Steamed kale salad

I got into a discussion yesterday with some coworkers about my diet. I think I'm fairly known for my dietary vagaries and when I refused chocolate ice-cream by saying "I can't have that," it started a discussion about what I eat. How can you give up ice-cream? (Being lactose intolerant helps. And being in the middle of eating a soy yogurt didn't hurt.). I mentioned that I'd been eating meat on the weekend and one person asked the very valid question - won't that undo what you've been doing all week? I explained that I eat one or two servings i.e. <8 ounces one day of the week. It made sense to me, but he still didn't get it. The conversation ended with everyone deciding that eventually I would find the decline to be 100% vegan. I let it slide.

I began to realize that people see veganism and vegetarianism like the see alcoholism or drug abstinence. The focus is not on what you're eating, but what you're not eating. And if you're not doing it 100% then what's the point of doing it? It's good old fashioned absolutism. Either/or mentality. I don't buy it. I think what I'm eating is healthy. What I've eliminated is less healthy, but not evil. I am comfortable with avoiding cheese and egg because if they're ok that opens the door to all kinds of mass produced junk. I am still trying to lose weight here. A simple plant only policy makes the decision about what to eat simple. And my digestion has never been healthier.

And I'm not trying to win any endurance contests. I'm trying to find a balance that supports my health.

Almost forgot. The pic is kale salad (bagged) steamed with a little coconut oil and onion. I ate with a flour tortilla for breakfast. Something like this (steamed greens with bread or dumpling) is a common breakfast in Jamaica. Kale is vitamin rich and a good veggie source of calcium and iron.