Being Herbivore

Posted by admin on September 28th, 2007 — Posted in Diet

I was, at one time, a pretty devout vegetarian (and working on the whole vegan thing). It started out of concern for animal welfare (especially the poor creatures trapped on factory farms*...which are pretty much evil-see this* and this* as well). My religious beliefs and personal conscience just wouldn't allow me to continue my omnivore ways. Then, as I did my research I discovered how a vegetarian diet is healthy for me, (also: this & this) and the planet (and this).

But at some point I lost my dedication. I think it happened largely during a road trip to visit my parents, and my in-laws. I don't like to make people cook especially for me, and finding veg food on the road, while entirely possible, is not always the easiest thing to do. But really, since when did ease become more important than integrity? And, as I discovered, eating meat isn't so easy...on my stomach that is. I used to get an upset stomach every single morning. I thought maybe it was a lactose issue. So I decided to try soy milk. This was at the same time I went vegetarian. After that, my stomach was normal and happy. No more rushing to the bathroom in the morning. But when I started eating meat again...I started getting sick again. As it turns out it wasn't a lactose issue at all. Hormone free milk doesn't make me the least bit ill. It's meat that upsets my tummy (as well as hormones and chemicals). I'll be sticking with the soy milk (after all, it's much, much healthier...plus I'm trying to slim down)...except for special occasions in which case I'll be buying cruelty-free, organic milk (after all, soy milk just doesn't taste the same with a batch of home-made chocolate chip cookies).

So my conscience's and my stomach's complaints have won me over once more. I'm re-going veg! There are a few things I'll allow: cage-free, organic eggs, organic, free-range turkey (for the hubby) at Thanksgiving and Canadian Thanksgiving, and "special circumstances." By "special circumstances" I mean occasions like the one in which we were given half a freezer full of elk meat that a game warden had confiscated from a poacher. I was okay with the elk meat because 1. the animal had already been poached and it would be wasteful to just throw away the meat, 2. the animal was not raised on a dirty, unnatural factory farm, 3. the animal never knew the terrifying smells of a slaughterhouse, and 4. the animal had not been shot up with all kinds of hormones and antibiotics. And, just a note, Mr. E and I both agree that the elk steaks were tastier and more tender than beef (though that doesn't mean I support hunting...because I don't).

So, I'm once more on a quest to have a diet that is compassionate, green, and healthy.

PS- I know I already provided this link above...but it's too good not to suggest again. "For The Environment"

* These facts, images, and videos are not suitable for everyone, particularly children. What's worse is that it isn't some fiction horror story...but reality.