My Name is Eric, and I am (Mostly) a Vegetarian

I bet that the post title of this came to a shock to you.  I know it did for me.  After all, I am a guy who owns two grills, a smoker and a fire pit and I use them on a regular basis to cook various forms of dead animals.

I am guy who once had a goal to open a BBQ restaurant.

I am a guy who can eat - and has eaten - hamburgers for every meal of the day.

I am a guy who believes that "Meat Lovers" pizza was one of the greatest food inventions known to mankind.  (Right up there with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Zingers.)

Trust me.  Nobody is more shocked at this revelation than I am.  I'm not doing this because I want to, nor am I doing this on a whim.  This has been in the works for a few years, but now is the time I have decided that I need to act.

There are two major reasons I am doing this: physical and spiritual.  (Both of which I will try to explain here.)  And while the ethical part of eating animals never really bothered me, I can say that is another reason.  That's not to say that I've become some sort of animal rights' activist.  Granted, I have never been a fan of hunting - much to the chagrin of my brother - but I don't care if someone else hunts.

But, I digress.  This is not a post about whether animals should or should not be killed for food or game.  (And I will delete any comments who try to make it about that.)

Before I get into this, let me state that this is a decision I made for myself.  I am not forcing my wife and kids to follow suit, nor will I try to convince you to abstain from meat.  This is something I need to do.  This is a personal decision that I'm making public so you know where I'm coming from.

Plus, now you know that you don't have to make me a steak when you invite me over for dinner.  :)

I guess this all started a couple of years ago.  In my attempt to study Hebrew (another story) I came upon plenty of Jewish websites.  While reading about their beliefs, I wondered why they shun the eating of pork.  (I mean, besides the fact that the Lord commanded them in the book of Leviticus.)  I read an article about how pigs were shipped prior to slaughter, and, to be completely honest, it made me think twice about eating pork.  But man, that would be a hard thing for me!  Most of my favorite meats come from pig: bacon, sausage, ham, pulled pork, sweet & sour pork, ribs.

About that same time, I went in for my yearly physical.  My doctor told me that my cholesterol was too high and that I needed to lose weight.  He told me that I needed to limit my meat intake and eat more fruits, vegetables and grains.

It was about that time that I chose to do little things like switch to turkey bacon, eat whole wheat bread and try to eat a vegetable with every meal.

My doctor's recommendations also caused me to study the Word of Wisdom in Doctrine & Covenants 89.  As I read that section many times, I paid attention to what man was supposed to eat.  (In case you forgot: wholesome herbs, fruit and grain...specifically wheat.)

While reading the verses there were a few things that really stuck out to me.  The Lord promises to those that follow the Word of Wisdom that they will "receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones.  And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge...and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint." (D&C 89:18-20)

But it was the final verse that really struck a nerve: "And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen."

Now, before I go on, let me state that people who obey the Word of Wisdom are not immortal.  Even those people who follow it to a "T" their entire life could die of cancer or any number of health-related diseases.  But, it is sound advice if you want to live a healthy life.  (Even if you're not LDS and disagree with every doctrine taught in the church, you cannot deny the fact that you will live a healthier life if you follow the guidelines set forth here.)

After reading that final verse, it made me think of the story in the Bible found in the first chapter of Daniel.   Daniel and his three friends - Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abed-nego) - were asked to "stand in the king's palace".  As they were there, they were offered a "daily provision of the king's meat" to which Daniel "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself".  Instead, Daniel and his friends asked the servant to bring them pulse - seeds, grains, etc. - and water to drink.

The servant of the king was scared that these four friends would not look as healthy as the other children of Israel in the palace, but Daniel insisted to give them ten days.

After the ten days, "their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat." (See Daniel 1 for the story.)

Think about it.  These men followed an earlier health code and "the destroying angel" passed over each of them.  As you will recall, Daniel was thrown into a den of lions and survived.  Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were tossed into a furnace and were not burned.

Once again, I'm not suggesting that if you follow the Word of Wisdom, you will be able to stand amongst lions and not get eaten, but you will receive health and, hopefully, live a longer life.


After reading all this, I changed my eating habits and even became quite fanatical about it for awhile.  But slowly, I got lazy and the next thing I know I am back at Wendy's eating a Baconator®.

Not long after that, my dad had bypass surgery.  As I was visiting him at the hospital, I couldn't help but picture myself in that same situation in the not-too-distant future.

I was 39-years-old and I was going to make a change in my life.

On July 25, 2011 - the day after a nice barbecue for Pioneer Day - I decided to make that change.  My goal was to lose 40 pounds before my 40th birthday (which was just over six months away) and begin eating better.

I remember getting up at 4:00 AM that day and talking myself into putting on my "workout clothes" and go out walking.  I could barely walk around the block that first day, but I did it, huffing and puffing the entire way.

To make a long story short (too late) I lost 39.6 pounds prior to my birthday in February.  I went back to the doctor and found out that, even though I had been eating mostly right for the past six months, lost weight and was generally healthier, my cholesterol was still too high.

Needless to say, I was depressed.  I know that I shouldn't expect immediate results after a lifetime of bad-eating habits, but I thought something would change.

That's when I truly started thinking that eating a (mostly) vegetarian diet was my best option.

For the past few months I have justified it as much as I could.  After all, we're not just talking about limiting meat, but doing away with one of my favorite hobbies.

Last month I was fasting for the monthly Fast Sunday and I had an overwhelming feeling that I needed to stop my procrastinating and just do it.

I had a discussion with my wife about my feelings and told her that I wanted to go in that direction, but that it would take me awhile to get there entirely.  She agreed to limit the meat on our weekly menu and I did my best, all the while craving hamburgers every day of the week.

Two nights ago, we had a long discussion about it and I made the decision that I am going to go cold turkey on this.

I don't plan to give up dairy or eggs, although I do eat mostly whites now.  Nor do I plan to abstain from meat for the rest of my life.  (I don't see myself eating Tofurkey on Thanksgiving and I  can totally see myself going to Five Guys Burgers & Fries for my birthday...even though I may not crave a burger by then.)

For now, I will eat meat sparingly.  (When I say "meat" here, I mean mostly beef.  I will eat more chicken and fish than I will beef, but even then I am not going to eat it daily or weekly, even.)

And as for pork, I don't see myself ever eating it again.  (On purpose.)

I honestly believe that by doing this, I will see a change not only in my physical health, but my spiritual health as well.  After all, this is a great way for me to "put off the natural man" and not give in to the temptations of the world.  

I'm not asking for you to join me in this, but I would appreciate your support in it because it's not going to be easy.