by M. L. Kiser

Created on: March 18, 2009

Stepping outside of the box

Everywhere today you hear about, "Stepping outside of the box." "Thinking outside of the box." "Going outside of the box." Everyone from clubs to employers wants you to be an "Out of the box" thinker or doer. I think I was around 20 years old when I decided to "step out of the box" and become part vegetarian. I had always hated the mere sight of beef, chicken and pork on our dinner table. The feel and taste in my mouth was even worse; it was just plain nasty. So I embarked on a new journey; the announcement of which sent gasps of horror throughout my family tree.

"You need meat!" My Mother exclaimed. "You need the iron." "You'll die of anemia!" was my older sister's response. From a cousin as her eyes rolled sideways, "You'll regret that decision when you end up in the hospital!"

Still, with vegetarianism becoming more and more popular, it seemed like a good path for me. I could jump-start my journey with a plethora of culinary delights containing absolutely, no meat or meat by-products. There's soy ham, soy bologna, soy chicken, soy burger, soy hot dogs soy corn dogs and soy cheeses. But, I quickly discovered that some brands were quite delicious and others were almost as nasty tasting as the slimy chunks of fatty meat that I grew up hating.

There are many types of vegetarians and while I am still not a full-blown Vegetarian, I do eat fish, shellfish and dairy, I am much happier creating my own veggie dishes, soups and spreads without the nasty aftertaste of the meat or the heartburn, gas and other digestive and processing problems that salty meat can create. I've felt lighter, had more energy and so far, it's been a great ride.

After 30+ years of this lifestyle, I still get a lot of hassle. Not only from friends, but family, as well, especially the hunters who think that the only food in existence is deer meat. Those nay Sayers who continue to insist that, I am going to die from not eating meat.

Not having a lot of Vegetarian friends, it's difficult to even go out to eat with friends and family. Yes, Vegetarian's do like to eat out with other people! But many people simply don't comprehend why anyone would not want to eat meat. Worse, you're always introduced as a "Vegan", even when the conversation doesn't call for such a revelation. Eating out is a real exercise in both tolerance and patience. After 30+ years, I believe that I am one of the most tolerant and patient people in my state. At restaurants and drive up's the conversation

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