Tofurky

Vegitarianism. Eating habits can affect us in multiple ways. Food is certainly part and parcel of socialization and ritual. I rarely discuss my vegetarianism outright, but food is such an embedded part of our day that inevitably it will come up. For example, the school may provide a staff dinner on parent conference evenings. In that case, I need to let people know that I need that consideration. Often students will offer to share a meal or some food and it will come up. Almost without fail, I get confused and puzzled looks and lots of questions.

So how long have you been? Eighteen years. What DO you eat? Everything without a mother (or a face). Why would you do such a stupid thing? Thank you; you sound like my mother.

At any rate, with Thanksgiving approaching and all that holiday means in terms of food and family, I get questions from almost each class. Most consist of: So WHAT DO YOU EAT FOR THANKSGIVING? I mention Tofurky, a turkey substitute made from tofu. Not that I usually have this for Thanksgiving mind you, but it sounds like a good answer.

This year, the best response was at the end of a discussion with several students about Tofurky and how heretical that was to the holiday. [Teenagers for all their rebellion, really don't deal well with new ideas.] After consideration Ting blurted out: But, how do they get the bones in it?

You know, I really don't know.