Mixed Greens

I became a vegetarian a little over 8 years ago, and it has become an essential part of ‘being green’ to me.

Why?

A 2006 United Nations report found that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all the SUVs, cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined.

According to GoVeg:

• The official handbook for the Live Earth concerts says that “refusing meat” is the “single most effective thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint.”³
• According to Environmental Defense, if every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetarian foods instead, the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than a half-million cars off U.S. roads.
• The University of Chicago reports that going vegan is 50% more effective than switching to a hybrid car in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

So, it turns out that choosing to eat more plant-based meals – or going all the way veggie – can make a huge impact. But there are a lot of reasons why vegetarian or vegan diets make sense practically and ethically.

Here’s why I decided to commit to a vegetarian diet:

1. I cannot imagine killing an animal in order to eat it. (Even killing an animal for euthanasia or self-defense purposes would be excruciatingly painful.) So, I don’t think I should have others do my dirty work. If I want meat, I should be able and willing to kill, skin, cut and cook the animal I’ll be consuming. I’m not.

2. A sensible vegetarian diet is healthier. A plant-based diet provides essential vitamins and minerals without the (bad) cholesterol of meat, nor the antibiotics, hormones, mercury and other poisons found in meat. (I buy mostly local, organic produce to avoid the toxins found in veggies and fruits as well due to pesticides and herbicides.)

3. The vast majority of meat comes from industry factories where the conditions are revoltingly inhumane. I don’t think that most meat eaters could stomach watching how animals live and are slaughtered for their dinners. But, then again, none of us ever have to – it all just *magically* appears in our supermarkets. (As far as eating meat derived from more humane conditions, such as free range or organic, see Reason #1.)

4. I’m just not convinced that it is *natural* for us to eat meat. Our bodies – particularly our digestive systems – seem much better suited for a plant-based diet. This is the subject of much debate though – are we more like herbivores, carnivores or omnivores? I’m not going to pretend to know the definitive answer. But, even if our bodies are designed to eat animals, since thousands if not millions of vegetarians and vegans have proven that you can survive, and in fact thrive, with a cruelty-free diet, why not use our free will to choose to?

5. The conventional meat industry harms the environment. Whether it’s a gazillion tons of excrement, the use of land for food for animals and to raise the animals themselves (instead of using land to feed people), the destruction of the rainforest for grazing, the depletion of marine life, or the spread of disease – the reasons seem to keep multiplying on why a meaty diet is an eco-unfriendly choice.

6. It’s one of the simplest choices I can make to be more sustainable and conscious, and have an impact. Aside from the rare challenge of eating out at a veggie-unfriendly establishment (not really a problem – most places at least offer salads), it’s very easy to choose a plant-based diet. It’s a major lifestyle choice – like the cars we drive and the homes we live in – that has an impact on the world around us. It’s an important step for me to be able to align my beliefs, words and actions.

* Why I’m about 90% vegan:  See all of the above reasons. They all apply to the dairy industry and the role of dairy in our diets.  Right now, I never drink milk and I tend to avoid cooking cheese and eggs. But I’m not as disciplined of a vegan as I am a vegetarian when I go out to eat at friends’ or public places.

A vegetarian or vegan diet isn’t perfect. There are systemic improvements that need to occur, such as halting agricultural practices that are destructive to the environment, e.g. clearing rain forests for soy or using toxic pesticides. But, for me, the reasons to go veggie still outweigh the reasons to eat meat, which as far as I can tell are: habit, desire, and a belief that it’s necessary or natural.

If you’re interested in learning more about vegetarian or vegan diets, here are some of my favorite links:

VegWeb.com – This site rocks. It’s full of recipes that are posted and reviewed by members. It also includes a library of educational materials, fun forums, and cooking tips.

The Meatrix, Parts I, II, and II 1/2 – These short animations spoof the Matrix in their depiction of how the meat and diary industry really work. They’re funny, provocative and informative.

VegNews magazine – This is a great magazine for vegetarians/vegans, with recipes and articles on travel, politics and current events.

Farm Sanctuary – I love this organization’s work to rescue goats, pigs, chickens, cows and other animals from lives of suffering in the livestock industry. Plus, they have the cutest pictures ever!