Why I Don't Eat {much} Meat

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When we moved to the DC area about 2 1/2 years ago, we decided it was time to complete the change we had been inching our way towards since we were married.  I stopped buying meat.  I say "buying meat" instead of "eating meat," because we do have a few exceptions:

• When we are guests, we are happy to eat whatever is served
• When we go out to eat Andrew will often order something with meat, though I tend not to
• We often include meat on the menu for the major holidays: Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas
• We do eat fish, shrimp, crab, and other seafoods occasionally, so I guess we're technically "pescetarians," but that's a funny term

I have found many reasons to have a vegetarian diet, and a lot of confusing information out there, and want to add mine to the conversation.  So here they are, in order from most important for me to least important:

My reasons for having a {mostly} vegetarian diet

• Word of Wisdom


• In the LDS Church, our guidelines for health (where we learn not to drink alcohol or coffee, etc) come from the "Word of Wisdom."  In this scripture, it states:
•  12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
•  13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
•  15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
• I feel like that's pretty clear language that states that I shouldn't be eating meat, almost ever.


• Health


• There is a lot of controversy in this area.  I have not done deep study on the subject, but in my limited research and reading, the science seems to support avoiding meat.  "The China Study," "Eat to Live," and "Disease-Proof your Child" are books I recommend.  I have also read and scanned some long, technical criticisms of "The China Study" (and the rebuttals that followed), and it seems like the science still holds.
• The documentary "Forks Over Knives" makes a compelling case.
• I also feel better and healthier when I am on a plant-based diet.  My husband and I both feel like we are as healthy and fit as we've ever been.

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• Environment
• There are many environmental benefits of not eating meat.  I won't list them all here, but here are a few thoughts:
• In its 2006 report, the United Nations said raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined.
• There is a huge waste cost to maintaining and processing meat.  
• Animal Rights
• I won't do the research for you because it isn't pretty, but we've all seen pictures and videos about the horrific conditions in which most animals are kept when they're to be used as food.  Thankfully there are responsible ways to purchase meat from “happy cows” and “happy chickens,” and for those purchasing meat, where it comes from and how the animals were treated should be a priority. I also recommend the film, “Food, Inc.” which addresses the topic broadly, but has a focus on animal rights.
• Cost
• Meat is expensive, especially good meat (that reduces the environmental, health and animal rights costs).
• We don't eat many "meat substitutes" (which can be expensive), but our diet is quite cheap.  Beans are much cheaper than meat.  A quick glance around the internet led me to think that overall, it's usually cheaper to eat vegetarian food.  It's always the cheapest option at a restaurant!
• Preference
• The less I eat meat, the less I like it.  Vegetables are now my favorite part of any meal, and seem to be on the whole more flavorful (when prepared well) than meat.
• Vegetables and fruits are beautiful

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I may have opened a can of worms with this post.  I welcome your comments!

Visualizations from Conception to Birth

Happy New Year!

Take a few minutes and enjoy this awe-inspiring Ted talk by Alexander Tsiaras. I love that someone so steeped in the scientific community will openly attribute creation to divinity. 

The more you know, the more you realize how much you don't know. Enjoy.

Favorite Apps

This Christmas I was the happy/blessed/lucky recipient of a new iPad Mini.

I'm pretty excited.  Occupying my mind for the last few days is how exactly to help this awesome device reach it's potential.  I want it to help and serve me, but I want to be careful to ensure it does not take over and become the "master" and me the "servant."   

Andrew has an iPad 1, so I have some idea of what apps I like and what apps I think I'll use the most.  Here are my initial thoughts about what apps I think I'll use the most. These are all free unless otherwise stated.

Gmail--I like this better than the mail app that comes with the iPad.

Awesome Note--true to its name.  It can do so much.  It's $5, and it's totally worth it.  It can organize your lists of any kind in any way you can imagine.  It syncs with your google calendar, google docs, and youc an share things on email.  You can keep your journal in it, file pictures for a travel journal, etc etc.  That doesn't begin to cover it.  One list I'm excited to make is an "Abe Quotes" and "Ben Quotes."  I can type in their quote, and take a picture of them right when they say it, and I always have all their funny quotes, filed chronologically, with a picture!

I'm used to this LDS Scriptures app, but I heard the  Gospel Library app is getting better, and that it syncs with your lds.org account so you have your markings, etc stored online.  Any thoughts?  

