I recently finished reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, and I'm a convert.
When I broke my 16 year vegetarian streak two years ago I told myself that I'd only eat animal products from animals that were treated ethically while they were alive. And I really intended to do so. But some combination of my excitement at all my new food options and my desire to, just for once, not be the girl creating Food Issues everywhere I went led to me completely letting go of that when I moved to the city.
This book has given me a push back in that direction. I've come to this decision at the worst time of year to do so, of course, which is going to make things a little bit more challenging. But it's a learning process, right? I've started by checking signs and labels at the grocery store and only buying things that come from Ontario. Mostly. I also bought Quebec carrots and cheeses on the weekend. But at least I'm reading and thinking about what's in season where I am.
A serious problem for me is that the only farmer's market in my area is open early Saturdays only. When I arrived this past weekend at 345 in the afternoon, I was far too late. Saturdays are my only day to lounge around in bed with my fella and I'll be damned if I'm going to give that up.
I've just discovered another farmer's market, a little out of my way but still on the subway line, that runs through the winter Thursday evenings. Next week, when I don't have a dinner date on Thursday night, I'll check it out.
Already, though, my more local focus has inspired new foods and new ideas. This weekend I made beef stew using entirely local ingredients. Last week it was sweet potato soup (the spices aren't local). Sunday afternoon I reverted to something familiar and bought every cheap vegetable in the No Frills to create a much needed hangover erasing pasta sauce.
Baby steps though, right?
When I broke my 16 year vegetarian streak two years ago I told myself that I'd only eat animal products from animals that were treated ethically while they were alive. And I really intended to do so. But some combination of my excitement at all my new food options and my desire to, just for once, not be the girl creating Food Issues everywhere I went led to me completely letting go of that when I moved to the city.
This book has given me a push back in that direction. I've come to this decision at the worst time of year to do so, of course, which is going to make things a little bit more challenging. But it's a learning process, right? I've started by checking signs and labels at the grocery store and only buying things that come from Ontario. Mostly. I also bought Quebec carrots and cheeses on the weekend. But at least I'm reading and thinking about what's in season where I am.
A serious problem for me is that the only farmer's market in my area is open early Saturdays only. When I arrived this past weekend at 345 in the afternoon, I was far too late. Saturdays are my only day to lounge around in bed with my fella and I'll be damned if I'm going to give that up.
I've just discovered another farmer's market, a little out of my way but still on the subway line, that runs through the winter Thursday evenings. Next week, when I don't have a dinner date on Thursday night, I'll check it out.
Already, though, my more local focus has inspired new foods and new ideas. This weekend I made beef stew using entirely local ingredients. Last week it was sweet potato soup (the spices aren't local). Sunday afternoon I reverted to something familiar and bought every cheap vegetable in the No Frills to create a much needed hangover erasing pasta sauce.
Baby steps though, right?
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