An Apple a Day

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Photo: At the French Market.

As a child I was a picky eater. I could count the things I liked to eat on two hands. White bread, peanut butter but not crunchy, hamburgers plain, hot dogs with ketchup, raw carrots, milk, plain rice, my Mother's fried chicken, spaghetti, most dessert but not zucchini bread… okay maybe a few more things, but nothing more exotic than bologna with cheddar cheese and jelly.

I was a skinny child. My Uncle Jules use to tease me saying, "Corey if it is windy outside be careful because one day you are going to be blown away!" I took his words to heart, I was terrified of the wind.

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My parents did what most parents do to try to convince their children to eat, nothing worked. I went to bed without dessert many nights and often found my dinner plate with its leftovers in front of me at breakfast. Still, I was a picky eater, or stubborn as my Mother would say.

During Lent, my family gave up everything. My Mom gave up sweets, she didn't make any desserts during that time, subsequently, we gave up dessert with her. My Dad gave up TV, therefore none of us watched TV. We went to daily mass which fed my soul. It was hard to find something else to give up. When I was eighteen I decided to give up meat. I knew I would starve, I knew it would be hard, I knew that it would be the best sacrifice I could offer. Meat was my staple, I ate it twice a day.

Photo: Purple artichokes from the French market.

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Photo: Table for two at a cafe by the market place in Nice.

After forty days of Lent vegetables took the throne on my plate. We became friends so did cheese pizza. My new diet opened my eyes to a new world. Not that broccoli or cauliflower became instant golden taste delights, but the roots of vegetarianism gave way to new growth. I haven't had meat since.

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Photo: A golden delicious on an eighteen century boutis.

Books that lead the way:

Diet for a Small Planet

Laurel's Kitchen 

Back to Eden
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Tomorrow some of my favorite recipes including Chestnut soup and Endive tart.
 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 



Comments

54 responses to “An Apple a Day”

  1. Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

    I’ll bet you feel healthier for it hey Corey? Good for you. We don’t eat a lot of meat, we just seem to prefer to eat a lot of vegetables. By the way, that book Back to Eden, made me do a double take because my daughter is named Eden!

  2. Britt-Arnhild

    So it was originally a Lent desicion…… (I have many of these ideas in my book about Lent)
    We do eat alot of vegetarian food here in The Blue Cafรฉ, but I could never give up food entirely.
    Our oldest daughter was a vegetarian for a couple of year, which was a real challenge for me who was in charge of the cooking for the whole family, and also quite hard during our Italian vacations. But she was stubborn, and I am now happy to say that her stubbornness led my way to alot of new and very tasty dishes.
    By the way, your TOMATO SOUP is a favorite of my whole family when we are at our cabin. I must be sure to buy the ingedients before going there again this week-end.

  3. Britt-Arnhild

    misspelling…..of course I can never give up “food” entirely, though what I meant to say was that I/we can never give up meat entirely.
    Today my parents have invited us for dinner to celebrate the mutton/lamb (?) season, another day I will cook a steak of some moose meat from my uncle, the moose hunter ๐Ÿ™‚

  4. Those veggies look lovely…nothing like FRESH from the farm. I see yummy zucchini blossoms! I find those prices, which are written on market signs, very cute. (weird huh?) The fancier they are written, the cuter they are! ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you, Corey, in advance, for sharing your soup and tart recipes.
    That’s great that you’re a vegetarian! I’m wondering if I could keep it up, if I start? So, are your kids and FH vegetarians too?
    __________________________________
    H-
    Yes we are all vegetarians.

  5. Mรฉlanie

    I can’t wait for the recipe tomorrow …
    Don’t forget one day to tell your readers the Paella recipe …

  6. Belรฉm

    I read your daily posts everyday in the morning. They are always food for my soul. I think they are my apple a day.

  7. Corey,
    I enjoyed reading Frances Lappe’s book cover to cover and still refer to it from time to time.
    While we are not total vegetarians, we avoid meat. Fish and chicken do make it to our table.
    rel
    ________________________________
    R
    We are not strict vegetarians either, we eat dairy products and eggs. Yann and I eat fish occassionally.

  8. Thanks for the food for thought.
    Let us live applely ever after!

  9. I am so looking forward to your recipes!

  10. Miss Maddie’s

    Corey, I’d also like to highly recommend Jane Goodall’s book Harvest for Hope, a guide to mindful eating. It’s excellent! Susan
    _____________________
    Yes that is a good book. The books I mentioned are the first ones I read when I became a vegetarian.

