Tofu lover that I am, it was hard to stop eating it. But – plain and simple – it wasn’t a choice.
My son is my #1 priority.
So if he cannot tolerate soy, and he has eczema when I eat it (through my breast milk), then the choice is clear. I stop eating soy.
And gluten. And nuts. And seeds. [Cow dairy was already out of my diet, but goat dairy is now too.]*
So what does that leave a (vegetarian) to eat?? Fruits and vegetables of course. And non-wheat grains. And legumes. And…[crickets].
Not only was that getting boring, but my little guy refuses to eat beans, which makes his protein situation on the low end of the spectrum. Rather than feed him eggs and quinoa all the live long day, I made a decision. I decided to try feeding him meat. And guess what? He LOVED it.
And since I’m not a short order cook, I decided it was time for us all to adopt the same diet. So we are all eating lots of fruit, lots of veggies, lots of eggs…and some meat.
At first it was weeeeeeird. But you know me. I love food. I love cooking and baking and learning about all things culinary. So I dove in head first and started educating myself like a student chef. It took a couple of months for me to get up the nerve to do it, but like the band-aid scenario, I realized it wasn’t going to get any easier, regardless of how much research I did. So I bought 100% grass fed and finished organic ground beef and made it for P and he took to it immediately. A few days later, Kyle and I joined him (we all ate the same dinner!). It was bizarre, but wonderful (bizarre to be eating meat, wonderful to be cooking the same thing for us all).
I’d be lying if I said I haven’t enjoyed certain aspects of it. The learning part mostly. It’s been a blast reading various culinary sources that I previously skimmed or glossed over altogether. I am trying to be as responsible with our consumption of animals as possible – doing research on the source of all the meat we buy and using it in it’s entirety. [Side note: yay for living in Davis where we have access to so many organic farms!] I’m still trying to make plants be the focal point of our food (with meat as the accent), so that our fam gets all our nutrients covered.
We are now a few weeks into this new diet, and while some things still weird me out, I’m getting the hang of it. More importantly, though, my gut seems to be doing fine with it so far**. As are my taste buds. Since my mom was a vegetarian and I was raised without cow/pig, I don’t know much about preparing it. Thank goodness for the crock pot. And Bon Appétit. And the internet. And meat thermometers. 🙂
But like I mentioned before, the biggest selling point of all is how much simpler it has made meal times for the family. We all eat the same thing. I don’t make special meals adapted to each person’s tolerances because now we all share the same tolerances. Sure, we each had to cede a bit – Kyle likes wheat and dairy, I like nuts and tempeh – but now that meat is on the menu, the center point of our Venn Diagram is much larger than it once was.
If you’re a vegan/vegetarian or someone who will be offended to see meat on the blog, I don’t know how much I’ll be posting about it. I don’t have the skills to make up my own recipes yet, so I’m only making others’ creations at this point. Moreover, I’m pretty sure meat is one of the more ugly foods to photograph (although pinterest could prove me wrong there…).
Anyway, that’s all I wanted to share.
I started this blog over 5 years ago and my life has changed in so many ways since then, so it’s only natural that my diet would evolve as well. I know that not eating meat was a big part of my identity on this blog…and in real life it was for a while, too…but I’m not the same person I was back then. I know that you guys appreciate my openness and honesty here (which is how I want it to be), so hopefully you’ll respect this decision. I will still be eating yummy vegan food, too.
*I am still working out the kinks, but I occasionally have some nuts and goat dairy after nursing P to sleep at night because it will be >12 hours until I breast feed next, thus allowing the allergens to clear out of my milk. I think it’s okay, but I am still experimenting.
**Not to drag this out and make eating meat into a huge saga, but I do plan to write one more post that addresses the impact on my GI tract (since my decision to ditch animal protein stemmed from my IBS, I think a follow up on how my gut is doing is warranted).
I am a self proclaimed meat-a-tarian. I can understand how you’re having so much trouble with this. I have just recently begun to remove dairy and gluten from my diet. It’s been a most difficult experience to even figure it out. That’s how I came here to your blog actually. But I wanted to cheer for you and your commitment to your son. I actually do the recipe posts on a corporate blog. I try my very best to do vegetarian options, but I confess, I find that hard. And though I am going dairy and gluten free, the people I post the recipes for are not, so I usually substitute gluten free and dairy free into the recipe without saying anything. But feel free to have a look, LOADS of great meat recipes http://www.napoleongrills.com/recipes . I would be happy to help if you have any questions about meat preparation too.
..Okay that was a lot longer than I had intended. Just wanted to show my support and applaud you your bravery.
