Doug Perras recalls his reasons to swear off fast food, meat Taking a massive bite, I chewed the double beef patties between my teeth. Instant visions of helpless cows, screaming in agonizing pain, echoed. Still, I swallowed.
My face went pale and in one singular action of revolt, my stomach heaved back all contents on to the table. My friends simultaneously pushed away as a roar of laughter ensued at my expense. It was the last time I ate fast food.
Over the years I have made many decisions. Some powerful and others not. As I look back I am proud of some and would like to forget others. I should of called more, I shouldn't have slept in so much, I should have ... and so the story goes. But there are a few distinctions I've made in my life that I can strongly stand behind; that give me a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
One such decision was to become a vegetarian.
Many other people have made the same dietary distinction. Some switch for the health benefits, some for the environment and still others for animal rights. For me, it was a process that has taken two years, much adjusting, much reading and much opposition.
Before I made the switch, I couldn't imagine not eating a tenderized animal ever again. It was too far-fetched, too abstract, too undoable. I used to have a nice chunk of some kind of carcass at every sitting. Bacon for breakfast, chicken for lunch, steak for dinner and it all tasted so bloody, (literally, rare) good. But then I discovered a book -- or better stated -- it found me: Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser.
Source: Vegetarian-Nutrition.info
I was so appalled by the conditions that I read about in the meat industry. From meat being left out in the sun too long, to employees' body parts getting tossed into the grinder and assimilated with the rest of the produce. Not to mention how meat packing plants, in an attempt to save money, would take rotten meat and put it into the feed for cattle, chicken and the like.
I was definitely moving away from the experience of being a carnivore.
Armed with the new information of how much water and land is used to enrich the meat industry and how little is used for meat alternatives, I found myself at an intellectual and health crossroads. I had to make the switch. But cold turkey? It seemed too hard for me, so I began to phase it out.
My decision was to cut out red meat entirely and to stop frequenting fast food establishments. At the time, tofu was one of the most disgusting words in my culinary vocabulary, but I tried it. Slowly putting in a few small pieces in a saucy dish, getting acclimatized to the texture. Over time I began to enjoy it.
Three months later I was ready for the next phase. Not feeling any healthier, I pushed forward with my plan to become a vegetarian. The book's message was no longer as prominent in my mind. This time I eliminated everything but fish and chicken. I was having a hard time giving up these flavors. They were too tasty; too ingrained in my habits.
Looking back, I feel I just wasn't educated enough. I was too caught up with the rest of my life. At that stage it wasn't such a big shift in my thinking, it was more a hobby; something to try out. I would have conversations about issues surrounding vegetarianism. They all had the same tone. "You need meat to be healthy. Sure you can live without it, but it's so hard to get all the essentials and still live a normal life." Convenience food was still winning.
It was during my yearlong stint spent in the seafood trenches that I learned most of my lessons. I dissolved mental blocks and began to really eat healthy. During this time, I would designate a few ovo-lacto vegetarian days to my diet. Increasing with frequency as the year progressed. Before I was just eliminating meats from my diet. But I wasn't replacing it with anything healthy.
For the first time since I began this dietary experiment, I felt healthier. At this point I contemplated remaining where I was. It was easy and tasty to just eat seafood and lots of veggies. I didn't have to worry about getting all my body needs. Salad and seafood protein, mixed with some carbs. People seem to understand this. They could respect my decision to eat a healthy diet.
"No meat, no problem, as long as you have fish."
It was here that I also became somewhat confused. People already considered me a vegetarian, except the "full blowns."
It's where I discovered label distinctions amongst the masses.
Eat Your Veggies!
Vitamin B12: dairy products, eggs, and vitamin-fortified products, such as cereals, breads, and soy and rice drinks
Vitamin D: dairy products, calcium-fortified orange juice, and vitamin-fortified products
Calcium: dairy products, dark green leafy vegetables, broccoli, chickpeas, and calcium-fortified products, including orange juice, soy and rice drinks, and cereals
Protein: dairy products, eggs, tofu, dried beans, and nuts
Iron: eggs, dried beans, dried fruits, whole grains, leafy green vegetables, and iron-fortified cereals and bread
Zinc: wheat germ, nuts, fortified cereal, and legumes
Source: http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/vegetarianism.html See there are many variations to this thing called a vegetarian. Some people eliminate red meat and consider themselves a member. Others choose to eat eggs, milk and cheese and say that they are vegetarians. Still others eliminate everything pertaining to animals and call themselves the true vegetarians. And then of course there are the vegans; they do not eat or use anything that is from, or harms, any animal anywhere. Each level believes that the one below is a fraud.
The true vegetarians -- no carcasses, no milk, no cheese and no eggs -- say that ovo-lacto's are almost there. But since hens live in atrocious conditions to lay your eggs and cows are kept pregnant to produce your milk (something that reduces its lifespan from 20 years to four), what is needed is to take that final plunge.
After one year of pretending, I was reading to shift to the ovo-lacto phase of my plan. Initially I tried the true vegetarian path. But it lasted only a few weeks as I mentally wasn't ready to give up cheese and eggs; although my switch to soy milk was an easy improvement.
It was here that I fine-tuned my approach and attitude, eating tofu and nuts instead of eggs with growing frequency.
But I had no substitute for cheese, and how do you eat pizza without cheese? At this point it was just a simple reminder. Cheese tastes good. But if I wanted to live according to my beliefs then I had to give it up. And so I did.
So here I am today; no eggs, no cheese, no milk. I don't wear leather and I do my best to do my part. At times I guess I'm still a pretender by some standards. Sometimes egg noodles are the only offering where I am and I don't wish to offend my host.
I assume this will also change with time, so to those who are ahead of me, please don't preach, please don't scream.
I have two parting thoughts. For those who are the activists, remain steadfast but also calm. People change when they want too, not because they're forced too. Finally, one last thought, do with it what you will.
Going vegetarian has caused internal shifts in my thinking during each phase: "If you not part of the solution, then your part of the problem." I'm not looking down on anyone, this just works for me.
I do, however, challenge everyone to do their homework. You do not need animal products to sustain life, it's completely false.
The conditions that food animals must endure are inhumane, so please look more deeply into switching.
You will feel healthier and be sick less of the time if you so choose.
In an age where we over-medicate, dwindle resources and point fingers, I find it's refreshing to know that you can make life-changes regardless of what others think.
©2005 OhmyNews
No comments:
Post a Comment