Oops!

Okay, it has been forever since I have written. I am about half way through the year and learned so much about food and mostly me. I'm failing miserably at eating the Word of Wisdom way. I just don't seem to be able to commit to it. By that I mean keeping it vegetarian. And yes, I know the Word of Wisdom is not totally about being a vegetarian, on the contrary. But I believe it IS about making meat more of a condiment than a main course. I am eating much, much less meat and have a higher consciousness of NOT eating meat. I think I've done well with that. But I have learned so much about me through this journey and that has been the best part so far. We are all works in progress and I'm still trying to figure it all out.
Talk to you soon.

Day 54 - March 6, 2010

It's been a long time since I've written. I'm still at it. In fact it seems like old news. I haven't noticed any real benefits because I can't seem to keep at it without slipping here or there, just a wee bit, from time to time.
A week ago, I had company, and trying to use up the meat in my freezer, I made a weekend full of meat meals. I only had a little bit. I never really "pigged" (ha) out on any of the meaty stuff, but I did have a little.
It is interesting to me when I look back on my life. For so many years, eating nutritionally meant having a good serving of meat, a salad, a cooked vegetable and a serving of fruit. I thought I was being a good wife and mother if I served my family a meal like that. And I was a really good provider if I made a dessert each night. I fed my family that way day after day and year after year for a very long time. I still find myself reverting back to those habits from time to time. At least my thoughts wander over that way.
To eat the way I am eating now would have seemed so far out there. It would have been so extreme. But it seems so common sense and such an obvious choice to me now. I guess I have come a long way.

Days 38-41 - Feb. 18-21, 2010

I went out of town. I stayed with my daughter and I did pretty well. I ate with them and tried not to over indulge. I did make one huge blunder. I went to a fast food drive through and caved when I was really hungry. I didn't suffer any major reprecussions other than emotionally feeling like I let myself down.
Yesterday, I started again in earnest. I'm feeling better than ever!

Day 37 - Feb. 17, 2010

I know this is so boring. I wish I hadn't told anyone I was journeling about this. Today, I had the turkey dinner leftovers (I sent all the rest of the leftovers home with my family, but kept one plateful). I couldn't finish it. It made me kind of sick. So I threw most of it away. Even the stuffing just didn't do it for me. So I had something much more healthier, a hot dog. Ack! And meanwhile two bags of salad are rotting in the frig. What is up with that? Sometimes, somedays, I just feel kind of hopeless.

Days 33-36 - Feb.13 - 16, 2010

I've been pretty busy lately. I haven't written in awhile. I made a big turkey dinner for Valentine's Day. It seemed appropriate. I loved the smell in the house and it reminded me of many happy times feasting around a table with loved ones, laughing and talking...
My granddaughter said it was sad that a turkey had to die for us to have it for dinner. I thought she was really right about that. What used to be my favorite meal was not such a pleasure this time. All I tasted was grease and all I could think of was that poor turkey living in some dark barn somewhere, never having any life at all so I could cook him up someday. I felt heavy and weighed down. I felt kind of sick after indulging in that meal although I really only took just a little meat.
In the beginning when I contemplated becoming a vegetarian or vegan, I always considered it the healthiest way to eat. I didn't care so much about the suffering of animals. I didn't think about that at all. But now, when I want to eat meat, I see all that suffering and cruelty and think I really don't want to be a part of that anymore. Not only is it not healthy to eat meat, I believe, it just isn't morally right either.

Day 32 - Feb. 12, 2010

Okay, so I had some meat today. Horrors! I had company and had to use up my turkey in the freezer. So I chopped it up really fine and mixed it in a gravy. I definitely can say I ate the meat sparingly so that was good. That meal was a real comfort food kind of meal. I don't really care anymore if I go without meat. I haven't craved a big juicy hamburger for quite a while. (ever since I started making my own veggie burgers, that is a blessing) Mashed potatoes with turkey and gravy is a real tastebud pleasing meal but I just felt bloated and uncomfortable afterwards. That is one thing, when I eat mostly fruits and veggies I never have that weighed down feeling. I always have more energy and feel lighter...all over.

Day 31 - Feb. 11, 2010

One of the things that impresses me about the Word of Wisdom is the use of the word "thanksgiving."
D&C 89 : 11 states, ..."all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving."
D&C 89:12 says, ..."I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving..."

We must always remember to give thanks.
When I am in a group of people and it is time to eat, I always make sure we say a prayer. But when I am alone, I forget...a lot. That is so sad and I need to do better about that. Clearly it has been commanded that we eat with thanksgiving. Always, always we need to remember exactly where all this wonderful food came from and who is responsible for giving it to us. It is a very important part of eating.