~Andrea
Sorry. Link went wonky. Here is the proper link. ^-^°
http://www.napoleongrills.com/category/company-blog/recipes/
Glad you are transitioning to meat well! I follow the fodmaps diet with meat, but still heavy on the plants, so now the blog is even more relevant for me 🙂
Thank u for this. I am at this same crossroads and would love to hear more about your experience and how it has helped/affected your gi. Many long term veggies seem to go back to neat eventually due to deficiencies that can affect their bodies in various ways. I worry about how I’ll digest it, since my ability to digest is really poor and never had success with meat in the past…. So, I’d love to know how u were able to incorporate it in a way that was gentle and easy on ur body/mind/spirit
Thanks for always being honest, open, and awesome. Keep posting recipes, even those with meat 🙂
Good for you Elise, what you do for you and your family is your business. I was eating a strictly vegan diet for the past 5 years but in the past 8 months I’ve been eating cheese and eggs. At first it felt “wrong” but I quickly dismissed that by telling myself it’s my body and only I can do and eat what feels right to me.
“And since I’m not a short order cook” truth. Kudos to you for being honest and making a choice that honors your family’s needs!
It is sad how your byline is still peace love and hummus. We need to change it to peace, love, and avo or something! I didn’t know you could not even have goat dairy on a non-restricted basis. At least this kid has mommy who loves him- when he is a teenager and getting fresh, you can always say, “I gave up (fill in the blank) and started eating BEEF for you!” Has he gone to any birthday parties or anything yet? He probably isn’t old enough to really notice yet. My friend’s kid has such a hard time at parties (but she is getting a little better) and at celebrations at school because all she can eat is a piece of dark chocolate while all of the other kids eat cupcakes etc. Hopefully yours will grow out of this asap and if not, maybe it will build character :-). I hope you can enjoy some of the things you used to eat too down the road. Is Kyle not allowed to eat dairy like cheese and stuff either even though he doesn’t breast feed, or is he just being a nice guy? Hopefully at work he can still have some yummy snacks. Glad your baby has you because i am not sure many moms could manage this. And that is why it is good you write about it, so they can see that with a lot of determination and even more effort, it’s possible. Now on all your down time you’ll have to write a book so you can share your experience, strength, and hope. (Since you have so much free time these days :-)).
Thanks for sharing! I enjoy reading about your journey and admire your open mindedness. Before becoming a parent I could never have imagined how much it would change me and what I think about/what I stand for. There should be more parents like you who make their children their priority. Even though I don’t “know” you, I think you’re doing an amazing job!
Kudos to you for breaking the stigma and listening to your personal needs!!!!!!! Everybody is different—shame on anybody who judges you. I personally know my body functions best with meat! Some might be different, but i think it’s important to let each make their own choices.
I’ve mentioned before that I am not raising my son vegan, but he eats what he wants which is very little meat anyway. It would be easier if we were all vegan, but I cook 3 different meals every night (for me, my son & my husband). Doesn’t bother me, but like you it is *my*choice. I never wanted my son to be the kid at birthday parties who couldn’t eat cake or join his friends in the pizza. Parenting is never easy and everyone had an opinion on how *you* should do it.
That said, I’ve found this blog a great resource for feeding my husband, who wants to focus on grass fed organic: http://grassfedanarchist.com
I’m happy for you. Seems you’re kinda paleo now which is cool.
I don’t even know where to start with this comment, but you are one amazing/inspiring/beautiful Mama 😀 Just a side note, when I met my soon to be husband, he was a “meat man” and I was the girl who only ate certain “chicken” I was so so picky when it came to meat. I remember thinking how in the world was I going to make this work once we moved in together…well long story short I got sick of making different meals all time & we just decided to compromise by getting much better meat & local items. I know this isn’t even close to what you are currently experiencing, but it’s a lifestyle change that’s for sure! One thing I have noticed lately is, Drake LOVES meat. I was hoping he would take more after his mama, but clearly he takes after his dad in that area! I know this is kinda strange, since you are the food blogger here, but if you ever need some ideas with meat recipes don’t hesitate to email or ask via IG. I’ve learned over the past 4+ years to make meals that include meat yet have a ton of veggies!! 🙂
This is one of my favorite baked dishes
http://abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/artichoke-chicken-donna-giblin (I use chicken breasts instead maybe 2 LBS?)
http://carrotsncake.com/2012/11/loaded-baked-potato-chicken-salad.html
http://sweettreatsmore.com/2012/10/slow-cooker-coconut-curry-chicken/
http://www.runningtothekitchen.com/2012/01/spring-turkey-meatballs-with-avocado-citrus-dipping-sauce/
http://gabbysgfree.com/2013/11/pumpkin-coconut-milk-chicken-curry/
http://mealsandmovesblog.com/2010/11/04/mexican-casserole/
However you can skip the cheese & greek yogurt!
