That's Why We Don't Eat Animals

I recently began my search for a simple, clear children's book about vegetarianism. I wanted something more than a story about an unrealistic, cartoon animal, as well as a story that touched on the environment and American factory farms (the main reason why we are strict vegetarians). I was really happy to find That's Why We Don't Eat Animals by Ruby Roth.

My three-year-old found the pictures to be very interesting, but he wasn't completely enthralled by the story...I think he may be a tad young to fully understand it. I hope to buy it and have it as our main vegetarian book, so the children can read it when they've got questions as to why we don't eat meat. It's hasn't been an issue yet, and I feel fortunate to live somewhere where my children's eating habits will barely shock a soul. However, they're still going to be different, and I hope to have many resources to help them figure it out.

I personally enjoyed the story, because it made me think more about the animals and how they were made to live. I often just get caught up on ethics of the American factory farms and how it's so hard on our world. Being reminded that we are all "earthlings" really resounded with me, and why it's difficult for me to eat animals and why I never will again.

On my list of many things I want to do this year, writing a reflective essay about raising a vegetarian family is one of them...let's see if it happens.

PS - Another fun find has been the final track on Alphabutt: Sunbeams and Some Beans by Kimya Dawson. It's a simple story about the injustice of our current food system. Again, it's not all gloom and doom, but just an honest story with some hopeful steps of how you can make a difference.

Feeding The Whole Family

One of my hobbies is to constantly check out cookbooks at the library. I feel the urge to buy a new cookbook at least everything six months (cookbook budget is unfortunately quite limited.) I am thankful for living in a city so large that it has an enormous cookbook selection and is willing to purchase most every book I ask them too. Yea for libraries!!!

Feeding The Whole Family by Cynthia Lair is so wonderful to me that it is a definite "buy" by my standards. It is a fantastic resource on wholesome family eating, and I believe the recipes are easy for the less-advanced or least-interested cooks. Yet, the tastes have proven to be great for those more-advanced and very-interested tastebuds.

I cook and bake our family meals strictly vegan, and this book has a wide variety of recipes to accommodate. There are recipes that call for meat, but there are very few. The recipes that include dairy seem easy to translate into vegan.

Recipes we've come to love: French Lentil and Potato Stew, Split Pea Soup with Fresh Peas and Potatoes (minus the ham bone), and Pumpkin Pecan Muffins (vegan style).

Here are some of her recipes published on mothering.com and also included in the book, as well as an article she wrote:

Winter Fruit Compote with Nut Cream
Becky's Braised Greens
In The Kitchen with Baby
Summer Fruit Ambrosia with Vanilla Nut Cream
Golden Mushroom Basil Soup
Luscious Beet Green Salad

Mother's Day...Four Days Late

I'm always a mixed bag on Mother's Day. I don't know what to expect and often think I end up expecting too much. That being said...this year was overall an extremely busy yet satisfying Mother's Day. I spent time with my mother-in-law digging in the dirt learning how to beautify my greenspace. I am so thankful to have her teaching me. I also shared the weekend with my own mother who spent most of the time caring for my boys. I truly believe having children when your own parents are fit to help care for them is one of the smartest ways to survive parenting young children. I don't know if I would still be standing without her being able to save me from time to time.

Since Mother's Day, I've also spent a lot of time wondering what it means to be a mom...and more specifically a "good" mom. After a minor meltdown this week, I escaped to Common Roots and picked up the current issue of Women'sPress. I actually read it front to back while sitting alone and eating at my own pace. It seemed like a gift from beyond. I also decided to put together a little list of books about motherhood that I am determined to read by the end of this year to help me gain some perspective. If you have read them or end up reading them, let me know what you think.

1. Bad Mother by Ayelet Waldman (Thanks, Sara, for the recommendation.)
2. Not Becoming My Mother by Ruth Reichl (This has no subtext in regards to my own mother. :) I could only pray my children still like me nearly as much as I like and love my mom at 28.)
3. Momfulness by Denise Roy (Thanks, Wilhelmina, for the recommendation. I'm trying to integrate some of her tips into my life.)
4. The Price of Motherhood by Ann Crittenden (I'm scared this will infuriate me. At least I'll read it during a presidency where the president works like a woman.)

Happy Mother's Day (four days late) to all you moms.