Contradictory Beliefs and Actions: My Omnivore Dilemma
I’m an omnivore but I don’t eat a lot of meat for many reasons.
I don’t read anything about the meat industry because I don’t want to know. It’s wrong to me that I eat meat without being aware of how it gets to the market case but I still do it. Basically my beliefs and actions are in direct conflict with each other.
Being realistic — Despite my beliefs my actions will most likely not change. I know myself and if I completely restrict something I’ll go crazy (I don’t know if you knew this buuuut I like a healthy balance instead of restriction) but I recently opened up to the middle of a book in borders about healthy eating and didn’t realize I would accidentally read about how chicken gets to the package in my freezer (don’t worry, I won’t write about it here). I put it down before the explanation was finished, once my brain processed what it was reading, but I haven’t wanted to eat meat since. I didn’t even read the whole thing but what I read enough to know what I didn’t want to know.
Not wanting to eat meat is not a problem. Making vegetarian and vegan meals is easy and I’d honestly prefer not to want meat. I doubt this will go on forever (filet mignon is something my taste buds will never not want) but I’ve decided some things for myself and they are lifestyle goals I will “strive for” not “absolutely have to do”. I live better in a flexible gray area than a black and white one 
.
Here goes:
- In general, I will strive to eat less meat than I already do.
- I will eat protein replacements for meat when I’m reasonably able to do so.
- Last night, for example, the girl I was working with wanted me to make her chili with turkey and beef so I made mine separately with extra beans for protein and no meat.
- If I do want meat, I will strive to eat meat from farms/places I trust to be as humane (and environmentally conscious) as possible (I say as possible because is killing something ever humane?).
With that said, here’s some of what I’ve been eating!
Top left and bottom right: Fried polenta with tomato sauce, parmesan cheese, and sautéed vegetables; Bottom left: Lots of ice cream (one of my foster kiddos had the Spongebob one and I thought it was cute); Top right: Pine nut hummus and cucumbers.
In case you’re interested, I get most of my veggie protein through:
- Beans (and hummus)
- Dairy (cheese, yogurt, etc.)
- Soy products (soy milk, tofu, tempeh)
- Nuts
- Nut and seed products (like almond or sunflower seed butter)
- Pre-made veggie protein products from brands like Lightlife.
In addition to voraciously reading “Catching Fire” whenever I can (Finished “The Hunger Games” and loved it), I’ve been working on the huge stack of materials on CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) that I need to read for my internship at an outpatient and a partial hospitalization program. It looks daunting but I love (and believe in the effectiveness of) the material so I’m actually really enjoying it! I don’t regret my decision to get my MSW (Master of Social Work) but I miss my psychology days in undergrad. These readings (and the internship) should feed that hunger!
Yes, I’m wearing snowflake socks. Yes, it’s only August and I want to be snowboarding sooooo badly! But I’m excited for pumpkins and apples and fall (AND PUMPKIN ALE), too, so I won’t get too ahead of myself 
HAVE A SPARKLING HUMP DAY!
Are you an omnivore? Vegetarian? Vegan? Something else? Why do you lead/did you choose that type of foodie lifestyle?
If you’re interested in other omnivore’s thoughts on eating more or less meat check out the comments to a plant-based post here.
loved this post! i’m very similar to you on this topic.
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean
August 17, 2011
Adored your food collage! I’m an organic eating omnivore, who tries not to eat red meat very often too! But like yourself I know there’s a filet in my future!
Joyce Cherrier
August 17, 2011
Cool, thanks for stopping by!
Alixandra (Healthy Balance, Healthy Life)
August 18, 2011
and who doesn’t love a good filet mignon once in a while!
Hannah Hawley
August 18, 2011
Here is a good video on meat: http://carnism.com
larry
August 18, 2011
Thanks! I’ve thought about why I’m okay with eating a cow and not a dog, how it’s culturally conditioned, before. I had to turn the video off after a minute when they started showing slaughtering, though. I hate when that’s included in videos because if I’m motivated to watch a video like that, I obviously think there is something off about eating meat to begin with. That type of footage only deters me from watching the entire video, which is unfortunate because I wanted to.
Alixandra (Healthy Balance, Healthy Life)
August 18, 2011
If I ever come across a video that doesn’t include the slaughtering imagery, I will send you the link!
Hannah Hawley
August 18, 2011
I am an omnivore. I can’t not eat meat. I tried.
I had a longer comment, but it got so long I decided it deserved to be its own post on my blog!
http://www.sirenical.com/2011/08/my-active-decision-to-remain-omnivore.html
Hannah Hawley
August 18, 2011
I guess I consider myself an omnivore. I do eat meat, but I also try to eat meatless many times a week. And when I DO eat meat, I buy ethically raised poultry and such.
Leashieloo
August 19, 2011
[...] Note: I had chicken for the first time in over two weeks last night! It was organic, humane certified, and I knew where it came from, too. [...]
» Say “No” to Say “Yes”: How Setting Boundaries Can Ultimately Give You More Freedom Healthy Balance, Healthy Life
August 28, 2011