  11. Whenever I feel that I need to “get clean,” diet-wise, I always return to Laurel’s Kitchen . . .

  12. Fun to walk through the market with you.
    We aren’t vegetarians but about half our meals are meatless. I have all the Adell Davis books as well as the others you mention. For those who want vegetarian recipes I’d just add the Moosewook Cookbook to the list.
    Post those recipes, I’m always looking for something new to cook.
    Darla

  13. Julie Ann

    Love the markets – all markets actually, particularly French ones. Looking forward to the recipes tomorrow x

  14. My Melange

    My other half is a vegetarian..since about 18 year old too. He just started eating fish about 2 years ago….but that is as far as it will go. I will say that sometimes it makes it tough at dinnertime, but he is a good cook, so if I want a steak…he easily fends for himself. Looking forward to that endive tart recipe….he makes a endive salad to die for ๐Ÿ™‚

  15. I was hoping for a story about your decision to be a vegetarian!!!
    The market picture looks delicious! Although I must admit that I’ve never seen artichokes fresh like that!!
    Thanks for the story!

  16. freefalling

    I’d never had artichokes (carciofoli) before, until I met my husband. A lot of his mother’s cooking revolved around vegies – it was the way she grew up – not much meat in post-war Italy. Needless to say, I’ve loved discovering all her pasta and vegie dishes (it’s just a shame my husband doesn’t like them!!)

  17. You really thought you’d blow away. That’s cute. I could see myself believing something like that as a child.
    Last night at dinner, Jessica declared she’s a vegetarian as she bit into a meatball. She said she only like hotdogs and meatballs. I informed her that she isn’t a vegetarian if she eats those things. She insisted she was and I just let it go. Kids….
    I can’t wait for the recipes tomorrow!

  18. AmandaMay

    Those are gorgeous pictures of the market vegetables.

  19. Can I come and live with you? We dont have any markets that look like this…

  20. Funny, I picked up Laurel’s Kitchen last Friday at a second hand store. When I did…I thought of you!
    Love the photos.
    Fresh veggies so full of color!
    We are headed for the Antique Sale and Quilt Show in the Lavendar Fields this coming Saturday.
    You will be with us all the way!

  21. My children, rather my son, is still so picky that meat is still firmly in place in our cooking, he’d vanish into a wisp without that little bit of protein – I hope he becomes more friendly with vegetables over the years too.

  22. rochambeau

    Do you ever miss eating meat now?
    Meat has never called me, but I
    do eat it from time to time.
    Thank you for the links. They are
    beautiful.
    When I was three
    my Mom said you can have anything you
    want for your birthday dinner. I
    said PIZZA. In those days she made it
    by hand. Rectangular. A good pizza Margarita has always been my favorite food.

  23. I was raised vegetarian (lacto-ovo, not vegan) and even as a child I loved ALL vegies (even the ones grown in the Pacific Islands where I lived which would make spinach look tame). I still love my vegies but have discovered I like fish/chicken too much to give up meat entirely ๐Ÿ™‚

  24. Corey I was a bad eater at times and remember flushing a bowl of strawberries once when my mother went out to the garden!
    ______________________
    Hi P
    I was such a picky eater throwing food down the toilet was one of my tricks too. The problem with that was often I wasn’t excused from the table so I would stuff the food in my pockets. I was a picky eater with terrible tricks.
    c

  25. Mari-Nanci

    Thank you so much, for seeing and answering my question, on your Vegetarianism. ๐Ÿ™‚
    I know of the first two books but not of the third. Trouble is, so far, the message hasn’t fully stuck.
    A few years ago when our youngest son was hospitalized due to Salmonella Poisoning, I read “everything,” concerning that issue. And of course, gave up meat for a time. But… the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak… And I gradually resumed eating it again. -sigh-
    But hope springs eternal. Perhaps there’s hope for me yet! ๐Ÿ™‚
    Hugs,
    Mari-Nanci

  26. Interesting Corey.
    When my left for freshman year cheerleading camp, she ate meat. When she came back home she did not. Hasn’t since.
    Beautiful pictures, by the way.
    Rosemary

  27. Calf liver-ugh! Mom tried many ways to make my Dad and I eat it. She gave up when I was 8. Otherwise I love the usual meats and all vegetables except eggplant and okra. Looking forward to your recipes and hope the tomato soup one is included.

  28. Oh gosh Corey. They made me sit in front of that cold plate all night and then I did it to my girls. AS IF one will eat it after it gets cold and congealed. Come on! Luckily for my grandchildren I know better now and even more lucky for them their mothers listen to me so we’ve broken THAT particular bad parenting idea! Hah! Great post. As always ๐Ÿ™‚

  29. We’re wannabe vegans but haven’t made it yet, so hard to kick eggs and cheese.
    I’m familiar with the first two books Corey, but not the third.
    We were so lucky, we got to see Francis Moore Lappe with her daughter at a vegan brunch/book signing and discussion in Hollywood when “Hope’s Edge” came out. What an inspiration she is.
    Have you read any John Robbins? We adore him and of course his mantra:
    May all be fed.
    May all be healed.
    May all be loved.
    โ€” John Robbins

  30. Massilianana

    Corey ,
    I am vegetarian too and my daughter (tall and thin and beautiful) is a picky eater as well.After reading all the comments above , I am relieved to see she is not the only kid being this way . Hope she improves her eating habits.Anyway thanks for the links and I am afraid I won’t be expecting the tarte aux endives with high expectation : I de-test endives , hugh !!!No offense….;+)

  31. Massilianana

    I forgot : utterly beautiful pics of vegetable markets in France!!!I miss this.