Mormon Chanel is really great. Conference archives, Mormon Messages, interviews and other programs that inspire and uplift.

Instagram-I'm still figuring this out.  I don't want/need another social network, but it seems like a great way to share photos between close family.  For those of you late on the bandwagon (like me), with Instagram you can take a picture and quickly edit it to make it look old (and as though you meant to take a grainy picture).

NPR--'nuff said

TuneIn Radio--This app lets you listen to radio from all over the world.  It's a great way to keep up on my languages while doing dishes!

TED--another great dishes app.  Lectures on lots of fascinating subjects.

iBooks--Seems like the best ebooks app.

Deseret Book--It comes with a bunch of free good books ("Jesus the Christ," "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith," etc.)

Audiobooks--This app offers tons of free audiobooks, again from the public domain! You can download them so you don't need to be connected to wi-fi to listen. We had a good time listening to "The Invisible Man" on a recent road trip.

Barefoot Atlas--My favorite kid's app. It let's you explore places all over the world and learn about people, cultures, etc. This one costs $5.

PuppetPals HD--Another good one for kids, where they can make little "plays."

BYUTV--Some good programs (we do a lot of dishes); the speeches are great, but we also like the "Turning Point" program.

Free Books--Tons of free books from the public domain.

Pandora--Anyone have a great Pandora station to recommend?

Okay, that's what I've got.  What are your favorite apps?  How do you make the best use of your iPad/iPhone/tablet?

Lovely Christmas

It's been such a lovely lovely day.

We put some jingle bells on the outside doorknob of the boys' room so they couldn't get out before we did this morning. Around 7:30, we went into their room to find Sammy dressed and waiting, and Daniel just waking up. We had a Christmas morning prayer and eagerly went to the living room for some fun.

Happily, we managed to avoid the sugary-ness associated with Christmas morning. Stockings were stocked with little mandarins, organic popcorn (made the night before by popcorn master Keenan), two cookies, a couple little toys, and a ticket for a day at California Adventure next week.  We opened presents one at a time, playing and talking all the while. I got a new slow cooker (mine went AWOL over a year ago), some Naturoli soap nuts, which I've been dying to try, and a stack of great new books to read. They're already occupying key reading areas: bathroom, bedroom, nursing station...

After a breakfast of sprouted wheat waffles and warmed raw apple cider, it was time for a showdown.

Sammy was in heaven with his new cap gun (no caps supplied), bolo tie, and leather boots from a genuine cowboy store. He wore his old ones until the soles fell off. He actually helped pay for these new ones with birthday money he's saved up in a jar.



When asked what his favorite present was, Daniel replied without heistation that it was the big bouncy green die from his stocking (held in right hand below). He didn't let go of it the whole day, not even for his nap.



The boys spent a good deal of time in their new play place (which they unknowingly helped build, thinking it was just another garden box... hee hee).

The much loved Sophie La Girafe for James.



I took a long, hot, salty bath (mid-day!) and enjoyed the first chapter of a new book. I've followed this author's blog for some time and am so glad to finally have her book. (I know, I know, my stomach's been churning over those cowboy boots... I'll just have to make sure he works those feet muscles!)

For dinner (which Keenan prepared!), we killed the fatted calf:

• Grass-fed (soy free) duck from this farm, prepared à la Julia Child. Amazing. I can't wait for the stock and rendered lard. :)
• Whipped sweet potatoes
• Asparagus spears sautéed in butter with lemon pepper
• Fermented ginger carrots
• Raw chocolate ice cream and a simple Bûche de Noël for dessert

We talked with family on and off throughout the day, but mostly I just wandered around the house, relishing my time with Keenan and the boys, and feeling the spirit of the day. I was glad for such a happy day because I had a hard time finding the spirit of the season as Christmas steadily approached. We were out of town for a few weeks early on, so getting ready for Christmas was coupled with prolonged trip recovery. I finished James's new diaper inserts and wipes just last night (I knew if I didn't give myself a Christmas deadline for that one, it would keep not getting done).

As we prepped dessert, we let the boys watch some of the Church's recent bible videos, which invited more dialogue about Jesus Christ as we ended the day. Christmas left me ever grateful for my Savior and strengthened in my desires to sacrifice my weaknesses at his feet.

 Merry Christmas, friends. Sleep in heavenly peace.