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Audrey JoAnn | Content and Copy Writer

Compelling Copy for Female Founders

From Vegetarian to… Non-vegetarian: An Entirely Too-Long Post to Answer Your Questions

April 14, 2016

The question I got for six years: “Why are you a vegetarian?” The new question I’m getting: “So why do you eat meat…now?” 

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Until a couple weekends ago, I’d been a vegetarian for nearly seven years. SEVEN. Actually, I was technically a pescatarian for the majority of the time (which means I still ate seafood but no land or air animals). Occasionally I’d feel pangs of guilt toward sea creatures, though, and would stop eating them, too, but that never lasted long. (I really love sushi.)

Most people didn’t care about my lack of meat-eating — except for friends and family in the Midwest who loved to give me a hard time about it. My paternal grandparents made their living off a pig and livestock farm, for crying out loud! So I was basically an alien to everyone up there.

No one else seemed to mind, though, even my Texan, hunting-loving boyfriend. So when I came to the decision to give up vegetarianism about two weeks ago, I made the choice myself, without outside influence. And — this might seem silly — it was really hard.

I stopped eating meat the day after Thanksgiving when I was a junior in high school after a conversation with my brother’s then-girlfriend about her refraining from eating meat products. She told me it was weirdly easy for her to give up, which made me think, Maybe I can do that. I’ve always been a crazy animal lover (can you tell?), and didn’t eat meat too often to begin with, except for occasional burgers or bacon or chicken. I figured it was okay to not be eating most of those foods, anyway, so I quit meat cold turkey.

Except for the first month — when I’d have days I REALLY wanted an In N’ Out burger — it was mostly easy for me to stop eating meat. Sure, certain things would smell good, but never good enough for me to need to try them.

I’ve also always had issues with self control around food, too, so I think this was a way for me to taper certain cravings in a healthy way. Instead of ordering the cheeseburger and fries at a restaurant, I had to get the vegetable dish. It was a dietary restriction that didn’t feel too much like a restriction. After all, I could still have ice cream or cheese or bread — you know, all the important nourishments. (We won’t go there with the one time I tried veganism, which ended tragically quickly after two days of torture.)

For once, I had to choose animal-friendly options and consider what I was putting in my body more than I ever did before. Did I have enough protein today? Is this going to keep me full long enough? After a while, I had a routine down, and it was fine. Great, even. It worked well for my life for nearly a decade, but like many routines, it began to get boring.

My boyfriend will tell you I’ve been boycotting any kind of baked, sautéed, or pan-cooked fish for a couple months now. (I think it’s annoyed him since he only had so much to work with when making dinner with me — and I chopped out most of our options by refusing fish.) I’m honestly just tired of it! I still like seafood, but for easy, nutritious weeknight meals, I was running out of ammo. You can only eat baked salmon so many times.

And so, slowly, a few months ago, the idea of eating meat again crept up on me. At 24 years old, I feel more secure in my health habits than I did at 17. I no longer feel like food controls me like it did when I became vegetarian.

And, like everyone, my palette has changed. Things like a chicken salad, which I used to feel indifferent about not eating, now looks freaking amazing. Don’t even get me started with the smell of bacon. (Things other than meat have become alluring in the past few months or year, as well, like olives… Just so we’re clear I haven’t become this ravenous, meat-craving freak or anything.)

But even though my food attitude has improved, and my palette is different, there was still the whole guilt thing to approach. When I told John I started considering eating meat again, he got so excited and asked if he could make my first meaty meal in celebration. That made my stomach turn. I know he was just being sweet: He loves to cook, and I’m sure he’s dreamt about a day when I might eat meat again. But for me, I didn’t want to celebrate my failure of saving animals! (I understand that one person being a vegetarian does little to save animals or negate cruel slaughterhouses, but still, guilt is guilt, and I had it big time.)

I’m still wrestling with that part of it, but for now, I plan on eating grass-fed, ethically-raised, pasture-raised, organic, hormone-free (you get it) meat. At least as much as I can help it. I don’t see myself eating meat at many restaurants, either, unless I know it’s a place that really cares about the quality of its fare. (Side note: if anyone knows the best grocer to get the most ethical and pure meat, please let me know! I’ve only hit up Whole Foods so far.)

There you have it: my weird, entirely too-long story about going from a longtime veggie to a full-blown carnivore, with standards. I’ve had a lot of questions about both choices — the choice to become a vegetarian way back when, and now, the choice to not be one — but if there’s anything I didn’t address, please reach out! I’m happy to answer and open a discussion in the comments below (or email me at audrey@audreyjoann.com).

6 Comments in Food, Health, Life

Welcome! I'm Audrey, and I adore connecting with female founders and telling their stories in a way that matters & lasts for years to come.

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audskelton

I used to hardcore resist SEO in my writing work. I used to hardcore resist SEO in my writing work. 😂 It felt formal and stuffy and forced, so I just sorta... ignored it. 

As someone who appreciates copywriting for the creative and storytelling sides of it, I have struggled with some of the technical pieces like search engine optimization. 🥴

But... my clients wanted SEO, and truthfully I know it *is* important, even if ~cReAtIvE writer Audrey~ wanted to pretend it wasn’t a thing.

I began paying more attention to how to do it in a non-icky manner and sort of backed into this simple method for incorporating SEO best practices in blog posts in a way that is natural (aka, doesn’t read like a robot wrote it). Here’s what I do!

