When I was pregnant, I was particularly averse to meat.  During my pregnancy with K, I remember trying to get some ground beef out of the package and nearly throwing up because I smelled it.  One night, during my pregnancy with A, I made a sausage and sweet potato hash that turned me off to both of them for a very long time.

Over the past year, I’ve done quite a bit of reading on where food comes from and the whole foods movement.  I have also developed relationships with people in my community who are big believers in whole foods, organic when possible, and making food a priority.  In addition to this, Jason and I had several discussions on an unrelated subject that led me to decide that it was time.

In North Dakota, eating vegetarian is not “normal.”  I don’t know many people who are vegetarian.  I grew up in an area that had a fair number of ranchers.  I now live in an area that grows potatoes.  You put those two together and what you get is a lot of meat and potatoes.  Therefore, it stands to reason that being a vegetarian  in North Dakota is abnormal and possibly even weird.  I finally decided I’m okay with that.  After having children and having to explain decisions that I have made that seem to be “weird,” I decided that I am worth it.  I can make a choice for me that is different than what most people choose for themselves.

In doing so, I have enjoyed my food in a way I have not for quite a long time.  Also, I have found SO many great meals!  MeatlessMonday.com has some great food.  Friends of mine who make it quite clear they are NOT vegetarian have sent me recipes for delicious meals.  We have two new cookbooks that are great resources.

I have been talking about my decision to eat vegetarian quite a bit more than I intended, and I realized the reason I am doing this is because it feels good to be me.  I have not liked meat, nor have I wanted to eat much of it for as long as I can remember.  Making this decision has been freeing.  For me, the decision is to eat vegetarian.  What is it for you?  As much as I can, I urge you to go for it!  Be authentic, and make that decision.  You deserve to be you and be comfortable in your body.

In the new year, I want to leave behind the fast food lifestyle (a term I just made up, so if it doesn’t make sense to you, I’ll take the blame) and live intentionally. What does that mean? Well, to me, it means I want to stop wasting time watching tv. I want to watch tv I choose to watch. It means I want to stop eating fast food and junk food that have a lot of calories but not much taste or nutrition. It means I want to stop reading quick, light, easy reading books. I want to read books that make me think. It means that I don’t want to waste time on the internet. I want to choose to relax by reading blogs I enjoy or visiting websites I like. I want to choose to use my time and create experiences that I value. I want to choose to spend my money on things that matter instead of buying something because it is cheap or a good deal even if I may not really need it.

Is that a resolution? A goal? A lifestyle change? I don’t know. I suppose it doesn’t matter, but what I want is lasting experiences instead of fleeting ones. I want to make a choice and have something to show for it down the road.

How about you? Do you have a change, goal, or resolution you are working on?