Part 2 of the food stories from the Walk Across CA a class at Santa Clara University where students and faculty will walk from San Francisco to Yosemite in June 2012.
Part 1 of 14 Food stories submitted by David J. Popalisky from Walk Across CA, a class at Santa Clara University where students and faculty will walk from San Francisco to Yosemite in June 2012.
I had toyed with the idea of becoming a vegetarian for a few years. I felt that I should eat less meat for environmental and health reasons, but I didn’t believe that I would actually be able to be a vegetarian. This was partly because I didn’t want to give up my favorite dishes, but I think the not knowing how to make the change was a stronger deterrent, and ultimately had me feeling unable to control what I ate.
Becoming a vegetarian happened accidentally. I started dating a boy who was a vegetarian, and we began sharing meals. I realized that his choice to avoid meat was not a daily struggle, but a daily choice, and it was a choice that I could make. Vegetarianism has stayed with me and made me very happy (and so has the boy!). I may not always be a vegetarian, but I will always know that I am in control of what I eat, because I can choose.
Chef Charles Mattocks shares his food story!
I looked forward to the 4 hours drive between Washington D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina that me and my Dad took when I was a little girl. I had my favorite stops along the way…Waffle House and fast foods we didn’t have in D.C. I would take a small nap, wake up to ask “where are we?” It didn’t matter really because as long as we were just outside of Richmond Va or passing Richmond - I knew that a Waffle House wouldn’t be far! My dad liked to drive fast which was only problematic when he wanted to make time and didn’t want to stop! So, my secret was to have to go to the bathroom - of course near a eating place as opposed to stopping at the rest stops, that never had food. Driving fast was usually alright because the final destination of course was Grandma’s house.The sooner we got there the better. Before leaving our house we would call her and let her know we were getting on the road. That triggered her beginning to cook and timing things just so everything would be ready, when I came running through the screen door! Big hug and kiss for grandma and grandpa - and next “What’s to eat?!”
Celebrity Chef Charles Mattocks, aka “the Poor Chef” is all smiles posing with happy, young participants from Prescott Elementary School after the cooking demonstration he put together, with Growing Justice Institute Graduate Shalina Allen, at the official launch of the 10,000 Stories campaign!
