It's been many years since I first became a vegetarian. The decision was simple for me. Although my mother's skills at cooking a roast left something a little stringy, a little rubbery staring back at me on my dinner plate, this wasn't the only reason I decided to go "veggie." The truth was, I didn't really like meat. Sure a large pool of ketchup could get most flesh to slide down my throat and a little barbecue could taste pretty good, but my hamburgers quickly began to resemble a bun-free pile of salad with only a quarter size piece of burger atop the greens.
Another reason I chose veggie was that I simply FELT better eating this way. I was one of those rare teens who actually enjoyed eating my fruits and veggies, didn't mind beans, nuts, or tofu, and brought bountiful salads to school almost every day. Instead of leaving lunchtime fatigued and overstuffed, I felt sustained to finish the rest of the day.
Now that I know a little more about the meat production process, it's no wonder I would feel better without partaking in their goods. Mass producing most food products, especially ones that involve live creatures, is bound to have problems. Time versus money always gets in the way. Quite frankly, I don't trust what they do including what they now feed the animals, all stress-induced adrenaline that is running through animals at slaughter houses, the conditions they are kept in, and the quality of the resulting product. The thought of meat does not turn my stomach, the process taking an animal from start to finished steak dinner does. At least with whole foods you know what you are getting. Yes, I have to think about pesticides (that can mostly be washed away) and genetic manipulation, but I also have choices. I can shop at farmer's markets or buy organic. I feel like I have more choice in the matter.
Now that I'm vegan, I feel the same about dairy and egg products. My body likes the alternatives, I like the soy substitutes, and it's a win-win situation for me.
And if you're free today, you might want to watch the Oprah show. (Or set the DVR.) A featured story is "How We Treat the Animals We Eat" with a look into topics such as what 'free range' and 'cage free' really mean.
