Some things, though, are not as accepted in the bubble. This weekend I decided to give up meat. There are a few reasons for this.
- I'm not very good at eating consistently. The extra effort it will take to put protein in my body should keep me more aware of the fact that I need to put calories in there three times a day.
- Meat is expensive. Produce and grains are cheap.
- A new way of reading the Word of Wisdom. I'm not aware of any famine, and though it is cold out, I still have heating and will not freeze to death.
But the most interesting part will be the social response. I've told a few friends and family. A few are supportive, but to others I might as well be a communist. I've also found an ally in one of my ward members who's been vegetarian for a while and offered to teach me some recipes. What I want to know is WHY vegetarianism is so looked down on in the bubble. I understand a distaste for those who do it for animal rights reasons, but all vegetarians seem to get the same bad rap. But hey, it really doesn't make you a terrible person! (If that was the case, Upland would need a new stake president. So there.)
I haven't had eaten meat in 4 days and I'll let you know how this works out.
PS. It really is just a coincidence that Lent starts tomorrow.
I think it gets a bad rap because pretty soon you'll be wearing hemp shoes that you made yourself, complaining about non organic fibers in clothings and not using deodorant.
ReplyDeleteOh wait, that was my experience with a vegan roommate.
But I think it illustrates part of the problem vegetarian is such a vague word. What do you not eat? Just animal meat? What about animal products? Do you wear animals? Are you a card carrying member of PETA?
Vegetarianism - not for me - I LOVE a juicy steak - but I honestly think it's looked down on in the bubble because it's like, Oh crap. What if she's right. What if we aren't supposed to eat meat?
By the way, I had a religion teacher explain that part of the Word of Wisdom away saying it was a health code before refrigeration and the only time you could keep meat cold was in the winter and if you were starving you'd eat almost anything and since the brethren have not mention it since (unlike other aspects of the word of wisdom) we need not worry about it so much. So, I'm going with that.
I do doubt that the Lord meant white rice and bleached flour for grains since that stuff is so bad for you.
In thinking about it more, I'm practically vegetarian. Well, not really, I eat eggs and steak but I dislike all animals of the sea, most chicken and pig products, and hamburger that isn't drained of ALL fat. Maybe I'm just super super picky?
And another important part of the word of wisdom - early to bed and early to rise. That's something I really need to work on. I am biologically a nightowl so I struggle with that as well.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't drink pepsi or coke. Or any soda for that matter... hmmmmm that must be some sort of teetotaler?
I think that eating meat is now such a big part of our culture that some people find it shocking that anyone would want to give it up. I'm OK with vegetarians, I just don't want to be one.
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