The Meat Meltdown

My dislike of meat started at age 14.  My sweet friend, Mindy Johnson, brought an animal cruelty book to lunch one day in High School.  I remember exactly where I was sitting in the cafeteria that day when I read the book.  I haven't touched pork or beef in the 20 years since I have read that book.

For several years, I did not eat chicken or fish either.  As time went on, I felt pressured by coaches and adults to add some animal protein back into my diet so I would be a "healthier athlete."  I bought into it, and morphed into a some weird sort of vegetarian that never touched pork or beef, but ate chicken even though I hated it.  I still hate it, but try to force it from time to time.

As I get older, my compassion for animals grows daily.  I never thought that was possible.  I have always loved animals.  Yet, as I get older, I find that my need to be a better person is even more intricately tied to the way I treat the world and its beautiful creatures.  The need for me to have a positive relationship with the earth gets stronger as the days go by.  I just don't want to be connected in any way to cruelty.  

So imagine my mini-meltodown today when the doctor told me that I was to resume eating meats, along with a total diet change beyond that.  (The rest of the food plan is very plant based- I can handle that, and it is a really great plan).  I just simply told him no.  Not only am I not eating meat, but I no longer want to eat chicken.

That is a lie.  I didn't simply tell him no.  I had a full on cry-fest in the office where I not-so-calmly explained that I would not be eating meat.  There is no research in the world that I  have seen at this point that says I have to eat meat to be a good athlete.

ahem....Scott Jurek.  

Imagine my frustration (and disgust), when the nurse also offered her $.01 by telling me that "if I were here daughter....blah blah....eat meat for 4 weeks.....blah blah."  I was sitting there thinking, REALLY?  I am 34-years-old!  I am NOT your daughter!  My brain and ability to make decisions, form preferences, and make choices happened a long time ago.  You are talking to a fully functional adult, missy!

I realize research can go both ways, but for every research article on the benefits of Paleo, there is an opposite and just as compelling research article on eating a plant based diet with studies showing correlations between eating meat and disease.  You could spend a life time trying to educate yourself on nutrition and never know enough. 

Are we truly carnivores?  I am not here to judge.  I don't care how anyone else eats.  I just want my ability to choose.  I made that choice 20 years ago, and while I always reserve the right to change my mind, I would like to just stay the course right now. 

So, I am standing my ground, and we can work around it.  There are still some lines that need to be drawn in the sand....