Vegetarian Love! And cute little animals!

A couple of months ago I stopped eating meat and I've never felt better in my life. It was a personal choice. Ever since I adopted my sweet little rescue pup, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and later, my handsome tuxedo kitty, Catsanova, I've felt growing in my spirit a deeper connection to all animals and to this beautiful planet we call home. We had pets when I was a child, but we moved frequently, sometimes even a few times a year, and as a result we usually weren't able to keep animals with us for long. 

Catsanova! Stupid's descendant?

We had a beautiful blue eyed, white Persian cat named Priscilla for a couple of years and that was the longest animal attachment I recall. My Papa Buddy had a cat for 17 years named Stupid. He adored the cat, and Stupid (who was black and white and looked exactly like Catsanova) was a devoted companion of my beloved grandfather. Catsanova literally just walked in our door one hot summer afternoon last year! He was tiny, about 4 or 5 months old, the vet supposed. I was immediately struck by how closely he resembled my Papa's familiar. Anyway, in the 2 years that have passed since I adopted Cinnamon, and nearly a year since Catsanova strutted into my life, I have come to deeply love and appreciate all animals. 

Grandma & Papa in the 80s

Even as a kid, I've always loved fruits and veggies more than any other food. (Except, maybe, chocolate.) Tomatoes in particular, and anything tomato related, have been my favorite food since I was about 3. I'd walk outside with my mom, Wendy, and pick cherry tomatoes right off the vine beside my grandparents' house and munch happily away. Mr. Pacer, a kind man who lived down the street and kept a decent sized veggie farm in the land behind his house (which was turned into a parking lot a dozen or so years ago), used to bring a large box by for me every year to enjoy. My great aunt Sissy and her husband Tom also grew a large garden every year; she'd give us tomatoes and cucumbers by the box. I loved going to her house and eating fresh green beans, salad, potatoes and carrots I'd helped dig up and more. She'd can some at the end of the Virginia growing season and we'd continue to enjoy the earth's bounty all winter long. One Easter, rather than requesting Peeps (which I still to this day am disgusted by) or candy, I asked for a basket full of exotic fruits I'd read about and, of course, tomatoes. I was 9 that spring, to turn 10 that September. I've always eaten vegetation more than anything else, and have had long periods in my life that were vegetarian, but until recently I hadn't made the commitment to stay true to my natural inclinations.

 My family, in typical Southern style, ate a 

Healthy home cooking

lot of meat and potatoes, chicken & dumplings, fried fish, biscuits, ham, bacon, eggs and all that down home artery-clogging cultural crap. Sorry to be so crass. I certainly don't mean to offend but the ugly truth is that most people in the US haven't had it stressed to them what the cumulative effects of all that "food" on their bodies will be, then people wonder why they have heart attacks and diabetes, obesity and low energy. In our society, people are so sensitive to taking offense - don't say "fat", it's "big". Fat sounds mean. I'm not a mean person but I am concerned about the health of our nation, particularly people I love. It doesn't seem possible that Americans are genetically predisposed to being "big" and elsewhere all over the world, others aren't. It's got to be lifestyle related and certainly what we eat is huge - no pun intended. Literally, we become what we eat - our bodies create new cells using the food we eat. Some of that, most of that in many people, becomes fat or waste. Most people walk around with pounds of waste rotting in their intestines. Disgusting! 

California Caprese sala

As someone who grew up in a place and family where there was ignorance around food (and that's not to say that my family was unloving, they just were unaware), it wasn't until recently, at nearly 32 years old, that I began really learning about nutrition and digestion. Thanks to the internet, I've learned about food combining, acid-base balance, and to avoid as much as possible genetically modified (GMO) and non-organic foods. In fact our bodies are slightly alkaline (base). Most peoples diets are primarily acid producing. That means the bodies of the masses are in a constant struggle to maintain blood alkalinity, and that leads to disease. Ideally, we should eat 80% alkaline (base) and 20% acid producing foods. Drinking water with lemon, or alkalized water, greatly helps our bodies stay healthy.

Useful chart about acid - base (alkaline) balance. Consume 80% Alkaline for optimal health & wellness!

Cinnamon, the 1st day I rescued her

One of the biggest reasons I became a vegetarian (who still eats seafood on occasion, but doesn't feel like a "pescetarian") is that if times were different - if we lived as our ancestors did hundreds, even thousands of years ago - and I had to raise animals, look them in the face every day, and eventually kill, skin and cook them - I absolutely could not. I just couldn't, I wouldn't do it. To me it's violent and unjust. If I can survive, and in fact, thrive and feel better than ever, without meat, why eat it? Not to mention that times have changed since hundreds of years ago - meat is an industry that tortures animals, injects them with chemicals, and then sells it neatly packaged as "what's for dinner". How disgusting and barbaric. I just can't be a part of it in any way. And now, I can look animals in the eye, with love, feeling calm and happy in our peaceful coexistence.

Juicing for life

My fav - sauteed greens with tomatoes, avocado & more

I'm not consciously judging others who don't share my opinion, but I have never looked or felt better, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I wish everyone could feel this good! I prepare and drink a green juice every day with organic kale, spinach, apples, lemon, ginger, carrots, cucumbers, pears, whatever I'm able to get fresh locally. In California, we're fortunate to have amazing farmers markets constantly offering an endless variety of fruits, veggies, fresh baked bread, flowers, herbs and more. I try as much as possible to buy from local farmers and whenever possible, choose organic. I'm satisfied with so much less than before! I think that since what I'm putting in my body is exponentially better for me, I naturally need less to feel full. I've also gotten really creative experimenting with some great veg recipes that have turned out delicious! I still indulge occasionally. I love a good glass of wine and delectable desserts. If I have a plate of pasta or some pizza, I truly enjoy it. I've come to take so much pleasure in being good to my body! It's a wonderful way to live, surrounded by the unconditional love of my animal companions, eating fresh locally grown offerings that nourish my body, mind and spirit.




Here's to looking and feeling great!

Love,

Tiff