V for Vegetarian

Over the last few months I’ve chosen not to eat meat. With the shrink-wrapped, evenly-pigmented meat found in American supermarkets, one could be forgiven for thinking that chicken breasts grow on trees. But in Nepal meat occupies messy roadside counter tops and it is hard to avoid knowing that eating meat is a bloody business.

In Accham, I find it even harder to be a meat eater. I will admit that the meat here is of poor quality, with lots of bone, gristle and skin in the `meat’. But the I’m-eating-a-sentient-being part of the reason for going veg, is even more for convincing for me after interacting with some of the many domestic animals around here.

For instance, I came across a cute goat kid (below) on a hike to the abandoned hospital in Bayalpata.

Santosh, one of the clinic staff members, showed us how playful goat kids can be. Press a palm against their heads and they will happily engage in a head-butting contest. I couldn’t imagine eating the kid or one of his relatives after that.

Although giving up meat is good for health (and for the environment), I began losing weight on my all veg diet. Part of it is also that Accham is a very poor region so there are only few different types of nutritious foods available here. I’ve added milk and eggs to my diet and started snacking often in between our two meals a day. My weight seems to have stabilized now. Given the poor food situation here, the rescue package (pictured below) from my parents recently was particularly welcome. mmmm!

No laundry at the river tomorrow so I’m going to spend all day relaxing on our terrace. Have a good weekend everyone!