Vegetarianism is a state of being that removes animal flesh from the human diet. Many people use vegetarianism as a diet to decrease the amount of food they eat or fat they consume. But is using vegetarianism or even veganism simply to loose weight ethical? I think not.
I too fell into this unethical trap. When I initially became a vegetarian, it was to loose weight. Most of my friends and family thought it was a fad that I wouldn’t stick with. But one year turned into two, and then into five and I stuck with it the whole time, but the further I got into the mentality of it the more I realized that vegetarianism is not about me or people in general at all. It is about the animals and their rights. My views on vegetarianism began to shift about 6 months into my new diet when I realized that I was 100% all right with not eating meat. It began to feel like I had been living this way my whole life. It was a bit more of a hassle for my friends and family when they cooked but they soon got used to it and it became simple to prepare a different meal for me. My lifestyle has never felt more free and weightless. My body feels light and airy and not heavy and held down like I was feeling when I ate meat. It wasn’t until I made the switch to vegetarianism that I noticed this difference.
Animal farming in America has gotten out of hand. We are no longer simply feeding the people. The U.S. Now produces 200 cows per 1 person. This is more beef than anyone could ever eat. Not only are factory farms over producing the amount of cows they raise for beef or milk; they are treating them like they have no feelings or the ability to suffer. Tight confined spaces with little room to move are common. Babies are immediately taken away from their mothers at birth. They are also getting fed grain instead of grass because it’s cheaper, grains that they are not evolutionarily able to digest. Chickens live crowded with no room to move as well. They are genetically modified so that they grow three times as fast in the short six weeks that they are kept alive and fed one-third the amount of food they would normally eat. Their body mass becomes too much for their bones to support resulting in broken bones. Many chickens end up dying of thirst or starvation because they cannot make it to the feeding stations. At the slaughterhouse many are not killed by the initial stun gun and then boiled to death alive. These tragedies need to be stopped. The above only mentions cows and chickens, but these conditions can be applied to ducks, pigs, and all other factory farmed animal. The conditions are inhumane.
Many people ask why I do it, but I think the question should be why don’t they?
Most Americans could exclude animal meat from their diets and not experience any health issues. There are many ways to supplement proteins and vitamins that are essential to a healthy, stable diet.
Here are a few recipes to try to see if going vegetarian is right for you:
Breakfast:
Egg on toast
1 or 2 eggs
1 English muffin or piece of toast (whole wheat)
1 large avocado
1/2 tomato
Basil
Goat Cheese or Feta cheese
Directions: Prepare the eggs any style. Cut up veggies and put on muffin/ toast (or serve on the side). Put the egg on top and garnish with the basil and cheese. Nom Nom Nom!
Lunch:
Quinoa Salad: Great protein alternative!
1-cup quinoa
2 cups water
1 cup diced veggies (any seasonal veggies)
1/8-cup nuts (pine nuts, almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts…)
Dressing: anything you are feeling
· Oil+Vinegar+ garlic powder
· Olive oil+ fresh lemon juice+ ginger powder+ garlic
· Pesto
· Marinara
Directions: Boil 2 cups of water. Once the water is boiled put in 1 cup of quinoa and turn down to low. Allow to simmer for 15 minutes or until the water has evaporated stirring regularly. You can throw the veggies in the water to boil or you can sauté them and throw them in at the end. Mix all ingredients together when the quinoa is finished cooking. Enjoy hot or put it in the refrigerator and enjoy it cold.
Dinner:
Homemade Pizza
Pizza dough
Fresh veggies
Herbs
Pizza Sauce
You already know how to make a homemade pizza. Add your favorite ingredients and combinations…just leave out the meat toppings. Keep the serving size in mind when chowing down :)
There are an endless amount of vegetarian meals that can be made with common refrigerator and pantry items. These are just some typical meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Want tacos? Make them without meat. The easiest way to come up with recipes is to eat the same way that you normally do but without the meat. Sandwiches can easily be made without meat. Load it up with some avocado, cheese, cucumber, tomato, and sprouts. Becoming a vegetarian is worth thinking about because of all the environmental benefits that come with it. Stand up against factory farms in America. You can make a difference and change the world!!