I love meat.
Really, I do.
But, for almost 2 years now, I've been thinking about my meat consumption. I have good friends who have made big commitments to meat-free eating. I admire them. I've thought about becoming a vegetarian. Really, I have. But I have low blood sugar. And I was pregnant. And now I'm a nursing mom. And, remember, I love meat.
But.
Being a mother has made me think harder about the choices I make. You see, Milo is eating solid food now. He sits in his high chair at the table with us & eats two meals a day. He watches every move we make.
And so I've started thinking about the kind of eater I want Milo to be. Because I have the time, I've made all of Milo's "baby" food. He eats fresh fruits & veggies that I've steamed and pureed for him. We try to buy organic, when possible. I want him to be a good eater. I want him to make healthy choices.
But, in addition to making healthy choices, I want him to be a conscientious eater. I want him to to have a kind heart. I want him to love animals. I want him to care about the environment.
So, eating meat creates somewhat of a dilemma for me.
Have you seen Food, Inc? If you haven't, I recommend it. The movie examines our food systems & points out the many, many different reasons our current food systems are problematic. Did you know the meat industry generates 1/5 of human-made greenhouse gas emissions? And that it takes 1,800-2,500 gallons of water to produce a single pound of beef? Not to mention that factory-farming makes my heart totally hurt. (Think genetically-modified chickens whose breasts are so big they never learn to walk & are caged in chicken houses where they never see sunlight...)
And, so, we've decided to make a few changes around our house. They're not easy. But, I'm really starting to believe that the way we eat is a spiritual matter. That what we teach Milo about food, and about where food comes from, is important.
All this to say, we're starting "Meatless Mondays!" There is a "Meatless Monday" campaign that you can read about here. The general idea is that, by going meatless one day a week, we can improve our health & reduce our carbon footprint. (Most weeks we go meatless more than one meal, however, I'm hoping that "Meatless Mondays" will help us be more intentional about it.)
In addition, we're making tough choices at the grocery store. We're buying grass-fed beef. Or free-range buffalo. (Buffalo is SO yummy & is an easy substitute for beef) We're buying free-range chicken & cage-free eggs. These choices are difficult because they are more expensive. However, we are hopeful that creating a demand for these products will eventually transform our food systems. I'm not against eating meat. But, I AM against many factory-farming practices that put dollars above animals, consumer health, & the environment.
I'll be posting our "Meatless Monday" recipes here on the blog & I'll be counting on YOU to share your yummy meat-free recipes with me!
2 tsp. olive oil
1 c. diced onion
1 1/2 c. water
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 (15.75 oz) can fat-free, less-sodium broth
1 (15 1/2 oz) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/2 c. small pasta (ditalini works well)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, and saute for 3 minutes or until tender. Add water and next 6 ingredients (water through diced tomatoes), and bring mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes (or more), stirring occasionally.
2. Add pasta, and cook 9 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Stir in chopped parsley. Yield: 4 servings
