Touching Base

Happy anniversary! Two years have passed since I started this fantastical foray into vegetarian living. While I’m beyond sucked in — not even tempted to eat meat & sometimes a bit repulsed — it’s been an adventure trying to seam together dinners for two disparate appetites. Occasionally harrowing.

I worried when I started that George would resent the inevitable changes to his meat-centric diet, but he’s impressed me with a willingness to try everything. Raised in a typical midwestern household, the only vegetation he ate when we met was iceberg lettuce salads drenched in ranch, green beans and carrots. All other incoming vegetables were batter-dipped and friend. I’m delighted to report that he now eats cauliflower, spinach, grilled eggplant and summer squash, roasted corn salads, and so much more. In fact the only thing we’ve tried recently that he disliked was sauteed swiss chard, though he later ate it in a gratin format that better agreed with him.

I plan to continue what has become a pretty permanent “test drive,” more of a purchase, really. Because I am the family grocery shopper and cook, I have a few tricks for those attempting to keep the peace in similar situations with a meat eater in the household.

1. Deli meats are a solid and hands-off way to meet your partner’s cravings.
2. If you’re flexitarian, a weekly fish entrée keeps some semblance of family dinner.
3. The grill is the easiest way to cook two entrees. Knight one side as the all-time meat cooking area, and don’t be afraid to fire it up in all seasons.

When I asked George if he had any advice for another couple where one person was becoming vegetarian, he thought about it and said, “No.” I think that’s highly encouraging. Onward!