Maybe you can find one of those recipe useful!!! 🙂
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! seriously this comment really made my day, you are so sweet. compromising is worth it when its for love 🙂
P loves meat too, its incredible. i was hoping to have a little mini-me who wanted broccoli and squash all the live long day, but what can i say?!? he makes his preferences very clear! ha.
i appreciate all the links big time.
thanks beth.
thanks so much lisa. parenting is definitely one of the most challenging jobs ever. i am loving every single second of it though, so its definitely worth it 🙂
well said patricia. thanks you very much for your kind comment 🙂
thanks so very nice of you to say jessica – really and truly parenting is something you can never prepare for and then its just a constant roll with the punches lifestyle!
i agree sarah! i actually was trying to figure out how to change it last week but i am not technically inclined AT ALL. avocado is the perfect swap! ill see if i can figure it out soon, ha.
anyway, your comment meant a lot to me and while i hope P never for a second doubts how much i love him, i certainly have some proof with my dietary choices alone! 🙂
kyle still eats cheese and wheat – i don’t make it for dinner because we all share that meal, but i pack his lunches every day so i give him those foods then.
🙂
thanks andrea
hi Kamaile – thats exactly how it felt. but just like you i have to do whats right for me and my family and in my heart i know this is the best decision. good for you for doing the same 🙂
thanks stacy. one of my main concerns was having P on such a limited diet during a time when his brain/body is growing at such an exponential rate. he needs to make sure he isn’t missing any nutrients during this time of his life (or ever really…). ill try to get a post up soon sharing how returning to eating meat has impacted my gut.
perfect!!
thank you so so much andrea! your comment has certainly given me a boost and I’m excited to check out your link.
I love you. I find it total commendable that you are seeking responsible meat products. Now that I am in LA and have more options I will make more of an effort in your honor. See you this weekend.
I’m a meat eater (always have been) but I HATE cooking it! Especially chicken, I get so freaked out that I’ll do it wrong
What a great post! You have to do what is best for your son and the first few years they need that healthy fats, etc to help their brains grow and develop. I can’t imagine having a public forum where people see your thoughts and can question your parenting. You’re doing a great job!
Don’t you think life would be boring if it didn’t change? To me, the way you addapt to your life changes is awesome. You’re a dedicated mother, foodlover and an inspiration to many.
If you decide to add meatrecipes on your blog, please do so. I thought this was about your life, you made the decision to add meat in your life… you have my blessing (like you need it). Stop worrying about us, live your life, raise a healthy boy.
awww, thanks lindsey 🙂 i cant wait to see you!! and P is defintely looking forward to seeing his auntie lou.
🙂 thanks josee
change is a part of life, for sure, its the bury-your-head-in-the-sand, live-in-denial mentality that ends up harming us in the end, so im learning to roll with all that life brings my way!
thanks angie. its good and bad – i get loads of advice and sometimes it turns out to be fantastic. sometimes, its just extra noise. either way, im thankful for your supportive comment. 🙂
I am very happy for you! I think you are a very strong person to admit this with all the haters out there. I applaud you. Your son is very lucky to have you.
Cheers to you for sharing—these kinds of decisions can seem overwhelming when you consider all the possible critics. As long as you’re doing what’s right for you and your family, though, what else matters? I’ve always tried to remind myself that people who go out of their way to post hateful things on others’ blogs probably have issues and aren’t worth listening to. Your honesty is one of the great things about your blog : )
Food allergies are really tough, especially for young children, and I think you’re doing a great job navigating the waters! Everyone commenting above is right! Doing what’s best for your son, and your body, is priority #1. Whoever says otherwise is ridiculous.
You are truly an inspiration and your blog has always been so much fun to read. If I ever have kids I hope I’m at least half the mom you are! (Is it weird saying that to someone I’ve never met?) 🙂
And, as an important note, I was vegetarian before I got pregnant and after I stopped nursing… 😉 I know exactly what it’s like to not only follow what your body wants, but also what a nursing baby needs. It’s easy when it’s for our little ones!
Thanks Jess. So far I’ve only gotten kind and encouraging comments so it’s only confirmed the point – you do the best you can!!
You = awesomely amazing mother.
P = luckiest little boy in the world
That is all 🙂
Exactly, it’s your life, not the neighbour’s, not anyone else’s.
