take five
February 6th, 2008 @ 9:41 pm | life | Post a CommentFive reasons I’m trying to give up eating meat for Lent (even though I’m not Catholic)
Because I can save money
Eat healthier
Reduce my carbon footprint
Lessen my guilt about the living conditions of factory farm animals
And because I want to see if I can do it
Four reasons I want to move to Colorado one day
So I can have babies
Near my mom, dad, sister and old friends
And live in a house that costs half as much
In a place where the sky seems to stretch to forever and the sun always shines
Three things to be happy about this month
Husband’s birthday
Valentine’s day
And most excitingly, a cross-country skiing trip in West Virginia
Two people I saw today who made my heart ache
A homeless woman who was pregnant and hungry
A homeless woman with a big, dark black eye and a scared look on her face
One chick flick I was happy to spend $10.50 on*
27 Dresses
*Maybe I should have given $10.50 to one of the homeless women instead. I have a near constant battle with myself over this and it’s especially worse when I see women who need help.
i think i’m the last person on earth that hasn’t seen 27 dresses yet. so sad.
yay for giving up meat for lent! i promise, it’s not so bad… you might even get used to it & decide to stick with it! (or not.)
written by rachel
February 6th, 2008 @ 10:36 pm
I feel the same way about Minnesota.
Also, I gave up meat for Lent a few years ago and I was all, “I’m totally going to just become a permanent vegetarian.” I was successful in my sacrifice, but I pretty much wanted to eat bacon for 3 days straight by the time Easter rolled around.
written by Laurel
February 6th, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
AW, im from colorado. Im there right now. And I think its definitely an incredible place to have a family, I know that i’ll raise my kids here near my family, definitely.
written by Chelsea Talks Smack
February 6th, 2008 @ 10:54 pm
I’ve never been skiing in my life! I think this is very sad, even though I’m sure I’d just fall flat on my ass at every opportunity.
written by Zandria
February 6th, 2008 @ 11:55 pm
To be fair, the sun isn’t ALWAYS shining here. Just today, for example, we had a 15-minute blizzard. The sun was definitely not shining … but just for those crazy 15 minutes.
written by audrey
February 7th, 2008 @ 12:08 am
I am giving up dessert for Lent. Good luck with the meat fast!
written by Larissa
February 7th, 2008 @ 1:36 am
I am impressed by your meat sacrifice! Will you let us know if you have any winning veggie-based recipes?
I haven’t seen 27 Dresses yet, but my closest girlfriend and I haven’t had a chance to catch up in a couple of weeks, and JG sure as heck is not seeing it with me. Maybe this weekend!
written by RA
February 7th, 2008 @ 6:25 am
So weird - i cant read any of the comments! They disappear as i scroll down, how strange.
Janet, i’ve been a vegetarian for 15 years, and it is totally, totally do-able. One of the best cookbooks I’ve been reading recently on the topic is Mark Bittman’s Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone. I usually hate omni-titles like that, but pop into a B&N and read the foreword sometime. Bittman is awesome.
Just remember this: Stock your fridge with mostly lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Have things like yoghurt, eggs, and milk on hand. Different kind of nuts, different kind of dried beans (I really hate canned) and lentils. Some tofu if you’re into it. And lots of interesting grains: forget rice and pasta, go for bulgur, quinoa, spelt, wholegrain couscous… Oh, and have fresh herbs on hand at all times. And lemons. Those are my staples.
For veg food you want to make sure there is something interesting on the plate. Well, i think veggies are fascinating, but what i mean is dont be tempted to just make a stirfry every night. Think about how you can stuff things, roll things up, and present them. This week i made tomatoes stuffed with mint, leeks, and bulgur. I also stuffed napa cabbage leaves (slightly steamed) with tofu and mushrooms, and then steamed again and served with soya sauce. Thnk about how you can make things into tarts, purees, etc.
And for meals i like to put different textures and flavors together. Make a sauce that goes with things! (I made a peanut coconut milk sauce with cilantro this week).
Anyways, unleash the creativity! Cooking is so much fun when you’re not stuck around the old meat-potatoes-1 soggy veg model.
written by Joke
February 7th, 2008 @ 7:49 am
Love your list today! Lots to be happy about!
I struggle with helping the needy, too. One thing I’m adamant about, though, is not giving money out. I’m very wary where it goes and do not support drug and alcohol habits. So, I tend to give away fruit from my lunch, leftovers from restaurants and once I even gave away a race t-shirt I certainly didn’t need.
written by Nilsa S.
February 7th, 2008 @ 9:50 am
You forgot to list the sixth reason you are giving up meat for Lent: to be more like -R-!
I cannot even remember the last time I had fast food, but yesterday I was craving McDonalds SO MUCH. Just because I can’t have it. Aargh.
written by -R-
February 7th, 2008 @ 10:00 am
It’s great that you are concerned about the homeless, but most of the time giving them cash is not the best way to help them. As a social worker, I know that there are tons of agencies out there that provide services to the homeless (esp in DC), and they’d be better places to put your money to actual use. Most of the time, panhandlers are the hard-to-serve homeless, with severe mental health and drug abuse problems who do not accept the help that may actually help them. Some are not actually homeless.
