Ditching meats for veggie treats

Boca burger, you’re the one … you make meal time lots of fun … Boca burger, I’m falling in love with you.

Ok, I’m exaggerating … a lot. Veggie burgers may not be my favorite “would-be-meat patty,” but they aren’t hockey pucks either, which is what I was expecting.

Because I failed to conquer anything for this issue, I had to take another approach to writing my column. Two weeks as a vegetarian will not only serve as penance for my “fear fail,” but it will also teach me to eat healthier. Let’s see Bert the Conqueror do THAT for the Travel Channel. He probably won't, it's too exciting.

So how does one become a vegetarian without losing his or her passion for food? Food is, after all, one of the great joys of life. It’s not merely fuel for the body, but a source of flavor and fulfillment. I always assumed that giving up meat meant sacrificing those things … until now.

It might be too early to tell what kind of endurance this project has, considering that I’m only approaching the end of my first week without meat, but so far I like the change in mindset.

Meat and potatoes would definitely get out of hand without a veggie present to keep the party respectable. They’re kind of like that friend who tries to talk you out of jumping into the pool from the roof of your house. They might not seem fun or sexy, but they will keep you out of trouble, if you let them.

Of course, there are reasons to go vegetarian or vegan that have nothing to do with personal challenges or penances. Rather than debate on the moral issues of eating meat, let’s assume that our barnyard friends are quite content to keep their wings and tenderloins. I think that’s a pretty safe bet, so there is no need to dwell on it.

More relevant to my point are the health benefits of avoiding meat. Anything that will help me lose weight before the summer is great, but the vegetarian lifestyle will also force me to pay more attention to what food I buy and what is in it.

Studies show that vegetarians and vegans live longer, healthier lives. They are at a lower risk for cancer, heart disease and intestinal problems. Let’s not forget the reduced financial stress (we students know all about that). As the prices of meat rise along with just about everything else, it’s cheaper to spend your time in the produce section rather than with the butcher.

To fully embrace the challenge, I banished all meat to the freezer, thereby making any decisions based on impulse cravings less likely to deter me from my goal (defrosting requires a certain degree of commitment to a food). I felt safer knowing it was frozen solid.

I then filled my fridge with vegetarian-friendly protein “fixes” like veggie patties and garden burgers, vegan tofurky beer brats, meatless chicken cutlets and ground meat-like products. This all might seem excessive for two weeks, but I like the “speed dating” approach to food exploration.

My favorite so far is probably the “Meatless & Soy-Free Naked Chik’n Cutlets” made by Quorn. Though not quite as moist or dense as real chicken, the texture is remarkably similar. With a little marinade and seasoning it's delicious. I’m amazed what is possible with the right combination of ingredients.

I can’t say whether or not I’ll stick to the vegetarian lifestyle indefinitely after this experience, but as of right now I’m excited to see where it takes me.