The other night we had dinner at our friends’ home. We sat down to a lovely home cooked meal of chicken, tomato risotto with sausage and sauteed kale. My husband looked at me curiously to see what I would do. We hadn’t talked about this and I was silently praying that he wouldn’t say anything to our friends.

I stopped eating red meat, pork and poultry in March.  I have made many modifications in my diet over the past year and this seemed like a natural transition. I have seen Food Inc. and read various articles as well as the book Skinny Bitch. I never had a strong connection with animals. I didn’t grow up with pets nor am I all that comfortable around animals, but I don’t like the idea of any living thing being treated cruelly or tortured. I had decreased the amount of meat in my diet to once or twice a week if that in the last year so it wasn’t really difficult to stop eating it all together.

I really like the way I feel when I do not eat meat. I will be honest, I would love to go full force all on vegan, but I know myself and if I don’t ease into change then it doesn’t stick. That’s always been my problem. I start out strong but finish weak making any changes null and void.

I don’t label myself with any diet terminology. I actually haven’t been very vocal about my diet change. I told my immediate family and a few friends. So at dinner on Saturday night I graciously accepted a small piece of chicken, a helping of risotto and as much kale as I could possibly take without depriving others of a serving.

That experience made me realize how challenging it would be to become strictly vegetarian or vegan. It would require me to actually tell people for one thing. I grew up in a big Italian family who thought it was sinful not to eat large heaping portions of homemade meat ravioli drenched in meat sauce accompanied by chicken parmesan. Seconds were practically mandatory. To say that my family is set in their ways is an understatement. I brought a quinoa salad to Thanksgiving dinner and my mother kept asking me what to do with it. “Now what is this again?” I love her dearly but seriously??? She is trying though and now keeps veggie burgers in the freezer.

Ironically when I was in the application process to become a Peace Corps Volunteer I was asked during the interview if I was a vegetarian or had any dietary restrictions. I said no and then was asked if I understood why I would be asked such a question. I did understand. Meat is a luxury in many countries. Offering a chicken or a goat is often a sign of respect to a guest in someone’s home. Also other cultures have different traditions or celebrations that “require” eating certain foods. Let me tell you I ate my fair share of goat, freshly killed chicken, pig, cow, innards, fish with heads, sardines, and a variety of unidentified things I would rather not think about.When your colleague invites you to her home, comes in with a white and a brown chicken that probably cost her family a week’s salary, and asks you to choose which one you want for dinner it’s really difficult to say “oh by the way I don’t eat meat.” That’s not to say that you can’t maintain your convictions, many volunteers did remain vegetarian. I am a people pleaser and have always tried to be accommodating to others. These are not in any way redeeming qualities. The older I get the more I am learning that I need to take care of me first and then worry about others.

My husband and I talked about how I felt after eating meat on Saturday night. I didn’t enjoy it as much as I would have years ago. I felt a little guilty but mostly conflicted. If I am not a full fledged vegetarian then how often is it ok to eat meat. Do I make up my own rules like I will only eat meat if it is served to me at someone else’s home?

One thing that might make it easier for me in situations like this would be to bring a hearty side dish like this Cilantro Lime Speltberry Salad from Angela at Oh She Glows.  I made it the other night and it is truly delicious. I offered to bring something but was asked to bring dessert. Next time I will bring both!

This was an eye opening experience that has given me much to ponder especially as we head into Memorial Day Weekend and at least two barbecues on the calendar.

I was cleaning out my cabinet the other day and much to my surprise I discovered a number of half eaten bags of snacks like rice cakes, nuts, crackers. Some of which I bought quite a while ago.

This may not seem momentous but it is a huge accomplishment in my weight loss journey. There was a time not so long ago that I could not keep a snacks in the house without polishing then off within a day or two of buying them. I had no concept of portion size. I would assume a “small” bag of something was one serving and eat it all. I was a picker. I would snack while I was cooking, waiting, watching, talking on the telephone. You get the picture. I would have a little bit here and there multiple times a day. Before I knew it the snacks would be gone.

So what has changed?

Last year I bought a food scale and started measuring out recommended serving sizes. This completely changed my perception of portion size.

Now I take a portion out of the bag or box. I close up the package and return it to the cabinet. If I decide to have a second portion I have to physically get up and get it. This gives me a little time to actually think about whether or not I’m really hungry.

I stopped buying most packaged snack foods. I limit them to things like Triscuits with a short list of ingredients I can actually pronounce. I splurge on organic treats from Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods when I am able to avoid unhealthy ingredients. I also bake whole grain treats as often as I can. I keep lots of fresh fruit within reach and I try to grab for that first when I feel like snacking. A big bowl of grapes is great for when that “picky” hunger hits mid day.

I come prepared.  I carry healthy snacks on me if I’m going to be out for a couple of hours or more. This eliminates stopping somewhere and having limited choices. Since I have a toddler I usually pack a snack bag for him so why not throw in a few for me too.

Sometimes I try drinking a glass of water or a cup of tea to make sure I’m not just thirsty. Unfortunately for my voracious appetite thirst has never been a big issue for me!

I recently picked up a new tactic over on Marisa’s blog Loser for Life.  I’m trying to incorporate Green Monster smoothies as my afternoon snack. They fill me up, take a little more time to make than rifling through a bag of chips and I get the added bonus of another serving of veggies and fruit.

I am in much more control with snacking and eating in general. I am learning to pay attention to my hunger and respond to it as opposed to just eating for the sake of eating. Snacks seem to be more enjoyable when I take my time to think about what I am actually eating and how it might make me feel.