Vegan...mostly

I want to be honest here, I am not sure if the vegan lifestyle is for me. I have not exactly been 100% faithful, although I try.

The vegan chocolate bar I was noshing on last night!

Almost a year ago, I decided to only eat meat and eggs if it was local and I knew where it came from. Local meat is expensive, so I ate less and less. One day, I splurged and bought an $18 steak. The smell of meat cooking has always made me nauseous, this day was no different. I ignored the smell and sat down to cut into the juicy steak. I couldn't eat it. I could taste the iron and feel the muscle fibers as I was chewing. That day sealed the deal and I stopped eating meat.

A serving of four raw shiitake mushrooms has only 26 calories and less than a gram of fat. They also provide 2 grams of dietary fiber, helping to keep you feeling full and satisfied, and nearly 2 grams of protein. -Maia Appleby

I have been trying very hard to cut out animal products all together. I do feel healthier and have been losing weight without additional exercise. However, I have been thinking about several things. I personally know several dairy farmers who love their cows and treat them with the utmost respect. They live in clean and healthy environments and are treated like pets. What would happen if cows were suddenly released to the wild? Roam the streets, hungry and sick? Do I agree with large scale agriculture, no. What I do believe in is small farmers and revolutionizing our food system.

Speaking at Crystal Bridges Museum at CR(EAT)E about local food.

I used to have chickens, that I loved and they all had names. Red, one of my favorite hens, would wait outside the back door and follow me around "helping" wit chores (eating spilled grain). Sometimes she would lay down until I picked her up and would sit on my shoulder. Without a rooster, the eggs hens lay are wasted. Why should the unfertilized eggs not be utilized as a food source for humans or other animals? In the fall, chickens molt. What this means is that they start losing feathers and regrow long ones. They also stop laying eggs so they can conserve energy to regrow feathers. When I had my chickens, molting time was just a time that I didn't eat eggs.

There is a season for everything, a season for tomatoes, squash, eggs, blackberries and mint tea. Personally, I believe in finding a balance, in taking care of myself as well as animals and the environment. If one becomes more important then the other, then both are being damaged. So do I want to label myself as a vegan? No, labels suck anyway :) I do want to eat consciously, with respect to how my food was grown, what season we are in and how my body feels.

Keema says there is also a time for pumpkin hats and toys!