• Google your topic/headline. It will help you find the most appropriate keyword to focus on in your post. Say the topic you want to write about is “how to get your newborn to sleep.” 🙃 Type it into Google, and see what kinds of content comes up on the first page.
• Pay attention to which keywords are repeated. For this one, “newborn sleep tips,” “baby sleep tips,” and “how to get your newborn to sleep” are all keywords used in multiple headlines. Also pay attention to the “People also search for” and “Related searches” lists that Google provides because those are keyword goldmines. 
• Pick ONE of these phrases to use as your main SEO keyword (and try to weave in a few of the other phrases throughout the post, but don’t worry too much about those other ones... it’s better to have one focused keyword). Make sure you choose one that you can organically use a few times in the blog post. (So not something like “best restaurants near me 2021”... that keyword stinks and will read like you’re trying to rank).
• Use the keyword you chose in your headline, 1st paragraph of the post, and at least one H2 or H3. It should be in the blog post at least 3-4 times. The best places are the intro paragraph, 1st header, and last paragraph. And aaaaalways the headline!!!
• Include the keyword in a meta description (or the summary Google will pull underneath your blog post’s headline).
• Finally, make sure the content is actually interesting. Because SEO doesn’t mean a dang thing if the content sucks. 🥵
Motherhood is the only time I’ve worked hard at Motherhood is the only time I’ve worked hard at something every day but haven’t been able to problem solve or research my way into feeling very much better at it.

I know what you’re thinking. It’s only been 6 weeks! You have a *lifetime* to keep learning. I KNOW. It’s ridiculous but this is how my brain works.

And some days I just thank God over and over for a beautiful and healthy and good baby. Like, I still can’t believe he’s real. Then... there are times I just need a quick sob on the floor (😂😅) because he won’t nap longer than 20 minutes. It’s a real ride, over here. 

Most days I’m in leggings and the only thing on my face is coconut oil. I usually don’t get to brush my teeth until 10 a.m. or later. I want to cry every time he cries and I can’t figure out why.

It’s this constant mix of feeling unproductive because I’m literally not producing or accomplishing anything most days, let alone getting dressed (a la this photo), and feeling the most productive I’ve ever been because... I’m keeping this tiny being alive! (Using my boobs! That is insane, no? Why don’t we talk about this??)

Anyway. That’s the end of my jumbled rant on 6 weeks of parenthood that no one asked for. 😂 I just hope Wally knows how infinitely loved he is, always and forever. Even when I can’t figure out if it’s witching hour or sleepy cues or just gas.
Little valentine, thank you for being mine. ♥️ Little valentine, thank you for being mine. ♥️

#valentinesday #valentinesbaby #6weeksold #babyboy #boymom #valentine #babyoutfit
It’s the hands and the half smile for me. 🤗 It’s the hands and the half smile for me. 🤗

One month old tomorrow and I *can’t* believe it! 🎉 He’s the sweetest babe, loves bath time, sleeps in 3.5-5 hour stretches at night (for now...), responds to smiles, and is already here for a good book, much to both of his parents’ satisfaction! We love you, Wallace. 🤎
Who do you think was more excited about this day t Who do you think was more excited about this day trip out to the coast... us or Wallace? 😅😂 I love them. Also, I can’t get over the burp cloth on John’s shoulder. Ya know, just in case. #newparentlife
One hour, just us two in our backyard with a big c One hour, just us two in our backyard with a big charcuterie board, a deck of cards, a couple glasses of rosé, and no baby monitor. 🤎

The first week of Wallace’s life? I ached even being in another room from him (#hormones). I was a wreck of emotions and had legitimate baby tunnel vision... preeeetty much nothing else mattered. But things have been balancing out this past week, and today was so needed.

My mom is in town all month and watched Wally for us so we could have some time just us two—yep, in the backyard because of shelter in place restrictions from COVID. (Plus let’s be real... I’m not quite ready for an out-of-the-house date yet anyway. 😂)

As much as I desire to be a present + loving mama and ambitious business owner, it’s just as important to me to prioritize our marriage with little moments like this to just be in each other’s presence (and not just talk about burping and swaddling and bedtime routines, like most of our recent convos).

Here’s to (almost) 2 weeks of being parents, @the_beermonger. I think we’ll do okay.
My two favorite guys in the world. 🤍🌎 My two favorite guys in the world. 🤍🌎
Me, trying to figure out what to do with my hands Me, trying to figure out what to do with my hands without a bump. 👐🏼 Wallace, trying to figure out what we’re doing out of the house. 🤨

First family walk in the books! All of 10 minutes. 🤪 (Also, does anyone else notice the rainbow over Wally?... My heart. 🌈🥺)
1 week old. 🤎 The hardest, most emotional & mos 1 week old. 🤎 The hardest, most emotional & most rewarding week of my life. Babies’ sleep schedules, y’all. They are not for the faint of heart.

Wallace is hitting all his milestones, has learned the alphabet, and is picking up Latin. Just kidding. But he CAN poop 3 times in an hour and a half 😎, and he eats like a champ, is so strong that we prefer to tag team diaper changes for now, and makes the sweetest, cutest noises all day long. (And night.) Like even his cry is cute. 😩

One of my friends called this time the “wet weeks”: urine, breast milk, spit up, night sweats, tears, blood, more tears. It’s a lot, and it’s temporary. So even in the hard moments, we are reminding ourselves that the hardest things are often the best things. 

And this really has been the best thing.

So, so thankful for a hands-on husband who’s been so involved in everything... there’s something indescribable about watching your partner care for your child and step into a big, new role like this so gracefully. And we are thankful for ALL of the support, near and far (... mostly far), from our family and friends and coworkers. What a week... here’s to continuing to figure it all out together as a family. 😌
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