Like I said last time, the struggle gets easier as the days go by. During the past two weeks, my appreciation for salad has grown tremendously. Not only is it healthy, but very tasty, too. Most people think you can only use vegetables in salad, but I beg to differ. You can use both vegetables and fruits to make it more delicious and colorful. I experimented a little with my oldest sister earlier this week. We made noodles with veggies and soy sauce, and the side dish was a very colorful salad with a bit of pesto sauce. We ate so much that we couldn't even have dessert afterwards. The meal was that good! My family is dealing with my decision very nicely. My sisters try to avoid eating any animal meat in front of me, and my mom does her best to make more meatless dishes for iftar. I have to admit, though, I do crave a burger every now and then. I guess that's only normal, since meat has been a daily thing for me before. I believe that being a vegetarian teaches you discipline and self control. In a way, a diet is a way of life. Deciding to suddenly change your way of life is very difficult and it is something that needs strong motivation and will; something each of us can obtain if we look at the right places and choose the right reasons. I'm proud to say I'm a vegetarian. BM
