“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” -Maya Angelou
One of the hardest things for people is change and especially the idea of changing something that was “traditional”, something that we connected with a special occasion. We are reluctant to give up eating the traditional foods associated with those special gatherings; we have so many good memories associated with certain meals. But we know better now: there are horrendous consequences associated with eating animals and there are much better choices we can make! Our hearts realize that our best memories are of the people gathered to share a celebration, that the food is secondary. We also know that there are so many amazing recipes that can be made without using animal products; we can make minor alterations to family recipes and still enjoy the familiar flavours.
I am grateful for the generations that came before us and brightened our lives with delicious meals and treats. I am grateful for their creativity, their time spent in the kitchen, and the recipes passed down through generations. Now that we know better, our meals can be kinder to the world and healthier overall. So thanks, Grandma, for all you did to feed us, care for us, and brighten our lives. Here is a more mindful version of one of your recipes, Grandma’s Brown Sugar Cookies. I will be passing on this new tradition, but I will always think of you with love when we eat them!