  32. I keep wanting to be a vegetarian but, after a couple of weeks, madly crave a steak or hamburger. Thank God I don’t do lent-wouldn’t be able to give up anything.

  33. A Fanciful Twist

    I gave up meat for lent once also and was a vegeterian for 5 years.. Then I went back… Oh no! Although I stick more to fish…
    Anyhow, that isn’t the point. So funny, I was a skinny kid too, my granny would say, you can’t spank her, she’s got no meat! hee hee…. Love your veggie photos. We love veggies and fruits… We feel terrible when we don’t have enough.. I think if you make it part of your life, you can’t live without it…. I know people who have bread for breakfast, pasta for lunch and meat and bread for dinner… And I wonder how they can do that??? Alas, I can’t. My body would punish me……
    Okay, tata for now, too much babling on my end… xoxoxoxo

  34. Such an unusual way to find yourself a vegetarian. The story of how you got there is great. I’m laughing because I, too, as a child occasionally found my dinner plate plopped in front of me for breakfast. Waste not, want not, eh?

  35. Travelingmama

    I was a vegetarian for years. Since I didn’t like vegetables AT ALL, I attempted to disprove the scripture “man cannot live by bread alone.” I still don’t eat much meat. I just don’t like, but my husband is convinced he would die without it. He doesn’t like veggies either, so he might! LOL!
    Love the pics too! Thanks for sharing!

  36. I always felt wonderful when I was vegetarian. I don’t know why I began eating meat again. I eat less and less, and a big salad or plate of veggies is the perfect meal for me, followed by lots of fruit.
    Alas I am no longer skinny..!

  37. I have always loved vegetables – even as a kid, you could find me out in the garden yanking whatever out of the ground, wiping it off, and having a snack. My own kids though? Not so much. The youngest has given me the most grey hair about it. Chicken nuggets, tacos, and pizza. aurgh…

  38. Alison Whittington

    I gave up Lent for Lent one year. When I don’t like something I always say, oh, I gave that up for Lent. Flippant, I know, but I think God laughs at my silly jokes.

  39. Bon Appetit, Corey. I’m sending a pretty picture to you.

  40. I was a vegetarian for 6 years…then I became very anemic…Dr. suggested I go back to meat for protein. I went back to chicken and fish…for 34 years I have not eaten red meat…except for Lamb which is Iceland’s main meat…and I have that only about three times a year. I naturally gravitate to vegetarian fair and sometimes for days I will not have any meat at all.

  41. Corey ~ You are so love-a-liscious !!!! How’s that for a made-up word???????

  42. parisbreakfasts

    Your talk of having to give up dessert with your mother for Lent made me feel so bad, I got a chocolate macaron from the frig and eat it for you in sympathy..

  43. cruststation

    You have so much discipline! Really love the French markets with cute blackboards, so lovely!

  44. julie holvik

    Corey, All most every morning you are my coffee! Today wasn’t any different. My dad never said that to me, hum I wonder why? Did they really know how hard a wind would have to blow to blow you down? Can’t wait for the receipes the tart sounds different.
    _______________________
    Note: Julie is my cousin, Uncle Jules was her Father.

  45. I hope this isn’t a sign … I was just beginning to consider becoming a vegetarian this afternoon … and now this!

  46. Those artichokes are singing to me… beautiful Corey!

  47. Pinkie Denise

    Oh, Corey I remember not wanting to eat meat
    or vegetables. We had a bench with slats under the cushions. We would stuff are food down there, hoping my mom wouldn’t notice how funny! Wish I had that problem now! Pinkie Denise

  48. wow! i have always been skinny as well and used to get teased a lot about being blown by the wind! ๐Ÿ™‚
    great to hear that you were picky with your food as i am, but the similarity ends there, i didnt turn vegetarian, and dont like vegetables that much, the only vegie i can eat are mongo beans, squash, and mushroom

  49. My taste buds have changed or maybe matured since childhood, but some habits are hard to break, for me meat would be one of them. Kudos to you for taking that step! I will check out your book links. Thanks Corey!
    Teresa

  50. frenchgardenhouse

    For years and years Laurel’s Kitchen was my daily book. I love Linda Mc Cartney’s Vegetarian cookbook too. I love my organic vegetables!!
    Lidy

  51. I love the colorful cafรฉ tables. You have so many things to share, and I love seeing them…

  52. Shelley Noble

    I hate eating animals and I need so much constant full-range protein it isn’t funny. All I can do is thank the animal for it’s life, even though it wasn’t its idea to give it for me. I’m happy you’ve learned to thrive without meat.
    Your photos are getting prettier and prettier, Corey.
    Thanks to you for sharing your beautiful word inside and out. Your nieces are especially adorable(s).

  53. That’s so interesting, Corey. Are FH and your children vegetarians, too?
    __________________________
    Hi S
    Yes they are.

  54. just let me sit down at your table, staring at the beautiful dishes and plates… even without any food will do!!

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