I've been a vegetarian almost continuously since I was a sophomore in college - so for 14 years now. The first couple years I ate meat when I went home, because I wasn't afraid my family wouldn't get the whole vegetarian thing, but eventually I went fully vegetarian. For a couple years, I even went vegan - now that was hard. Then a few years ago, I started eating poultry and some sea food, but I just couldn't keep doing it long term. So here I am back to being vegetarian.
I've always been a picky eater, and going vegetarian certainly forced me to try some new things, so just on that front it's been helpful to be vegetarian. (One thing I've never gotten the hang of though is vegetables. I tried, but I still hate them. So you probably won't see me raving about eggplant parmesan, unless I'm raving about how gross it is...)
People always want to know a few things about me being a vegetarian. One is how long I've been doing it, but you already know that. Another is why I'm vegetarian. I always say because I like fluffy animals, which is about as concise an explanation as I can think of. More accurately, it's because I just abhor the thought of taking the life of another creature. So, now you know.
Another thing people usually want to know is if it's hard to be a vegetarian. Well, I'm long past being seriously tempted by most meats. Which isn't to say I don't like the taste of meat (I love it!). But I care more why I'm a vegetarian than I care about the taste of meat. Also, honestly, I'm so used to choosing the vegetarian option that I just don't even have to think about it anymore.
There is only one reason being a vegetarian can be hard sometimes, and that's that some restaurants (and some parts of the world, for that matter) still haven't figured out what to do with us vegetarians (and pity the poor vegan!). But that's the only real hard part. Things that aren't hard about being vegetarian: getting enough protein, eating healthy (well, I don't eat healthy but there's certainly nothing to stop me), getting to eat tasty food. That last one's important. Part of the reason being a vegetarian is easy for me is that I still get to eat excellent tasting food. In fact, I get to eat such great food that sometimes I want to share, so other people can share in its greatness whether vegetarian or omnivore. And that's part of why I've started this blog.
Another reason I've started this blog is that I've decided to start getting serious about making food from basics, if not from scratch, as much as possible. I've toyed with diy ambitions for a few years now, but I've never quite sustained those ambitions, but now I'm feeling motivated. For one thing, it can be a lot cheaper. For another thing, it can be a lot healthier. And for a third thing, it can taste better than the stuff from the freezer. And also, I like to cook.
So, I think that's about what you need to know. Oh, and also I should mention my wife (we just got married this fall!) who is not a vegetarian but is amenable to good vegetarian food. She's something of a foody, unlike me. So that's it. See you around.
