The social implications of not partaking in the Rite of Dead Cow
Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 8:01PM So if you've been keeping tabs, which I totally wouldn't blame you if you're not, I'm on the 'eat vegetarian' portion of my 2 Week Resolutions. Which means I've been a vegetarian for...about a week.
(Since I've also been denied dairy, wheat, and sugar by the naturopath, I'm having a hard time with the meal planning. Lint, anyone?)
So far, it's pretty easy. Other than when I have any social contact whatsoever, that is.
Living in a bubble for one? Eating vegetarian is a breeze. Living with and (gasp) socializing with other people that reside in this redneck province? Um...not as easy.
The second day of my vegetarianism, we were invited over to a friends' house for Sunday dinner. I don't really know these people that well, they're more hubby's friends than mine, so I didn't feel totally comfortable announcing my recent conversion. I mean, there's a conversation custom-designed to make you feel like a tool:
"Oh! I'm a vegetarian, I can't eat that fragrant, delicious-looking, Flinstones-sized slab of ribs."
"Really? I didn't know you were a vegetarian."
"Um...well, just this week. And next week. If it lasts."
"You're a vegetarian for 2 weeks? Why?"
"...just because?"
Anyway. I now have an extremely belated sympathy for my friend Politika, who doggedly remained a vegetarian in this animal-flesh-loving prairie town, all through high school and maybe a little while afterwards until she could make her escape to the much more enlightened West Coast. It couldn't have been easy, trying to eat out and attend social gatherings like barbecues and dinner parties and the annual Bacon Dance. All the while obnoxious, meat-eating heathens demanding to know why you couldn't just eat ONE bite, I mean, c'mon, it's not going to KILL you. It's delicious!
(I may or may not have been one of those people. I refuse to answer on the grounds that it's pretty fucking obvious that I was.)
Like most places, social activity here just revolves around food. And the assumption is, on the prairies, that food means meat. Usually red meat. And potatoes. With beer. (Sometimes one or all of those things is deep fried.)
My third night of vegetarianism, hubby and I had a pre-arranged date night. At a steak house.
Tomorrow night? Fundraiser steak night.
Well...ONE bite isn't going to kill me, right? C'mon.
(...This resolution is doomed.)
Reader Comments (26)
Oh well, my post today is totally for you.
with love,
the Blogging Vegetarian Yogini :)
lol definitely doomed :) I understand the feeling uncomfortable about the not eating stuff...not meat for me but I have food allergies. Here's my list:
Tomatoes
Onions
Berries with Strawberries being the worst
Mushrooms
Peppers
See my sadness? I have to ask a complete ingredient list before I take a bite of anything and most the time I piss someone off for not eating their food. They're allergies people! I can't help it :(
But, back to you...I bet you can do it! Just keep trying!
I'm a vegetarian too! And trying to eat out is a HUGE pain... really trying to eat any meal that I didn't prepare is a pain. My own mother refuses to acknowledge that I no longer eat meat.
Good Luck!
Bacon Dance. This is made up, right? RIGHT?
Bacon is yummy!
I feel super guilty about my brunch bacon now. Sorry.
Rather you than me.
I had a wonderful vegetarian brunch yesterday...a quiche with cheese, spinach, mushroom, onions and jalapenos! It was delish!!! You can do it!! I know you can!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Do they let vegetarians into steak houses?
I would have thought they would have a "No Veggies" sign on the door for consistency.
"I may or may not have been one of those people. I refuse to answer on the grounds that it's pretty fucking obvious that I was."
Killed me. And the Bacon Dance? My ribs are aching. My delicious, meaty ribs.
The fact that you could decline a Flintstones sized rack of ribs, clearly means you have some ferocious willpower. Two weeks will be a breeze, then afterward you can put yourself in a bacon-coma.
Beef! It's what's for dinner.
Oh no! Good luck with the resolution.
Hey, I'd call it a success if you manage to be a vegetarian at home. That counts right? You get a pass for those times when you must eat out.
Bacon is a condiment, right? Dude, more power to you, but I couldn't do this, even for two weeks.
Funny… you don't look vegetarian.
I gave up caffeine one year. Of course that was the year that Jolt Cola came out. Instead of toasting with champagne, I toasted with a six pack of Jolt.
The best of skill in avoiding the dead cow.
I was a veg for 2 years but went back to chicken. My brother is vegan however and he says it's pretty hard to go out with carnivores. They just don't think about his needs. His words. But good luck to you!!!
Americans are truly cow parasites! Just think of all those calories you're missing and that should hold off the meat urges!
You'll feel accomplished! You'll reek with willpower! You can do it.
But if you really need help, go watch that movie, Food Inc. That movie has turned three of my family members to vegetarianism.
I haven't seen it and am afraid what it might do to me.
Good luck!
I know I'd be lost without meat.
Actually, it sounds like you have incredible will-power! No ribs? No steak at the steak house? You're doing well.
You are a brave, brave girl. I wouldn't even try.
I feel your pain. When I was single I never cooked meat at home unless I had company. I wasn't a vegetarian but I only ate meat when I was out. It really worked out well.
Then enter Paul into my life and that was over. I'm the cook here and trying to diet and feed him is so difficult. Good luck with your diet.
I tried to go vegetarian, my hair fell out, so that came to an abrupt end. Good luck with the whole no meat, no wheat, eggs, or dairy thing. Lint is suprisingly satisfying.
Was raised a veggie, but am now a devout meat eater. Except for cow. Don't like cow very much, unless it's from Taco Bell. How's that for random? Good luck with your meatless quest. I'll be thinking of you as I eat this extra large burrito.