The V Word

As with so many things in society when we make a choice to be part of a certain "group," with it comes stigma. When we say words like vegetarian or vegan people automatically make assumptions. Most of my life I haven't been a big meat eater, I also have never had the willpower to give up meat on a daily basis. In my early twenties I read the Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan and it would change the way I look at food for the rest of my life. I would go as far as to say that he is the most balanced food writer of our time. He writes about the meat and corn industries in the United States, and the issues that come along with corn-fed animals, and what happens when we consume them. He writes in a way that is so balanced, and ties in economics, history, and even politics without bias or judgment. He still takes his family to McDonald's in the book. I’ve seen the documentaries, and read the books bubt it didn't really change how I consumed animals even with all the knowledge of the flaws in our food systems. Igonrance is bliss, and I still chose to make informed choices without really changing any habits. We aren't here to get preachy, this blog is meant to do the opposite. Engage in different points of view, and strip away "labels."

 I want to get something straight right out the gat, and be very clear: I do not have a problem with humans eating animals. I come from a family of hunters and, gasp, gun owners. As long as an animal is put down in an ethical humane way, and as much of the animal is used as possible for consumption, I see nothing wrong with eating animals. I recently made the choice in my life to go what most people would call vegetarian. I hate labels so if we have to put one on this, I would rather stick with plant-based. Guess what? You can be a vegetarian and eat cheese pizza everyday #cheeseisnotavegetable. So let's take this post in the form of: I would like to share with you the definition of my "label:" I have changed my diet to being mostly plant-based and I do still eat meat, but only if I know where it comes from. The main reason I wanted to write this post is to bridge the gap between the fear people have of being preached at about food choices people when the dreaded "V" words are mentioned." 

 In many societies we have a strong detachment from where our food comes from. We buy it in a nice little package in the supermarket and we don't care to know how or where it came from, but the reality is if you eat meat an animal, it was in fact killed. Being married to a Muslim man we celebrate Eid once a year which is a holiday where you sacrifice a ram. (Story of Abraham essentially. Google it). Since we left Africa we don't do this because I believe that our fancy high-rise apartment building would frown upon it, however for the years we were in West Africa, we did buy a ram and we did sacrifices in our driveway. 

The first year was hard for me. I grew up in an urban setting never being exposed to the slaughtering of animals or butchering them, and although I've always said I believe we should be more connected to where our food comes from I can't say the first time was easy for me. As time went on and my husband and some buddies would go in together on some Mutton, a goat head in my fridge became the norm. “Excuse me sir, I just need some creamer for my coffee.” By our Last Eid in Africa I was out there hosing down the blood while my husband and the guard and our friends had the Ram strung up on the balcony butchering it and preparing it for our fresh feast.

 Now to some of you this may sound horrible and gruesome but to me what's horrible and gruesome  is when I see mass production meat farms where animals are fed with antibiotics while standing in their own fecal matter and among other dead animals. Another issue that has come up for me is currently living in Vietnam. In this part of the world it is common to use fillers and plumpers in meat, shrimp and even fruit and vegetables. We work to frequent local small time markets and farmers for produce and pay close attention to what we consume. 

I made the conscious decision to only eat meat if I know where it comes from.  The closest thing you can label me is as a vegetarian I suppose, but once I made the transition I quickly discovered that it's really easy to be an unhealthy vegetarian. I have switched my mindset to plant-based. I mean I use plant-based hair care so why not  have a plant based diet. As it turns out Oreos are vegan and cheese is vegetarian, so it stands to reason thar being a vegetarian is not necessarily healthier than being  an Omnivore. I also happen to live with a person who comes from a culture where vegetarian does not compute. It does. not. translate. If my mother-in-law ever were to ever find out I have stopped eating meat, I will never hear the end of it. You must believe that when we go to Morocco, I will be eating meat just like normal. Here’s the thing about Morocco though, I know where the meat comes from because we go to the Souk, and we buy it fresh and we know exactly where it came from cause we can see it there, alive. Then not.
 

My breaking point came on a 13 hour flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong in July 2018. I was starting to get a little bored of watching movies and I came across a documentary about insect protein and how there's a movement in the US to start manufacturing cricket flour as a source of protein. Surprise, surprise the people heading this movement are well aware that most Americans don't like to eat things in their natural form. They like them processed, so they are creating protein bars and pasta to try to get it into the mainstream market for American consumers.

Back in Niger, crickets are a delicacy we fry up those suckers and pop them like popcorn. They are crispy, yummy and a great source of protein. To add a little perspective here, in a country like Niger, meat is a luxury most people can't afford. You don't get the kind of privilege to have a choice whether or not to be a vegetarian or omnivore. Meat is reserved for special occasions or religious holidays. Living in a country where water scarcity is a day to day issue as well as day to day suffient nutrition isn't always a choice, I am aware of my privilege. I also take water scarcity more seriousy and will not get on my soapbox. At least not in this post, but would like you as the reader, to have an idea of the lens in which this is written from.  

