My New Life as a Veg

This past summer, in the midst of my outdoor adventures of being a camp counselor and the sun filled days on the lake, I accidentally became a vegetarian. I'd read about the health benefits and re pinned many recipes on Pinterest but the jump to the no meat life seemed impossible. Whenever I would try to have a vegetarian DAY I would be greeted with chicken fajitas at the dinner table. Being a vegetarian in a family of carnivores just didn't seem like a feasible goal.

When I arrived at Camp Foss for my second summer as a staff member I took with me prior knowledge and wisdom my younger colleagues didn't posses. Camp food is bad food. But last summer as a sat with a steaming pile of less than desirable beef stew I realized something. The vegetarians at camp were ushered up to the counter to retreat warm veggie burgers with hummus and buckwheat salad. I knew declaring vegetarian at the beginning of the summer was the key to camp survival. Now, initially I thought I could simply eat vegetarian when options were available and return to beloved chicken on nights off and weekends at home. I soon found out there was no turning back. The camp vegetarians were ruthless and I could show no sign of weakness. If they suspected anyone was committing vegetarian fraud solely to reap the benefits of their delightful fare they would regurgitate their usual reprimanding. "There isn't a lot for us to eat here so not everyone can have our meals. Maybe you can come back after we have all had food." I saw them sniff out too many of my false veg accomplices to falter now. I had to commit to eating no meat for the entire summer.

The first weeks were difficult, the third week was unbearable, but by the fourth week my cravings had subsided. By the time I returned home from my summer I had cut out meat from my life and was not awaiting its return. I now feel less tired after meals and my skin and hair are feeling the affects of being an herbivore. I am loving my new vegetarian lifestyle and I am so glad the cut throat vegetarians at Camp Foss forced me into a lifestyle I had wanted to for years.