I am so proud...
I am glad to see so many of you had wonderful a wonderful holiday. My family came to visit us under the strict promise that I wouldn't serve them Tofurky... Since hubby is a carnivore, I thought he would love that since the only meat he normally gets is when he eats out (without me... LOL I give him "the look" if I am with him).
So Thanksgiving comes, I make the turkey for everyone and serve myself a big plate of sweet potatoes, stuffing, and mashed potatoes (Lord almighty that looks healthy LOL)... but not without complaint. I spent all morning complaining about the menu and how I would have been happy with roasted squash & veggies, pumpkin pie, and HEALTHY alternatives.
My family stayed for 3 days, and the morning they left he was sitting on the couch watching tv as I made breakfast. Out of the blue he asks what is for dinner, so I told him that he had some turkey to finish up (If the animal had to die there is NO WAY I am letting it go to waste!!!), so he gets this weird look on his face and he says... I am going Vegetarian, don't bring more meat into the house.
I about stabbed myself in the hand with the knife I was cutting onions with! I was so surprised all I could say was "WHY?"
He said that time of eating meat he felt like crap, his mind was sluggish, and he just didn't realize how much better the vegetarian diet made him feel (I TRIED TO TELL HIM!!!) Later, he went online and actually started reading about the hormones in milk and beef and while I am ovolacto, I generally do not drink milk and only get eggs from free-roaming hens (From local farmers if I can... my father is an organic farmer so I try to do anything I can to support local farmers and avoid factory farms), but he is not quite ready for soy or rice milk and spent at least 10 minutes reading milk labels and asking me about hormones and the difference in regular and organic milk.
I am so proud. After all this time of complaining about me going vegetarian, he is finally starting to get used to it and embrace it.
Sorry!! I just had to brag. Only one of my friends and NONE of my family are vegetarian, and if I told them this... they would probably think he was insane and the next time we visit they would be grilling meat like mad to change his mind. (OT: That is another thing... why are carnivores so offended by the fact that we don't eat meat??? I have never figured that out!!!) So I am braggin' to you guys!!! LOL
Congratulations for setting a great example for him to follow, and for feeding him so well that he could tell the difference between his everyday good health and his post-splurge slump! I'm happy for him. It's great that he's made this decision! And I'm also so glad for you-- I'm sure it will feel joyous to cook for both of you knowing, for sure, that he is not pining for anything else to eat!
(If the animal had to die there is NO WAY I am letting it go to waste!!!)
I am 100% behind this philosophy-- good for you! :)
Me neither, although I've encountered several reasons...
1) the choice to avoid meat is a moral judgment of a practice. People engaging in that practice might feel that they have been judged and found wanting.
2) people feel that they ought to be vegetarian (for whatever reason) and are guilty that they haven't taken the jump.
3) people have developed prejudices against vegetarians as a result of radical "feel bad" campaigning by some anti-cruelty organizations, and are allowing their grudge to spread.
4) people who grew up on farms or ranches can feel like vegetarians are trying to steal their very livelihood--the bread and butter that supports them/their families/their ancestors!
5) religious convictions that support the consumption of meat (e.g. my dad's belief that since Adam was given stewardship over the earth and its animals, he is SUPPOSED to eat meat-- also, Jesus evidently endorses meat ::) ) or a belief that vegetarianism (always) stems from religious convictions one does not share (buddhism, Krisnaism, Jainism, etc.) This one is particularly upsetting to my fundie family members, I've found.
Anyway, back on topic-- excellent, and what a happy holiday that made for you. I bet the upcoming winter holidays will be a delight for both of you-- healthy food, and good cheer!
that's so wonderful!! thanks for sharing! :) it gives me hope that my hubby will eventually come around, too!!
That is so awesome that you helped inspire someone to be vegetarian!!
Kudos to you! :)
Tell your DH I found this same thing after I returned to Vegetaria (I posted about it somewhere here, I think it was called "Confession is good for the soul"). I ate "broasted" chicken from a shop and the next day I felt like I had all kinds of a baaaaad hangover. Headache, stupid (tryptophane OD from the poultry??) and almost nauseous.
Duckalucky, take it from a regular, avid Bible-reader, no where in the Scriptures does Jesus endorse meat-eating as such. He takes a stand on any kind of excess, but nowhere does it say "thou shalt eat meat." Paul is one who says, if you're a meat-eater and you are dining with someone who avoids meat, then don't eat it so you don't scandalise them or make them go back on their principles.
We are doing progress here too, my DH has fallen for Tofu Gan (smoked, pressed tofu). I was making one of my stirfry suppers and he said, "That stuff would be good with pasta sauce, I think." Hmmmm. the day he goes veggie I WILL sing Hallelujah!
Tell your DH, Well done!
I know, yabbitgirl-- but my dad has developed his own opinion about that, hehe. ;)
Again, very inspiring, Krochetnkat! Yay!
My BF recently voluntarily paid to add sauteed tofu to his buttered noodles at the cafe we went to the other day. I was so proud of him. He had tried a chunk of mine after I ordered takeout from my "scary vegan place," and he said it was "actually kinda good." So he mentioned as we were waiting in line at the cafe, "Ya know, I kinda wanna try tofu again." And before I even got a chance to prod him to do so, he did! Not only did he eat it all, he added "This is good... this is REALLY good." Keep in mind, that I think he'll learn to love tofu before he touches a single vegetable... tofu is much less frightening than anything green. Anyway, I think he's just trying to resign himself to my cooking; he wants to marry me. :P (*shy grin*) At any rate, he's still mostly carnivorous. But it's a step.
Way to go! That is a wonderful story and it gives me hope. If I could only get my husband to go veggie. I have curved a few things and he always trys my vegan food but he is a meet and potatoes man if I have ever seen one, sigh, whats a vegan wife to do. I will keep at it though and little change is always good. Congratulations, 2007 will be the best health year for him yet!
Thanks all :) and to those who are going through the same thing... don't give up. :D He wont call himself vegetarian just yet, and I am sure he is gonna slip for a while yet, but it is a good first step. :D And, almost every recipe I have been trying recently is off this group... so it is YOU ALL that are the good cooks. I am just your student!
I will say tho, it was hard getting him used to tofu. I started, ignorantly, trying to use it as meat (Dumb dumb dumb) and almost turned us both away from it. Not marinated, not prepared right LOL Thank goodness I bought a huge block of it and refused to let THAT go to waste LOL
The one thing that my husband really seems to enjoy is Tofu Spaghetti. He agrees that replacing the meat with tofu really enhances the taste of the sauce (and I generally prepare the sauce... or at least throw the tofu in... the night b4 so that it is nice and seasoned :)
Thanks again, all, for sharing in my happiness!!!