Tuesday, February 28, 2012

still on the veggie track

My transition to a vegetarian diet is moving well.  I planned to initially eliminate animal flesh from breakfast and lunch--the low-hanging fruit--and slowly move away from meat at dinner.  I have nearly gone completely without meat or poultry.  It really wasn't hard.  Of course, I am also not being especially spartan about it, eggs, dairy, tuna--a piece of cake!  I feel better too.  Nothing crazy, my body just feels lighter, and no, I haven't lost any noticeable weight as yet, so that's not it.  I have some cilantro to finish washing and preparing to go into tomorrow's sofrito and the week's beans.  I think my Indian cookbook is going to come in very handy.  I am also not ruling out a real burger here and there, but not for awhile I think. 

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Becoming a Vegetarian?

Of late, I have been thinking of both health and sustainability, and oh yes--those PETA commercials!  PETA strikes me a female dominated organization and these ads are a little surprising.  I think they are simply trying to lure us guys to their lifestyle with sex--how typical, assuming guys will do anything for sex.  Anyway, for unrelated reasons, I've been thinking I should try becoming a vegetarian.  The inefficiency of meat eating is hard to justify.  In a world of shrinking resources and a booming population its even harder to accept the waste that our meat-heavy lifestyle is based on.  I am not squeamish about eating animals, though I prefer they be slaughtered as considerately as possible.  They weren't going to live forever anyway.  I also prefer that their quality of life before death be pretty good as well.  Its good for the meat and better for my conscience.  I don't plan to become a total vegetarian or a vegan--my health comes first.  I am planning to start by eliminating meat from breakfast and lunch, which is pretty easy, I think.  I started a few days ago and so far so good.  I plan on including dairy, eggs and fish.  I probably will not object to free-range chicken or meat on occasion, but who knows, excluding it may really take.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Long way home

Today the weather was so wonderful I decided to take the long way home.  It was a modification of my ride along the East River that I take after my guitar lessons.  It's a beautiful ride.  There is a promenade/bikeway along much of the way right up to 34th Street and it is very tastefully laid out.  Along the way I stopped at Bath & Body Works on Lexington Avenue where I picked up some C.O. Bigelow Shaving Cream with Eucalyptus Oil.  It is intended to complement my new shaving routine with the safety razor, which is working out quite nicely.  Between a beautiful ride and such affordable pleasures--the Bigelow product was on sale 3 for $10.00--I felt quite fortunate to be able to luxuriate so.  I came up South Street by the Seaport, which is well south of where I usually meet the river and I was pleased to find some development of a bikeway that far downtown.  The good long stretch of traffic free riding and pleasant venue more than made up for the added distance.  The city was beautifully lit up, which it always is, but it was easier to enjoy today.