Alva James-Johnson: Vegetarian living takes some work

Living a vegetarian lifestyle can be an inconvenience, especially in the South where meat is the basis for every meal.

You can hardly find a serving of collard greens, squash -- even corn bread -- without some trace of an animal product. I know this because I've tried, and trust me, you have to be vigilant.

This may come as a shock to many people, but there is actually life beyond fried chicken and barbecue ribs. When my family fires up the grill this holiday weekend, it will be for vegetables and other meat alternatives. Veggie hotdogs, anyone?

Don't get me wrong. I wasn't always meat averse and I have no problem with people who still like animal protein. When my husband and I converted to vegetarianism 16 years ago, we couldn't imagine life without chicken, steak, lamb or a big juicy hamburger.

But we grew up in a religion where a plant-based diet was encouraged. Pigs and certain seafoods were prohibited because of their scavenger ways. We followed some of the dietary restrictions, while simultaneously satisfying our carnivorous appetites.

That all changed when we started having children. When my first daughter was born we became "lacto-ovo" vegetarians, which sounds complicated but it just means we eliminated red and white meats while still eating dairy products. My husband and I do sneak a little turkey at Thanksgiving now and then. (When the kids aren't looking, of course.) But it has lost its savor.

So far, the girls think meat is gross and don't want to have anything to do with it. They cringe, however, when they hear my husband and I talking about them one day becoming vegans. They say that's just going a little too far. And how in the world will they live without cheese?

They've already had to explain to all their friends the whole vegetarian thing, and it hasn't always been pleasant. When one of their friends heard we were going grocery shopping, she asked, "What in the world for?" I guess all the meatless items at the grocery are just a mirage.

But it looks like we aren't the only ones on the vegetarian bandwagon. A 2008 study conducted by Vegetarian Times found that 3.2 percent of U.S. adults (7.3 million people) followed a vegetarian diet and 10 percent (22.8 million people) said their diet was vegetarian-inclined. Of non-vegetarians, 5.2 percent (11.9 million people) said they were "definitely interested" in following such a diet in the future.

I guess that's why Country Life Vegetarian Restaurant & Natural Food Store on Eberhart Avenue is always full at lunch time. I'm also seeing more and more vegetarian products at grocery stores and on restaurant menus. Yes, even in Columbus.

Some trends take time to catch on. So, I'll just have to keep on grilling.

Bon appétit, everyone!

This story was originally published August 29, 2014 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Alva James-Johnson: Vegetarian living takes some work."