Why go veg?

So why go veg? Everyone has their own stories and reasons. Mine involves a memory from years ago when I was 17 and visited a slaughterhouse (or abattoir for those who prefer the less visual term).  I remember the blood, the butcher wiping his hands on his bloody smock before shaking our hands and the cows hanging from hooks...memories that caused me to not eat meat for a year following this experience.

Although this memory remains with me, my conviction faded and my priorities in life changed—family, house, career.

Now, many years later, I am re-visiting my beliefs and convictions after a re-newed interest sparked by discussions with a coworker.

In October 2009 I started researching and experimenting with meat alternatives, and in November I consciously decided to remove meat from my diet.

So back to the question of why?

Although I have eaten meat for many years I have always been uncomfortable in accepting the fact that animals are being killed for us to eat.

1. Although I would never criticize people for killing animals to eat (it's a personal choice), I certainly feel that I can't feel disdain for the slaughtering process while continuing to eat meat myself.
2. Under ordinary circumstances, if given the chance, I would not be able to kill and butcher an animal (even fish) in order to eat—unless I was absolutely starving.
3. In today's society there are many alternate products that would make a vegetarian diet more interesting.

I am now in my third month and counting...

What the heck is that?

Have you ever walked through the produce section of a supermarket, looked  at some of the unfamiliar fruits and vegetable and thought—"what the heck is that"?

Chayote Squash

A few years back when a fruit and vegetable market moved into our neighbourhood, I had just that experience. The market carried a wide variety of  Asian, Caribbean and South American foods—some of which I never seen before. The curiosity built until I took the plunge and bought a green, wrinkly fruit that I had no idea how to eat or prepare (or more importantly what it would taste like).  A few Google clicks later and I was newly educated on how to cook "stuffed chayote". It was delicious...and it started a passion for hunting down and trying new (unusual) ingredients in my cooking.

A couple of years of exposure to eating new foods has led to me to expand into trying vegetarian, vegan and raw food recipes.

This blog will be a way for me to share my experiences, musings and recipes as a newly converted vegetarian.