Texas Caviar
I made it through the 30 days with only one minor glitch (See Southern Courtesy vs Scientific Method). All in all it was not too bad. I believe it was harder on my family than me. When I announced I would resume eating meat on Valentine's Day there was a collective cry of "Thank God!" Now you can cook normally again. Keep in mind that I have been making delish vegetarian meals and that I made no attempt to stop them from eating meat. I live in a house of adults more than capable of making or ordering out their own meat. I am no psychiatrist but I play one as mom. Maybe what we eat as a family becomes a fundamental element of ritual that when eliminated creates a sense of loss. Gathering to eat is only one element of the ritual, sharing a common meal is another. When the family is eating once dish and I eat another, maybe there is a sense that I am rejecting some part of our family. Then again, their reaction may not be that deep. They may simply like meat and like me to cook it--i.e. they are spoiled.
Eating out at non-vegetarian restaurants was limiting. We do seem to be a meat-centric society. Still, I could always find something on the menu, or cobble together enough sides to make a meal. I will say my best meals were made at home. Many of the new recipes will be put in permanent rotation. We have always had at least one or two dinners a week without meat, but we have definitely been a a rut. Now those meals will be more exciting.
From a health perspective, I'd say it is a mixed bag for me. I experienced less bloating and upset stomach. Red meat, particularly if fatty, can upset my stomach but greasy meals in general can be an issue with me. Limiting meat fats really seemed to make a difference.
I did notice fatigue, particularly in the early weeks. I do not eat eggs or tofu so two major sources of protein are eliminated for me. Maybe others who can eat those sources would not feel the fatigue.
Does a vegetarian diet help with weight loss? In my case no. Simply eliminating meat without regard to other considerations (carbohydrate intake for example) not only did not lead to weight loss but weight gain. I believe if I decided to be a vegetarian for weight loss I would have to alter other parts of my diet as well.
A few concluding thoughts. Being a vegetarian can be tough. From eating out to gatherings with friends and family, America is a carnivore culture. If you have vegetarian friends, common courtesy dictates you do not invite them to your home only to have them leave hungry. Try making a few vegetarian dishes for them and I do not mean a store bought veggie tray with ranch dressing. There are so many great vegetarian recipes out there that this small act of kindness will be painless, I promise.
I do believe we have become a little too meat-centric. It is not simply serving meat at a meal but the quantity of meat we eat. Meat alone is not generally considered a well balanced meal. I wonder if our nomenclature is backwards. We think of "sides" as being vegetables and meat the main element of the dish. Perhaps it is time to reverse the definition of sides to meat and make the vegetables the main element.
Will I become a full-time vegetarian. Probably not. I do miss fish and seafood in particular. What I will do is make vegetables a more of a central part of my diet. I must admit to being lazy and relying on old standby recipes and not fully utilizing the incredible bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables available to me. I also realize that I will probably need to significantly limit red meat consumption. My experiment proved my digestive system is sensitive to high meat fat meals. Fortunately I naturally prefer seafood and chicken anyway.
Finally, although I write this blog as if there are great number of people reading it, I realize that I am probably its only regular visitor. Surprisingly, I found that setting a public goal (even if public is more a concept than reality) helps in achieving that goal. Writing is its own form of accountability. There is something about the act of committing an objective to the written word, especially in a public forum, that yields a higher degree of success. At least in my case. I do not know if I would have followed through the 30 days if I did not have some place to come and report progress.
Above is a picture of what we call Texas caviar. My friend Dee introduced me to her version years ago and I have loved it ever since. Not only is it wonderfully colorful, it is delicious and versatile. I like it alone, but it can be served with tortilla chips like pico de gallo. Mix it with your favorite greens for tasty salad. Serve it as a main dish with a side of chicken or fish. So many possibilities. This is also a dish that can be altered to suit your taste or availability of produce. This is my usual combination:
Ingredients
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