Why We Went "Almost" Organic Vegetarian

GM Foods... Monsanto... High Fructose Corn Syrup... Hydrogenated Oils... PINK SLIME...

I'm sure most of you have heard of at least one of those lovely terms. Especially lately with all of the news stories breaking on pink slime. These terms are just a few of the reasons my family has made the decision to go "almost" organic Vegetarian. I have to say "almost" because I still plan one meat based meal a week and we still eat eggs, yogurt and "stinky" cheese :) As my friend Brittany likes to say, we are striving for a more plant based diet!

 

 

 
When my daughter was born we became much more aware of what we put in our bodies. As much as possible we stayed away from HFCS and Hydrogenated Oils. We were are those crazy parents who limit sweets (no sugar until her 1st birthday), don't keep chips in the house, have never bought a fruit snack and soda/tea/anything but water/milk/pure juice stays away. Has she missed out on having those things? Certainly not! And frankly, we don't shelter her, so when it comes to school and soccer/ballet/birthday parties she eats what the other kids eat, but she knows it isn't something that is good for your body all the time. And now when we sit down for lunch and I ask her what she wants to eat she says... SALAD! **Proud Momma**

However, a few months back my husband started doing a lot of research on the government's involvement in food production. If you have ever seen 'Food Inc.' you get a taste of what I am talking about. It is scary stuff.

With our recent decision for me to be a full time homemaker we knew that, as much as we wanted to, we couldn't afford to buy all organic meat, ingredients, and veggies all the time. However, what we could do was stop eating meat every night and save up our money for organic produce and grass fed meat when we did make that purchase.

 (like our bacon burger on last weeks spinach pizza... hey, when we do meat, we do MEAT!)

So far it is going great! And honestly, what started as a money saving tool has become a lifestyle preference. We feel better, have more energy and despite popular belief, my once constipated exclusively breastfed son poops more! I have really enjoyed the challenge of finding meat free recipes and cooking clean for my family.

Does this mean if we have already made one meat meal that week and we are with a friend who is serving meat we will turn it down? NO WAY! We are not super strict or crazy about it. It is a preference and we use it as a guideline. We believe these choices should enhance your life instead of hinder your life.

I look forward to sharing our journey and the recipes I discover along the way.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Romans 12:1-2 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Have you ever limited your meat consumption?

Did you notice a difference in the way you felt?