Why I Went Vegetarian
About two months ago, I decided to go vegetarian. I’d like to be able to tell you it was because of some form of moral outrage about how animals are treated, and while there is an element of that, the main reason was simple: I needed to change my relationship with food1.
If you’ve met me, you’ll know that I’m fat. No, not just fat…obese. I have a definite problem with seeing food as a reward, something to be an emotional comfort, instead as a source of nutrition. When I was commuting to work a few years ago, I would stop for two bagels with cream cheese on the way to work, and pick up two McDonald’s double cheeseburgers on the way home every day, but then I would have my normal meal with the family on top of it. Why? It’s the same reason some folks have a drink after work, it made me feel better, allowed me to de-stress.
I went vegetarian because it sets up a strong and clear line for me and forces me to think about everything I shove into my face. It has eliminated any stopping at all at fast food places, because if I cannot get the fat and salt of the meat, there’s no real reward. At parties and gatherings, it helps me moderate my food intake because I need to think about what I want to eat, not just fall into the flow and grab whatever is in front of me. I’ll admit, I’ve fallen off the wagon, but when I have done so, I’ve come to regret it2.
I’ve been reading about the science of food a lot over the last few months as well, about how different things foods cause our brains to feel comfort, happiness, even something similar to mini-orgasms with the right combination of chemicals. This report from CNN was interesting:
Embedded video from <a href=”http://www.cnn.com/video” mce_href=”http://www.cnn.com/video”>CNN Video</a>
This is not a pity party, and this is not an attempt to blame the food industry for my problem. It’s my personal responsibility to stand for myself again the tide, and I strongly believe that. However, I do find it interesting and disturbing just how the food industry, like the cigarette companies before them, use marketing and chemistry to create a social norm and provide an emotional experience regardless of consequence. Food can become the ultimate addiction, especially when specifically engineered to provide an emotional response. You can give up cigarettes, but how do you give up food? I think there is a discussion to be had there, and I think that’s fodder for a future essay.
I’m not telling you this so you can hear the strains of violins and weep for my unfortunate condition.. Far from it. I bring this up because I know there are lots of other people out there like me. I’m hoping that by talking about this, I can bring some of the issues out into the open. It’s one thing to sit in a theatre and watch Super Size Me, but it’s another to be sitting in the car, driving home, resisting the strong urge to stop and get something to eat because it’s been a hard day, and by god, you deserve it.
Expect more from me on this topic. They say to write what you know, and food issues…well…yeah. I know those all too well.
- God, I hate how fluffy that sounds. But I cannot find another way to put it. Bear with me.[back]
- Going to Schmidt’s while at Origins was not the brightest move.[back]
Originally published at Unquiet Desperation. You can comment here or there.