A Life-Changing Decision

As some of you may noticed, over the last few months, the recipes on my blog have become increasingly meat-less. And as most of you know, my other half is a vegetarian. Z and I have been dating for over two years, and during that time, I have eaten less and less meat. Two of the things we enjoy most are going out to eat and cooking together - and my palate has changed. When we go out to eat now, I find myself ordering breakfast sandwiches without bacon (I never thought that would happen), and choosing homemade black bean burgers over the beef or turkey varieties - all by choice.

In addition to my changing palate, I have also recently read Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma, and am now (finally) reading Fast Food Nation - two novels that have given me a horrific look into the meat-packing industry. I've discovered that the majority of meat I grew up eating isn't really meat at all. And since my diet has included less and less meat over time, I actually feel ill after eating a regular meal's worth of it.

Over the last several years, my almost meat-less diet has also made me feel better, mentally and physically. I can honestly say I've never felt healthier - and I've always been a pretty healthy girl. And at the end of the summer, Z and I will be moving in together - another exciting bit of news! - and I know I won't be cooking a steak in a pan that he will later have to cook his own vegetarian meal in.

So, earlier this week, I made the executive decision - after a long time coming - to become a full-blown vegetarian. Now, I still don't know if that includes me eating seafood or not - I am going to play that one by ear - but at this time, I'm planning on a lacto-ovo diet. And I'm pretty damn excited about it.

Now, this does not mean The EE will become an all vegetarian, all the time blog - no way. I still support eating meat 100%, and plan to have more guest blog posts with omnivorous recipes. I will also still support and promote local restaurant's events, etc. that involve meat. Nothing on this blog will change except for the fact that I won't be eating meat.

When I started out as a food writer back in 2005, I never thought the day would come that I would never eat meat again. I pored over Jeffrey Steingarten's work like an obsessive teenager, and dreamed of the day I would travel the world to eat things like Haggis, beef tongue, and other exotic dishes. But over time, and after falling in love with a vegetarian who has a passion for food as strong as mine, the desire to eat meat has increasingly diminished. I still plan to travel the world and do as many restaurant reviews as possible - it will just now be from a healthier, meat-less perspective. A perspective I secretly wish I developed years ago.

If you're not already a vegetarian - would you ever consider sticking to a vegetarian diet? Why or why not?

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