Serena – The Wanna-Be Vegetarian talks with her family
I want to be a vegetarian for many reasons. The main reason though is that I want to eat healthier for my own well being and for the planet. After my “confession” last week, my husband was easy to convince and is on board with being healthy and having less of an impact on the environment. He’s a carnivore and asks whatever I decide to cook be “substantial.” My two kids however, went into the kind of shock that usually occurs when I turn off their favorite TV show, or take away their Nintendo DS.
My seven-year-old, “What’s a vegetarian?”
“Well there are several kinds, there’s lacto-ovo, which means we would still eat eggs and cheese.”
The seven-year-old looks hopeful.
“You can still have French toast in the morning or pancakes,” I say brightly.
“What about bacon mom?” The thirteen-year-old deadpans.
“We’re going to phase out bacon. We’re going to become vegetarians gradually; you’re hardly going to notice. The thirteen-year-old looks at me and rolls his eyes.
* * *
“I’m a level 5 vegan—I don’t eat anything that casts a shadow.” – Character on The Simpsons
People have different ways of expressing their vegetarianism. Here we go:
- Pescatarian – These are people who choose to eat fish only.
- Flexitarian – Eat meat occasionally.
- Lacto-Ovo – Vegetarians who eat eggs and dairy products.
- Vegan – Vegans eat no animal products whatsoever. No eggs, no dairy, no animal products, this includes honey too.
- Raw Vegan – Are vegans who do not eat food heated above 115 degrees.
So we are shooting for a three on this scale, lacto-ovo vegetarian. We’re going to do it gradually and I’ll let you in on out first tastes of tofu and post a recipe for you to try too. Join us!
- Serena
