Pass [on] the Meat Please

Today I start #6: be a vegetarian for 36 days. The fridge is stocked of tofu and veggies and I am ready. The plan is no meat or seafood (really anything the has to come from a dead animal), for 36 days. My goal for this is to just really think more about where my food comes from. I am hoping that giving up meat will force me to examine and be more conscious of what I am eating, ie the chemicals and processed crap. I am (planning) on eating more fruits and veggies, more whole grains and simple foods.

It is probably just because I have been keeping my eyes open to this lately, but it seems recently this idea of eating 'slow food,' has been popping up more and more. First I saw a few episodes of 'Jamie Oliver's food revolution,' and while I stay away from fast, fried food in general, and am not morbidly obese, this show really got me thinking about the foods that I eat, the artificial sweeteners, preservatives in a lot of packaged food I eat, and in general the 'substitutes' I opt for in order to consume fewer calories. And thus, I am hoping to fill the next 36 days with more natural foods, buying the INGREDIENTS instead of the meal. Opting to make my food whenever possible, skip out on the once a day sweet-n-low in my coffee, etc.

Also, I was reading about a woman named Alice Waters after seeing her on the Bill Maher show. She is part of the 'slow food movement,' which is an effort to preserve local foods and encourage people to eat locally grown fresh foods. She talked a lot on the program about how it really can be beneficial health wise, eco-friendly, and economical to eat this way!

In looking at these fresher foods, I have noticed in addition the enormous difference in the amount of packaging to contain them. Fresh ingredients are many times package-less while buying a frozen/canned meals in heavily packaged. By passing on the meat, I hope to not only increase my health but reduce my environment impact.

Tonight is my first legitimate meal I'll be cooking (and vegetarian of course): #2, skipping out on the whole cooking for others with this one, gotta test this thing out first!

PS. #18- beat B at chess?

Picture this: Greek Spaghetti Squash + Arugula Salad