A plant-based Thanksgiving
Back in August Raf and I decided that we would become pescatarians. We talked about it and both felt that we wanted to eat less animal products. I subsequently watched a documentary called Earthlings and afterwards I didn’t even want to eat fish anymore and felt that I would like to stop eating eggs and dairy at some point in the distant future as well. Right around this time I also read a Baha’i compilation about the proper diet for human beings, which I saw with a fresh perspective and really resonated with me. A few days later, upon hearing about our new diets, a friend recommended that we watch the documentary: Forks Over Knives. After putting the tiny boy to bed we sat down and watched it and very quickly I knew that I wouldn’t be giving up eggs and dairy in some far off future but that it would happen immediately. As soon as the credits rolled I got up and cleared out our refrigerator and cupboards of anything that contained eggs or dairy and that was it. We made the switch. Basically in the span of one week we went from eating everything to only eating plant based foods.
I must say that this has been such an easy transition. Almost immediately Raf and I both started commenting about how good we were feeling: more awake, more energized, happier, healthier, lighter on our feet, more focused, and the list goes on. It was amazing. I kept wondering if it was all just in my head, I kept waiting for the food cravings, the withdrawal, the temptation. I’m still waiting.
Our decision was primarily motivated by our son. We wanted to raise him to be free of the addiction to animal products that we ourselves faced. Our second motivators were health and the Baha’i Writings on the subject (which I view as two sides of the same coin). We wanted Asher to be healthy and we wanted to be healthy for him and we wanted to eat the foods that our bodies were designed to. Additionally, I’ve always been a lover of animals and I feel that I am now living a more cohesive lifestyle and I want that for Asher as well.
So really, it all comes back to Asher. I tried several times to become a vegetarian before becoming a parent and none of those attempts made it past a month and were pure torture because I didn’t have the right motivations. I wasn’t doing it for the right reasons. For us, these reasons are the right reasons. I call them the trifecta, and they allow me to feel completely confident that this is a permanent change. And that’s coming from a meat lover. Ask anyone. I love meat and I adore cheese. In fact before this change I would tell people that I could live on tuna sashimi for the rest of my life. It was my favorite food. Extra sharp white cheddar was a close second. But believe me when I tell you, I’m not looking back.
I’m cooking a lot more and I’m using so many exciting ingredients that our food actually tastes so much better than it did before. Sure, eating out requires a bit more thought and eating at someone else’s house gives me a bit of anxiety. I don’t want people to have to plan special menus for us, but I also worry if I don’t tell them, they’ll feel bad that they didn’t know ahead of time. So I’m still learning to navigate that aspect, but other than that, it’s been a breeze.
We avoid calling ourselves vegans for two reasons, first, we just don’t identify with the alienating stance that many hardcore vegans take and second by definition, we aren’t vegan.
The definition of vegan: is a person who does not eat or use animal products. Well you see, we still use animal products, leather, wool, etc, we just don’t eat them. Oh and we do still eat honey, so again, not vegan.
It’s nuts how this diet has elicited a range of reactions in other people. We’ve had people who are genuinely heart broken by this decision as though our choice to no longer eat animal products means that they have lost us, that we aren’t the same friends they had before. Some people take it really personally, as if we’re passing judgement on their decisions or that we think we’re better than them. Still others think we’re just crazy, while some thinks it’s a hoot to find ways to insert meat consumption into any conversation. But we’ve also gotten a lot of support, for which we are really grateful.
This is what works for us and I believe it is the diet for the future. Do I recommend that other people give it a try? Absolutely! But at the same time I respect that this is a choice that everyone has to make for themselves and I do not impose my beliefs or lifestyle on anyone. I am not offended by the sight or smell of meat, it doesn’t bother me when other people eat it around me and I certainly don’t want anyone feeling put upon by this choice that we’ve made.
I love this change as well. I’m still far from cutting out meat completely, but I’m finding I crave it far less frequently, and I’m much more intrigued by vegetarian options. Getting the hubs on board is an entirely other issue, as I have a hard time getting him to but back even in just red meat! Thinking this documentary may help steer him in that direction tho. 🙂
Oh yeah, also, would love some recipe website recommendations!
I don’t really use one recipe website, but Pinterest has become my go to source for recipes. You can check out my pinterest page: http://www.pinterest.com/laurenanvari/yums/
Also Thug Kitchen has some great recipes, if you don’t mind the language: http://thugkitchen.com/
This recipe is divine! I like to put it over a bed of garlic sauteed spinach: http://www.rickiheller.com/2009/12/warm-butternut-salad-with-chickpeas-and-tahini-dressing/
Let me know how he responds to the documentary. If my Persian husband can do it, so can yours!
Thanks Lauren! I will def try those out! I just plant-ed the idea in his head (pun intended), and after trying out a quinoa/chickpea/carrot mix he wasn’t completely against it! I think it will have to be a very gradual transition for him, starting with much less red meat, but we will get there eventually! I will keep you posted on his relation to the documentary!
Xoxo!
As Lauren’s uncle, who is so incredibly grateful to have been informed of the documentary FORKS OVER KNIVES by her, I must say that the transition was indeed surprisingly easy. I just completed day six of a plant-based diet and I am never looking back. Although I felt great before adopting this change in diet, I feel even better now (already!) and I am heartened (in more ways than one, since I am the survivor of two heart attacks) to know that with the passage of every meal, I am assuring tremendous health benefits. I used to think that my freakish commitment to exercise was enough to keep me going in the battle against coronary artery disease, but now i know the truth about the perils, under my circumstances, of eating anything I want. Two side benefits, also, include a deeper appreciation for the value of delayed gratification, and development of the will to think of food in its proper light: something much more than simply a source of pleasure.
Hi Lauren, it is great to hear about your motivations. I’ve been on a plant-based diet for almost 2 years now and van identify with much of what you said though I’m not a mom. I was wondering what you think about oil? The plant-based doctors think it is inflammatory and so bad for our health but the Baha’i writings include oils as one of the natural foods so I’m conflicted on this subject.
Hi Lauren, it is great to hear about your motivations. I’ve been on a plant-based diet for almost 2 years now and can identify with much of what you said, though I’m not a mom. I was wondering what you think about oil? The plant-based doctors think it is inflammatory and so bad for our health but the Baha’i writings include oils as one of the natural foods so I’m conflicted on this subject.
Hi Cat!
I’m so glad you liked you the post! We definitely eat oil, and since the Baha’i writings mention it as one the foods that are good for humans to eat, I feel validated in our decision to do so. The way I see it is, the science on healthy diets is just now starting to understand what Abdul’Baha spoke about years ago, so I trust the Writings. I try to stay away from vegetable oils like canola or corn etc. But we eat olive oil, sesame oil and coconut oil primarily. I think as with everything moderation is key.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you’d like to talk more on the subject.
Warmly,
Lauren
Thanks for the reply! I’m sure we are meant to eat oil since it is mentioned in the Writings, but there is probably some truth to the inflammation research, for example I would rather eat raw olive oil in hummus, than food fried in loads of sunflower oil. It’s hard to know where to draw the line but I guess we won’t know for sure until a lot more research is done. I’m really not sure about coconut oil for example, as some say it has nutrients, and others say that that is a marketing myth and it is 100% saturated fat and therefore not at all good for you. It’s so great to see other Bahá’ís getting into a plant-based diet; most of my community is kebab-centric and attending any feast or holy day comes with a minefield of temptations!