Wah!

[camwyn]

I started Lent this year with the intention of giving up more than last. I'm not much of a Catholic - I do this for reasons of personal self-discipline and tradition, rather than for mandated religious reasons, mostly. I have so many friends with dietary restrictions of some kind, whether medical or self-imposed, that I thought a good exercise in understanding would be to get both strict and consistent. Since I've done 'no meat' the past two Lents, I figured this year I'd expand it a smidge - nothing that required an animal to die. This rules out meat, fish, shellfish, and so on, but it also rules out anything that involves gelatin and most kinds of cheese. Kosher cheese is okay, as is any cheese made from vegetable rennet, and I have no objections to eggs as long as they're not fertile (although that's more because fertile eggs squick me out to begin with).

So, anyway, for lunch today I brought wheat and soy-based simulated beef from home, plus some vegetarian refried beans (look, Ma, no lard!). I thought 'hmm, chips might be nice with this'. Most of the snack machine's chip selection was gone, except the new Cooler Ranch Doritos. I put in my sixty cents, got the bag, and started towards my desk - then turned the bag over and nearly cried. Even Cooler Ranch contains cheddar cheese, and they aren't marked kosher dairy.

I so cannot wait for Easter. I want my cheese back!