A (Non)Vegetarian Rant and Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps

There is no telling how much mayo I consumed yesterday. Speaking of mayo, Case and I went to Vegfest last weekend. It was packed (of course) and I just happened to walk by a stand of veganaise. Let me tell you, that stuff is amazing! It didn't taste exactly like mayo but it had a really nice creamy savoriness to it. I have to say I am super impressed that it specifies non-GMO Soy protein which I happen to think it very important. GMO - I mean, I'm sure you know what it means but the words just say it all. Genetically. Modified. Organism. Isn't that just another way of saying that you fucked with nature on a molecular level? I wholeheartedly believe that plants and animals were not meant to be messed with this way. But ultimately I am ignorant in such things and probably a hypocrite too. The chicken in this dish, even if it is "Free Range" and "Organic," the farmers can still treat their animals like crap and the birds probably still spend their lives confined in some way.

I do appreciate where vegetarians come from, but I don't think that they tell you the whole story. According to the "Go vegetarian!" pamphlet I got from PETA there is no naturally occurring B12 save in meat, so going vegan means you have to take a pill or eat fortified cereals or soy milk. Er...doesn't that sound a little unnatural? Clearly we are meant to have B12 but the only way to have it is through artificial means? Though, if it saves an animals life I suppose it is worth it? Also in the pamphlet is this completely ridiculous statement: "One egg contains a staggering 185 mg of artery-clogging cholesterol." I'd like to point out that humans naturally make cholesterol and it is in fact essential to living. Yes, essential. The daily recommended intake is 300 mg of which an egg is lower. (I'd also like to take a moment to point out a 2001 study by the Kansas State University that found egg cholesterol is more difficult to absorb). I mean how biased is that?! Artery Clogging. It's like saying Iron is Cirrhosis-inducing (and it is, if you overload). Clearly everything is bad if you have too much of it.

And lastly being vegetarian does not mean you are healthy. A lot of the faux-meats out there are filled with preservatives, firming agents, artificial flavorings (and what the hell does that mean??) and super nasty additives. Morning Star Bacon has Caramel Coloring which has been found to be carcinogenic. Oh, and of course the pamphlet pushes the 'If you are vegetarian you will lose weight' bit. And there is probably some truth to that...but you can have a twinkie and be a vegetarian. I don't think eating meat makes you fat.


Chicken Wraps

1 chicken breast
1/4 thinly sliced onion
1 tsp. dried thyme
handful of halved cherry tomatoes
mayo
freshly ground salt & pepper
sliced green onions for garnish
hummus
spinach

Boil chicken breast until done. Shred. Add chicken, mayo, tomatoes, onion and thyme in bowl and mix. (I forgot to add some Dijon Mustard but it would have been great in here!) Add salt and pepper. Line wrap with hummus and cover with spinach. Add chicken on top and that's a...no I can't. And than you wrap it.