Why We Aren't Vegetarians Even Though We're Lesbians With Kids Who Refuse to Eat Meat

So, I was enjoying a very delicious piece of chicken from the Three Rivers Co-Op hot bar yesterday, and I thought, "Damn, this is the best chicken I've ever had." Followed by, "It's kind of gross that I'm eating animal flesh." Followed by, "But this herb roasted chicken is very well seasoned, plus it's organic, and we really should eat more meat."

Here's the thing: we hardly ever eat meat. Sure, we'll eat bacon every now and then, but I consider bacon more of a topping or flavoring, rather than actual food. We have also been known to roast some kosher hot dogs by the bonfire. Oh, and how much do I love to make Boeuf Bourguinon for special occasions? A lot. So, yes, we eat meat and we enjoy it, but it's not a huge part of our everyday diet.

In the grand scheme of things, we could be meat-free and feel very little pain. Our meals consist primarily of vegetables, eggs, legumes and starches. We also enjoy our fish friends, especially salmon, shrimp and crab and let us not forget about our sushi addiction.

Here's a sampling of some meals we've had this past year:

Fettuccine with Bacon and Hollandaise

Quiche

Bouillabaisse

Hearts of Palm and Asparagus Salad

Artichoke and Caramelized Onion Tart

Fresh Garden Vegetables

Salad with a Bunch of Stuff in it

Potato-Crusted Goat Cheese Tarts

Tomato and Yellow Pepper Soup

Focaccia with Spring Vegetables

Fiona will eat most veggies, but refuses to eat chicken, pork, fish or beef  unless it is in the form of bacon or hot dogs. She also likes those weird "chicken rings" from White Castle, which shouldn't really be considered a meat product. Cyd is less picky but is starting to mimic her sister.

They do both enjoy Borscht, otherwise known as "Pink Princess Soup":

We might as well be vegetarians, since we already fit the psychographic profile in many ways: 1. We are lesbians. 2. We make our own granola. 3. We strive to eat organic. 4. We have a vegetable garden in the spring and summer months, which we supplement with locally grown foods from farmers' markets. 5. We compost. 6. We make our own damn yogurt. 7. The list goes on.

We are the poster children for vegetarianism, right?

But then I think about labels and how restrictive they are. I think of how nice it is to enjoy a well cooked filet mignon in a fancy restaurant and not feel like I'm betraying my animal friends.  I don't feel ethically obligated to restrict my diet to plant-based food. I sometimes feel that I should, but I don't. I want to be responsible in my food choices, but let's face it, I'm not that morally conscious. Case in point: foie gras. It's only available to me when I visit my Gochtovtt family during the holidays. I wouldn't go out and buy it, but when it's served, I will eat it because it's ridiculously delicious. I feel guilty about the life of those poor geese, but still, I don't have the will power to boycott the stuff when it's taunting me on Christmas eve.

In a nutshell, I'm over-thinking my eating habits, mainly because a large part of my life revolves around food. I will work on this and I'm sorry for bothering you, if you've taken the time to read this. And if anyone reading this is a full-fledged vegetarian, please don't disown me because of my weakness for bacon. I am fully prepared to be shamed, however, for the foie gras issue.