Something Smells Good in the Kitchen

I've been a vegetarian for around three months now, and I've never been more content with my food and how I feel after eating it. In social gatherings my change in eating habits usually comes as a shock to family members and co-workers, and I'm inevitably asked, "What made you become a vegetarian?" It's a rather plain story really. My good friend Kate was a vegetarian (just went back to eating vegan a few days ago) and I was convinced, after taking a peek into her refrigerator to see all of the delicious food she ate, that I wanted to eat as a vegetarian did.

Meat was always a part of my life up until a few months ago. Before this recent change, I ate fast food, drank soda, snacked without discretion, and led a sedentary lifestyle. I was a real couch potato! I never really gave my food much thought; never made a conscious decision as to what I was eating. I was unaware that food could be healthy or fun. Nowadays, I think of my body as a machine that needs the right kind of fuel to properly maintain itself. I try not to put anything into my "machine" that wouldn't have it operating at full capacity - that means sticking mostly to natural foods like fruits and vegetables, cutting back on processed snacks, no more soda, and getting my vitamins. If it's true what they say, that you are what you eat, in the last few months I've become a banana covered in peanut butter.

Becoming a vegetarian has ushered in two lifestyle changes for me: exercising regularly and the development of a new relationship with my parents. I'm a lot more active than I used to be and as a result I've seen positive changes in my body and improvements to my general state of being. I've also taken up a spot in our family kitchen, cooking all of my own meals and at least once a week I make a meal for the whole family. Taking responsibility for dinner and Sunday breakfast each week has changed the relationship I have with my parents because I am finally at a point where I can contribute something to the family.

If you're at all interested in learning more about being a vegetarian or trying some vegetarian dishes, check out this link: http://www.vegcooking.com/