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Reflections
I just watched Food Inc. for the 2nd time. It was the first movie I saw that got me interested in the food industry. Since then, I've read In Defense of Food, The Omnivore's Dilemma, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and I've watched Fresh, King Corn, and the Future of Food. This time watching Food Inc. I have a whole new level of understanding.
I am no longer eating any factory-farmed food. I am still struggling how to navigate social situations where food is involved. For example, there was a cook-out at work today where they had pulled pork sandwiches and chicken pasta salad. Luckily, they also had a good bean/corn salad that I filled up on. People were looking at me weird, but no one asked why I didn't eat anything else. On the way to work today I was trying to think of how I could respond if people asked. I want to be truthful, without coming off as preachy. If people ask why you don't eat "regular" meat, what reason do you give them that is concise?
I don't like that I am becoming judgmental of people who eat crap. My closest friend is super "green" yet doesn't know anything about eating quality food. She doesn't want to learn either, and that's hard to know. She eats the school's hot lunch every day, which is SO gross. My mom teases that I am turning into a hippie, which I don't like that reference!
I've joined a CSA and our pick-ups start this coming Wednesday. I am so excited! I've found sources for local milk, eggs and beef. I look at the produce section of a grocery store completely different now. It is so true that there are no seasons at the grocery store. It makes me feel greedy to go there.
I am very grateful for this board, which has been so helpful and informational. If anyone has any ideas of what to read/watch next, I'd love to hear them. I want to learn how to can tomatoes, freeze vegetables, and make cheese. Anyway, I know this post is kind of pointless, but I just felt the need to share my thoughts. Thanks to everyone.
Cycles 1-18 = a bust
DX= unexplained infertility
Cycle 19-20 On BCP, shutting down the ovaries
Cycle 21- monitored Gonal-f injections + HCG trigger = BFN
Cycle 22- 3 weeks of BCP + Gonal-f + HCG trigger = BFN
Cycle 23- 3 weeks of BCP + Gonal-f + HCG trigger - BFP!
VOTE ON MY PHANTOM BABY NAMES
Re: Reflections
Best sound ever: baby's heartbeat! (Heard @ 10w1d)
I usually say something like "I don't eat a lot of meat but when I do I like to know exactly where it is coming from". I am surprised at the number of people who agree with me when I say that. I find a lot of people think this way when it comes to fruits and veggies but not meat.
I love this post! You have a twin (me) out there in the world. I could have written this post word-for-word.
Cycles 1-18 = a bust
DX= unexplained infertility
Cycle 19-20 On BCP, shutting down the ovaries
Cycle 21- monitored Gonal-f injections + HCG trigger = BFN
Cycle 22- 3 weeks of BCP + Gonal-f + HCG trigger = BFN
Cycle 23- 3 weeks of BCP + Gonal-f + HCG trigger - BFP!
VOTE ON MY PHANTOM BABY NAMES
I think one thing to keep in mind is that for every person you judge, someone may be judging you. A person that's vegetarian for ethical reasons might think you've not gone far enough. A vegan might think a vegetarian is half-assed. I might look down on you for driving a car or keeping your thermostat too warm or too cool. There are many, many ways to be more or less green and more or less ethical, and it's important to recognize that not everyone is going to end up on the same path.
It's kind of the same as religion - live as you've become convicted to live, answer questions with honesty, but be careful not to become too preachy or judge too harshly. You can't guess what kind of journey each person you meet is on.
Cycles 1-18 = a bust
DX= unexplained infertility
Cycle 19-20 On BCP, shutting down the ovaries
Cycle 21- monitored Gonal-f injections + HCG trigger = BFN
Cycle 22- 3 weeks of BCP + Gonal-f + HCG trigger = BFN
Cycle 23- 3 weeks of BCP + Gonal-f + HCG trigger - BFP!
VOTE ON MY PHANTOM BABY NAMES
I love Food Inc! Well I don't love the practices but the movie is great. My husband and I stopped eating factory farmed meats as well...
Being newer to this, how do you all save money? It is definitely a higher grocery bill buying only organic etc.
I'm interested in this as well. Which is probably why I haven't watch Food Inc yet (its in my Netflicks queue). Most of the green changes that I have made are cheaper or around the same price point that we currently spend.
Buying Organic and Farm Raised meats is way more expensive. When you watch Food Inc. I am sure you will want to change how you buy meat as well. I shop at Whole Foods so it is a little pricier but this weekend I am going to visit my Farmers Market and hopefully develop some relationships with local farmers. Factory Farming is disgusting! I just can't bring myself to support it.
Meedy and Marge, you have a triplet too! I could have written this post too! Bravo to both of you and everyone on this board for having the dedication to change your eating habits to support the earth and animal rights. When people ask me why I'm not eating the meat at a function where I can't eat my own food, I say "I don't think factory farming is sustainable, so I choose not to support it." Short, succient, and they can ask me more questions if they want to.
Organic does cost more. And it should. Non-organic food is artificially low because its subsidized by the government and because important things are short-cutted - there's harmful pesticides used to generate a much higher yield per acre, no money is put into environmental considerations, there's more animal cruelty, and less food safety mechanisms in place. These things all cost more and there's no way around it. You can buy responsibly priced food or irresponsibly priced food. If asparagus is $2 a pound at the grocery store in December, think of all the human rights, environmental protections, and dedication the grower must have broken in order to produce food that cheaply, and STILL make money after shipping it halfway around the world. It's even worse for meat because those animals can and do suffer.
To help stretch your meat money further, try whole chickens from the Farmer's Market. Yes you'll pay $15-20 for a 4-lb bird, but I roast it with vegetables which is a very nice meal, then I pick the bird clean and use that meat for a casserole or chicken salad, and then I boil the carcass to make chicken stock. Next time we're even going to grind the bones to make bone meal for the garden. That's a lot of meals for $15. Also try not making meat the center of the meal, like a stir-fry or on top of a salad. Our Farmer's Market has these huuuge chicken breasts that are like 0.75 lbs each, so I use one of those for a stir-fry or on top of a garden salad.