Bacon!
It’s not just plain ordinary bacon. There’s a chance of brown sugar glazed bacon in my weekend forecast. Now, I’ve been a vegetarian on and off and on again for close to 10 years, but this stuff makes me fall of the wagon with a thud.
This recipe is absolutely amazing. I wouldn’t lie to you. I set my kitchen a blaze the first time I made it. My guests didn’t care. The bacon candy was worth it, firemen and all.
I hear those little piggy cries when I eat it.
So why would I willingly choose (for the most part) to live with out bacon? I have a few good reasons.
Ethical: I believe that every life has it’s place. I don’t think that animals or obnoxious coworkers should be shot, clubbed or otherwise slaughtered for convenience, sport or because they’re tasty.
Environmental: If you don’t believe that eating meat has a negative effect on the environment, or think that it is insignificant, take a look at the carbon footprint of a cheeseburger. Consider the fact that we could end world hunger by using the space used for grazing and growing food to fatten cattle, for feeding the world. It’s true. Not to mention the fact that we are ruthlessly destroying the rain forests to grow soy, to feed the methane producing cattle, to stuff our already fattened bodies full of artery clogging meat that causes obesity which is now killing more Americans per year than smoking. Well… you get my point.
Health: Vegetarians live longer. That’s a fact. Now I don’t need to live to 100 and I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, but I do think it is wise to take my health seriously and attempt to prevent disease in my body. This is important, because my current health insurance basically states that starting Jan 1, I will need to pay more. They will cover less. If by chance, I get sick, have a pre-existing condition or get hit by a bus well, good luck with that. May as well bend over and take whats comin’ because they sure as $h*! are not going to pay.
Crispy bacon!
Yet, still, things seem cloudy when bacon candy is in sight. My ethical reasons are not always enough to keep me on the straight and narrow path. So my soap box here, it’s a crumblin’.
Things are obviously not always black and white in my life. There are passing moments when I wish life could be figured out like 4th Grade math homework.
But that would be painfully boring. And it probably would not include bacon.
So cloudy, it is.
November 4th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Love the title. I’m not a vegetarian myself, but I am a moderation advocate. Our bodies were simply not intended to eat the amount of meat, sugar, etc.. that we eat today. Very fun read for a serious topic. Well done!
November 4th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Thanks so much, Jo. Glad you enjoyed it! I agree, moderation is definitely key!
November 14th, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Wow. A “on and off vegetarian” eating bacon… Don’t try to rationalize what is only your weakness. Moderation means nothing in this overpopulated world. The reasons for eating only a little bacon is your opinion, the fact is that pigs are sentient beings, slaughterhouses and factory farms are abhorrent, and the pig shit they generate infects not only our land but the people who live in a general radius of them. Please don’t insult what it means to be vegetarian by even using the word. And do yourself a favor and educate yourself so you don’t write embarrassing blog posts like this one. Watch “Earthlings”, read “100 Reasons I’m a Vegetarian” and “Eating Animals”. You’ll never be tempted again.
But hey, I’ve copied and circulated your post to all the vegans I know and we have had a seriously hard laugh, and then a sad piteous sigh about you. Wake up.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Wow. An “on and off vegetarian” eating bacon… Don’t try to rationalize what is only your weakness. Moderation means nothing in this overpopulated world. The reasons for eating only a little bacon is your opinion, the fact is that pigs are sentient beings, slaughterhouses and factory farms are abhorrent, and the pig shit they generate infects not only our land but the people who live in a general radius of them. Please don’t insult what it means to be vegetarian by even using the word. And do yourself a favor and educate yourself so you don’t write embarrassing blog posts like this one. Watch “Earthlings”, read “100 Reasons I’m a Vegetarian” and “Eating Animals”. You’ll never be tempted again.
But hey, I’ve copied and circulated your post to all the vegans I know and we have had a seriously hard laugh, and then a sad piteous sigh about you. Wake up.
November 14th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
I love bacom.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:19 am
Oh dear Kate, let us all pause for a moment and bask in the light of your perfection.
You missed the point.
I am not rationalizing my weakness. I’m sharing my weakness, I’m putting it out there for all to see, because I feel that the image of MOST vegetarians is the “holier than thou / I’m so much better than you attitude.” Carnivores can’t relate to that. They certainly won’t listen to that. They hate it.
Which is exactly why they don’t listen to you. Have you noticed?
I am flawed. I’m not a perfect vegetarian. I’m not a perfect mother. I’m not a perfect writer. I AM honest. And anyone (even your many vegan friends who you passed this around to) should at least be able to respect that.
I have already read the books you suggested. Please don’t imply that I am uneducated when you know so little about me. This is my opinion because(have you noticed?) this is a blog. That’s what we do on blogs. You of course, have the right to leave your opinion here for all to see as well, and I will not stop you.
I have some questions for you:
Are you flawless in your life?
And are you absolutely sure that I’m the one who should be embarrassed?(Because I’m not)