So this time around I'm trying it in stages. For the first two months I've cut beef and pork out of the diet -- it's just poultry and fish. I've pretty much gotten used to it, and I'm trying to eat a salad a day, which isn't going as well, but getting better.
But as far as limiting the meat I eat, I find it odd that I have to explain it so much.
Such as one of my classmates, who didn't understand what the benefit was of avoiding the cafeteria sausage. "Oh, sausage is made of pork?"
Or when I went to Taco Bueno, and asked if the Chicken Club Burrito didn't have any meat in it other than chicken, and made me feel like a dork as he scoffed at me. "It is a CHICKEN club."
And he didn't understand why I was mad because it had bacon in it.
"I think it's a chicken bacon," he said.
The worst might have been at 7-Eleven; all the stores in OKC are selling odd items and foods to raise money for MDA. Yesterday was a guy selling barbecue beef brisket sandwiches, and was giving me the hard sell as two clerks and some other dude were standing around chatting.
"I don't eat red meat," I declined.
The one of the clerks tried to help the guy out. "Well what about brown meat?" she said.
Everyone laughed at her apparent joke -- until she asked them why they were laughing and one of them had to explain it to her.
Is it any wonder this country's getting fatter?
15 comments:
Chicken bacon! Ha!
I often find myself having to explain to co-workers why I'm not leaping over my desk and sprinting down the hall to snarf up whatever blarfy dessert someone has brought in.
Good luck sticking with it, G. Try to limit your interactions with people; that should help.
G, I have been eating a salad a day. Spinach and arugula. I stole the idea from you. I need to lose 20 pounds by Thursday to impress my doctor.
You should say, "I only eat fish and fowl. And sugar-free Jelly-bellies."
Erin gives good advice about people. As our beloved Fran Lebowitz says, G: "People. Everyone talks about them, but no one does anything about them."
Yeah, Erin, getting out of the newsroom has helped me cut on sweets. People bringing cookies and brownies and all the good stuff I shouldn't have.
And I agree with kc in that you're right, and not just when it comes to eating healthy; this nursing stuff would be so much easier if it weren't for those darn sick people.
Arugula. Hmmm ... I'll have to try that. I've just been having baby spinach and garden salad -- the kind you buy pre-mixed in a plastic bag.
Gawd, George. You should have seen the two behemoth, lard-covered cakes we had yesterday (and leftovers today) to celebrate Wooley's and Dennis' retirements. No one seemed to understand why I didn't want any.
With most people I just ducked the question, but with a few, I said, "I need to regulate my sugar or it's going to kill me." One person replied, "It's just a piece of cake! It won't kill you!"
Why in the world can't they just say, "Good for you! Let's be supportive and not pester her about why she weirdly won't eat the freakin' cake!"
I hate people sometimes. And I would kill several of them right now for cheese-covered french fries.
Yeah, Sharon -- the best was the World's vegetarian potluck send-off for Jenny and me, complete with grilled steak and barbecue chicken.
It is very hard to not eat meat in this country especially this state. But your experience reminds me of this exchange from The Simpsons...
Homer: Are you saying you're never going to eat any animal again? What about bacon?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Ham?
Lisa: No.
Homer: Pork chops?
Lisa: Dad, those all come from the same animal.
Homer: Heh heh heh. Ooh, yeah, right, Lisa. A wonderful, magical animal.
You could, of course, accumulate a nice little list of factoids to try and guilt trip people about their bad eating habits and their desire to push such food on you. But it actually is pretty hard to come up with any that work. Tell them that it takes 18,000 gallons of water to produce a pound of beef and they might just say oh? is that a lot? Cluelessness is an amazing armor.
Almost all of the people I spend much time with are people I choose to be around. It is one of the benefits of not having a “real” job. My climbing friends are mostly New Age earthy types. I make fun of their wacky beliefs, but they are friendly and they eat well. If I was ever to try and work in an office, I’d have to wear earphones all the time even if I wasn’t listening to music. The doctor says I need to for mental health.
George, I still have a copy of your screenplay "Beat the Meet." Wanna read it?
DW, unfortunately my sister is the worst, and I can't avoid her. I've only cheated once, and that's because last week she brought home ribs, and I couldn't resist one.
Ugh, Austin I can't believe you sill have that! Sure, send it to me.
If your resolve ever weakens, George, just remember that Wade Boggs ate chicken before every game, and never ate red meat.
Maybe if you eat chicken before every class your head could be in a Futurama episode, too!
From that episode: "Wade Boggs goes down smooth!" -- Henry Aaron XXIV, after drinking out of the jar containing Wade Boggs's head.
Wow, "The Simpsons" and "Futurama" quotes on one post!
Chicken for breakfast? I don't know -- seems like a fowl way to start the day.
Ouch. Are making really bad puns the secret reason people start blogs?
That's a great flying pig picture, by the way.
Of course not, DW!
There's no secret about it.
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