My brother the vegan, part two

Since my brother Mark left Seattle Monday last for Colorado, California, and who-knows-where-he-is-now, I have not become a vegan. But I have become more mindful of my food choices. And I find myself using the word "mindful."

Choices I've made over the past week, that I would not have made prior to my brother's visit, include the following:

• I sautéed the spinach, steamed the carrots, and sautéed the Portabella mushrooms my brother left behind in my fridge, and had them all for dinner.
• I chose a tofu and bean sprouts baguette for lunch at the Jewelbox Café before a business meeting in the Northgate area. (Normally I would have gone for the pulled pork.)
• I went to Chaco Canyon for breakfast on the weekend rather than Voula's (I am not dissing Voula's and I won't give Voula's up).
• I had a cheeseburger at Li'l Woody's on Friday evening but shared my fries with my youngest son and skipped the Molly Moon milkshake for a pint of Manny's Pale Ale.

During last year's glorious Seattle summer, I developed and practiced a habit of eating well, by which I meant taking the trouble to seek out and enjoy splendid food, prepared well.

I'd like to think I am now trying to fuse the summer 2011 and summer 2012 philosophies.