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Tuesday, January 14, 2020

I've Always Loved Plants

I was always a veggie eater as a kid. Even as I became a grown-up I have eaten my vegetables before anything else. Garden salad? First. Steamed broccoli? Devoured. Sliced cukes and cold veggies? Yes, please. I don't think it was because anyone forced me to eat them but I did always have access to fruits and vegetables which I'm sure helped.

I'll never forget when I was in kindergarten, on my sixth birthday, my mom visited my classroom (as she often did) and brought in a special treat for my class on my birthday. There was a cake with ice cream for my classmates, and a platter with spinach dip, crackers, and veggies--for me as requested. I don't think I realized until that moment, that not everyone's favorite snack was spinach dip with crackers and veggies.

As an adult, I have floundered back and forth between being a vegetarian, vegan, and eater of all things. More than a few years ago my whole family went vegan for over a year. Then slowly the kids and my husband wandered back to being eaters of all things and I felt like a short-order cook making food for myself and them as well. I caved.

However, in January of 2019, I decided to try going vegan again, just me. My family could join me if they wanted but I was going to figure out a way to balance being a vegan while feeding my family meals they could get behind. It's been a year now. I can't call my self a true vegan as I do have eggs occasionally and once in a great while seafood, but otherwise 98% of my meals are fully vegan. I feel like I've conquered the balance too! Not to mention, my family likes some of my vegan meals and many of them can easily be served up with a side of baked chicken or protein of their liking.

Tonight I've got quinoa and rice in the rice maker. Asparagus, mushroom, and cauliflower are roasting in the oven with a little olive oil and garlic salt. I made some chicken over the weekend to slice up for the meat-eaters and we will have some rice bowls topped with chia seeds, a drizzle of olive oil, and sliced avocado. It is one of my favorite weeknight meals.


*Two of my favorite websites for recipes are This Savory Vegan and Pinch of Yum (not all vegan).

6 comments:

  1. My son came home for college last year a vegetarian for the environment - he is now close to vegan. I struggle with cooking - thank you for the ideas and resources. I am now vegetarian about 5 days a week.

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  2. Betsy, Great compromises so that you aren't a "short order cook" for sure. It's another area for balance - trying out new ideas with the comfort foods we know and love!

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  3. I screenshot your dinner menu because it sounds so scrumptious. My husband is a meat eater. Big time. I often eat very little meat. I can’t see myself never eating meat, but I do want to eat as little of it as possible, mainly because not eating meat is the single most important step each person can take to help the environment.

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  4. The part about your mom bringing you a crudité platter for your birthday (and ice cream cake for everyone else) made me chuckle. First of all, what a way to respect the birthday girl’s wishes. Second, that’s such a great story!

    I’ve tried Meatless Mondays. I’ve refrained from meat for a few days. I can handle those, but I don’t think I’d be able to hack a vegan lifestyle daily. I love my dairy too much!

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  5. What I like most about this post is your flexibility of eating styles through the years. I am a veggie lover, too, but bacon always calls my name. :-) Your vegetarian dishes sound absolutely delicious!

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  6. My childhood was the complete opposite. Many a night did I push those veggies around my plate in a standoff. Now I can't get enough!

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Thanks for the comment love!