You might see if you can help through National Student Partnerships (nspnet.org), a student-run and led social service agency whose national office is in DC, but local offices are connected to Universities in dozens of cities. I interned there in college and am an alum. I know you aren’t a student, but they are a great org.
written by generation next
February 7th, 2008 @ 10:41 am
I’ll send you some veg recipes if you want!
I’m anxiously awaiting you in Colorado!
written by ambitiousmrs
February 7th, 2008 @ 11:32 am
I keep information cards for a shelter and when they ask me for money, I give them a card.
I gave up swearing for Lent. $.25 goes in a jar for every violation. I’ll probably have enough to go to Hawaii when Easter rolls around.
written by Kim
February 7th, 2008 @ 11:33 am
I have been a vegetarian since I was 6 so good luck with the meat-out. The comments do seem to keep appearing & disappearing as I scroll down, too??!!
Very good comment from Joke about vegetarian options & meals. I had to look twice–it is Joke not Jake!
written by Lesli
February 7th, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
Love your lists.
You have a big heart Janet
written by katelin
February 7th, 2008 @ 2:12 pm
27 dresses was totally worth the $$ tho right? i loved it.
written by Michelle & the City
February 7th, 2008 @ 4:15 pm
Oh, bless your little heart for this post.
written by Isabel
February 7th, 2008 @ 6:40 pm
I haven’t seen the movie yet! I think I’m the only person that hasn’t seen it (aside from the other two commenters below)!
I hope you have fun on your ski trip! That sounds like so much fun. I’ve never been skiing. Did you know you can ski in Dubai? They have this indoor ski slope. I was too wimpy to try. Maybe next time. Hope you have fun!
written by brittny
February 8th, 2008 @ 3:52 am
I actually just gave up meat and dairy too–not for Lent (it was after reading Skinny B*tch and being permanently traumatized), hopefully for good. We’ll see how well I can stick to it. (I do have a desperate and passionate love for bacon…)
There’s a homeless woman in my neighborhood who looks exactly like my mother. I bawl every time I see her. It’s really sad, because she’s kind of mentally unstable and won’t let anyone get near her to help her. I’m tearing up right now just thinking about it…
written by Jen
February 8th, 2008 @ 12:39 pm
i second the quinoa recommendation…it’s full of protein and amino acids AND it’s delicious AND it’s cheap!
here is my favorite recipe for it:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Quinoa-and-Black-Beans/Detail.aspx
written by katie
February 8th, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
I haven’t officially given up meat or anything, but we have stopped cooking with it. So, if I want steak at a restaurant or something I get it, but in general we don’t have it in our home.
It just makes sense cause my son won’t eat it, my husband doesn’t care (unless he’s bbqing) and I find it expensive and I worry about it being bad.
We were raised mostly vegetarian (we ate meat at my grandma’s) and we were pretty healthy kids. I’ve always struggled with weight, and I think my mom cutting most of the meat out helped.
I have to admit that lately I’ve been ordering meals at restaurants and requesting no meat (i.e. linguine with pesto and chicken but no chicken). I’m actually finding that I don’t want it so much.
But, good luck with it.
PS the exception to the rule is bacon. There’s nothing yummier smelling than bacon cooking!
written by Laural
February 8th, 2008 @ 6:26 pm
Geez, and I thought giving up caffeine was hard! I try not to eat many carbs, so if I gave up meat and dairy, I’d be left with… uh… vegetables. I’d never make it! So good luck to you, it’s an admirable sacrifice!!
You’re lucky to have grown up in Colorado! George and I would love to move there someday. We just don’t know if we can do it, being that it would kill my parents (since we have the one and only grandchild). But it looks so beautiful there… we’ll see!
written by Melissa
February 8th, 2008 @ 9:45 pm
I tried no meat for New Years’. It failed…dismally, other than my no-beef/pork for the last 17 years or so. However when I think of the poor poultry that have suffered at the expense of my tastebuds, I feel TERRIBLE.
Speaking of which: I now feel extremely guilty for (sorry) hating every. single. second. of being in Colorado, with my family. Isn’t that terrible? I think being DEATHLY ILL for my entire “vacation” (ha!) might have colored my views a bit, but honestly? If I never see snow again, it will be too soon. I’ve never seen green grass or bare ground out there, everything was a hassle, and frankly, I’ve never had such crappy service EVERYWHERE I went - not in LA, not in NYC, not in London, nowhere. What is up with that? Shed some light on the piss-poor “service” out there for me, will ya?
Homeless/helpless women always make me feel bad - generally right before I’m about to give them something, they scream/spit/freak out at me…at which point my sympathy dries up straightaway. Bad, huh?
written by Desha
February 9th, 2008 @ 2:28 am
Good for you! I think I would struggle with the meat thing, but I’m sure you can do it.
I want a girlfriend to go see 27 dresses with!
written by alyndabear
February 10th, 2008 @ 5:29 am
Those homeless women make me sad. Why do crappy things happen to people?
written by Lindsey
February 13th, 2008 @ 12:44 pm