The End (?) of An Era

Today ends my vegetarian experiment. Craving for a big juicy steak? negative. Some spicy sushi? eh maybe. A friend pointed out something very true, she reminded me how this really shouldn't be hard for me, it's not like I was a meat fiend before. And this is very true. I had always considered myself someone who ' is not a vegetarian but eats like one.' And after this little experiment? I think I've become 'a vegetarian who doesn't always eat like one.' A life changing 36 days? As it seems, not so.

Yet one thing that has drastically changed is my relationship with food as a whole. By certainly doing my research on the topic, I am more conscious of where food comes from, its journey from the ground to my mouth. A positive thing for certain, and certainly something I had put little thought into before.

I would be silly if not to think about the change in my relationship concerning food, and what I had thought 'healthy'. Healthy for what? my body? my appearance? the environment? While I certainly feel I have addressed this environmental issue, it is the connection concerning food and my bodies superficial health and internal health. I've thought recently about the food culture I have grown up in (not necessarily in my actual home, but more generally on long island), and this thinking has made me realize why I have never truly enjoyed cooking. I feel that the food culture I've been surrounded by has been one that shines such a negative light on food. That flavorful, rich foods are bad. Even healthy foods are portrayed in a negative light. Don't eat bread. Never eat pasta. Stay away from sugar. Sugar substitutes are worse. Eat protein. Don't eat too much. Consider this, keep away from fat and cholesterol, but use butter not margarine, but use olive oil not butter, but stay away from oil. Steamed vegetables are just plain old boring! I feel as if this culture of my past even shunned on too much fruit-> too much sugar. Removing myself from this extremely negative view of food has been the 'healthiest' change I could think of. This is something I didn't expect to come out of this. I love cooking now, by thinking of the nutrients instead of the harm, by feeling the value in properly using calories to fuel myself.

A wonderful (lingering) experiment. Now on to the next...

Half marathon coming up in four weeks and Mud run in five (costume ideas for group of 4 welcome!)

P.S. It has been brought to my attention that I have neglected to comment on the comments, but please know that I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate them! Suggestions I have taken to heart!