so this is it.  i’m finally attempting to join the foodie community that i’ve been stalking from a distance for the past year.  i did try to comment on a couple entries a few times, but, once asked for a username or any form of identification, i would chicken out.  something about surrendering my anonymity was frightening–as if someone was going to angrily point a finger at me from across cyberspace and say “you!! you’re a fraud… that comment was idiotic.”  and thus all my attempts to infiltrate the world of food blogging have come and gone without any real success. until now.

i don’t really know what has spurred me to finally start my own site.  you’d think i would take some baby-steps.  make a comment on one of my go-to blogs.  make a real attempt at a couple recipes more challenging than microwaveable bagged broccoli.  but i live my life in extremes, i guess.  i always dream bigger and higher than i can really manage.  and this is probably no different.  but a girl can hope.

for starters, i should probably introduce myself.  my name is joanna.  i’m originally from new york but i go to school in philadelphia (where i am currently a junior majoring in classical studies).  i love school but i loathe schoolwork, so a lot of my posts here will inevitably be written the night before (or even the day of) an exam or a term paper.  procrastination is kind of my thing–i’ve been told i take it to new and impressive lengths.  but apart from all that hatred of reading and writing and such, i actually do love learning about ancient greece and rome–hence “tofu and PLATO.”  (fyi i actually kind of despise plato, but i just happen to be reading him for all four of my in-major courses this semester.  so he’ll be sure to take up lots of my life through december and beyond.  lucky me.).

and now onto the tofu party. <–that was a typo.  i meant to write tofu part, but i think tofu party sounds more fun.  yayyy tofu.

i would tend to call myself a select-atarian.  i’m kind of a fail when it comes to vegetarianism.  i try, which i guess counts for something.  i haven’t really touched red meat or pork since before i can remember (sometime in elementary school or early middle school probably).  i definitely don’t miss those.  and i have been on-and-off eating poultry since i was 14.  mostly off.  i haven’t had any for the past year and a half, which is probably the longest stretch i’ve gone yet.  but i definitely still eat fish, dairy, and eggs.  which kind of brings me to my next point…

i would love to be vegan.  but when you put the whole “tofu” and “plato” things together for me, it just becomes too much for me to handle.  

first, i am easily stressed and i do not manage my time well.  so when it’s the night before my ancient history midterm and i still have four chapters to read, i’m not going to spend my time making vegan meatballs, as much as i’d like to.

second, i’m not going to spend my money on a ton of prepackaged vegan food when i’m already not a careful spender.

third, i’m a creature of habit.  there are certain healthy, easy, cheap, vegetarian meals that i have made for a long, long time–and they are by no means vegan.  i cannot even begin to count the number of times i have tried a new dairy- or egg-free version of an old recipe only to find that i totally screwed it up and have to throw everything out.  it’s just easier for now to stick with what i know works for me.

and lastly, i’m too much of a snacker and compulsive eater to comfortably transition to veganism, confident that i won’t gain 20 pounds munching on all the vegan foods that you’re only supposed to eat in moderation (vegan chocolate cake, nuts, etc.).  moderation is so not me.

so overall, i’m trying to say i’m not ready for veganism.  but hopefully this blog will help me make some steps in the right direction. i’ll be doing something constructive with my time spent putting off the mountain of work waiting for me in my room.  and i’ll learn to balance my life a little better (cross your fingers).  between schoolwork and fun.  between healthfulness, convenience, and cost of my diet.  between vegetarianism and veganism.  tofu and plato.  and whatever else is in need of some balance.  wish me luck.

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