Where’s The Beef?
Posted By becky on January 28, 2010
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.
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Proud of you! We have been eating a lot less meat. Yep, the food we eat is nasty.
Thanks Ann! It seriously is disgusting. I wish I could eat all Farmer’s Market food but it’s so darn expensive. Maybe if enough people stop eating the gross stuff the price of the GOOD stuff will come down. And maybe I’m grow wings and fly.
Good for you. I’ll live vicariously through you – I need my bacon. I’m anxious to see how it goes – good luck.
oh friend – this post is getting ready to come out of my mouth too!! just watched the oprah thing last night…darn her for making me think!! not sure i can go 30 days like you – but i def have thoughts on the subject!
ps – if it makes you feel any better i will eat your share of bacon the next 30 days – that’s what friends are for right?
well I think thats cool
@amanda Honestly I think you could do 30 days Amanda, it’s not that long. I think I just needed to do something, you know? Sometimes it’s good to have a cause.
Last night my mom offered me my favorite taco pizza from Pizza Hut and I said, “No thank you.” Lord have mercy that was hard but felt SOOO good.
@AJ, don’t get any ideas, I’m still drinking milk and eating cheese.
@Lindastamps thanks for the well wishes! I’ll keep you updated on the progress!
i’ll eat your bacon for you.
i love meat. way too much to cut it out. but i would LOVE to make my father understand (as well as step-dad and mom) that MORE veggies would be better for all of us. i think my brother is trying. he made sure we went to farmers’ market every saturday and always got lots of veggies. thankfully, monkey loves her veggies. in fact, she asked if we could try to eat better, thinking that might be the cause of her upset tummy the last few days. she’s probably right (although her strep test came back positive). good luck!
seriously, you can just pass me your bacon now.
Good for you! I want to see that movie Food Inc? I think that is what it is called. Bacon really is so gross if I could afford all organic food I would eat it but I can’t so I just buy as much as I can for my daughter at least! Good luck and I am going to be back to hear how it is going LOVE your blog btw!!!
Good for you! We’re largely meat-free at our house too (though not completely). The nice thing is that if you decide to reintroduce meat to your diet after 30 days, the money you save from eating less of it will allow you to spend a bit more to make sure what you do buy is antibiotic-free and such.
Um. I’m bordering on soapbox territory, so I’ll finish there.
How does Ben feel about all this? Is he on board?
I can’t believe that YOU of all people are making me think about this shit! Let me have my damn meat!!!
Good for you. Can’t wait to hear how it goes….
@Shannon, Hey I’m totally ON your same soapbox. That’s why I’m not eating meat. Ben is basically a vegetarian as it is so I’m not changing his diet other than trying to find him better chicken nuggets to eat. Any suggestions?
@Lee, DUDE! I’m so deep. You have no idea!
Wow! Way to go you! Excited to hear how it goes! I could probably do it, but am kind of lazy and don’t know about wanting to put forth the effort.
I worked at WB when AS did Batman & Robin, and the reason she was puffy wasn’t because she was eating meat…
I could never, ever give up meat because I just really love meat. Really. I can’t live without bacon. BUT since watching Food Inc and reading Michael Pollan’s books, we are committed to buying meat that comes from somewhere much nicer than a CAFO.