I Didn’t Mind The Outhouse, It Was The Vampires That Terrified Me

When one is raised by crunchy granola hippies, there’s a certain amount of embarrassment one must accept during the growing up process. This embarrassment stems mainly from the lack of indoor plumbing and the food that one is raised on.

I actually didn’t mind the outhouse growing up, except at night because, vampires.

Regarding the rabbit food of my childhood and adolescence, I enjoyed it and looked forward to everything my mom cooked. A warm bowl of brown rice or millet with nondairy milk, nuts, fruit and a small drizzle of maple syrup was my favorite breakfast, and mom’s tofu “wish sticks” with a big side of veggies was my most requested dinner.

I dug the hippie life growing up, but it was definitely laced with moments of burying my head in my palm with a flushed face. My crimson cheeks mainly happened during lunchtime at school – I was the weirdo with veggies, fruit, whole wheat almond butter sandwiches and water, whereas the cool kids ate Kraft Cheese and Cracker Snack Packs, Kudos bars and a Capri Sun to wash it all down. My cheeks would turn equally as red when friends who were used to indoor toilets would come over to my house and play.

Here’s the thing about having hippie parents – healthy food has been a pillar of their lifestyle for the past 45 years. And when healthy eating is a lifestyle, it’s maintained for the long haul. It’s not a diet. It’s not a flash in the pan. It’s not a phase. It’s part of your life, seamlessly woven in, just like sleep and laughter.

I was reminded of this last week when I went to visit my parents. Mom and dad’s fridge was stocked with yummy plant based food, ready for us to nosh on. Tempeh Sloppy Joes, Potato Corn Chowder, ingredients for green smoothies, Tofu Salad, sprouted bread, almond butter, tons of fruit, dark leafy greens, and lots of cruciferous veggies – everything a plant based eater could ask for.

And this wasn’t because I was in town. This is how mom’s kitchen rolls on a daily basis and has since I was born.

My parents might have indoor plumbing now, but their food has remained the same since my childhood. And for this, I thank them.

When most people my age are driving their parents to and from doctor appointments, hospitals and pharmacies, I get to drive my parents to the phone store and get them a new smartphone and to the record store and get them new music.

We get to go hiking in the desert. We go to the movies on Friday night. We get dressed up and go downtown on Saturday night. We act silly in bookstores. We wake up early and make green smoothies and do a happy dance in the living room. I give them computer lessons. We explore yummy new vegan restaurants. We book plane tickets for future visits. We act like 10 year olds at play. We laugh. We hug each other. It’s happy. It’s easy.

This fills me with gratitude and joy because I see how vibrant, full of life and happy my parents are. And that’s exactly what we want for the people we love.

Simple as that.

So thank you mom and dad for always eating like you give a fuck. Your food choices for the past 45 years have done you well, and you continue to inspire me to eat plants and to help other people eat plants too.

Love, your daughter, who used to be embarrassed by your crunchy hippie ways, is now 100% thankful and delighted.

Do you have crunchy granola hippies for parents, too? Talk to me in the comments below.

Wishing you a happy week. May it be filled with habits that will support you for the long haul, like eating Eggless Egg Salad.

Xo
Molly