Men and their meat

There are few things outside of my family that I am passionate about. One of the things I feel very strongly about is my vegetarianism. I've been a vegetarian for over a year. At first, I would still cook meat for the rest of the family. That didn't last long. While I will buy meat, I won't cook it. Sometimes I plan meals where Jack and cook and throw meat in it. Sometimes I don't. I'm very contentious about making a well balanced meal even without the meat. Since I'm usually the one that cooks, I have to make sure that Will and Kelsey are getting the protein and other nutrients they need. It's surprisingly easy...if I'm not lazy about it.

Over the last six months or so, I've toyed with the idea of becoming vegan. I really don't think I'd be able to do that b/c it's that much harder to plan meals, go out to restaurants, and buy food. I buy almost all organic dairy products. We add the word "happy" in front of all our dairy products b/c I buy cage free, vegetarian fed, "happy animal" products. It can be more expensive, but as it's something I feel strongly about, that is not an issue for me.

I have never, ever tried to get any of my family to go vegetarian. Ever. I've never asked Jack to stop eating meat. I've never told Will or Kelsey that they're not having more meat. Not only would I have a revolt, but it's a personal choice and I'm not going to force it on anyone. So the fact that Jack and I got in a heated discussion in the organic section at the grocery store last night, boggles the mind.

While some people think that cutting out meat will make you lose a ton of weight, that's incorrect. Not eating meat means that you will probably eat more cheese, pasta, etc. I try to limit my intake of those things, but it is difficult. At the store last night, I got some dairy-free cream "cheese" and mentioned that I'd like to go vegan in some things. For both health reasons and personal beliefs. I swear to God, you would have thought that I told Jack that he was never having another steak in his life. I still get steamed when I think about it. I have never asked him to go vegetarian, yet he basically tells me that he accepts my food weirdness, but there is no way in hell he's going vegan. Excuse me. Have I ever asked you at any time to give up meat? No, I haven't.

I was also told that I'm going over the top w/ not wanting to use animal-tested products. Hello? If I start donating money to PETA and making our kids watch the videos posted on their site, I would give him permission to tell me that I'm over the top. Hello, one of my best friends does testing on animals to cure diseases. You'll never see me boycotting in front of her building.

After that, I tried to get him to buy some steaks for himself and the kids and he wouldn't. Hey, I tried.