Shoot. Of course I just had to turn on yesterday’s Oprah on veganism and the (less than appetizing) “processing” of cattle on the day I decide to roast not one but two whole chickens for dinner and subsequent meals. Blech. I totally want to be a vegan.

I know what you’re thinking. “But Catherine, if you didn’t watch that trash, you wouldn’t have to worry about this. You little heathen.” Wrong! I had a similar experience last year when I started reading Michael Pollen’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma. The moment Matt caught a glimpse of the new book in my hands, he made me promise that I would put it down as soon as it began to deter me from ever eating meat again. I honored my husband and didn’t get past the first few chapters.

For years, I have leaned vegetarian. Aside my brief stint of being gracious and culturally relevant in Kenya in 2004 (and eating who know what kind of animal parts), I haven’t eaten beef in years. And I very rarely eat pork. I just have this psychological block against eating cows and pigs. They’re too cute for me to eat. It’s as simple as that. I enjoy (and Matt endures) at least one- often two- completely meatless meals a week. And I eat more meals of beans or lentils and rice than I would care to own up to.

I could totally be a vegetarian. Aside from an occasional grilled chicken breast and shrimp, heavy on the Old Bay, I don’t think I would miss meat one little bit. That said, I am married to a meat-loving man who refuses to sit by the wayside and watch me go to the dark side, i.e. vegetarianism. He even loves the meat that isn’t meat at Taco Bell. And therein lies my dilemma. The Omnivore’s White-Meat-Eating Girl’s Dilemma.

So as I regain the courage to face my two chickens this afternoon, I will be pondering this issue at hand. And perhaps formulating a master proposal for my husband on why it would be beneficial for my mental well being to bid adieu to eating animals. At least for the time being. Until I can’t stomach another lentil for the rest of my life. Oh, but I do love lentils.

Who wants to join us for chicken tonight? 🙂

7 Comments on the white-meat-eating girl’s dilemma

  2. Oh my gosh, I totally agree! I was SO GLAD to find out I'm allergic to Beef and Pork–makes my white-meat-only rule so much easier:) We also lean vegetarian in our house at least twice a week. Good luck touching chicken!

  3. Sometimes I just can't believe I gave birth to you. I would rather sink my chops into a nice piece of cow that anything else. well, besides twizzlers, that is.

  6. I did't catch Oprah, but I have been leaning vegetarian for a few years now (and I come from a long line of butchers!). We do a few nights of vegetarian meals each week too and I made the case by saying its more budget friendly 🙂 I'd really like to go vegan, but I'm not sure I could ever give up cheese….

  7. too funny catherine! i would never guess that matt loves to eat meat as a major food group haha jk. i also saw the oprah episode but i'm vegetarian married to a meat-a-tarian. we just make a ton of veggies and grains at dinner and whoever is cooking makes sure that he gets a fill of still-mooing beef for himself haha. good luck! – jenn ochse

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