Eating grass and cooking beef
I was 8 years old when I stopped eating meat. It was a quick decision on that day and I remember it like it was yesterday. It definitely took some convincing before my family realized I was not giving in. It also took a lot of navigating as I grew up being a vegetarian before being a vegetarian was not only cool but even remotely convenient. There was no Impossible meats in existence when I was a teenager. When my friends went to Long John Silver for lunch, I ate a piece of corn on the cob, which inevitably, tasted like fish also.
When I married my husband, it was pretty clear he was not only a meat eater, but a lover of all meats. In fact, he ate animals that I didn’t even know people ate. It’s still gross to me, but I’ve adjusted. Sort of. A little.
Being Italian, I cannot….NOT….cook for people. I have to cook for people. I have to feed them. Cooking and feeding people bring me all the joy. At the top of that list are my husband and my kids. The way to my husband’s heart is definitely a road that passes through his stomach. You can use the freeway if you happen to be serving meat. Bonus points for steak.
Clearly, that started out a real problem. I don’t necessarily mind cooking meat. In some cases, it doesn’t bother me at all. Cooking it with any confidence that it tastes good, however, is difficult when you haven’t tasted meat in over 30 years. I surely cannot be the only vegetarian out here guessing what’s happening in the skillet and with no real way to tell if your food is good or your family is just kind.
I’ve found my rhythm in what I use for what type of meats and how I like to cook them. Growing fresh herbs and being able to hold on to that goal of simple living and simple cooking has really made all of the difference for me, as well. When I make chicken, I don’t focus on the chicken. I focus on what I’m putting on it, under it, or around it. The chicken is my vehicle. I can taste the sauce, the salad, the rice, the bread and toppings or whatever and get a taste profile that I know will likely translate well on chicken also. Then, I ask for honest reviews. My family is good about telling me what things need or don’t need.
I’ve also found that cooking one things, two ways, has made having a combined household much easier. When I make tacos, for example, I make hamburger for my family and use my homemade taco seasoning without all the junk in it. I use the same seasoning combo on black beans that I use on mine. I can taste those and see if it needs more or less of something and, in theory, it translates over to my family’s hamburger. I do the same with tofu for chicken and usually mushrooms for steak. We do not have to live as a house divided and I’m just really thankful that I can continue to easily live as a vegetarian with vegan dreams and not have to sacrifice or starve because my family does not prefer to “graze” as they often jokingly add.
As I’ve said before, I do think there is a lot of cross over with cooking and I’ve found that the delivery options for plant-based food is the easiest way for me to get the items I need to make that possibly. Local groceries aren’t rich in plant-based options in my area but having the option to have groceries delivered gives me that ability to plan two meals sharing almost all ingredients, except the main portion, meat/plant. My favorite option for meal delivery is Misfit Market and I’ve shared more information on them in “Why Vegan….” blog post prior to this one.
In my house, it has also been very important for us to identify where we really need to make that sacrifice. We live in a society that often makes it seem as though we have to have a meat with our meals. Spaghetti, for example, does not have to have meat to be delicious. In fact, my meat-eating family prefers that I make it without any meat for both me and them. I don’t use plant-based meat. I don’t use hamburger. We all like pasta, a good sauce, and fresh herbs. Don’t allow yourself to fall into that trick that you cannot be healthy or your food cannot be good without having some meat element. Sometimes, simple is better, and simple doesn’t always mean meat. Of course, as usual, you need to make sure you are getting what you need from your diet on a consistent basis and your doctor or dietician can help you work that out. Mindset and understanding options is key to being a non-meat eater in a meat-eating household. If you have to divide the house, do it over something worthwhile, like Cubs vs. Cards, don’t do it over meat.
