It turned out that success with the sesame seed bar only lasted so long. At work yesterday, I stood over trays of sizzling grilled meats, inhaled, and let out a growl that would make a caveman's hair stand on end.
"Meat has been smelling really good to me lately," I told my girl Allison, who was working beside me.
"If you are craving it, then you're body is telling you that you need it," she replied.
I nodded. I said, "I know you're right."
"Don't eat it here though," she added. "In case you get sick."
Even though I thought I'd be okay, I took her advice. We had a long night ahead of us. Tons of reservations on the books. It wouldn't have been wise to sicken myself.
Today, I'm torn. I'm exhausted and depressed too.
So.
Should I eat meat? Let's think about why I quit eating meat in the first place.
1. High cholesterol and high blood pressure runs in my family.
2. I have IBS - C, which means I need as much fiber in my diet as possible. There's no fiber in meat.
3. I don't like meat as much as I like beans and nuts and seeds and tofu. It's only just before my rag hits that I turn into a friggin' salivating caveman.
I started this diet for my health. If I am not feeling my best on this diet, then I want to change it. I want to eat to make myself feel the most energized and happiest that I can be. I believe that it's possible.
Okay! That said - should I eat meat? I'm really curious as to what everyone thinks. To show how curious, I'm going to offer a little incentive for commenting.
I'm letting the cat out of the bag a little early here, but what the hell.
I'm starting a medicinal tea company. It's called Beacon Tea. More details to come, I promise. For now, let's just say that I will offer a free sample of tea to someone, chosen at random, who comments their thoughts on whether I should eat meat or not.
Got it?
The question: Should I eat meat?
You comment.
I choose one of you at random.
You get free tea.
We can even discuss what kind of tea you want... and I'll make it up special for you.
Let the commenting begin!!!
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13 comments:
I think that your motivation to stop eating meat was a dietary one. So, if you have no ethical qualms about eating meat, then go for it. You dont need to start eating it all the time, but if, every so often, you feel like a steak or whatever, have a steak. Its your choice.
But, please do me one favour and have a free-range, bio-dynamic, hippie steak from a small producer rather than a big corp. Take the time to find meat that has had a nice life and is free of all the horror and yucky that goes along with factory farming.
Good luck!
Have you read the studies about the link between cholesterol and grain intake? They're starting to believe that meat isn't necessarily the culprit. I am totally PRO meat eating. You're craving it right before your ragtime because you need the iron. If your body asks for it, then give it some! And I don't even drink tea... :)
You can always choose a white meat or fish that isn't going to be so bad for your cholesterol. A little bit of meat once a month shouldn't affect your cholesterol anyways. If you're needing it and vegetarian options aren't fulfilling that need then you know what to do.
I agree with mollymonster 100%. If you're not ethically opposed, eat the meat.
Be sure to get fresh cut, go to the counter and talk to the butcher. Inform yourself, butchers work with meat all day long. They know their stuff. They can suggest the right cut from the right animal for your needs.
Secondly, you don't need to eat a 72 oz steak with all the fixings. Recommended size is about the size of a deck of cards, which I believe is 6 oz. That's not going to knock you out. You can easily fill up with all of your necessary fiber-rich foods as side dishes... Hell, you could make a chili where the steak or meat of your choice is only a part of the action.
There's a lot of talk that says our bodies are wired for meat intake. So, if you crave it, have it. Don't go crazy, just enjoy and be smart.
I agree with Molly Monster as well (factory farm/supermarket meat is just plain disgusting, cruel and inhumane.)
I don't eat meat, but I do eat eggs-----they are a complete, perfect protein and give you every vitamin you need. I say free-range eggs are the way to go.
I'm seconding/thirding mollymonster (nicely said!). And not for free tea, though I have been SUPER excited over the idea since I scraped together your sparse context clues.
"If you are craving it, then you're body is telling you that you need it," I don't buy that! When I smell peanut butter cookies, taco sauce, or coffee and my mouth starts watering... that's a desire, not a need.
But in time, a desire can become just as real....
So, my meat-eating opinion is simply this: Do freely as you wish, but I wish you wouldn't!
:)
I havent eaten meat in 15 years, but after giving birth I craved some salmon. weird, I know. So I had some, knowing that the omegas are good for baby's growing brain. At least, that was my excuse for going against my ethical objection to eating meat.
It tasted OK, but felt kinda weird in my mouth. And that was my one and only craving. So I dont really feel like it was worth it, but I also don't really feel like it was that big of a deal.
My official stance is Don't Eat Meat. But don't be too hard on yourself if you really need to have a little bit. The middle path is always best.
The psychological condition where people eat dirt, or swallow nails has been directly linked to iron deficiency. If you made sure you had healthy levels of protein and iron you probably wouldn't crave the meat. Aside from any digestive issues you have, eating some lean meat every once and a while isn't bad for your health, as long as you don't start scarfing down burgers and fries instead of eating a healthy dinner. People crave the foods that they're used to eating, so the desire could become stronger if you cave in to it. Then again, You may try it and find out it's not really what you want at all. Gregg harassed me into eating a bite of his steak once at some birthday dinner, and after not having it for so long I found the texture completely horrifing. Nothing feels quite like chewing flesh. I don't know if anyone other than your fish-eating friend can understand how creepy it is when you're not used to it.
Anyway, you are the leading expert on the physiology and rationality of Anney. I'm not going to tell you what to put in your body, and no one else should either.
I think if you feel that no meat makes you feel better, they why you need meat? I suffer IBS too and often meats make it worse because it takes so long to digest.
~You can just be craving a nutrient or mineral, not necessarily meat.
~I always tell my clients that if they are consuming 50 to 80% produce, the rest can come from protein (animal or plant) and whole grains.
~Find solace in knowing that you can always change if it does not bring zest and peace to you.
I LOVE the medicinal tea idea!
And I second exactly what mollymonster said. We started to only eat red meat once a month, sometimes we probably don't have it at all.
Then the other night we had lamb burgers (from a local food co-op) and they really scratched the itch.
If it really was just a dietary choice, I don't see why a little meat is a bad thing. It's your personal choice.
Sorry you're out of commish - hope to see you back soon! We miss you! Farts and all!
Can you please link my new blog in your blog roll: carbzilla.britehive.com? Thanks mucho!
A way-late comment on a comment: "Nothing feels quite like chewing flesh." Ahhh!! It's true!
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