I can say No to meat without hesitating.

Growing up on traditional food

Guess what?  I am a vegetarian again.  Haha, most people think I’ve always been one.  Yes, I’ve grown up on an Indian diet which is mostly vegetarian meals.  Meatless Monday at my house was the norm before it was a thing.  We had Meatless Tuesday, Meatless Wednesday, Meatless Thursday and so on.  We usually just ate meat on Saturday and my dad would make a pot of goat curry, ‘wiener daal‘ or ‘egg daal’…lol.  I have a feeling the last two were Canadian inspired creations!  Should I patent them?  Nah!  I used to pick out the meat and get in trouble from my parents.  Old habits, die hard.

Always leaning toward Vegetarianism

I had been a vegetarian for years in my 20’s and 30’s.  A few months ago, I felt a pull in that direction again.  A lot of my friends and family are vegetarian and vegan.  The next step might be veganism.  Who knows?

It’s almost been 5 months since I’ve had meat.  I don’t miss it at all.  Actually, I’ve made a little discovery and it’s helping me stay vegetarian.  Yay me!

Caution ahead.

Let me warn you.  What I’m about to say may sound harsh.  I had nightmares.  Just kidding.  But I’m not going to lie, it did make me gag on bacon.  Hence, I’m a vegetarian now.

Okay, so here’s my big secret.

Drum roll…

I’ve started to call meat by its name at the dinner table!

Meh, what’s the big deal?  I know what I’m eating.

Trust me.  Say it!  Say the animal’s name.

This really works!!!  I call meat exactly what it is.  No pork chops or ham…just straight up pig.  Do you want a pig for dinner?  It sounds so savage!  My first thought is I can’t eat a pig!  Now, that faceless slab of meat has a face.  I see the pig, cow or sheep.  That simple thought, helps me choose a dish I won’t feel guilty about eating later.

Here’s another thought.  Don’t eat it, if you can’t kill it. 

I’m the type of person who wouldn’t even hurt a fly.  My *nuni taught me to take spiders outside instead of flushing them.  

Just imagine…if I had to go to the farm and shoot a cow for my roast beef sandwich,  I couldn’t and wouldn’t do it.

Don’t forget, I’d also have to skin it, behead it, cut it in half, take out the guts, chop it and slice it.  To be honest, I don’t know the first thing about slaughtering animals and I don’t want to learn.

I could never shoot him for a measly roast beef sandwich.  Avocado toast looks pretty damn delicious right about now!

Reconnect to the family farm

How can I love and protect a dog but turn around and kill a cow?  The thought of killing the family pet, Shadow or Turbo, for a meal sounds insane.  Wouldn’t I go to jail for animal cruelty?  What’s the difference between them and other animals?  I have definitely lost touch with the family farm and I grew up in the country side!  These days, the main place I see farm animals is on a plate and that’s a shame.

So, now what?

Am I chopping up and eating one of the cows above or this cute little lamb below?

My choice is neither.

The two powerful questions, I ask myself:

“What farm animal am I actually eating?”

“Can I go out and kill this animal with my own hands?”

If I can’t stomach any of it, I show mercy and think before I eat.

Please like or comment if you gagged on bacon…haha.  My little gift to you.

Namaste.

*nuni – maternal grandma

*Side Note – I am aware most conventional farms do not look like organic family farms.  We bought from organic family farms so that is what I am talking about.