Day 27, or "Back to the Kitchen"

The train ride home was quite pleasant, seeing as I had a pound and a half of ripe red cherries and a bar of dark chocolate to keep me company. But as I stared out the train window and pondered the last four weeks, I came to the conclusion that I'm ready for my thirty days to come to a close. 

I've learned so much this month about cooking, eating, and especially about making conscious decisions concerning the food I purchase and consume. I love the challenge that cooking and eating vegan presents, but I don't think it's something I want to do forever. It's not that I miss any one food in particular--I'm not craving red meat or pining after mozzarella. Well, maybe a little. But really, that's not the driving force behind my desire to return to 'normalcy.' 

When I started this blog, I discussed my search for reconciliation between my life as a traveler (and food as an important aspect of cultural immersion) and the responsibility I felt to be a healthy and environmentally conscious human being. I know that those in the vegan community would disagree, but I even after all I've read, I still can't see the consumption of meat as morally wrong. (A lot of you are probably breathing a big sigh of relief right now. . .Claudiu). What I do think is wrong, though, is the cruel and inhumane treatment of animals, as well as the current methods of factory farming practiced in the US and other developed countries. The thirty day challenge has certainly changed the way I think about meat (and all other animal products, for that matter) and will have a lifelong impact on the way I cook and eat. But while veganism is certainly one way to be a conscious and educated consumer in today's world, it can't be the only way. In the future, I will be exploring more organic options, (grass-fed beef, for example) and trying to figure out how I can make sure that when I eat something that comes from an animal, it comes from somewhere that would not make me lose my appetite. 

But for the time being, I'm still vegan! Wednesday marks the last day of the challenge, and some products will be keeping their place on my shelf (soy milk, corn flakes, tofu sausages, and of course all those fruits and vegetables). The coming week will see a makeover of my blog, as well as a new name and web address (which will be posted on facebook). And even after Wednesday, veganism won't be completely out of my life. Stay tuned. . .