Wednesday night I stayed up to watch my girl Oprah. I have to get in as much O before she leaves me in 2011.
She was doing a show called Food 101 in which she talked about what America is really eating these days. They discussed how horrible the animals are treated (some chickens NEVER see any light. Ever. In their whole little lives!) and how chickens, cows and pigs are raised in the US with so many antibiotics pumped into them they are in turn being pumped into us.
“A prime example of this is chicken—an animal Michael (Pollan) says has been re-engineered through breeding and diet to produce the breast meat consumers want. Compared to 50 years ago, chickens are now raised and slaughtered in half the time and grow twice as big.”
None of this is a secret to people like my brother and sister-in-law who have been vegans for years. And I know I’ve heard this information myself before but the reminder last night really woke me up.
After Michael Pollan (a food expert featured in Food, Inc. and the author of “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual”) Oprah had Alicia Silverstone talk about her vegan diet. Don’t worry Mom and Dad, I’m not going vegan but just listening to Alicia got me thinking. She explained that after going vegan…
“she sleeps like a baby, doesn’t worry about her weight and has tons of energy. ‘I used to have all those white marks on my nails and they were very brittle, and now they’re so strong I cannot bend them,’ she says. ‘My eyes got really white, and I feel like I look less puffy.’
Strong nails and a less puffy face without having to take a magic pill? SIGN ME UP! I can’t possibly go vegan as I need milk, cheese and yogurt like Heidi Montag needs plastic surgery, but I am going to give up the meat. For 30 days. And see how I feel.
Before I had Ben, I was a strict vegetarian for seven years. No fish, chicken, or even chicken stock crossed my lips. However, the minute Ben was more than just a twinkle in my eye, the caveman was ignited and I was dying for meat.
I was out to lunch with a friend to tell her I was pregnant when the waiter came up I said to my friend “I’m pregnant.” and to the waiter, “I’ll have the chicken tenders.” She was more surprised that I ordered chicken than the fact that I was pregnant. And single.
Therefore dear Internet, today begins my Vegetarian Journey, which lucky for you, you’ll be along for the ride. If after 30 days I feel no different then I will eat, breathe and bathe in bacon for the next 30 days. (I miss you already Bacon!)
However, if I feel healthier, less gassy (don’t pretend you don’t know what a good blue cheese burger does to you…) with better skin and more energy, I’ll be saying goodbye to the meat for good.
Damn you, Oprah. Between this and my pledge to never again text while driving, I’m turning into one healthy buzz kill.
So help me lady, if you air a show about how wine makes you grow another nose, well then bring on the extra Kleenex while I uncork my bottle of Chardonnay.
