W1 - Growing Up Vegetarian

At 50-years-old, and prior to my birth, my grandfather suffered a fatal heart attack.  In addition to being a light smoker, my grandfather’s diet largely consisted of meat – specifically red meat.  In response to his death, my father and grandmother drastically altered their diets in an attempt to prolong their life and improve their overall health.  My father and grandmother immediately began eating a vegetarian diet.

My mother’s diet prior to marrying my father couldn’t have been more dissimilar – she grew up on junk and fast food, and still to this day, has a horrible sweet tooth (which I have sadly “inherited”) – and thus, my sisters’ and my diet growing up was an evident source of conflict.    

While my dad holds firm to the title “vegetarian,” he has lead more of a vegan lifestyle, which he pushed on us as children.  Milk and yogurt was strictly forbidden in our home growing up, as were sweets.  If we ate bread, it was to be 100% whole wheat.  Peanut butter must be natural, no sugar added.  No ice cream, no cookies, no doughnuts.  No chocolate, no candy, no soda.  And, most importantly, NO MEAT.

My mother, on the other hand, was intent on us leading a “normal” lifestyle.  In an attempt to culture us, she purchased and hid all the “unhealthy” food in the kitchen and around the house.  I unmistakably recall eating a chocolate-covered mini doughnut in the foyer closet for fear of my dad coming home early from work.  My sisters and I lived in constant fear of disappointing my father and violating his rules, however the reward of a warm, strawberry-filled, icing-topped with sprinkles Pop-Tar was well worth the risk.

However, as we grew older, my father grew less strict about what we ate.  Slowly, more processed foods were introduced to our diets.  We have since begun eating milk and yogurt, and even, on occasion, meat (though red meat is, and always will be, out of the question).  Though my dad is more lenient, I can’t help but feel as if I am letting him down when I eat an unhealthy meal, but then again, the taste is well worth the risk.