After being vegetarian for 7 years, I’ve just started to eat meat again. You are totally right, it’s just a bizarre experience but my life has changed so much since I became a vegetarian and it wasn’t serving me to continue with that type of diet that I finally conceited that right thing to do would be to try meat again.
People are defined by so much more than the way they eat. Things change, life changes and eating habits change too. It’s okay. I’m glad it’s working out well and that P is happy.
I found you’re blog a few years ago when i was looking up FODMAPS for my stomach problems and now with no gallbladder. your diet has changed a lot over the years from vegetarian to Vegan, to eating eggs and then eating fish when you were pregnant and now eating both fish a some meat, (however i don’t think you’ll ever be a carnivore lol.) i support you no matter what. it’s totally okay if you wish to put like a table spoon of ground meat to you hippie bowls 😀
i am really happy to hear that you guys are doing what works for you! you should never have to justify why you eat/believe/do etc to anyone but i think it’s big of you to take to the blog to clear the air anyway! my personal favorite cookbook is ad hoc at home by thomas keller and also this guy: http://www.amazon.com/Ottolenghi-Cookbook-Yotam/dp/160774418X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1392076383&sr=1-1&keywords=ottolenghi+cookbook
And you could always ask your sister for advice as she has been a carnivore practicing the art of cooking all meat for years 🙂
I’m so happy that you were able to come to a solution that is based on what is best for your family! You are such a terrific mommy!
Hugs, Elise. Totally get it. And mostly, just love reading about mama love. And of course, I am just so glad he’s getting breastmilk. I encourage you to continue for as long as you like, especially since he can’t tolerate any other milks. 🙂
I admire you for doing so.
Good for you, doing what you need to do to stay happy and healthy 🙂 I have loved reading your blog no matter what stage of veganism, vegetarianism, etc. you are in. It’s easy to relate to such a genuine person who shares her thoughts so honestly. Thanks!
so interesting! I was a vegetarian for 8+ years and just started eating meat again. I am only up to fish and chicken though– I haven’t gone all out for the beef yet!
You just show me anyone who doesn’t respect your decision & I’ll beat them up ( not that I don’t think you could totally do it yourself!).
As I’ve been reading your blog forever I’m excited to see how you meat :D.
Xxx
* how you DO meat is what I meant to say. I’m silly.
I get it. I really do. I can’t imagine the minefield that is meal planning with so many issues.
Yet to read that you and kyle are also now eating meat makes me sad…… I have been vegetarian since i was 10 (so, uh…20something yrs now) and my empathy for animals prevents me from being able to celebrate your decision.
I hope that P’s allergies are temporary and that these changes are as well.
I know everyone’s IBS situation is different. I actually feel better when I eat more meat protein. As much as I aspire to go Vegan or even vegetarian, my gut just not tolerate large doses of soy, beans, night shade veggies, nuts, etc. It’s so frustrating!
Hi! I have been reading your blog for a while. Not sure I ever posted though but this prompted me to! Have you ever looked up the Whole 9? You can’t have gluten, dairy, legumes, soy, etc. It might be worth looking at for some good recipes. It seems like a lifestyle made for people with allergies. It wasn’t a good plan for me since I am a vegetarian who tries to eat vegan as much as possible. But I can see how it might work for your family! I hope the little one is doing well! he’s so cute!
How crazy is it to see how your life has changed so quickly! I can’t imagine living under such strict dietary restrictions, it must be really hard.
I’ve been a vegetarian since 6th grade and I have the impression that if I were to all of a sudden eat a meal of meat I would get sick. Did you gradually phase it in, or is this a made-up thing in my head?
I do not understand how a vegan or vegetarian can revert to eating animals. It is simply revolting. Peace, love, and hummus? Well, the peace and love aspects of your life are now a sham. I have followed your blog since I first discovered it several months ago and have enjoyed your recipe ideas, colorful photos, and vegan ethos. But no more.
you are such a great mom to do what is best for your family. don’t listen to the haters. I applaud you. only you knows what is best for you and P’s health. I have a lot of allergies too so I know how hard and frustrating it can be. keep it up. you are doing a great job.
good for you-like others have said-life is change, and if we don’t change, we’re not really living! that being said, I just started eating chicken again after 17years of not eating it! My body just really needed protein, and all the greek yogurt and quinoa was not cutting it. Slowly, I am starting to feel better, though I haven’t been able to do red meat or pork yet (more of a texture thing than anything) good for you for doing what your family needs-everyone should be so lucky to have a mom like you! (said from another nurse who also does straight night shifts! I also get the no sleep)
thanks so much amy. good for you for listening to your body as well. and mad props for sticking out the night shifts. 🙂
thank you so much colleen!
i imagine it’s hard for others who aren’t in my shoes and therefore can’t grasp my situation to the fullest, but its nice to have such awesome readers who do get it and support me 🙂
i took HCL supplements initially, but found it didn’t make much of a difference either way. i never got sick, but i was eating fish already so maybe that made it not as much of a shock for my body?
i think the stomach is fairly good at adapting and producing enough acid to handle whatever protein you consume, regardless of your previous diet. i didn’t go full force with the meat though. dinner is typically the only meal with animal protein, and its rarely the feature. lots of soups and stews lately with the cold weather – so i just use ground meat or chicken or something where id otherwise use tempeh or tofu or beans.
