Whenever it comes up in conversation that we are vegetarians, everyone always wants to know “why?” There isn’t really one big reason, and the decision was actually unexpected.
It all started one random Tuesday in March 2021. The kids were finally in bed and we were running around tidying up and doing the normal chores when Blaine said “maybe we should eat less meat…or stop eating meat.”
Blaine had watched a few documentaries and had some reasons of his own for this seemingly out-of-the-blue announcement, but for me, I thought this actually made a lot of sense.
I didn’t really start liking meat until I was an adult (I vividly remember being “stuck” at the dinner table growing up because I wouldn’t eat all of my teeny tiny chicken pieces. Sorry, mom!), and even then I enjoyed meat “in” something – more of a chicken alfredo vs. steak.
I love to cook and experiment in the kitchen, but I’ll be real: I never liked cooking meat. Uncooked chicken is the worst, and I never felt like it was cooked all the way. I would also always trim so much of the fat off any meat before cooking that there never seemed to be that much left.
That night, we decided we would try it for a while and see what happened. Our family thought we were crazy (still do, probably). Now that we’ve been doing this for almost a year, we realize that meat is the center of almost every meal, and we do have to be aware of that when we go to events or parties.
We also still serve our kids meat–we tried giving them meat alternatives for some of the staple kid food and they were having none of it. They still have some typical kid fare like burgers, tacos and, of course, chicken nuggets but we do encourage them to try some of what we’re having.
Personal Pros
- I don’t have to cook meat (yay!)
- I don’t feel bloated after meals
- I get to experiment more in the kitchen and find new recipes
- Environmental impacts
- Cost savings
Personal Cons
- Charcuterie and deli meat – I do miss salami and pepperoni!
- Going to events/parties – we have to plan ahead!
If you don’t think you can quit meat cold turkey (or tofurkey?) randomly on a Tuesday like we did, try at least reducing your consumption. Maybe aim for meatless meals once or twice a week. You may find yourself realizing that you eat meat at every meal, because our society has created that norm. Or you may decide that you love meat and do want to have bacon on everything! Either way, what can it hurt!
One must have appliance for meat eaters or vegetarians is an air fryer. It has been a game changer. Blaine goes as far as saying it has been “life changing.”
Here are some of our favorite meal to inspire you:
- Tostadas
- Huevos Rancheros
- Zuppa Toscana
- Impossible Burgers (way better than Beyond Burgers in our opinion)
- Asparagus Tortellini
- Black bean Enchiladas
- Sweet Potato Chili
- Sautéed pepper and onion Tacos
- Cauliflower Sesame (chicken)
- Burrito bowls
- Veggie Sushi Rolls
- Stir fry/fried rice/egg rolls
- Quinoa salad
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