It wasn't easy...

 










Well I am recently a vegetarian. By choice? Yes. Reasons: I am currently taking a food justice class and it has changed my whole perspective on how I view my body, the way God intended it to be treated, how sacred food is, my health problems, and because I like many other people can agree that we can all should be healthier. Our class has been talking about our bodies being a temple of the Lord and how they should be treated as such. I always took that as being mindful of the situations we put ourselves into, the things we expose our eyes and ears to, or abusing drugs and alcohol, etc. BUT I never thought about the food we eat. Of course eating something like McDonald's hamburgers can be abusive to your body because we all know it's just not healthy. Meat in general though? I never really sat and thought about all the hormones, fillers, by-products, etc. that are being put into our meats and other products not even to mention what is happening to the animal (a chicken being grown in 48 days let's be real what is wrong with that?) I just don't think that's how God intended it to be. Don't get me wrong I have no problem with people eating meat but I don't think it's as healthy as it was when my parents were younger. I really encourage you to watch "Food Inc." and "Forks over Knives" both documentaries answered a lot of questions for me. 


 I am currently living in a college dorm so I realized that making this decision was going to be hard because of where I live. The appliances I have in my dorm are a microwave, a toaster, a crock-pot ($12.49 5qt @ walmart! STEAL!) and a small coffee maker. I live in Chicago so meat is like a worshiped  God it seems like. Every other corner you see signs for "Italian beef", which btw don't eat, it's gross. I went on my first big shopping trip today after making my vegetarian commitment and decided I would only spend $40 at max and surprisingly I went way under. With my purchases I made Chilli for dinner that will last me awhile. I bought some naked juice, a bunch of veggies, salad dressing, organic popcorn, flaxseed chips, and eggs. 


For all the college kids out there.. look stuff up online before you go! It pays to do your research! I never thought I would say that but it really does. I bought a bell pepper at Trader Joes for 99cents and at JewlOsco they were $1.50.. CRAZY. READ THE LABELS. I was so surprised what was washed or sprayed in pesticide something. Also, if it doesn't have meat in it, like beans, there still could be a meat by-product or something funky that was just added in. 


I am thankful for grocery stores that have resources so I can experiment with new foods <3


1 Corinthians 6:19&20
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.


-Ariel