An announcement.

Going forward, Up Beet Kitchen will be a flexitarian food blog with recipes that emphasize eating sustainably and with the seasons, including some meat and fish. 

 

As some of you know, I have transitioned back to a “flexitarian” diet after a decade of vegetarianism and veganism. As my outlook and understanding of the food system have changed over the years, so too has my desire to enjoy a more local, seasonal diet that includes a wide variety of real, nourishing, and natural foods- including animal products.

 

I initially went vegetarian out of a desire to do less harm to animals and the earth, and veganism seemed like a natural progression following that. But despite my best efforts, a fully plant-based diet never worked for me, and during the winter, I couldn’t help but accept that vegetarianism was no longer a good fit for me in this season of life. 

I still care deeply about animals, and I opt to purchase meat, dairy, and eggs from organic + regenerative farmers who also care deeply about their animals and the earth. The industrial animal agriculture system that has prevailed over the past several decades is a terrible thing, and not one that I will ever support. However, there is nuance in everything, and there is a major difference between buying massive quantities of animal products from the supermarket without attention paid to where it came from, and mindfully purchasing animal products from local, organic farmers who care about and have a deep connection to the land. 

 

I am not a big meat lover and I will always enjoy vegan and vegetarian food the most. I will still be sharing plenty of plant-based recipes! However, I wanted to take the time to communicate the reasons behind this change to you all. 

I will conclude with a quote by the great Wendell Berry: 

 

“Eating with the fullest pleasure – pleasure, that is, that does not depend on ignorance – is perhaps the profoundest enactment of our connection with the world. In this pleasure we experience our dependence and our gratitude, for we are living in a mystery, from creatures we did not make and powers we cannot comprehend.”