I added eggs and cheese in small portions. I replaced my dairy milk with soy, almond and coconut milk...coconut being my favorite for making curry. The almond is delicious with our homemade granola. I was hooked....so now I'm calling myself a vegetarian.
I love animals. I believe we all descended from them. Sometimes I look at people and think they look like some sort of animal. I've known lots of T Rex type humans. By the way, they eat meat! I have a flock of 10 chickens that I talk to on a daily basis. They think I'm their mommy. I don't eat them, never have. I eat their eggs and observe them. There is a lot to be learned from watching animals. Hens can teach you much about women. If you ever have the opportunity to sit and watch chickens for an hour you will see they are not dumb birds. They problem solve.....I have rearranged their home several times and each time they must figure out how to get to their nesting box or perch. They sit and study it and attempt and study more until they figure it out....and they always do.
I have shot and killed deer a few times and couldn't believe it was me at the trigger end of that rifle. I still don't know how I did it and I still feel guilt. If you are a hunter reading this I know exactly what you are thinking. And if you are of a religious nature you are probably thinking God put animals here for our survival. Well I'm neither hunter or religious. I believe in science because it's a tangible proof.
So this documentary "Forks Over Knives" has a lot of scientific reasons for giving up meat. Honestly I wish it was one way or the other but it's not. I'm thinking the cattle industry brings in a lot of revenue producing meat, milk, cheese, butter yogurt, etc. Killing the animal for it's meat is not something I want to be a part of any more. I watched another documentary that showed how animals are raised and slaughtered and it made me cry. Calves taken from their mothers, put in small cages and fed special food to make their meat tender, hence "Veal". I have driven past our local slaughter house when a truck load of pigs were being led to slaughter. Hearing their screams as they were hit in the back of the head and killed instantly made me cry. Pigs are very intelligent animals. Chickens raised in tiny cages on top of each other, never being allowed to roam or do the things chickens do thus becoming deformed.
I can't change everything but I can change what I do and make a tiny little difference in my corner. I feel good about it. I have lost weight, my blood pressure went from 130/80 to 117/70, my blood sugar stabilized at 80 and stays there and my stomach doesn't hurt any more. I have also learned to cook some amazing new dishes. I never get hungry because I eat all day but I eat good, real food.....apples, peanut butter, almonds, oranges, bananas, stir fry, beans, all veggies, tahini and my new meat is "mushrooms". I create something new every day from a wide selection of vegetables and spices.
The deer on my property now roam safe and free. Thank you "Forks Over Knives".
One of my favorite recipes:
A few hands of baby spinach
2 eggs
Any seasoning of choice
Whisk together
Pour into a heated frying pan with a little olive oil
Cover, reduce heat to very low and cook still egg sets
Remove lid, cut into fourths, flip each piece and brown the flip side without the lid on.
I also add mushrooms to this sometimes.
You can do the same thing with a grated potato and two eggs. It's like eating hash browns.
This makes a quick meal any time of day. Add a big kale and avocado salad on the side and partake of a nutritious, yummy meal.
