There are a few things I hope to impress upon Evan as he grows.

• Don’t be fussy with your food. It’s impolite. Choose two or three things that you don’t like, and learn to appreciate the rest.
• Eat the rainbow. Don’t waste your time on white fluff that sticks to the roof of your mouth.
• Learn how to cook well, and the ladies will be lining up outside your university dormroom.
• Stay away from yellow snow.

In our eating adventures so far we’ve crossed yams, peas, plums and bananas off our list, to name a few. One final chapter looms – protein. Meat. And I hesitate. Me of all people, who thinks of bacon as dessert.

Evan is pristine. A perfect little being with no mistakes in him. And here we are, on the brink of launching his own journey of personal pollution. It all starts innocently enough, with a spoonful of pureed chicken.

Rosy-cheeked Dr. Andrew Weil, my righteous angel, sits on my left shoulder in lotus position. He gently reminds me to drink more green tea, stay away from nitrates and eat tofu. Grizzled Anthony Bourdain, famed chef, sits on my right shoulder, smirking while he nibbles foie gras off the end of his pitchfork.

Guess who says what:

• You only get one body. Treat it as a temple, and it will serve you well.
• You only get one body. Stuff it with diversity and deliciousness.
• Vegetarian-ness is godliness. A meat-free diet helps you live longer and healthier.
• Vegetarians are whining, culturally deprived jerks.
• The optimal diet limits chemicals, processed foods, alcohol, fats and salts.
• The only thing I won’t eat is monkey brain.

I’m afraid Dr. Weil is fighting a losing battle. As ideal as it would be, vegetarianism is not in our future. On a winter day, simmered lentils and spicy sausage is just too good.

On second thought though, perhaps we’ll start Evan off with some tofu. Point: Weil.