Archive for January, 2006
Food
As many of you know, I recently ended a yearlong dietary experiment: For 12 long months, I was a (moderately strict) vegetarian. A lot of my close friends couldn’t believe it–it’s no secret that I love a grilled burger, hot off the Weber. Even so, I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and see if I could really give up meat for an extended period of time. For the sake of scientific progress (or, more accurately, because I like the sound of my own voice, albeit digital) I will reflect on the experience:
First, let’s establish some of the common reasons for someone giving up meat. For me, the most convincing argument is that of environmental impact. The majority of grain grown in the U.S. is used to feed livestock, which ultimately end up on our plates. While this is a great method for producing cheap, tasty food, it is not environmentally efficient. Far more energy goes into producing a slab of beef than does producing grains with the equivalent calorie content. Statistics are boring, but the ratio is in the neighborhood of 16:1.
The other common reason for cutting meat from ones diet is sympathy for the animal. This may be valid, but requires a specific philosophy. I accept that an animal must die to allow me the pleasure of eating a burger. You may not, and I respect that. Believe you me, the day they figure out how to synthesize meat in the lab (which, I might add, is not too far off) I will be the first in line for a tub of I-Can’t-Believe-It’s-Not-Beef!
So there are valid reasons for being a vegetarian. But, as I found, there are also valid reasons not to be a vegetarian. First, a petty complaint: most restaurants have one or two items on the menu that are meat-free. Some have zero. As a young adult, I eat out frequently. It is no fun to order the same boring pasta or salad entrees. Especially for 12 months in a row. If I eat at someone’s house, I have to explain my dietary requirements ahead of time or politely eat only side dishes. This is equally un-fun.
The real problem with vegetarian food is due to its molecular composure. Meat has a good amount of fat, protein, and amino acids. While it is possible to replace these nutrients with meat-free dishes, it requires a concerted effort. Meat is also high in caloric density. Grains are not. In my case, I found myself eating 4-5 meals a day just to stave off hunger. I would eat as much as I could for lunch, but be hungry again in 3 hours. I lost weight during my vegetarian phase, mostly due to decreased muscle mass. It’s really a challenge to eat a balanced diet when you cut out all meat!
After a year of no meat, I jumped back on the gravy train the week of Thanksgiving, 2005. A few months later, I feel like I have more energy, I�ve gained back some weight, and I am back to 3 meals a day. All in all, it’s good to be eating meat again!
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (0) : Jan 24th, 2006
