I told Garrett the other day that I was about as close as I've ever been to turning into a vegetarian. I might have chosen the wrong moment to mention this since it was just after he'd made a crock pot full of chili — with beef — for us, and he was wandering around the kitchen doing post-dinner clean-up. So yes, the timing was a bit off. It wasn't planned that way, though.
Never in my life did I think I'd consider this. Not that I've ever thought ill of vegetarians — or vegans for that matter. It was just so not on my radar. Obviously, my love of animals is documented. I mean, I save baby voles, for crying out loud! I don't like hunting — never have. Watching people fish is somewhat fascinating, but I've always disliked watching what happens after the fish comes out of the water. And for the majority of my life, I've just kept my mind off of what happens inside slaughter facilities and the like. It's too hard to think about for me.
My general awareness of the rampant inhumane treatment of animals has slowly increased, however. Reading this article by Penelope Trunk on how baby boy goats are killed as soon as they're born because they're basically useless and expensive to the farmer did not help the matter. It's eye-opening and written relatively objectively. ... Just read it.
And so my innocence about the dairy industry is shot.
As a kid I couldn't bear to look at the brown cows in the fields because I thought they were the ones who were soon going to die. Now, the black and white cows? Those were living the happy life because they were just providing milk and would never have to be butchered. Right? Apparently, not so. Many of them didn't make it past Day 1 to begin with.
This all comes months after learning a well-known egg producer — in my valley! — that professes to practice all things organic actually cuts off its chicken's beaks. Reading that? And then seeing those very eggs in my fridge? That was traumatizing.
I'm torn. I know that realistically making any diet changes does nothing in the grand scheme of things. And I like many of these products. Quite honestly, I don't know what I'd eat if I went full-fledged vegan. Veggies, fruit and bread all day gets old, right? Right?
It's not feasible; I know. But I feel like I should do something. Limiting meat is a possibility — and it would probably be good for me. But I'm probably feeling what every vegan has at one point: What's the point of making one change if you're still going to continue contributing to animal abuse problems elsewhere? If you're going to make a change, why not go all out?
But like I said, I know it's not possible at this point in my life. I live with someone who probably makes 80 percent of my meals, and he likes meat. He'd most likely be willing to minimize that, but taking egg and milk products out of our diet just won't happen.
So I'm left wondering what to do. I don't know the answers to what seems to be an industry issue that pits the ethical treatment of animals against monetary gain (or just not a loss). I don't even know what's right or wrong anymore. Is being killed as a baby animal better than living in horrible factory-farm and feedlot conditions? Is killing a baby worse than killing an adult animal for some reason? Why is it culturally acceptable here to eat a pig — a species known for its high IQ — but not a horse? Or a dog?
Are there any vegetarians, semi-vegetarians or vegans out there? Anyone who would like to weigh in at all? Has anyone felt this way? What can people like us do? Is there a way to find brands or farmers that humanely produce their products?
My research is sparse, and I feel so naive about this. So really, I'd love a discussion.
10 comments:
I've been really torn about this as well. Last year when my in-laws bull was slaughtered I really struggled. However, I realized that his life was much better (MUCH) than any other beef I could buy. He lived for several years in his own pasture with apple trees and all the cows he wanted to dally with. He was not abused and was put down when he was in too much pain. I don't feel guilty or bad when I eat Tim because I know he had a good, healthy, pain free life.
But the chicken and milk thing has been bothering me. I don't drink a lot of milk, but I do consume a lot of products with milk. The dairy industry is having a lot of problems with the excess of family farms going under so the dairy cows are being butchered. I know their death is quick but the life it takes to get their milk is hard for me to realize. I'm still thinking about that.
As for eggs... You could use egg-less product to cook with. I've used it with a friend and it tastes fine. I know when Casey and I eventually have the farm Casey insists on then I will have chickens. Happy chickens with happy unfertilized eggs. And if the chickens can't lay eggs then they can live out a happy life being disrupted only by being chased by cats or something.
This is long, but I feel the same way you do. It's hard for me. Who knows? Maybe I'll have a dairy cow and make my kids milk her. They'll need something to do.
Being vegan is not difficult - but I can see that it would mean a big change that, if not supported by your partner, could be challenging.
I waffled for some years myself, I was a master of denying and rationalizing the truth about animal farming, even though I have always been an animal lover. I was the one standing on the high-dive at the pool who just couldn't jump for the longest time. But then I did and guess what - I've never been happier or felt better in my life.
Maybe what you could do is just start with one vegan meal a day, or week. Or have a "vegan day" every week until you get more comfortable with it. It is an easy compromise that will help you get your "sea legs" about preparing vegan foods. Chances are too, neither you or Garrett will miss what's missing. Veganism is not about deprivation.
Please feel free to email me any time for support or suggestions :)
"Are there any vegetarians, semi-vegetarians or vegans out there? Anyone who would like to weigh in at all? Has anyone felt this way? What can people like us do?"
