Vegetarian in Name Only

I'm experimenting.  No, not in that way, or in the mad scientist way.  More in the trying new foods, delving into health way.

I've gone Vegan!  With yogurt!  No...Vegetarian!  Wait, no! ovo-lacto vegetarian, that sometimes eats chicken and bacon..

Okay, so I'm not a vegan.  Nor, am I downplaying being one..power in choice.  However, I am incorporating a lot more veggies into my diet and a lot less animal protein.  After reading The China Study, it just gently pushed me in that direction.  Read it!

The thing is, I don't want to live by such an extreme, I enjoy foods in many forms, and I want them all in my diet.  I've just added more of my favorite vegetables, legumes and fruits to my diet without having to live by a book, or a title.  I'm comfortable that way.  Also, a lunch time given it's the holidays, my co-workers hate me!  Fun!

It's definitely a large commitment.  I've taken to preparing my foods, and trying new dishes at home, but I've had some practice.  I like a lot of fresh fruit and Middle Eastern dishes, so I'm familiar with certain things and I keep many items in my pantry.  But, I haven't gone much further than that...it'd be a whole other thing to go find specialty shops, or coupons, or restaurants.  That will come later.

Right now, I've got a great menu for the week, baked pancake, kale chips, pineapple chutney with whole grain tortillas, lentils and brownies. It just took a lot of time.  It saves me $$, I think I'm averaging somewhere between $7-9/daily for 3 meals and 2 snacks.

So, even if I'm whatever in name only, I'm aiming to be healthy for life.

If I Never See Another Carrot Again..

Sometimes when I'm in one of my weird food moods, it strikes me that I am privileged that I can afford to have these moods.  Starving, sick and plain-out-of luck folks can't really afford these "moods."

So when I saw my old Alma mater's event to volunteer at God's Love We Deliver, I was excited.  I'd always been a bit curious about them, and since I work in a related field I'd been wanting to check it out.

It was a nice experience, even though I had cramps from excessive chopping, I somehow fashionably donned a hair net, and did something good.  It put me in a good food mood.  I think more folks should give them a day, there at GLWD, remember everyone has the right to good, nutritious food.  I know I have more than enough, so why not share a little?

Click to check out "God's Love We Deliver"

Renaissance Woman

Time and time again, I've stepped away from my blog.  I could easily blame time management, the loss of novelty, and many other things.  But, honestly it goes more into just ebb and flow of my life.
I'd like think that I go through renaissances when I think about my life in food.

Yes, my life in food.

Food and I go way back; we've had quite the relationship.  I've loved food for a long time, and while food can't really, truly love me back, it sustains me and continues to shape my life.  I love food and I always will.

I read Marcus Samuelsson's, "Yes Chef," over the summer and it made me want to blog again.  It also made me feel I had a kindred spirit with him when it comes to loving food.  I'm not a chef by any means, but I do love food, life and chasing flavors.

I've been given a gift: to live to eat and to eat to live.  I would like to someday be renowned in my field of study, but honestly, if I manage to "each one, teach one," I've given someone the same gift I've got.  I love that, too.

So, begins yet another Renaissance.