Being vegetarian doesn't mean just eating vegetables

I am tired of keeping quiet on this subject.  Many years ago, more than 30 years now, I noticed that I was exercising, eating well, drinking coffee, sodas and, as I worked out hard, could pretty much eat what ever I wanted to eat and still look ok.  Meaning my body weight and how my clothes fit stayed the same.  But, I did not feel well.  I had chronic indigestion, painful periods and felt exhausted all the time.  I was moody and reactive and believed that there must be a better way to feel and live.  I began to explore and read. I worked in a fitness club and my manager, Chafik, was insightful and had great resources. He frequently sent me to the health food store to solve common problems and it was through Chafik and the health food store owner that I learned about cleansing, fasting, enemas and the toxic effects of eating meat.

I read "Be Here, Be Now " by Ram Das at an early age and was profoundly moved by what he shared.  My life turned a corner and every decision that I made from that time forward was influenced by the philosophy and words of great wisdom encapsulated in this auto-biography.  Ram Das'  journey from unconscious druggie to awakened spiritual aspirant would prove to change my life in many ways, but first, I was introduced to the concept that I was eating meat that was full of adrenaline. I figured I had enough adrenaline to fill a football field, and had the conscious thought that maybe I would feel less angry if I ate less meat.

If anyone can relate to feeling angry out of proportion to the situation, that was me and over a period of several months this proved to help.  The less meat that I ate, the better I felt. This decision to eat less meat, led me to discover the benefits of a plant based diet and how that way of eating could effect the environment.  In the beginning my reasons were self-centred and over time, became more about the environment and the violence to the animals, fish and foul of our planet.

There are 4 main reasons to explore vegetarianism.  Our health: physical; mental; spiritual; and emotional health can be affected by the consumption of meat and meat products.  This is no longer conjecture.  The research is in and the results support leading life with less meat.  The second reason, animal cruelty, there is no good way to kill an animal.  All beings want to live.  Don't you?

The third reason would be the food supply issues.  We are decimating our rain forests for cattle production.  It takes 75lbs of corn and about 2,500 gallons of water to produce 1lb. of beef. This does not have sustainability.  Which leads to the 4th reason, which is the sustainability of our planet.

There are easy ways to get started. Try meatless Mondays or another day of the week. Have a chat with your family if you live with others and try to get everyone on board - makes it easier to make the commitment. Then for one day a week eat a plant based diet. Or commit to one meal a day being plant based. Try not to get overwhelmed - you don’t have to become a vegan or a vegetarian to make a lasting difference for you body, your community, your planet and all of the beings on it.

Wild Soulful Food - Spicy Cabbage Recipe

Introduction

33 years a vegetarian and recently turned vegan...look out.  We are coming out with our sprializers blazing and we are not holding back any punches in this tell it like it is, face the truth and get the flip over our fears and human-up to the challenge of saving this beautiful planet of ours one meal at a time.

Return to your deepest knowing, instinctual self and make conscious choices about food.  We choose what we are made of every day in every bit and sip we put in our mouths.  Let's practice waking up and getting real together. Sanga creates the strength when we are weak, pulls us up when we fall and has our back when we feel alone.

One meal, one day, one week, one month, one year, one life ....no matter what your commitment to change it WILL make a difference.

The first recipe that I want to share with you was inspired by my friend and colleague Adrienne McDonald from food2florish.  She said the words carrot hotdog and my mind went AWOL.  I searched for recipes and found a new world that would transform my experience of the traditional summer treat.  The soy based veggie hotdogs had never really thrilled me and were a poor substitute for the tasty treat of my pre-vegetarian childhood.

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Spicy Cabbage

On my mind today, taste buds and food stories.  What was the worst thing that anyone ever sat you in front of and made you eat? Think about it ... take a minute ... and really think about it.  The first time, as an adult, that someone asked me this question my mind flashed back to a harrowing day spent in front of a cabbage role.  My mother, who was not the best cook I have ever know ( a kind way of saying that she could turn any vegetable into an undistinguishable mush), insisted that I eat the cabbage roll dinner she prepared.

Many hours later, I choked that thing down and threw up.  It would be may last cabbage roll for about 3 decades. Fast forward to Korean high school students living with us and my explorations in finding foods that matter to them and fit into our vegetarian lifestyle.  The Korean students kept asking for kimchi and I experimented with cabbage.  I don't think that I ever came close to making kimchi but I did find a couple of fantastic cabbage recipes that I still use to this day,  Tonight I made a dish I like to call Spicky Cabbage .

For the simplest version of this dish ....

• 2 tbl spoons of good oil (I prefer sesame for this recipe)

• 1/4 cup of vegetable broth or water

• 1 head of cabbage

• 1 Jar of your favourite salsa/hot sauce

In a large wok place the oil, broth and salsa, chop the Cabbage and put in the pot as well.  Cover and bring liquids to a boil, reduce the heat and keep the lid on until the cabbage is soften, Stir and cook to desired texture. I like my cabbage a little firmer.