I read this post thoroughly expecting an onslaught of negative comments, glad to only see one! So encouraging that in a judgmental web-isphere you are not being bashed! As a vegan, I am very respectful of your decision to put your child’s health first. I believe the peace and love part of your blog is still true, maybe even more true. Your love for your child is greater than any image you may have felt the need to upkeep and that is what’s important in this world.
Thank you so much annabell. It’s very reassuring given how judgmental the anonymity of the internet allows people to become. Needless to say your kind comment is one I am thankful to hear.
Good for you for listening to the needs of your family and being responsible in your food choices! I was a vegan for 4 years, but for my personal health had to make some big changes in my diet – it was so hard at first because I felt like I was losing part of my identity. Now, I rarely eat fruit or grains anymore (not because they are unhealthy, they just aren’t the best for my body’s needs right at this moment), and eat a lot of eggs, fish, and some meat – and I feel so much better. It is natural to change and evolve in different stanges of life and I think listening to that and being open is something to be celebrated!! Thanks for sharing this part of your journey.
thanks so much for sharing your story simi. its true – we all change and listening and adapting as it fits is the best thing we can do for our health 🙂
Good for you! I have been a vegetarian for 20+ years, since i was about 10 or 11, and I am jealous that you are able to eat meat. My reason for not eating it is just that it grosses me out, and I can’t even fathom being able to try it after all these years. It would make my life so much easier if I could eat even just chicken or eggs! My husband (and eventually my baby when he gets teeth 🙂 ) are not veggies so I am stuck cooking multiple meals during dinner time. Not to mention little man’s tummy does not do well when I eat a lot of beans which used to be my main protein source so I have to get very creative to avoid boredom.
Anyway, good luck integrating it back into you diet. I know it can be tough for sure! xoxo
I just wanted to tell you how great of a mom I think you are. You are doing what is best for your son and I really admire you for that.
Personally, I would love to hear more about what meats your are incorporating into your son’s diet and how you’re preparing them. I try to give my 20mon old meat, but he just spits it out, it’s so frustrating. He is basically a vegetarian.
I also wanted to let you know that when I first started cooking on my own, I used a lot of the Pioneer Woman’s recipes. I love that she gives you step-by-step picture directions and uses common ingredients.
I absolutely agree with and respect your decision to eat and blog about whatever you choose. I don’t judge you for your beliefs or parenting or food choices. I’m a vegetarian who doesn’t typically eat eggs or dairy and I started reading your blog years ago because I liked reading about your food choices and trying new ideas and food combinations. So I’m hoping that you understand that if some people no longer choose to read your blog it’s not because they’re judging but because the blog is no longer relevant to them. Sometimes it’s not about judgement but about relevance. Anyway, good luck with the food changes and the little one.
i totally agree pat. if people stop reading my blog because its no longer relevant i think thats completely understandable!
hi elise! im a huge fan of your blog and sympathize with your son as I have many serious food allergies of my own where i need an epipen. reading the 801010 diet by dr douglas graghm has changed my life! you can still get all the protein and nutrients you need from fruit, vegetables and fats like avocado! i dont know how this is a ‘limiting diet’ because it is the most natural diet for the human body! fruit and veg is fast food 🙂 please look into it. id love to see you and your sons health improve like mine has 🙂 xx
thanks cel. I’ve never heard of the 801010 diet but ill look into it.
As a fellow IBS sufferer, I’m very interested to see your follow-up post! I, in contrast to you, was raised in a very meat-centric household, and going veg was the only thing that saved me from the worst agonies of IBS. I harbor no judgment toward you at all for doing what’s best for your family. Everyone’s diet is highly personal and should be! But I am very curious about the effects on your IBS, since I honestly don’t know any other IBS sufferers who went veg to treat it and then back to omni. Thanks for being so open about it!
I love your honesty, and doing what is best for your family and yourself is applauded immensely! love reading the journey over the years…
happy late bday to P, too…so adorable 🙂
thank you so much adrianna 🙂