If you’re reading this, hopefully the title has at least intrigued you. I know it’s a bit of a stretch, but I promise it will at least sort of make sense when I’m finished. If not, please pretend that it did.
For the past few years, I’ve been slowly changing my lifestyle. It’s basically become the theme of my 40’s. They’ve been little changes. Nothing too drastic. But they’ve all contributed to my more peaceful state. I mean, for the most part, I’ve lived a pretty great life that has been very healthy, pretty active, and even full of adventure and excitement at times. Sure I’ve had lots of setbacks that ultimately revealed themselves in extra lbs. But last year I made some great strides in getting back my healthy in that area too. Changing your lifestyle is a process. It’s not something that just happens overnight, even if you’d like to snap your fingers and make it so.
So when I decided to stop eating meat it was many years in the making. Growing up I ate meat. Hamburger helper was a staple. I also ate anything else I wanted because I basically burned it off dancing for many hours, at least four times a week, horsebackriding (the thighmaster had nothing on this workout) and working at the ranch weekly. I loved being with the horses and could always picture myself living on a farm. My parents made healthy meals for us and we rarely had soda or sweets. When you’re young though, you are invincible and you aren’t too concerned with what you’re putting into your body or where it’s coming from.
Now I’m not saying all meat is bad nor is it all created equal. I have loved me some meat in my day and I’m not saying I will never in my life have it again. I mean, c’mon, is there anything better than bacon on everything? But for now, meat and I are on a hiatus. I do eat mostly veggies and I would love to say I’m veganish, but there’s no way I’m giving up eggs or cheese at this point. There are a lot of great vegan products that I use though and I’ll share them in a future post. So because I do eat fish, I guess I would be considered a pescatarian. I like to say I’m eating for my inner peace and even a little peace of mind…hence the Peacecatarian.
As I said earlier, I arrived at this decision over a long period of time. I eliminated many things in my diet last year when I was feeling bad. We determined my tummy troubles were due to my anxiety, but during my experimentation with different foods, I realized I was kind of over meat. At this stage of my life I wasn’t eating much of it anyway and when I did, it was really only chicken. Meat like some foods is a bit harder to digest, so I started substituting with other protein alternatives. I was amazed at how much I didn’t miss it. Plus, in total honesty, every time I reflect on one of the million documentaries I’ve watched over the past few years on our nation’s food, where it comes from, how it’s grown, how we are badly effecting our environment, and in some instances, how the animals are being treated, it feels like I made the right choice.
There are many types of diets and lifestyles out there. Mine is still developing, but I think that’s why I sort of coined this name for it for me…Peacecatarian. I want more of everything that brings me peace and that’s the lifestyle I desire and deserve. Whether it’s food I eat, the products I use, the exercises I do, the things I read, the things I watch, the people I surround myself with…I want it all to be peace driven. What I’ve found is that a mostly plant-based diet and a somewhat minimalist style of life is what is giving me the most peace of mind, so I continue to pursue that.
So I’ll keep making my weekly mason jar salads, eating my nut cheese, and I may even experiment with some tofu and tempeh recipes. But my coffee at home will still be swimming in creamer and down the road, I may even one day have organic, grass fed bacon wrapped beef. I won’t get it right all the time, but there’s peace in this probably imperfect path. And that, my friends, is what it’s all about.
Peace, love, and plants,
Darlene xo
