Last summer, after watching an impactful documentary on netflix aptly titled “Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food,” I suddenly found myself unable and unwilling to consume any meat products. The idea of eating precious baby cows who had been forced to marinate in their own waste for the entirety of their short, pitiful lives, ending with a cruel death seemed too disgusting. I still ate meat for the first few days after seeing the movie, but found myself increasingly disinterested in flavor and texture, rather consumed by the thought of the mistreated animal I was treating with such barbarian consumption. So I decided: I was going to be a vegetarian.
I don’t think anyone, myself included, expected it to last. If someone asked me a year ago, “do you think you could ever go vegetarian?” I absolutely would have laughed in their faces. I have always loved burgers, red meat, fried chicken, and pulled pork. Other than tenderloin, I never turned up my nose at any meat products since I was child. Suddenly, it felt as though I could no longer go back—beyond the weight off my conscience, there have been so many benefits to going vegetarian. I would encourage everyone to try it, even if it is only for a few days, weeks, or months, because the changes you may experience can be astounding.
For one, I found that my attitude surrounding eating, cooking, and enjoying food in general has vastly improved. Even if this lifestyle is unsustainable in the long run, I have learned that I am not only a capable cook, but I can make food that is healthy, delicious, and flexible to various diets. Before these 8 months, I practically refused to eat a large variety of vegetables, from eggplant to cucumber. Now, however, eggplants are one of my favorite foods! There are so many new recipes and ingredients you expose yourself to by going vegetarian, one side-effect that, in my mind, has made it all worth it. Even if I return to my carnivorous ways in a few months, I will never lose my newfound appreciation for spring vegetables, tofu, kidney beans, and chickpeas (god, I love chickpeas).
Another benefit of being vegetarian is that it really makes you think about the products you put in your body. From general mindfulness, like always checking the ingredient list, to a careful watch of carbs, sugar, and (especially) protein, being vegetarian has made me feel truly aware of what I eat. One of my parent’s main concerns with my sudden change was that I wouldn’t be eating enough protein. As a year round athlete, it was important to them that this change in my eating habits would not affect my physical health. I’m happy to say that, besides a smidge of light-headedness for the first month, I have seen no severe signs of malnutrition as a result of my diet. Instead, I have noticed an increased consciousness of the types of food I eat, especially in beans, lentils, and other proteins. These are habits that will stick with me for the rest of my life, making me a healthier person (vegetarian or not).
I think I knew that this diet was going to stick when I realized that parmesan cheese is not vegetarian, and decided to sacrifice the only cheese I truly enjoy. And, as of today, I am glad I did. Being vegetarian, even for this short while, has made me truly enjoy eating, expand my palate, and become more aware of the way I treat my body. Please seriously consider attempting vegetarianism for just a couple months, and experience these incredible effects for yourself!