Our friends, the J family, watched Food, Inc. tonight and posted on their facebook that they are looking to make a shift regarding their food priorities. I've been waffling about whether or not to post about going vegetarian, and their status really made me want to share about why I believe that going veg, even just one day a week, is a good choice.
I should make a disclaimer that this is NOT a political blog, this is not even a political blog post- Lord knows I participate in enough politics outside of the dinner table. I'm sharing this because I truly believe that we can make a difference in our health, in our environment, in the lives of the animals we share it with, and in our pocketbooks choosing a vegetarian lifestyle.
So, why did I choose to become vegetarian?
1. I believe that a vegetarian lifestyle is healthier. Numerous studies have shown that a plant based diet lengthens your life span and that vegetarians suffer fewer diseases such as prostate cancer and heart disease. It is entirely possible to build a well rounded plant based diet that satisfies all of your nutritional (and taste!) needs. For more info from MSN and the Mayo Clinic, click here and here.
2. I believe that a vegetarian lifestyle is better for our environment. Factory farming puts off an alarming rate of greenhouse gasses, strips the land our vital top soil, and contributes to the contaimination of lakes and oceans. For more information from the Sustainable Table, click here.
3. I believe that factory farming is cruel and that no animal should die for my enjoyment. The facts remain that animals in the factory farming system are routinely abused, often never get to even feel grass under their feet, and are mutilated rather than given adequate space to live in. For many people, this is a very emotional and difficult issue to wrestle with. If you choose to continue eating animals, I ask that you at least ensure that they are raised and slaughtered humanely. Feel free to google, what you will find will be shocking.
4. I believe that a vegetarian lifestyle is easier on our pocketbooks. By eating locally grown , seasonal foods rather than processed junk and laying off the meat, a family could save some serious dough. Not only is a plant based diet cheaper initially, but as a society our healthcare system would be in a better place if we could avoid things like cardiovascular disease. New studies are also indicating that the agricultural use of antibiotics is contributing to drug resistance at very high rates, furthering the need for medical research and vaccination development ($$$).
For me, it was a no brainer to go veg. Even if you decide to join me in going veg 1 day per week, we could make a dent in all of the bad stuff listed above. What do you think?
OOhhh OOoohhh edited to add: I just found this web site, so cool! If you're considering jumping on the bandwagon, this would be an excellent place to start http://www.meatlessmonday.com/
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