Callan Workhouse pork
"I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues." ~Dr. Seuss, The Lorax
I ran into a vegetarian parade the other day (one of many NYC summer parades), where people were dressed as vegetables and a couple people carried a mock "diseased meat eater's colon" above their heads. It was a little amusing and frightening at the same time. MindfulEats appreciates people sharing and promoting their lifestyles, but hating on others tends to smack of fascism. There is rarely a need for extremism - moderation will give you a balanced diet and a healthy attitude. Hating just gives you frown lines and makes you tedious. (though we condone you being extreme about processed food - if you are looking for a cause, feel free to hate on that).
For those fortunate enough to have a diet choice, there are many reasons to be vegetarian, including the extensive environmental resources that go into meat production, a desire to stay away from industrialized meat practices, or health reasons.
Then there are people that equate meat to murder. I once had a carnivorous boyfriend that turned the statement on me and asked if vegetables liked being murdered. I thought that was a silly question. However, we do cut down plants in their prime so we can eat them. (Or put them in vases or use them as Christmas trees.) They might not have a nervous system and feel pain in the way we understand, but does the fact that they don't communicate with us mean that they don't have a consciousness? Ask the Lorax!
Everything (except plants) lives by eating once-living things. This is fine, and it's reality. We should just respect those things that gave up their consciousness for us. If I had been in the Donner Party and had to be eaten, I might not be thrilled about it, but I would expect some appreciation and respect for my sacrifice.
It's easy for people to forget where food came from since they are so removed from food growers - processed food bears no resemblance to its original form. And most people buy their meat in grocery stores neatly packaged, so they never think about the original animal source. I have friends that love eating duck but are repulsed by the sight of a roasted duck hanging in a restaurant. Hey, that's what your eating! Develop a healthy connection between you and what you eat. Denying food is weird!
What to do - Develop a Healthy Connection with Your Food
- Eat whole foods. They are the healthiest and most nutritious.
- Learn about your food. Talk to your food providers - at the market, at the butcher's, wherever. Check out this nifty site, Find the Farmer, to learn more about the individual farmer behind your flour.
- Appreciate your food. It doesn't matter what flavor eater you are - carnivore, raw, vegetarian, vegan... you don't need to feel guilty about it, just appreciate it. Yup, the broccoli was harvested at its prime, your hamburger used to be a powerful steer and your lox was a mighty salmon. Pretty awesome. Have some respect.
What I ate: 1 handful Mindful Mix, shaved mango ice, sticky rice in bamboo, Chinese food tour in Flushing: cold noodles, bite of lamb sandwich, 5 dumplings, 1/2 cheesecake, iced coffee, 8 oz. coconut water, bamboo shoots, crab noodles, rice + 1 piece fried snapper and broccoli, 40 ounces water, 8 oz. milk
Exercise: 1 mile jog, 1 hour yoga
