Becoming a Conscious Omnivore

After completing several books on nutrition, ranging from vegan/raw foodist to vegetarian to omnivore, I have decided that I am an omnivore who eats a heavily plant-based diet. In the last book I read, Michael Pollan makes compelling claims in his best-selling "The Omnivore's Dilemma" that got me thinking about the American diet, food production, and what it means to eat. I agree with Pollan that food is a cultural, ritualistic, and social experience and I believe, to America's detriment, we have turned it into a life-less commodity.
Many of us spend our days avoiding or resisting this or that food and indulging in the latest diet trend. I have been a culprit of this American tradition. In fact, with each of the books I have read on nutrition, I have made new declarations about what I am going to put into my body and what I am going to avoid. This approach to nutrition has proven to be silly and a little psychotic (just ask Ryan). So although, I want to avoid processed foods (flour and sugar) and dairy products (because they make my stomach hurt), I do not want to swear off cappuccinos, sautéing with butter, or enjoying the occasional home-made chocolate chip cookie (Ryan makes the BEST).
The only diet/lifestyle change that makes sense is committing to eating locally grown food and grass-fed meat/dairy. Decreasing the amount of fuel that goes into my food and getting to know the producers of what I eat will benefit the environment and myself. I feel blessed to live in Southern California where so many wonderful foods are grown (some of them year-round). I want to taste what Southern California has to offer rather than what Mexico, Peru, or Spain can produce to fill in our gaps in production of red bell peppers, blueberries, or tomatoes. This lifestyle change will not only benefit my diet, but will make traveling necessary especially if I want to taste the fresh, delicious sweetness of a local banana.
My favorite founding father, Benjamin Franklin, reflects in his autobiography "the greatest advantage of being a 'reasonable creature' is that you can find a reason for whatever you want to do.” Being a conscious omnivore and a ‘reasonable creature” means that I must make responsible choices about what I put into my mouth. I want to enjoy food and enjoy it with my family and friends. I don’t want to put so many restrictions on my diet to suck the joy out of one of life’s greatest pleasures and only reap guilt or frustration when I break my own rules. I also don’t want to make myself a burden on my family and friends because of what I swear off. I do, however, propose that my friends and family consider the ramifications of our food choices (just because the price tag is cheap or it is convenient in the moment does not mean it is the best choice). I challenge you to consider what you put on the dinner table, where it came from, who grew it, and who is benefiting from your eating it?

Tonight is date night. I am making a fresh vegan meal. On the menu is:
Whole grain herb bread
Artichoke salad parfaits
Portobello and green bean ragout with a California dry red wine

A Sunday Stroll

Ominous black clouds rolled over the mountains in the north threatening the highly anticipated weekend showers, while electric blue skies stretched south generously sprinkled by cotton candy clouds.  The sun peaked its head out in spells and the air smelled crisp and dewy.  It was the perfect LA morning for a stroll.

Ryan and I started on our usual path across Avenue 64 away from speeding cars into the quiet neighborhood hugging the Arroyo.  After traversing the first hill my itch for adventure took us in a new direction.  Instead of a usual left, we went right.  This path led us to the Arroyo bridge where we stood for a long while watching people jog, walk, and ride horses on the dirt path below us.

As we stood above and observed the rain water run, we watched a mom push her baby, a dad jog, and two equestrians leisurely trotting.  It is a simple pleasure to watch people go about their daily business and make choices that mean nothing to me but have been reflected upon by them because of their preferences or responsibilities.

Interview Update

I had my interview for a foreign language exchange program.  I did great answering questions intelligently and thoroughly, until they asked me to teach a lesson on Thanksgiving pretending that the panel of interviewers are my new non-English speaking school children.

I was caught with my pants down.  I did not know what to do, so I started by sharing my name.   I wrote Mrs. Green on the provided whiteboard and overheard one of the interviewers say "Ahh, Mrs."   To teach my name I pointed to a green paper on one of the "student's" desks.  (At this point I should have repeated my name and had them repeat it, then had them share their names but in the moment I was lost).  While I stood speechless in front of the panel of "school children," one of the interviewers played her part perfectly... calling out in her native language to me and the other "students."

This role playing went on for a good five minutes before I had the bright idea to sing Happy Birthday to the American Colonies.  They watched me perform this universal sing-song with looks of disbelief or pity, I am not sure which better describes their faces, I tried not to look.  Finally, after another couple of grueling minutes, they relieved me of my embarrassment and lack of preparation.

I am undecided on whether or not that was a brilliant follow-up to their question: "What American holiday would you want to teach our students?" or if it was a cruel way to weed me out of the selection process.

What do you think?