 So here I am on the plane, watching this documentary and they're talking about all these things and it's not really a shock to me. It doesn't seem super strange actually, it makes quite a bit of sense to use isnects as a form of protein. Highly efficent. The mainn reason it hasn't taken off aside from the fact that it's going to take some time for Americans to get used to the idea of eating insects, is the cost of mass production. Farminng costs are still really high so they're still trying to figure out a way to mass produce the crickets at a lower cost. Then they started talking about resources in regards to things like the amount of water consumption and carbon footprint that it takes to produce meat on an industrial scale. I just lost it. In that moment I thought to myself, enough is enough 80% of our water consumption is going to farming cows and I just can't take it anymore and I am just done with it all and not eating meat I can't do this it’s done that's it I'm not eating anymore. Right. Who knew. Crickets of all thingns would finally push me over the edge? That was the end of July 2018 and since that flight my day to day existence consists of not consuming meat. I try to limit the amount of animal products in general, but... cheese. 

We recently went for a  two night stay in a five-star Resort in Cam Ranh, Vietnam called The Anam, which is about an hour flight from Saigon. It's beautiful, and if you really want to see it there is an episode of the most recent Bachelor season with Colton where they film there. When we arrived it was midday and raining and we were both hungry. We called for room service. I ordered pumpkin soup and this beautiful beet salad and my husband ordered a waygu beef burger  and we sat down to eat lunch. As I sipped my soup my husband noticed me staring at his burger. Finally, he said, “Honey would you like a bite?” Clearly I wasn’t as subtle as I thought. I hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Holy COW, was that good beef. as we continued eating our lunch, a few minutes later he said, “Would you like another?” and I nodded sheepishly. Later that night can you guess what I had for dinner? Does this make me a hypocrite? You are entitled to your opinion, but the answer is no. I can make choices in my life to do things in moderation. It doesn't have to be black and white it doesn't have to be one thing or the other. I can choose a plant-based lifestyle for my hair and for my body and I can still indulge in high quality meat occasionally. I have had so many people hear me tell them stories like this, and their reply is, “Oh, so you aren’t really a vegetarian.” Sure, label me however you want. I am not willing to define it on the terms defined by a set of “rules.”

 What I'm not okay with is when I go to the grocery store here in Vietnam and buy a chicken breast that is fairly large and plump, take it home to cook it up and watch it shrivel while all of the additives and who knows what else drain out of it. I want to be connected to my food I want to know where it's coming from and if I want to have a fancy Wagyu Burger in a fancy resort you best bet I am going to live my best life. 

I'm making a point here. It's up to me how you choose to make decisions about your own body. I still eat junk food. I have a weakness for cake and goldfish. We were in Kuala Lumpur In January and things were crazy. My husband  was sick and I hadn't had protein in 48 hours. We were in the airport on our way back to Saigon and I felt horrible, and the only thing open was Burger King. Guess who didn’t even hesitate? I will not apologize for giving my body the protein it needed even if it was the last thing I would have chosen if I had a choice. Sometimes you have to be flexible in life, and you have to understand especially when you live abroad, there are exceptions to every rule. Yes it is important to practice what you preach. Yes it is important to stick to your habits. I also believe that everything is okay in moderation (Except Meth) and that we make our value judgements based on our own metrics and that is up to you as an individual to determine for yourself. 

 I've struggled with weight my entire life my weight fluctuates like the sun sets and recently I dropped a few pounds/kilos. I'm feeling pretty good. I did take some before pictures and was tempted to post them. Then I realized something. Why are we always comparing ourselves? Not only should we not be comparing ourselves to each other but why are we comparing ourselves to ourselves. Was my self worth any less when I weighed ten pounds more? Was I any less of a woman or any less beautiful then? I could hop on a treadmill and run 3-5k easy and I still can. I'm a healthy person and there are factors in my life that have contributed to weight gain. if you're under 30, all I have to say is, enjoy it.

 I really think it's time that we stop comparing ourselves. No more before and afters. This is me now let's celebrate it. Not this was me then oh look at her. To me this is a form of shame which is not something we should be bringing onto ourselves. There's plenty of that to go around and the last thing that we need to be doing as women is be shamed with a before-and-after. Instead let's celebrate. Hey check me out today, look at how amazing I feel look and how amazing I am. Look at this this strong woman you see before you today in the present moment. 

I am all about the  plant-based diet (and hair) but when push comes to shove 48 hours without protein at an airport in Malaysia are you going to shame me for that or call me a hypocrite? Who made these rules and why do we feel the need to continue to perpetuate them. I don't know about you friends, but from here on out I'm going to do me. I'm going to wear my high waisted jeans celebrate my curves, eat healthy, exercise, enjoy my amazing plant based protein hair, and celebrate my healthy body that  is fueled by plant based foods, except when Waygu Beef is involved.