I have to laugh about this statement because I just read an article about decision making for one of my classes and it talked about the "confirming-evidence trap" in decision making. In which we basically make up our minds and then talk to other people to "make sure we are making the right decision" but really we just want to "confirm our decision is right", so even if people tell us NOT to do something, we don't listen to that part, but only anything that helps us feel good about our decision.
I am not saying that is what you are doing or will do, but just that statement sounded interesting to me because of what I had just read.
Anywho, I have to go to class or I'd give you my opinion...but then again maybe you wouldn't listen because I am against strict vegetarianism :)
My mom is semi-vegetarian, but she eats white meat and seafood. She hates red meat, and she thinks milk is disgusting.
In high school she shared her veggie burgers, veggie nuggets, fake-bacon (facon!) and encouraged us to bake with powdered eggs/milk.
But I have a hard time repressing my desire for red meat. Some of the substitute foods are really good, but I don't think I have the energy to go vegetarian or vegan. I'm much too lazy.
I hope you decide what you want to do!
Thanks for the comments so far.
Daedree — I like that Casey's family cares about their animals so much. I wonder what his dad would have to say about when he feels the farming industry might go too far — cross the line into cruelty – so to speak.
Catherine – Thanks for commenting. I'm glad Di sent you my way. I like the idea of starting with one meal or one day at a time. I think I could do that. Going cold turkey sounds so overwhelming.
Joey — You might be over-analyzing my question, but I think you're aware of that, so it's OK. :) But I still want to hear what you think, even if you are against vegetarism.
Liv – Interesting about your mom. Red meat is not a problem so much with me ... more milk and chicken.
I used to call my self an inactive vegetarian, mostly eating chicken. I recently watched Food, Inc. which also changed my paradigm and I realized that I just need to be more careful about where the meat I eat comes from.
I decided I was a vegetarian at six. Yep. As soon as I realized I was eating an animal, I'd had it. I fought with my parents about it for the next six years. At 12, I was finally allowed to leave the table without taking a bite. I experimented with the vegan thing, but found it difficult to stay on top of getting all my vitamins, fiber, and especially protein when so much of my life is about food I can make quick, food I can stop and pick up quick, and food that is out on a table in the lobby. It's just too hard to stop somewhere for lunch with co-workers and then ask to stop at another and possibly another location to find food that is actually vegan. Most co-workers get tired of eating at the same vegan place over and over again. You'll get tired of the same veggie options at the local fave five places pretty quick, too. If you and Garrett have time to cook at home and pack food for lunches then it might be easier. Keep track of your diet and what you're eating to make sure your diet is well rounded. Not having enough protein makes me tired and irritable more so than usual, for instance. Right now I practice semi-vegetarianism. I (in a very picky fashion considering where, when, how, and why the animal was slaughtered) eat poultry and fish when I eat out, this helps me keep my protein up without serious effort, but at home I only cook vegetarian and vegan dishes. I hope someday when I have more time I can switch back to being more committed.
-Kristen (signed in with my alter ego)
Emilie - a great book to read is Righteous Porkchop by Nicolette Hahn Niman. It is both a harrowing account of how the majority of animal products in this country are produced, but also provides hope and solutions in ways to find animal products that are produced with respect for the animals, humans, and ecosystems involved. The author herself is a vegetarian, but her husband runs one of the best sustainable ranches in the country. I have started making some rather expensive food choices myself, because I think the unseen costs of "affordable" food are too high. I would imagine in an agricultural region, you would have better luck finding first-hand sources of pastured eggs, grass fed meat, etc. if you're still interested in having animal products be part of your life.
Good luck! I find these decisions are really hard but interesting to make, because they are influenced by so many things (taste, finances, morals, etc.). And I find people with the same values often end up making pretty different choices (i.e. choosing to be committed to buying only grass-fed, local meat where babies aren't routinely killed, or becoming vegan).
Thanks for posting about this, though - I think it's great for everyone to stop and reconsider every now and then.
We were drinking only organic milk and eating cage-free organic eggs for several months and honestly I felt better and it tasted delicious. But then we decided to live off of one income (before we were supplementing living expenses with student loans) and things tightened up quite a bit. So now I'm back to the cheap milk and the cheap eggs. I feel guilty every time I go shopping. However, we've tried to compensate by eating less meat overall. We try to go vegetarian once or twice a week and I love the site meatlessmonday.com if you're looking for some good recipes. It's helped us cut down on our food bill, too, which means sometimes I can afford to pick up the more expensive eggs. I'm not interested in going entirely vegetarian, so take all this commentary for what it's worth ... I'm OK with eating low-fat meat a few times a week. But I do wish I could have the financial guts to cut out other expenses to make buying only meat that I know is humanely produced a priority. And I definitely support a diet that's lower in meat in general ... our American way of life is not only inhumane and ecologically unsustainable, it's a huge health risk, too. We could all use a little (OK, a lot) less animal fat in our diets.
What about raising chickens in your back yard? You could take good care of them and eat their eggs.
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